10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
29,464 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1996 Ford Contour electrical problems

electrical problem

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1996 Ford Contour Owner Comments

problem #17

Mar 052002

Contour 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 90,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 1996 Ford Contour. One month ago, the contact discovered that there is a recall for her vehicle. She stated that the engine lights continue to illuminate while driving 40 mph, and a wiring repair was performed in the transmission. She also stated that the wiring harness was damaged by the heater blower. The vehicle was purchased in 2001 and the contact has been experiencing engine failure ever since. The engine size is not available. The current mileage is 110,000 and failure mileage was 90,000.

- Huntsville, AL, USA

problem #16

Nov 152006

Contour 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 168,000 miles
Car has 168000 miles. My daughter just purchased it. 11/06 after checking over I found insulation on wires is rotted and falling off. I noticed some repairs have been attempted but still looks unsafe to operate because of possibility of fire.she now has a car she cant use and cant afford to repair.

- Powhatan, VA, USA

problem #15

Dec 012005

Contour

  • Automatic transmission
  • 107,880 miles
I paid to have the car towed again to get a second opinion. While doing this I also did some research on the internet and found that my car had a recall on the under wire harness but that the recall had expired after 100,000 miles after seeing how many recalls where done on my car I realized that what genes evans Ford told me was that it would cost me $2500 to fix the under wire harness problem. I obtained a second opinion which confirmed the wire harness, issue and Ford built the car., and gene evans Ford knew nothing about the recalls! I want my car fixed! on April 28,2004 when I was not sure if my car had a problem I took it to gene evans Ford for a diagnostic reading, the odometer read 95904 and on May 3,2004 when the odometer read 96037, which is considerably less than the statute of limitations with regard to the electrical problem as well as the under wire harness recall,99M03, which is 100,000 miles or ten years. If the automotive technician at Ford service could not elaborate that there was a recall that may cause problems. How was I to know? I continued to drive my car, trusting Ford's opinion on any concerns I may have had. This situation has cost me endless distress as well as financial setbacks, fixing problems that now I see where related to one recall or another. I have but one car, pay my premiums on time and a clean driving record. I feel that this can happen to anyone and I am most dissatisfied, with the way gene evans Ford has handled this matter. I want my car fixed! or if need be replaced, with functioning non-defective parts, should my car get fixed I want all recalls on my car researched and fixed since the underwire harness was not the only recall I found on my car, and I want it all in writing! thanking you in advance for your careful consideration in this matter. My car is now completely dead. With no attempt at gene evans Ford or dearborn Michigan addressing my concerns.

- Palmetto, GA, USA

problem #14

Jul 252005

Contour 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I bought a 1996 Ford Contour from and individual in July of this year. It ran well, for a few days, and then the od light kept coming on, and it felt like it was shifting into low. I kept mashing the button on the shift arm and the light would go out and then come back on this would go on for several days, then it would be ok for several days, just to start up all over again. Then I had the old changed in November and the would not stay cranked for me to get home. The wires under the hood are all flaking of there plastic covering. I assume this is why it will not stayed cranked. I can not drive it in this condition.

- Millbrook, AL, USA

problem #13

Oct 012004

Contour 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
1996 Ford Contour. The contact states the wiring harness failed. The vehicle was inspected, and this was how they found the problem. Recall 01V230000 was issued, but this vehicle was not included. There has been nothing done to correct this problem. The contact stated it will cost $1700 to fix it. This problem was discovered approximately a year ago. There has not been a fire yet, but this could be the consequence of the recall. Updated 11/16/2005.

- Talledega, AL, USA

problem #12

Feb 022005

Contour 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Major harness & electrical wiring which is under recall that the Ford dealership will not honor.

- Platte City, MO, USA

problem #11

Feb 012005

Contour

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Consumer states that she has had problems with the electrical system. She has had the vehicle in to the mechanic several times and the mechanic called a local Ford dealer and inquired on recalls on the vehicle. At that time they were told there were two recalls, 01I009000 and 01V230000. Consumer called the customer service department at Ford and was told the recall had expired and she would have to pay for the recall work.

- Flat City, MO, USA

problem #10

Aug 052004

Contour

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Vehicle was parked and it caught on fire. The neighbor noticed that blinker was on, and suddenly there was a loud bang, assumed to be the battery.

- Nashville, TN, USA

problem #9

Oct 112003

Contour

  • 135,000 miles
Intermittently transmission went in and out of overdrive by itself. When this failure occurred and the system failed to correct itself vehicle was taken to a dealership. Dealer determined that an electrical malfunction affected the speed control sensor, and the sensor needed to be replaced. The electrical failure was caused by wiring harness plastic installation disintegrating and falling off. Manufacturer issued an extended warranty on this part, but consumer's vehicle was over the warranty mileage.

- Coral Springs, FL, USA

problem #8

Apr 222001

(reported on)

Contour

  • miles
The main electrical wires in the engine compartment are all peeling. The insulation of all the connectors are all dry rotted, causing numours odb codes to pop up. Because of the short in the wires.

- Plantation, FL, USA

problem #7

Nov 142000

Contour

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The wiring was damaged by corrosion which caused the ABS light to malfunction, the alarm system to be defective, the heating system to work improperly, and the cigarette lighter to not work.

- Montgomery, AL, USA

problem #6

Aug 032000

Contour

  • miles
My car was in the shop 5 times in one month - all electrical problems. Alternator, battery, starter, wiring harness, speed sensor and oxygen sensor were all changed. The Ford dealership does not understand why I am having all these problems. It was also in a garage fire at the dealership in this time and I had smoke damage to my car on top of the engine problems. Needless to say, I loss money on the trade in. This is the worse car I have ever owned and will never own another Ford car or truck again.

- Lake Charles, LA, USA

problem #5

Aug 012000

Contour

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Screw for driver side sunvisor fell off while vehicle was in motion, causing blocked vision totally. The driver side visor fell off twice. The second fall shorted electrical wires causing radio, clock and other components to fail.

- Dubois, ID, USA

problem #4

May 141999

Contour

  • miles
There is a short within the electrical wires which melted, causing truck light wires to hang down, and door light to work intermittently.

- Tuskegee, AL, USA

problem #3

Jul 301999

Contour

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
There is a defective switc/ panel & wire assembely parts components of the wiring panel. This causes problem with air conditioner, blower, etc. Will be taking vehicle to dealer to have electric component checked out.

- Morristown, TN, USA

problem #2

Apr 011999

Contour

  • miles
Consumer experienced a series of electrical problems which resulted in a fire. All lights inside and outside went out except the headlamps. Also, fuses blew out too often and smoke came from the turn signal. Mechanic replaced the turn signal and noticed that all other wires in the steering column were damaged. Dealership insisted that if there was no extnded warranty they would not repair.

- New Orleans, LA, USA

problem #1

Jan 221999

Contour

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
The plastic insulation on the electrical wiring burned off, causing a short circuit in the heating system, heat remains on high..et.

- Hartford, WI, USA

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