284 of the
4,570 complaints filed about the Ford Contour
are about the fuel system —
6% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1995.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
1998 FORD CONTOUR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE LINE CORROSION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES THE FAILED. THE REPAIR SHOP, STATED THERE WAS NO BRAKE FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE GAS LINE LEADING TO THE TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED, DUE TO CORROSION.
NHTSA complaint #10637919 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FUEL TANK STRAP IS COMPLETELY CORRODED AWAY, AND THE FUEL TANK IS READY TO FALL OFF. THE PROTECTIVE COATING IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS COMPLETELY FALLEN OFF, CAUSING THE FUEL STRAP TO BE EATEN AWAY BY RUST AND CORROSION. THE FUEL TANK IS GOING TO FALL OFF EVENTUALLY. THE FUEL FILLER NECK AND EMISSION FITTINGS AT THE TANK, ARE CORRODING BADLY TOO.
NHTSA complaint #10559782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE FUEL PUMP FAILED FREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING, USUALLY UPHILL. CAR WOULD STALL AND SOMETIMES RESTART, CREATING A HAZARD WHEN ON THE FREEWAY. EVENTUALLY THE FUEL PUMP FAILED COMPLETELY. MY MECHANIC REPLACED IT, HAVING TO RETROFIT THE GAS TANK IN ORDER FOR THE PUMP TO BE INSTALLED, REMOVING CERTAIN FITTINGS. THE FILLER GROMMET WAS DEFECTIVE, AND AFTER THE FUEL PUMP WAS FIXED AND REFUELING WAS TAKING PLACE, GASOLINE POURED OUT OF THE TANK AND THE CAR HAD TO BE RETURNED TO THE MECHANIC. THE REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP FAILED ABOUT 10 MONTHS LATER, IN SEPT. 2011. AT THAT TIME, THE CAR HAD BEEN WORKING FINE THE NIGHT BEFORE AND WOULDN'T START IN THE MORNING. FORD WILL ONLY GUARANTEE THE ORIGINAL REPLACEMENT, SO IF THE REPLACEMENT HAD FAILED AFTER MORE THAN TWO MONTHS, FORD WOULDN'T HAVE REPLACED THE PART. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MOTOR HAS BROKEN THREE TIMES. I HAVE ALSO HAD TROUBLE WITH THE AIR INTAKE SYSTEM, WHICH CAUSES A WHINE WHENEVER THE CAR IS STARTED COLD. THIS IS IRRITATING, BUT DOESN'T SEEM TO CAUSE ANY DIFFICULTY WITH THE OPERATION OF THE CAR. THE DASHBOARD WAS RECALLED, A CHEAP PLASTIC PIECE PLACED OVER THE VENTS, WHICH RUINED THE LOOK OF THE DASHBOARD. I PERSUADED THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD AS ORIGINALLY PROMISED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. THE REPLACEMENT HAS NOW ALSO DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE VENT BEING SEPARATED FROM THE DASH. THERE ARE ALSO VAGUE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, INCLUDING SURGING AND DIMMING OF LIGHTS. CAN'T USE THE RADIO FOR FEAR OF STALLING THE CAR, OR USE THE HEATING SYSTEM ALONG WITH THE REAR DEFROST SIMULTANEOUSLY.
NHTSA complaint #10510188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FUEL TANK WAS HALF FULL, THE ENGINE WOULD HESITATE, LOSE POWER, SURGE AND STALL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER WERE REPLACED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 170,000.
NHTSA complaint #10503437 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THERE WAS A FUEL VAPOR LEAK IN THE FUEL FILLER GROMMET. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V350000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.
NHTSA complaint #10478185 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING, A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL WAS EMITTED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK WAS LEAKING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FILLER PIPE GROMMET WAS LEAKING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V350000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 173,000.
NHTSA complaint #10425653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WHICH CONNECTS TO THE VEHICLE'S MAIN POWER SUPPLY BOX HAS WIRING FOR WHICH THE INSULATION COMES OFF EXPOSING LIVE, BARE WIRES. THIS LEADS TO SHORTS IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH AFFECTS DRIVABILITY (ENGINE RUNS ERRATICALLY AND AFFECTS THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMPS OPERATION) AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE IF THE WIRING SUFFERS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT IF THE CAR'S FUEL SUPPLY OR ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEMS FAIL, THE DRIVER MAY LOSE CONTROL AND BECOME INVOLVED IN A CRASH OR COLLISION. FORD DOES NOT SALE REPLACEMENT PARTS NOR ARE PARTS AVAILABLE ON THE SECONDARY MARKET. THE PART NUMBER FOR THE WIRING HARNESS ON MY CAR IS F8RZ14289CA. FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE HARNESSES.
NHTSA complaint #10422939 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. UPDATED 06/16/11*LJ UPDATED 07/11/11
NHTSA complaint #10399853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1999 FORD CONTOUR, FUEL CONSTANTLY CUTTING OFF AND NOT RESTARTING. SHOWS GAS BUT ACTS LIKE NO GAS IN CAR. SAID TO BE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. NO ONE CAN FIND ISSUE. I HAVE BABIES AND HAD BEEN STUCK ON FREEWAY FOR OVER TWO HOURS WHEN SOMEONE HAD TO COME AND GET US AND TOW VEHICLE HOME. STILL NOT WORKING.
NHTSA complaint #10395413 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT WAS REFUELING THE VEHICLE WHEN HE NOTICED LARGE AMOUNTS OF FUEL SPILLING FROM THE VEHICLE AND ONTO THE GROUND ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM THAT THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET WAS LEAKING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V350000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SECURE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT HIS EXPENSE BUT WAS AWAITING THE REQUIRED PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIRS, WHICH WERE ON BACKORDER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,556.
NHTSA complaint #10386487 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DASH CURLING BACK. STRAP FOR FUEL TANK RUSTED, GOING TO BREAK, RUST ON BRAKE LINE, RUST UNDER BOTH BACK DOORS AND SPREADING TO UNDERNEATH CAR, RADIO SPEAKERS OUT, CAR HESITATES WHILE ACCELERATING, TRUNK LEAKS DEFROSTER NOT WORKING PROPERLY BECAUSE OF DASH. WAS NOT AWARE OF A RECALL FOR DASH. SHOULD BE RECALL FOR CORROSION PROBLEM AS IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION SO I TAKE A HUGE CHANCE EVERYTIME I DRIVE WHICH IS 3 OR 4 TIMES A WEEK TO WORK.. FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON. PIECE OF JUNK AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER CAR. FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. THEY SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THESE CARS OR REPLACE THEM. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE STRAP FOR FUEL TANK IS GOING TO BREAK. THE CAR ONLY HAS 61,000 MILES ON IT. WHAT A JOKE!
NHTSA complaint #10379607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN PUTTING FUEL IN THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL WOULD SPILL ONTO THE GROUND. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE FUEL FILTER GROMMET FAILED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 00V350000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER: STORAGE: TANK ASSEMBLY). THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 67,400.
NHTSA complaint #10367138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DISPENSING FUEL INTO THE FUEL TANK, THE AUTOMATIC FUEL NOZZLE WOULD SHUT OFF AT ANY FUEL CAPACITY LEVEL. THE FAILURE WAS A CONTINUOUS OCCURRENCE WHEN DISPENSING FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL PIPE FLAPPER VALVE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURERS VOLUNTARY RECALL (MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: 01M04) YET THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200.
NHTSA complaint #10357872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE ADDING FUEL TO THE FUEL TANK, GASOLINE BEGAN LEAKING. A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE FUEL TANK SEAL CAUSED THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HOSE TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED . THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #10286598 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COULD NOT GET AN INSPECTION STICKER - NO MECHANIC COULD FIND OUT WHY THE CHECK ENGINE WILL NOT GO OFF -VERY COSTLY. IT STALLS WHEN RAINING, THE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT WORK, IT HAS TO WARM UP FOR 5 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL MOVE, THE TAIL LIGHTS CAME LOOSE, CAUSING MELTING OF HOUSING, EVERY VALVE IMAGINABLE HAS BEEN REPLACED, BELT SQUEALS WHEN AIR OR DEFROST TURNED ON.
NHTSA complaint #10260956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WAS FILLING UP MY FUEL TANK AND JUST AS THE PUMP CLICKED OFF GASOLINE STARTED POURING OUT FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK AND IT STILL DOES IT EVERYTIME I FILL IT UP I AM VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE IT IS A SEVERE FIRE HAZARD PLEASE HELP ME OUT.
NHTSA complaint #10255608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG ODOR OF FUEL COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. SHE ALSO OBSERVED A SMALL AMOUNT OF FUEL SPILLING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO THE FILLER PIPE IN THE FUEL TANK SYSTEM. THE TECHNICIAN DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 94V203000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP) FOR THE IDENTICAL FAILURES; HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,000.
NHTSA complaint #10248678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CAR ACCELERATION WAS SLUGGISH WHEN BRAKE WAS APPLIED,A WEEK LATER ENGINE WOULD KILL WHEN DRIVING. CHANGED AIR FILTER,OIL,AND FUEL LINE WAS CLEARED. A MONTH LATER SAME THING IS HAPPENING. MECHANIC SAYS MAY NEED NEW FUEL PUMP,BUT NOT SURE THAT WILL CORRECT PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10243822 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SPIT-BACK WHILE REFUELING. TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND SINCE THE EXTENDED COVERAGE FOR THE FUEL PIPE FLAPPER VALVE EXPIRED 5 MONTHS AGO THEY WILL NOT REPAIR. FORD WANTS $300 TO REPAIR. MY CAR ONLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 88,800 MILES AND I DO NOT HAVE $300 TO REPAIR. I CALLED FORD IN MICHIGAN AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING AND EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING CAR TO FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. I TOOK CAR TO FORD IN MISSISSIPPI IN 2002 AND NO MENTION OF RECALL WAS MADE. FORD, IN MY OPINION, SEEMS TO BE OF THE MIND "DO NOT FIX IT IF IT IS NOT BROKE". WELL IT IS BROKE NOW AND IF COVERAGE EXPIRED 5 MONTHS AGO THAT IS NOT A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF THE FUEL PIPE FLAPPER VALVE AS THEY KNOW IT IS DEFECTIVE. WHEN I GET GAS THE FUEL SPILLS ON THE GROUND CAUSING HARM TO MY FAMILY, PASSENGERS IN THE CAR, THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND MYSELF.
NHTSA complaint #10218509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. THE VEHICLE STALLS AND MAKES A LOT OF NOISE DURING ACCELERATION. THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS AND OTHER INTERIOR LIGHTING WILL NOT DIM WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT MUST REMOVE THE BULBS TO DIM THE LIGHTS. WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION, THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS UP. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT SWAY BAR WAS LEAKING AND THE BRAKES, ROTORS, AND STRUTS WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PURCHASE DATE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #10213103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.