While driving to the store one evening as it was getting dark I noticed that my instrument panel was dark. I asked my boyfriend to get out and check if I had tail lights (remembering my sister had a similar problem when I was little) indeed I didn't have tail lights or dash lights and when the switch was turned to just have parking lights on they didn't work either. However I still had turn signals, headlights, hazard lights and brake lights. We tested fuses and consulted a parts store with the problem, finally my boyfriend took apart the headlight switch where he found the wiring harness was partially melted.....he tried to bend the little prongs back so they would make connection with the switch again and put everything back together and now my lights work. I am however ordering new parts for my car and the sales man said that it was odd to have a problem there since it was a low heat area and suggested looking on the federal safety agency for recalls due to this problem.
1995 Ford Contour electrical complaints
Page 2 of 7: complaints 11 to 40 of 180, newest first, as owners wrote them.
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.
Tl*the contact owns a 1995 ford contour. While driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle lost power. The contact coasted to the side of the road until coming to a complete stop. The vehicle would not restart and was towed to a local mechanic. The mechanic informed him that there was an electric fuel injection failure, resulting from installation particles becoming detached from the electrical wiring. The contact researched recalls on his vehicle and realized that he was experiencing the same failures described in the federal safety agency campaign id number 00v367000 (engine and engine cooling). Ford stated that his VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle has not been repaired. The failure and current mileages were 150,000.
Ford's contour and its sister car the mercury mystique have defective wire harnesses. The wire shields crack causing shorts, which lead to mechanical break downs and can lead to engine fires. Ford issued an owner notification program #99m03, which admits to this problem and extends coverage to notified individuals but limits the term of coverage. Wire harnesses are not a normal wear component and should not fall apart for no reason. Hundreds of thousands of these vehicles are on the road and have not been repaired. Ford has expressed no interest in helping notify consumers. Further, ford's dealers are unable to locate replacement harnesses.
Under hood wiring harness got hot and melted the insulation off the wires,causing smoke and burnt smell of plastic and on some of the sensors that control the engine,resulting in high engine speed,lack of stopping power and steering,I parked the car at home and now will not start.
Tl* - the contact owns a 1995 ford contour. The speedometer works intermittently. She stated that the transmission was contatantly skipping gears, and downshifts when it should change gears. There is a safety recall on both of the components that are failing on her vehicle. Power train:automatic trasmission: lever and linkage:floor shift-98v233000, and vehicle speed control cables-97v225000. The contact did not know the current or failure mileage because the odometer is broken.
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.
I have a 1995 ford contour and I paid over $16,000.00 for it. I have had nothing but trouble since I got this car. I have 50,888 miles and the transmission has been replaced 2 times and worked on 4 times. Water pump went out, air went out all wiring covers has crumbled off leaving exposed wires to start a fire and much more. I have been treated like I was a child and didn't know any better with the dealership and ford motor company. I now have a car that I can't drive because it is a fire hazard. I want something done to my satisfaction. I know they quit making the 1995 ford contour because there were so many manufacturer problems. I am now told they can't get parts to fix the car and I can't trade it in on another one. I am a female and I am tired of the treatment I'm receiving from ford. My car has always been serviced at a ford dealership. I have contacted several agencys concerning my problems.
Tl*- the contact stated that the compartment wiring harness insulation on the 1995 ford contour's engine became brittle and cracked. The contact stated there was ford recall number 99m03 which stated that the reason for this was due to heat and moisture. The contact stated most of the insulation has fallen off. The contact was unable to start the vehicle, and had not taken the vehicle to the dealership for repair. The vehicle currently had 18,8000 miles. *ak update 4/9
Wiring on 95 ford contour, we did a valve job to this car and at this time we noticed the wiring harness was a mess the coating was coming off the wires, what coating that is there is dry and brittle exposing the wires, the bare wires touching at places, went and got one from the recycle parts yard and it was the same way now we are having a hard time finding a good one to put back on the car a new one is so expensive I believe I was quoted around $1300.00 .
Dt*: the contact stated when the vehicle was taken to an independent certified mechanic for a normal tune up; it was discovered that the electrical wiring harness was deteriorated. Due to the potential risk of fire while repairing the vehicle, the contact was advised to go to the dealer. When the vehicle was taken to the dealership, the parts to repair the deteriorated electrical wiring harness were discontinued. The manufacturer was contacted, and provided a telephone number to a parts store. The store did not carry the parts either. The junk yard was also checked for availability of replacement parts. The parts at the junk yard were in a worst condition than the contact's vehicle.
Consumer 1995 contour died while backing out of the driveway. *ts the consumer was told the vehicle had wiring problems under the hood.
Ford "owner notification program" 99m03 describes, and offers to fix for free, a problem in which engine wiring harness insulation rots due to certain environmental factors. Program involves a warranty extension to 10 years beyond original warranty, or 100,000 miles, whichever comes first. Symptoms of the problem vary widely. In my case, the car just shut down while driving. While there were no injuries, this was an obvious safety hazard. If it had happened on the interstate instead of on a side road, the result could have been disastrous. In response to this problem, ford issued 99m03, which they call an "owner notification program". The problem is that, according to my own experience, and according to the personnel at my local dealer's service department, owners were not notified unless they brought the car in for something that turned out to be caused by the wiring harness problem. This program needs to be elevated to a recall so that all owners are aware of the risks and are able to take appropriate action to protect themselves.
Car cuts off when you turn the lights on or press the brakes.
I own a 1995 ford contour gl that was purchased new. I recently opened the hood to find that the electrical wiring insulation is brittle and falling apart and exposing the bare wire. This may cause a fire if two of the exposed wires touch and create a spark. I talked to ford motor company who told me that a customer satisfaction bulletin was send out in 1999. This should be a safety recall and not a service bulletin. The bulletin expires at 100,000 miles or 10 years after warranty. The wiring is made so that when the vehicle reaches a certain age, the plastic will fall off and the metal wires can be recycled. The cars are known to mechanics at fords dealerships as throwaway cars after ten years, because of the bio-degradable wiring.
Deterioration of the wiring harness, ford contour 95 were made with a deficient engine wiring harness isolation system. Very dangerous ! Short circuits! They just extended the warranty for 7 years or 100,000 miles, my car has only 45,000 and the wiring harness is in such bad conditions I am afraid to drive my car, as recommended by mechanics. The ford and dealer says it has to be changed outside of the already expired warranty, about 3,500 dollars (by tropical ford in orlando) it is impossible, the car price is 3,500 d. ( total lost) it is fabrication defect , the car has only 45,000. Why it is not a recall ? The affected customers were not told the car will expire in 2005! Because nobody will pay the car value to fix it! I should keep driving until the short circuit comes ! Would you be comfortable with your daughter driving this car? I believe it is not fair! Ford should fix the problem if the car has less than 100,000 m at least! Currently I have lights turning on by themselves on my dashboard!
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.
Dt: contact states underneath the hood the harness wiring melted. . Recall campaign 011009000 was issued. Consumer did not receive a recall notice from the manufacturer. However, manufacturer provided consumer with recall 00s44, concerning electrical fuse connectors and recall 99m03 regarding underhood wire harness. The service dealer stated the recall campaign has expired.
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.
Hestitates when you put on the gas,seat belt light flashes,spits an spuders
Dt: contact states the wiring harness is cracking , causing the vehicle to stall while driving, gasoline fumes from the fuel injector is coming inside the vehicle. When it rains or when washing the vehicle it gets water into the computer of the vehicle, causing loss of power, the vehicle will not start. The service dealer stated this was a defect within the vehicle.
After vehicle was parked for 1 hour 15 minutes a fire started under the dashboard. Vehicle was totaled. Dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.
While driving, suddenly the vehicle started idling rough. The consumer turned the vehicle off, and towed it to a mechanic. The <a " wire harness needs to be replaced. The manufacture is aware of the problem and has extended the warranty on this part. Please provide any additional information. *nm the vehicle began to experience electrical problems with the AC and heating controls. The consumer also stated that the vehicle's speedometer control began to have problems. The consumer was told that the mass air flow sensor was the cause of the problem with the vehicle.
Several instances of the car shutting off with no prior warning. I found out that ford motor company used the wrong wiring in the engine compartment. The wiring that was used can not withstand the environmental conditions that it is exposed to heat. Ford motor is well aware of this engineering deficiency and issued a "campaign", not a recall on the wiring, that will cover consumers for 10 years from the date of original owners purchase or 100000 miles. Ford informed me that even though they are aware they will not repair the problem unless complaints about the wiring or related symptons are made. This is malicious act on behalf of the ford co to their consumers. Possible consequences of not issuing a true recall could result in but not limited to the following brief listing: 1) fire resulting in severe injury or death of occupants from arcing wires dues due to broken, cracked, and damaged insulation. 2) crash resulting in death to the occupants of the vehicle and/or other vehicle(s) involved due to unexpected stalling of vehicle on roadway. 3) crash resulting in severe injury or property damage due to unexpected stalling of vehicle while being operated. To summarize people can die, be paralyzed or severly injured because of ford's desire to save money and deny responsibility for their manufacturing/ engineering flaws. A simple "campaign" is not acceptable and should be a safety recall to protect the consumer which could eventually become innocent victims. Ford installed the incorrect wiring on the assembly line and tne after becoming aware of the defect did the very minimum to correct the issue. They need to be held accountable for this deficiency for the life of the car. Automobile wiring specifications is not new technology and to make a mistake of that magnitude can not be overlooked.
Air bag module (driver side) completely detached from steering wheel while driving. I have taken car to three dealerships (ford) and no one can tell me what cause the vibration inside (front) of car. On 4-17-04 the center of the air module popped out while driving. Luckily the air bag didn't deploy.took it to another dealership and the screws had work their way loose because of the vibration problem. Speakers in car same shape, play one side today and vice verus.please advice on this matter. Thanks, kathy hundley.
The car has trouble starting or will not start. This happens intermittently and we cannot predict when the car will not crank/start. You turn the key and nothing happens; it does not crank or make any noise at all. If you park the car and go inside, return and try to start the car, sometimes it does not start. This has happened many times. Sometimes, if you wait 20-30 minutes, the car will start up, but you cannot be sure. The car has been scoped and various repairs have been made, but the problem persists, and since the non-cranking episodes happen sporadically, they have not isolated or corrected the problem. The frequency of non-cranking episodes is increasing and the wait time to try to restart the car is now up to 1 hour. The car is not safe to drive because no one can predict when the car will not start or when it will stop. Yesterday, the car stopped while my husband was driving it into the driveway. This has not happened before, so the problem is getting worse. The electrical system, the starter/ignition system or solenoids, etc., seem to be defective. Ford motor service centers have not been able to diagnose and correct the problem. We need someone with expertise to diagnose and correct the problem.
The car will not start intermittently. We have called aaa, replaced the battery, scoped the vehicle, etc., but the problem persists and is increasing in frequency. My daughter has parked the car for a few minutes and when she tried to restart it, it would not crank. This has happened many times. Sometimes, if you wait 20-30 minutes, the car will start up, but you cannot be sure. The car has been scoped and since the non-cranking episodes happens sporadically, they cannot seem to isolate the problem. The frequency of non-starts is increasing and the wait time to try to restart it has increased to an hour. The car is not safe to drive because no one can predict when the car will not start or when it will stop. Yesterday, the car actually stopped while my husband was driving it into the driveway. Apparently, this has not happened before, but we wonder if the problem is escalating. The electrical system or the starter/ignition system or solenoids, etc seem to be defective. We need ford motor company or somebody with some expertise to diagnose and repair the problem.
Hvac fan under dash on passengers side has a shortage in the wiring to the fuse box under dash on drivers side. Could open and close fuse box to get fan to work then stopped working at all. Rear seat belt locks all fell apart. Passenger and drivers side doors will not open.
After going through the car wash vehicle would not start. Consumer opened the hood and found no insulation on the wires which caused a short.
Defective engine compartment wiring harness in my 1995 ford insulation evidently does not meets the performance specifications needed to survive the environmantal conditions present in the engine compartment. All wires are showing evidence of cracking and bare wires are actually showing through. I am concerned that this poses a safety hazard for driver and occupants. Ford will not honor recall as they say one of their dealers did the inspection; however, they must have been blind not to see this cracking. Based on the number of complaints I've seen on your site, suggest you institute a mandatory safety recall before someone gets killed.
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