10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
0 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.

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problem #18

Jun 012001

Contour

  • miles
During the winter I turned on my heating unit and it would not blow unless it was on high. I would have to constantly turn my heat off and on because it would be too hot then too cold. I noticed on real cold days the heating system would malfunction on milder days the heating system would work correctly. My window would get off tract and I would have to constantly set the window in place while I raise the window. Took the car to the dealer and they could not find anything wrong with it.

- Chicago, IL, USA

problem #17

May 082002

(reported on)

Contour

  • Manual transmission
  • miles
Smelling a burnt odor coming from the heater vents.

- Unknown, 00, USA

problem #16

Feb 102002

Contour

  • miles
After taking vehicle to the dealership twice for recall 01V230000 and 01V255000 repairs none of the two recalls were done properly. Name of the dealer is brad martin Ford in youngstown oh 330-793-2444.

- Youngstown, OH, USA

problem #15

Oct 012001

Contour

  • miles
Consumer received notification that vehicle was affected by recall 01V230000. Dealership examined vehicle, but performed no repairs in accordance with description of corrective action. Engine light illuminated due to faulty O2 sensor.

- Riverview, FL, USA

problem #14

Sep 172001

Contour

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
After receiving recall 01V23000 notification for heater blower resistor, an attempt was made to have recall repairs done by local dealer, dealership informed consumer that unless problem described in recall was occurring, vehicle would not be serviced, consumer contacted NHTSA who suggested another dealer and was given an immediate scheduled appointment, vehicle has had recall repairs.

- Salem, OR, USA

problem #13

Jul 072001

Contour

  • miles
While driving in fog and turning on defroster it won't work on low, but will work on high. This could cause a bad accident because defroster has a delayed reaction, and while driving windows are still fogged up. Consumer has yet to contact the dealer.

- Kannapolis, NC, USA

problem #12

Jun 282001

(reported on)

Contour

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Transmission has a defect, there is a slip when you applying gears. Also, brake pedal goes all the way down to the floor, and grabs a little bit. Dealership is aware of problem. Brakes have failed, on one occasion consumer almost hit a child, brake pedal slips from under foot. Emergency brake is only effective 50 percent of the time. Transmission intermittently changes gears roughly, at times jarring occupants in the vehicle. Possible electrical problem: Light of the clock has burned out twice, consumer states there are shorts in the dashboard, causing the heater or A/C to only have one speed working, dome lights work intermittently, light under dash works intermittently, warning bell does not chime all the times it should, consumer states a sensor causes heater to act as the ac and vice versa. Hinges not made properly, causing door movement while opening/closing, does not stop when it should. Seat blet retarction does not have enough elast, causing it not to retract properly, has gotten caught in the door jam. Alarm system has failed. Wheel cover cracked when a tire was being changed and another one fell off, consumer was not aware of the time or place it fell off.

- Montery, CA, USA

problem #11

Feb 102001

Contour

  • miles
While driving in a snow storm I smelled something that smelled like an electrical fire, the blower motor stop running. I played with the switch and only high worked. I turned the fan off. This forced me to drive with the choice of a potential fire or seeing out of the winshield. The next day I purchased a new blower motor relay from a Ford dealer. When I went to replace it I noticed that the connector to the resistor was melted to the resistor, there were bare wires on the harness side of the connector. I went to the Ford dealer and purchased a new connector. What a surprise to find that they had a connector in stock. This made me think that this must be a common problem. What will keep this from happening again and starting a real fire.

- Alburtis, PA, USA

problem #10

Jan 012001

Contour

  • miles
When filling gas tank with fuel fuel would spit back out. Door chime fails to work when key is in ignition. Heating system would go off, and then on whenever heat is on.

- Maybee, MI, USA

problem #9

Nov 011998

Contour

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Air conditioner emits bad smell when running. Also when heater is running. Took vehicle to dealer 8 times. Dealer could not fix problem. Dealer stated Contour have that problem.

- Auburn, NY, USA

problem #8

Nov 011997

Contour

  • miles
1)driver's power seat rocks from front to rear, replacing seat track made problem worse. 2) vents located to clear side window of fog do not operate when heat selector knob is set to hot.

- Mclean, VA, USA

problem #7

Sep 162000

(reported on)

Contour

  • miles
When the car is driven and you turn the heating system on your getting a musty smell. It happens on heating more than cooling.

- Kensett, IA, USA

problem #6

Jun 202000

(reported on)

Contour

  • miles
Consumer took vehicle to Ford dealers 5 times, the problem still exists. The car fogs up under normal fall, winter, spring driving conditions. The defroster air conditioner will clear the front windshield, but not side windows and the back window cleared by using the rear window defroster, this creates a safety hazard and reducing driver visibility.

- North Roya, OH, USA

problem #5

Nov 011998

Contour

  • miles
The dashboard vents that should clear fog and frost from the side windows does not function when the heat selector is set to hot. Thus, it is next to impossible to clear fog and frost from the side windows in cool weather. The side mirrors are then useless. This appears to be a design flaw that affects all Ford Contour, and probably Mercury Mystique.

- Mclean, VA, USA

problem #4

Dec 241999

Contour

  • miles
There was 6 recalls that I was contacted on, 2 of which I had in the shop twice because not fixed properly also my ABS system went out on my car besides the heater blower and heat sensors which have been replaced twice.

- Rock Falls, IL, USA

problem #3

Dec 281998

Contour

  • miles
Fumes enter passenger compartment through heater vents after engine is warm. These fumes cause respiratory problems for vehicle occupants. May be similar to complaints registered under ODI id 539092, 828169

- Sobieski, WI, USA

problem #2

Aug 141998

(reported on)

Contour

  • miles
Oil fumes entering into vehicle.

- Saint Pete, FL, USA

problem #1

Apr 011998

Contour

  • miles
Consumer complained of unpleasant odor coming from vent whenever A/C or heater are turned on. Vehicle been in/out dealer shop, and condition still unresolved.

- Detroit, MI, USA