1995 Ford Contour: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Jan 8, 2010 · Steering · 80,000 miles · CA · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 1995 ford contour. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle and the steering column began over heating continuously. On several occasions, the dealer was unable to diagnose the cause of the burning smell; however, the vehicle caught fire. At times, the key was too hot to remove from the ignition. The current and failure mileages were 83000 when the fire occurred.

Filed Dec 11, 2009 · Steering · 80,000 miles · CA

My '95 ford contour has been overheating, smelling hot, with the steering column heating up to the point of the car key, in the ignition, getting too hotto handle--for some time, now. Fearing that there might be a fire hazard, I took it to my local ford dealer. He said my car, per it's VIN no., has not been recalled; so he did nothing about my concerns. Now, a week ago today (12/3/09), and a week or so after bringing my car in for the first time, I was driving 20-30 MPH, down a city street in my small town, when, suddenly, I heard a popping sound; and the electricity in the car turned off. The car stopped dead in it's tracks, as I was turning into a parking lot! I tried to put the hazard light on; but it would not turn on. The steering wheel & steering column were very hot. I turned the key, in the ignition, in an attempt to turn the car back on. Instead, it made another popping sound; and died completely! Smoke started coming from under the hood. When I opened the hood, the battery water was boiling over, sizzling, and smoking. When I called my ins. Roadside assist, and told them what happened, they told me to call the fire dept. So, I called the fire dept. They came and disconnected the battery; and noted that the battery was smoking. They pushed my car to a parking spot, from where I had it towed it to my local ford dealer. The ford dealer man said they could do nothing about it; and I left it there, in their parking lot. I'm afraid to drive the car, for fear it might start on fire, since I have seen, on the internet, that the '95 ford contour has been recalled for ignition fires!!! Being caught in a burning fire, with my seat belt on, is very scary to me! The questions, at the bottom, right, of my screen, are cut off, so I can only see half of the questions, starting with: "was there...." "property da...." "was there a..." "reported to...." I'm sorry,I have no way of answering your questions, here.

Filed Jul 23, 2008 · Electrical · CA · fire

My 1995 ford contour was repaired under the recall when the engine cooling fan and wiring harness burned up. However they replaced only that part of the wiring harness that is directly connected with engine cooling fans, the rest of the underhood wiring is failing due to overheating causing the insulation to break down. I had to replace the connector to the engine temperature sensor because it has turned into a soft gelatin like substance causing shorts. I believe the entire underhood wiring harness should have been replaced when the fans caught on fire. Currently there is a shorter maybe an open circuit in the engine wiring causing the check engine light to come on and stay on at times but it sets no trouble codes.

Filed Jul 6, 2007 · Electrical, Transmission · 141,720 miles · NJ · fire

Experienced transmission issues, with intermittent rough shifting and intermittent failures to engage in drive or reverse. It mysteriously started to run fine for several days. One morning I drove a short distance for an appointment. Upon returning and starting the car I noticed smoke exiting the left side of the engine compartment. I turned of the vehicle and inspected the engine compartment, and I could still see some smoke coming from the left-rear part of the engine compartment. After this incident, several of the vehicle's electrical functions failed, including park/brake shift interlock, heater fan, backup lights, directional flashers. Following the incident, the transmission issues have resumed. Upon inspection, I noticed several wires had cracking insulation, and some even had bare wire exposed.

Filed Aug 26, 2005 · Electrical · 101,000 miles · MS

Dt: consumer felt vehicle had bad wiring harness. The engine light came on and off. There were no air conditioner/ heater/ compressor or fan . Took vehicle to an a mechanic, it was there that mechanic determined that the wiring harness was faulty, and had a potential for catching on fire. No repairs were made. Consumer contacted dealership and ford manufacturer about this problem. Consumer was advised of an extended warranty through customer relations for 10 years or 100,000 miles. Consumer did not apply for extended warranty because vehicle was over 100,000 miles, and dealer never made consumer aware of this in the past. No repairs were made.

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 11, 2005 · Transmission · 130,000 miles · NC

The transmission on my 1995 ford contour locked up suddenly one evening recently. Trans shop rebuilt the trans for me. I received a call from them with bad news. The bad news was that the mechanic realized that the failure was due to the transmission wiring harness being damaged. It was damaged in a way that the owner of the shop said it could very well have caught the vehicle on fire, and apparently LED to the failure of the trans (I am not mecahnic, so I can only go with what I gathered from them). Ford had issued program 99m03 which covered engine compartment wiring harness failures. This program was for 10 years/100k miles. Ford refuses to take any action towards paying for this repair because the vehicle (although 10 years old), has exceeded the mileage (it has 130k miles). However, I do not feel this has anything to do with the miles driven, but rather a poorly routed wiring harness. The harness was run under the battery, and the shop says it appears as though it was eaten away by acid over a period of time. Can you help me get through the endless red tape at ford? Ths is a quality and safety issue that I feel requires better "involvement" from ford.

Filed Aug 13, 2004 · Engine · 12,000 miles · CA · fire

While driving 40 MPH cooling motor overheated. As a result the engine compartment caught on fire. No injuries reported.

Filed Apr 8, 2004 · Seats · 89,007 miles · MA · fire

While attempting to park floorboard behind the driver seat caught on fire. Consumer managed to exit the vehicle. Dealership was notified of the problem, but did not resolve the problem.

Filed Aug 19, 2003 · Electrical · PA · fire

While driving vehicle caught on fire without warning. Dealer notified.

Filed Aug 17, 2003 · Electrical · NJ · fire

I bought a car on aug o8,2003. It broke down an hour later on the highway. I took it to tinks and the mechanic russ told me that the were 20-30 wires that need to be replace and that the car was no good. I wanted my money back and they said they would fix the car the warrany is for 30 days.they fixed the car and I got it back on aug 14,2003. It stalled 4 times after I picked it up. They also gave me 4 keys that would not open the car so I was locked out. They had to break into the car because they didn't have the key. I had to go phillipsburg to get an id I had lost. I was driving in the third lane when the car jerked and started smoking. Thats when we notice the car was on fire.I got over to the shoulder we got out. The car was on fire I couldn't believe it my kids,myself, and thier father were in danger.we I called the dealer and I told anthony what happen ,he had no remors he said I hope you had insurance. Not asking if we were ok. Can you help me please how can he cell a car that catches on fire. That was a scary situation and I never wanted my kids to have to have to go through that put yourself in my shoes how would you feel if it was you. Help me please .

Filed Jul 18, 2003 · Engine, Fuel system · 88,000 miles · TX

Engine cooling fan caught fire in 1999 - car under warranty and repaired by dealership. 2 more engine cooling problems in 1999 the most serious problem was when the water pump failed. The engine had to be replaced. In 2002 the engine began overheating and we had to replace the thermostat, other problems encountered were replacement of oxygen sensor and fuel pump due to leakage. In june 2003 car overheating, the cooling fan connection had become disconnected. In july 2003 car overheating, checked by mechanic who noted that there water pump was leaking, recommended dealership repair due to cost. On day one dealership estimated cost of water pump replacement $380.00. Day two dealership calls - head gasket blown and fan belt worn bill now $1100.00. Day three dealership calls - one of the oxygen sensors and another part needs replacing an additional $300-400.00. Total bill $1600.00.