184 of the 4,570 complaints filed about the Ford Contour are about the steering — 4% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1995.
184
Complaints
4%
Share of all complaints
6
Crashes
2
Fires
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH ON A WET ROAD, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COIL SPRINGS WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED EVERY TIME THE ROAD WAS WET. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 137,000.
NHTSA complaint #10764644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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CORROSION UNDER THE CAR (POLICE INCEPTOR ). CAR WAS PURCHASE FROM A LOCAL DEALER IN BAMBERG, SC THAT SELL MANY CROWN VICTORIAS. HE INDICATED MY CAR CAME FROM UP NORTH, PENNSYLVANIA.
NHTSA complaint #10542933 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:COLUMN
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING COLUMN BEGAN OVER HEATING CONTINUOUSLY. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE CAUSE OF THE BURNING SMELL; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. AT TIMES, THE KEY WAS TOO HOT TO REMOVE FROM THE IGNITION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 83000 WHEN THE FIRE OCCURRED.
NHTSA complaint #10298706 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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MY '95 FORD CONTOUR HAS BEEN OVERHEATING, SMELLING HOT, WITH THE STEERING COLUMN HEATING UP TO THE POINT OF THE CAR KEY, IN THE IGNITION, GETTING TOO HOTTO HANDLE--FOR SOME TIME, NOW. FEARING THAT THERE MIGHT BE A FIRE HAZARD, I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. HE SAID MY CAR, PER IT'S VIN NO., HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED; SO HE DID NOTHING ABOUT MY CONCERNS. NOW, A WEEK AGO TODAY (12/3/09), AND A WEEK OR SO AFTER BRINGING MY CAR IN FOR THE FIRST TIME, I WAS DRIVING 20-30 MPH, DOWN A CITY STREET IN MY SMALL TOWN, WHEN, SUDDENLY, I HEARD A POPPING SOUND; AND THE ELECTRICITY IN THE CAR TURNED OFF. THE CAR STOPPED DEAD IN IT'S TRACKS, AS I WAS TURNING INTO A PARKING LOT! I TRIED TO PUT THE HAZARD LIGHT ON; BUT IT WOULD NOT TURN ON. THE STEERING WHEEL & STEERING COLUMN WERE VERY HOT. I TURNED THE KEY, IN THE IGNITION, IN AN ATTEMPT TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON. INSTEAD, IT MADE ANOTHER POPPING SOUND; AND DIED COMPLETELY! SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD, THE BATTERY WATER WAS BOILING OVER, SIZZLING, AND SMOKING. WHEN I CALLED MY INS. ROADSIDE ASSIST, AND TOLD THEM WHAT HAPPENED, THEY TOLD ME TO CALL THE FIRE DEPT. SO, I CALLED THE FIRE DEPT. THEY CAME AND DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY; AND NOTED THAT THE BATTERY WAS SMOKING. THEY PUSHED MY CAR TO A PARKING SPOT, FROM WHERE I HAD IT TOWED IT TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. THE FORD DEALER MAN SAID THEY COULD DO NOTHING ABOUT IT; AND I LEFT IT THERE, IN THEIR PARKING LOT. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, FOR FEAR IT MIGHT START ON FIRE, SINCE I HAVE SEEN, ON THE INTERNET, THAT THE '95 FORD CONTOUR HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR IGNITION FIRES!!! BEING CAUGHT IN A BURNING FIRE, WITH MY SEAT BELT ON, IS VERY SCARY TO ME! THE QUESTIONS, AT THE BOTTOM, RIGHT, OF MY SCREEN, ARE CUT OFF, SO I CAN ONLY SEE HALF OF THE QUESTIONS, STARTING WITH: "WAS THERE...." "PROPERTY DA...." "WAS THERE A..." "REPORTED TO...." I'M SORRY,I HAVE NO WAY OF ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS, HERE.
NHTSA complaint #10295308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS. I HAVE HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE REPLACED STARTER AND BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES FEELS LIKE SUSPENSION IS FALLING APART AND NEVER NOTIFIED I HAVE SMALL AND OLDER CHILDREN SHAMEFUL. THESE EVENTS STARTING TAKING PLACE WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 1999 ARM CONTROL 3 TIMES REPLACED I WAS LIED TO BY FORD AND SAID I MUST OF HIT A BUMP BUMP MY BUMP 3 TIMES ALMOST DEAD.
NHTSA complaint #10287331 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES
MY FAMILY AND I WERE MAKING A RIGHT TURN FROM THE PARKING LOT OF A MOVIE THEATER TO A MODERATELY BUSY STREET. AFTER I COMPLETED THE TURN, I HEARD A LOUD "BANG", AND MY CAR SUDDENLY SWERVED TO THE RIGHT, AND I COULDN'T STOP. I COULD NOT GO FORWARD, OR BACK AROUND. THINKING THAT IT WAS CAUSED BY A BLOWN TIRED, I GOT OUT; IT WAS NOT. WHEN I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC, HE SAID THAT ONE OF THE STEERING RODS ON THE FRONT, RIGHT PASSENGER WHEEL HAD BROKEN. HE REPLACED BOTH THE RIGHT AND THE LEFT STEERING RODS.
NHTSA complaint #10163843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:RACK AND PINION:RACK
DT: WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE CONSUMER COULD NOT MAKE A RIGHT TURN. TOOK VEHICLE TO THE REPAIR SHOP, AND THEY SAID THE RACK AND PINION STEERING RACK BROKE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, DID A POWER STEERING FLUSH. *AK
NHTSA complaint #10138164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
22 YR. OLD SON MATT CRASHED HIS 1997 FORD CONTOUR INTO UTILITY POLE-FEELS BEARINGS CAUSED HIM TO LOSE CONTROL OF STEERING. INNER WINDSHIELD DRIVER'S SIDE POST AT CORNER CAME APART, PLASTIC ON INTERIOR-WHICH STOPPED AT TOP OF POST AND WASN'T CONNECTED TO ANYTHING ON INSIDE OF ROOF-POPPED OUT AND LACERATED HIS LEFT EYEBALL. THE EYEBALL INTERIOR WAS PROTRUDING AND SURGERY WAS NECESSARY TO STITCH THE EYEBALL BACK TOGETHER. HE WILL EVENTUALLY NEED A CORNEA TRANSPLANT TO GET DECENT VISION FROM THAT EYE. THE RIGHT EYE SUSTAINED BLUNT TRAUMA WHICH CAUSED A HEMATOMA TO DEVELOP WHICH CAUSED BLINDNESS UNTIL IT'S RECENT REMOVAL. RESTORATION OF EYESIGHT IN THE RIGHT EYE IS A SLOW PROGRESS.
NHTSA complaint #10108423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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I'M A HEARING IMPAIRED DRIVER/OWNER OF FORD '95 CONTOUR GL (LOW-INCOMER, AVERAGE $21,000 A YEAR). I'VE BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 1997 FROM A MINNEAPOLIS-AREA FORD DEALERSHIP (QUALITY AUTO DEALERSHIP IN BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA). AT THE TIME, I HAD LESS THAN $10,000 TO PAY FOR A RECENT USED CAR(ONE THAT IS WITHIN 2-3 YEARS AFTER IT CAME ON THE MARKET). I TRIED OUT FEW CARS AND THE WHITE 1995 FORD CONTOUR GL. THE DEALER INSISTED THAT '95 FORD CONTOUR GL WAS A GOOD BUY AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE. I WAS WILLING TO TRADE UP MY OLD CAR TO REDUCE THE PRICE BUT IT WAS STILL TOO HIGH FOR ME SINCE IT DIDN'T INCLUDED OTHER FEES LIKE THE TITLE AND REGISTRATION LICENSE. AFTER A SHORT, PERSUASIVE NEGOTIATION, I GOT THE DEALER TO AGREE TO MARK DOWN TO $9995 AND I ACCEPTED THAT. SO I BOUGHT THE CAR. AFTER A FEW DAYS, I WAS EXPERIENCING A PROBLEM WITH IT, SO I HAD IT TOWED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND LATER TOLD ME THAT THE WHOLE ENGINE WAS BAD AND NEED TO BE REPLACED. I WAS STUNNED BUT THEY WERE WILLING TO DO THE REPAIR FOR FREE. IT TOOK ME A WEEK TO GET MY CAR BACK. EVERYTHING WENT FAIRLY FINE FOR THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS. IN 1999, THE AIR-CONDITIONER IN MY CAR STOPPED WORKING AND IT WAS TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR AT THE TIME. I MOVED TO COLUMBUS, OH IN JAN. 2000. FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS, THAT CAR HAS BECOME A TROUBLE FOR ME. ONE REPAIR AFTER THE NEXT. THE BIGGEST REPAIR COST I'VE PAID OUT WAS $2060.43 TO REPLACE A FLYWHEEL. I HAVE TRIED TO TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY CAR BY TAKING IT TO JIFFY LUBE FOR OIL/CHECK-UPS EVERY 3-6 MONTHS FAITHFULLY AND I'M STILL HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY CAR. RIGHT NOW, IT IS AT ANOTHER FORD SERVICE BECAUSE THERE MAY BE DEFECTED WIRING COILS IN MY CAR (A DEALER RECALL THAT I'M NOT AWARE OF). I HAVE KEPT ALL THE SERVICE MAINTENANCE PAPERS IN FILE FOR ALL THE REPAIRS AND SERVICES ON MY CAR. I WANTED A NEW CAR AND I'M NOT VERY HAPPY. I'M TIRED OF PAYING FOR THE REPAIRS. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #10069714 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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VEHICLE EXPERIENCED COMPLETE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS FAILURE AT 74000 MILES. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10066615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
DASH WAS REPLACED, BUT IT WAS INSTALLED IMPROPERLY. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HAS LEAK, AND WILL BE REPLACED NEXT SPRING. *LA VEHICLE HAS HAD THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENTS: WHEEL BEARINGS, BRAKES, TIE RODS, DASHBOARD, INTAKE MANIFOLD, PASSENGER REAR STRUTS, LEFT FRONT DOME LAMP SWITCH, LEFT FRONT SPEAKERS, AND OYGEN SENSOR.
NHTSA complaint #10057352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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PROBLEMS WITH 1996 FORD CONTOUR FRONT BRAKES, TRANSMISSION, FUSE BOX, HEATER BLOWER MOTOR, ELECTRICAL AND STEERING AND SUSPENSION. *MR FOR THE SECOND TIME, THE VEHICLE HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES MAKING A LOUD RUBBING SOUND, THE STABILIZER BAR WAS REPLACED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. THE TRANSMISSION WAS LEAKING, WATER WAS INSIDE OF THE HEADLIGHT SEALS, WHICH MADE THE LIGHTS VERY DIM, THE SELECTOR MODE SWITCH ON THE HEATER MOTOR BLOWER DID NOT WORK PROPERLY, WHICH MADE THE HEAT NOT WORK AT A 100%. THE UPPER BALL JOINTS, RACK AND PINION AND WHEEL BEARING WERE ALL DEFECTIVE. *JB
NHTSA complaint #10048678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:COLUMN LOCKING:ANTI-THEFT DEVICE
WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH WITH FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.
NHTSA complaint #10046326 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY LOST POWER STEERING. THIS HAPPENED ONLY WHILE THE ROAD WAS WET. DEALER STATED IT WASN'T THEIR PROBLEM. *AK IN THE PAST 6 YEARS POWER STEERING FROZE TWICE DURING A SEVERE RAIN STORM. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10033731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING, THE TIE ROD SNAPPED.
NHTSA complaint #10019788 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
MY 1998 FORD CONTOUR 4-DOOR SEDAN RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A DEVASTATING FAILURE. WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AT LOW SPEED, A SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY UNDER THE DASH FELL DOWN ON HER FEET. THE ASSEMBLY IS HELD IN PLACE WITH TWO BOLTS WHICH HAD COME LOOSE. AS A RESULT OF THIS, THE STEERING LINKAGE WAS ALLOWED TO DISCONNECT, PERMITTING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SPIN FREELY. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY SHE WOULD HAVE COMPLETELY LOSS CONTROL, AND BECAUSE THE FRAME FELL ON HER FEET, SHE PROBABLY COULDN'T HAVE APPLIED THE BRAKE. NO STEERING AND NO BRAKE! I THINK THIS IS A POTENTIALLY FATAL DESIGN DEFECT. OF COURSE, THE DEALER AND FORD APOLOGIZED BUT REFUSED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY.
NHTSA complaint #10010467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK IN ONE DIRECTION. CONSUMER HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO GET STEERING BACK TO THE CENTER.
NHTSA complaint #10009670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS
NHTSA complaint #10006000 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST:HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS
THE POWER STEERING LINE IS ROUTED UNDER THE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE AXIL AND HAS RUB A HOLE IN THE LINE. AND HAS CAUSED A LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #10003586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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ABRUPT LOSS OF STEERING POWER WHEN DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES, RECURRING ISSUE. FOUND DESCRIPTION AFTER INTERNET SEARCH (TSB 97-11-2). DATE CITED IS MOST RECENT EVENT. DEALER AND FORD ACKNOWLEDGE ISSUE BUT WILL NOT INSTALL KIT TO PREVENT RECURRENCE AT THEIR EXPENSE.
NHTSA complaint #10002866 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.