FORD CONTOUR PROBLEMS

Complaints and Common Faults

• 1. Engine Problems:

  • No acceleration during first shift into 2nd gear
    
  • Engine overheated/burned up and fan never came on
    
  • Vehicle periodically stalls or bucks while idling or driving
    
  • Only five cylinders of the eight-cylinder engine are firing, causing the vehicle to jump upon shifting gears
    
  • Engine loses all power only when cold
    
  • Car caught on fire while driving on the highway
    

• 2. Transmission Problems:

  • Transmission would jump into neutral and back into gear
    
  • Transmission was leaking fluid from underneath the hood
    
  • Transmission lock switch failed, preventing the vehicle from shifting
    
  • Transmission blew up
    
  • Shift lever comes off when attempting to change gear; also, would not easily shift into park
    
  • Transmission failure
    
  • Transmission failure caused the vehicle to shift from overdrive to a lower gear
    
  • Transmission blew up
    
  • Transmission gears were stuck
    

• 3. Brake Problems:

  • Brake warning light illuminated due to loss of brake fluid
    
  • Brakes failed/noisy
    
  • ABS system failure, brakes will not function properly on slippery surfaces
    
  • Brake rotors warped
    
  • Brakes locked in snow and ice conditions
    
  • Hydraulic brakes seized up upon application
    
  • Brake light will not shut off even after ignition is off
    
  • Brake pedal and gear selector went to the floor due to defective brake shift interlock mechanism
    
  • ABS and steering wheel locked up after applying brakes
    

• 4. Electrical Problems:

  • Wire within the firewall chafed against bracket, causing the ignition coil to short circuit through the computer which controls the engine
    
  • Battery light illuminates when it rains, followed by loss of steering/brakes
    
  • Electrical system failure, vehicle lights went out while driving
    
  • Remote control malfunctioned
    
  • Electrical system failure, brake light will not shut off even after ignition is off
    

• 5. Power Steering Problems:

  • Power steering goes out when driven through water or in wet weather
    
  • Steering wheel delays return for normal driving
    
  • Steering wheel locked up
    
  • Loss of power steering due to belt slippage
    

• 6. Fuel System Problems:

  • Fuel injection/O-rings are leaking fuel
    
  • Fuel pump failed, causing intermittent stalling
    
  • Gas tank failure, leaks from the filler neck
    
  • Gas was leaking from underneath the tank
    
  • Gas tank ruptured while filling
    
  • Difficulty refueling properly, takes a long time
    
  • Fuel tank repaired due to leak
    

• 7. Cooling System Problems:

  • Evaporator for the air conditioner fails to work properly, compressor freezing up
    
  • Radiator repaired due to leak
    

• 8. Airbag Problems:

  • Driver's side airbag did not deploy during side impact
    
  • No deployment of driver’s airbag in an accident
    
  • No deployment of passenger’s airbag in the same accident
    
  • Airbags prematurely deployed at low speed, damaging windshield and modules
    

• 9. Window Problems:

  • Three of the four windows do not function
    
  • Windows do not roll down properly
    

• 10. Seat Belt Problems:

  • Driver's lap belt webbing failed during frontal collision, leaving slack in the belt
    
  • Lap/shoulder belt retractor failed
    
  • Seat belts jammed
    

• 11. Miscellaneous Problems:

  • Black smoke/burning smell emanated from the rear of the vehicle
    
  • Dashboard peeling up from the windshield
    
  • Crankshaft/pulley failed
    
  • Poor performance of headlights, unable to see the road in the dark
    
  • Stress cracks developed in windshield
    
  • Emergency parking brake freezes and fails in extreme cold temperatures
    
  • Console gear shift lever does not lock in drive position
    
  • Rear window exploded while driving
    
  • Noisy shocks
    
  • Door latches failed three times
    
  • Rear left wheel caved in, right wheel rotated outward while making a turn