5.8

fairly significant
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
14,444 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 1996 Ford Contour:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

problem #9

Apr 232007

Contour 4-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 1996 Ford Contour. The heater fan motor for the defroster failed. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer and was informed that the fan switch failed and would cost $58 to repair. The dealer kept changing the diagnosis until the contact spent $271; however, the vehicle was still not repaired. NHTSA campaign id number 01I009000 (visibility:defroster/defogger system: Windshield: Controls/wiring) was referenced. The dealer stated that the vehicle passed the ten year free period. The current mileage was 131,000 and failure mileage was 130,000.

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #8

Oct 091999

Contour

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Consumer has had numerous problems with the 1996 Ford Contour. There has been so many recalls on consumer's vehicle that she wasn't aware of because the manufacturer never sent notices. Since then consumer has been paying for entire full price and is asking for reimbursement. However, the biggest problem with the vehicle is the gas fumes which is leaking therefore leaving poisonous carbon monoxide fumes coming in through the heater vents. These harsh chemicals are damaging to the lungs, brain, respiratory system and its making consumer very tired among other symptoms.

- Groveland, MA, USA

problem #7

Nov 242003

(reported on)

Contour

  • miles
Problems with 1996 Ford Contour front brakes, transmission, fuse box, heater blower motor, electrical and steering and suspension. 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.

- Nashua, NH, USA

problem #6

Jul 012000

Contour

  • miles
Fan blower switch only operates on high speed.

- Bossier, LA, USA

problem #5

May 032000

(reported on)

Contour

  • miles
The heater blower switch failed prior to recall notice. Nlm

- Corpus Chr, TX, USA

problem #4

Sep 151999

Contour

  • miles
My ac/heater switch has gone out twice. Theres seems to be a short in which the plastic is melted behind the switch, where the switch cannot be turned.

- Mounds View, MN, USA

problem #3

Aug 101999

(reported on)

Contour

  • miles
While driving with air conditioner on high, smoke started coming from the vents. When turning off the A/C, there was melting behind the switch for the blower.

- Springfield, VA, USA

problem #2

Jan 211999

(reported on)

Contour

  • miles
Consumer experienced a power surge that shorted out the switch to the heater fan. Dealer has been contacted.

- Bangor, ME, USA

problem #1

Aug 191996

(reported on)

Contour

  • miles
Rear defrost button failed.

- Charlotte, NC, USA