1995 Ford Contour: ABS light or ABS activating

Filed Jul 8, 2005 · Electrical · 120,000 miles · SC · fire

1995 ford contour. Recall 99m03 (underhood wiring harness) was completed by ford dealership october 2000. In 2003 and since, check engine light comes on, ABS light comes on, blows fuses randomly, finally the steering column started smoking and the wiring caught fire. After inspection, it appears ford only replaced part of the wiring harness on the recall, not the entire harness as the invoice shows. Part of the wiring appears in very good shape, while some sections of the harness are frayed, insulation is falling off, and bare wire is exposed. If this is the norm and not just an individual incident, it is a very misleading and dangerous deception. It would appear they only patched a problem that was, for safety's sake suppose to be replaced. The invoice that was provided when repairs were done, does indicate that the entire harness was, in fact replaced. The bottom line is, ford has failed to repair what can potentially be a very dangerous problem. They only patched the problem. Now the only option available to the consumer is to replace the entire harness, because ford does not make sections of the harness available. The wiring harness on an automobile is not something that an owner should have to be concerned with failing. Of all the automobiles that currently reside in salvage yards, most of which are considerably older than a 1995 contour, I would suspect that a very small percent are there because of a wiring harness failure. I still have the entire harness, photos of the harness, and the invoice where the work was done. The vehicle will not run until the ABS section is replaced. As I stated before, the only way to repair the car is to purchase the entire harness from ford, which I have not yet been able to do. If this was common practice, ford needs to go back and replace the sections that were not replaced. After all that is what the invoice shows they did. Thank you for your time.

Filed Apr 16, 2004 · Brakes · FL

My ABS light has been on continuously for many years. A search of the internet allowed me to find many others who have the same issue with the ford contour. It appears to not be specific to any one model year. My vehicle is a 1995, but I have seen internet queries for many other newer vehicles. What is in common is that the ABS system on the ford contour is faulty causing one to have to spend $4,000 to get it repaired, or drive with less affective brakes. Have you received any other queries about the ford contour ABS failure?

Filed Apr 17, 2001 · Brakes, Electrical · NE

Consumer took vehicle for manufacturer's recall 99mo3. Vehicle was experiencing poor traction control, and ABS lights were on constantly. Dealer said wiring harness could cause it not to work. Dealer won't do recall because title was branded. Dealer was wood house ford in blair ne. Phone no. 402‑926‑4126. *ak

Filed Apr 9, 2001 · Brakes · NY

When it rains it is difficult to drive car, feels like vehicle is locking up, in order to drive consumer has to put in tracking control when it is on the ABS light comes on, vehicle had 6 codes in system all had to be cleared to verify problem, right front wheel sensor was replaced.

Filed Nov 11, 2000 · Tires · MS · 1 injury

Tire blowed out on driver side - front on intrrstate. Total tire peeled just like firestone tire. The tire was torn up down to the rim. When I took it for repair when it first happen, the dealter I carried it to told me not to get it fix, take it back where I purchased it because it was a bad defect in the tire. Tires don't just peel like that. This tire peeled just like a recap trearing up the rim, messing up the traction control and anti-lock brake syatem, sctrached up the fender, tore the plastic underneath surrounding tire, had wires hanging down, broke the headlight and tore up the side skirt on the car. I carried it back where I got it from and when the manager came to look at the tire, he stated that the tire shouldn't have torn up like that. The tire had cuts all over it,. I took pictures of my car and the tire. It was unbelievable for me to see a tire that torn up. There was a lot sound and the steel belt was torn up like strings. The top peeling of the tire was left in the road. It threw me in the other lane on to the side of the road. I hurt my back and got shook up real bad. I;m sstill having nightmares because their was an 18 wheeler right behind me. It was god's will he didn't hit me. They said they would fix my car and purchase another tire, but what about my pain and suffering and the fact that I can't drive my car because there's a scrubbing sound and the ABS light, nor traction light will go off. (tiresize: 15)( dot number: tire size: 15 )

Filed Mar 30, 2000 · Brakes, Electrical · VA

Traction control and ABS brake warning light came on. Took to dealer. They said consumer needed a new computer , totalling $1200. Consumer paid to have it fixed, and there is still no traction control or ABS brakes. Currently, dealer indicated that consumer needed wiring harness that connects to computer. A mechanic said it was a problem with these particular cars that water gets in the wiring harness and shorts out the computer. Also,consumer said if braking in skid car would keep going.

Filed May 31, 1999 · Brakes, Electrical · TX

After the complete replacement of the ABS, my car is now full of electrical bugs that they will not warranty. Engine stalls, etc.

Filed May 31, 1999 · Brakes, Electrical · TX

They don't know why my engine cuts out. I believe problem is left over from all the work they did on ABS and cat. Converter changeover. They will not warranty car now that factory warranty expired. Refused to install "flight recorder" to troubleshoot. Dealer refused to offer extended warranty at no charge since they are the cause of the problems. Dealer replaced entire lh wiring harness when repairing ABS, left many "loose ends" all over the car.

Filed May 25, 1999 · Brakes, Electrical · TX

The ABS braking system malfunctioned, causing extended stopping distance which may cause a crash, and ABS light kept coming on. Also, dealer had to replace wiring harness. It is common problem. Please provide further information.

Filed Mar 9, 1999 · Brakes · IA

The parking brake stick and causes the traction control and ABS to fail when the traction control and ABS are reset by re-starting the vehicle, on two occasions the traction control has activated, causing sharp application of the brakes during acceleration for no reason. The first incident occured at 45 MPH on the freeway druing a snow storm and the second occured at 25 MPH on a side road during a snow storm. Parking brake only appears to stick in cases where the car is warm and sits for a long period of time in below freezing temps. With the parking brake applied. There seems to be a direct link between the parking brake sticking and the failure of the ABS and traction control. The failure of the ABS and traction control has happened on better than than five occasions, the slamming on of the brakes caused by the brakes sticking has happened twice.

Filed Feb 23, 1999 · Transmission · OH

Traction control warning light illuminated during normal operations. Car taken to dealer. Dealer reported that rear wheel ABS sensors and traction control switch on dash needed to be replaced. Components were replaced by dealer. Upon return of car to owner traction control inoperative light came on and ABS inoperative light came on. Dealer examined car and said that hcu unit had to be replaced. Car returned to customer while parts were on order. Traction control and ABS lights subsequently went out during normal operation. Similar occurrences have previousley been reported to the federal safety agency on this year make and model

Filed Jan 18, 1999 · Brakes · MN

When taken in to dealership it will be 2 weeks before they can fix we have snow and ice which make driving hazardous enough without ABS brake system locking