While driving 40 MPH cooling motor overheated. As a result the engine compartment caught on fire. No injuries reported.
1995 Ford Contour engine complaints
Page 2 of 9: complaints 11 to 40 of 225, newest first, as owners wrote them.
I was rear-ended earlier this year and took my car in to the dealership for bumper replacement. Dealership did not inform me that ford discontinued my bumper model, so they repaired it instead of replacing it -- without my permission! Silver plastic strip that runs through center of bumper was re-installed as-is - cracked - since bumper was not being made anymore and new part wasn't available. Both horns were replaced, in spite of rarely being used. Rubber window strips loosen, pop up easily. One power window in rear can only go down about 6 inches, squeaking terribly as it moves down; too expensive to fix. Outer gas door release sticks. Both methods of opening the door (floor lever and trunk strap) stopped working this year. Paid for repair at dealership, but both methods stopped working again after a few days. I now have to open up my trunk every time I go to the gas station, pull the release strap and rap lightly on the outer door in order for it to pop open. I am scheduled for a new repair in a few days at the dealership for rough idle and stalling. Problem involves mass air flow sensor and/or PCM, and is detailed in tsb article no. 98-20-7. Had contacts cleaned on radiator tank and driver's door panel (beeping signal for when door opens and key is left in ignition stopped working). Had complete tune-up at dealership this summer, with mileage at only 40,000. Driver's side speaker wire has loosened, with sound drifting in and out depending on bumps hit on the road. Driver's door lock collapsed inside keyhole. Lock cylinders are only available in sets of five, so all five of my lock cylinders had to be replaced by dealership. Replacement cylinder on my glove compartment vibrates too much while driving. Reverse lights stopped working. Wiring had to be repaired. Paint is thin and scratches easily, even from non-abrasive contact. Driver's window opens all the way, sliding down at a quick speed. Very indifferent treatment by dealership.
I'm a hearing impaired driver/owner of ford '95 contour gl (low-incomer, average $21,000 a year). I've bought this car in 1997 from a minneapolis-area ford dealership (quality auto dealership in bloomington, minnesota). At the time, I had less than $10,000 to pay for a recent used car(one that is within 2-3 years after it came on the market). I tried out few cars and the white 1995 ford contour gl. The dealer insisted that '95 ford contour gl was a good buy at an affordable price. I was willing to trade up my old car to reduce the price but it was still too high for me since it didn't included other fees like the title and registration license. After a short, persuasive negotiation, I got the dealer to agree to mark down to $9995 and I accepted that. So I bought the car. After a few days, I was experiencing a problem with it, so I had it towed back to the dealership and later told me that the whole engine was bad and need to be replaced. I was stunned but they were willing to do the repair for free. It took me a week to get my car back. Everything went fairly fine for the next couple years. In 1999, the air-conditioner in my car stopped working and it was too expensive to repair at the time. I moved to columbus, oh in jan. 2000. For the last 3 years, that car has become a trouble for me. One repair after the next. The biggest repair cost I've paid out was $2060.43 to replace a flywheel. I have tried to take good care of my car by taking it to jiffy lube for oil/check-ups every 3-6 months faithfully and I'm still having trouble with my car. Right now, it is at another ford service because there may be defected wiring coils in my car (a dealer recall that I'm not aware of). I have kept all the service maintenance papers in file for all the repairs and services on my car. I wanted a new car and I'm not very happy. I'm tired of paying for the repairs. Thank you, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
The car has always run hot and I have had the compressor fixed and a month later I know have a burnt out blower motor that seems to be a common problem. I never was notified about the recall and than was told I missed the cut off date to file for a repair, bottom line I wasnt covered. I also brought my car in a day before my warranty was up and they didnt honor it, I was told it was too late.
Water pump failures very common around 60k miles, plastic impeller failure, and engine overheats.
Both passenger and drivers side doors do not open from inside or out. Rear seatbelts have fallen apart. Hvac fan motor doesn't work. Also, fan motor relay fails.
Cooling fan inoperative due to excessive heat from a bearing seize. Fan was replaced at owners expense twice and is still inoperative, causing the engine to overheat and the air conditioning to fail.
Consumer states that vehicle is leaking gas from the tail pipe. Dealer notified.
Consumer stated didn't receive a recall letter, and manufacturer stated consumer's vehicle was over 100,000 miles, and was not covered any longer under this recall. Vehicle was unsafe to drive.
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.
Consumer states that while driving and with no warning vehicle will stall, and it will be hard for the consumer to control the vehicle. Dealer notified.
RECALL PROBLEM WITH FORD/CONTOUR, the federal safety agency CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V367000.
While driving at normal speed, the engine over heated and the plastic water pump disintegrated.
I own a 1995 ford contour that quits with no warning, my son has had it stall on the expressway 8 to 10 times and the ford dealers keep replacing things, but they don't know what is wrong with the car. It is very dangerous to have a car that will just stall out at any time. What can I do.
Car idles very roughly. Had the idler pulley replaced 3 times within 1 1/2 years.
Car overheated. Plastic part on water pump broke and melted. Mechanics said they never heard of a plastic impeller for the water pump.
While in motion going highway speeds, the vehicle will decelerate and jerk back and forth. *jg
Had received a notice (00v367000) and took vehicle to dealership. The mechanic refuse to do the recall repair and indicated no parts were available. Contacted ford and a representative was sent. Mechanic finally indicated had parts for repair. Once recall was repaired and was driving, started smelling smoke. Had parked and left vehicle. Noticed white smoke coming from rear of vehicle. Ramey ford tazewell va 24651 phone #276 988 2572 ts
I purchased car 1998 and now I had to get a engine put in my car. Dt
The car had just been turned off, a faint odor of something hot was noticed but figured the heating fan motor was malfunctioning. Approximately 10 minutes later, the bicknell fire department and police department notified us that the car's engine was on fire. The entire engine compartment was engulfed and totally destroyed every thing in it. ----dims 11 ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut-over to artemis------769736.
While driving vehicle just stalled out. Had vehicle towed. Contacted dealership,could not find cause of problem.
Vehicle is emmitting noises as if the bottom of the vehicle is falling apart.
While driving there is smoke , and vehicle cuts off, which is caused by vehicle overheating, and head gasket failing. Contacted dealership.
Engine overheated and melted the positive temperature indicator device. Fan motor bearings were too tight. Please provide any information.
Thermostat has been replaced 3 times since consumer received recall letter 00v367 concerning engine cooling fan on 02/2001. Consumer had vehicle fixed under that recall.
While being driven engine mounts collapsed, causing engine to jump around and hit hood of vehicle. Dealership repaired three mounts under warranty. Currently, all four mounts have failed,/collapsing. Please describe details.
At 60mph and with no warning engine-cooling fan will overheat, causing consumer to pull over. Cause unknown. Dealer notified.
While driving water pump blewout and vehicle overheated /cut off. Had vehicle towed. Replaced parts 9 times within 1 year.
Was driving 60mph on highway when engine check light came on. 30 seconds later, I heard noise which sounded like bicycle chain switching gears. 90 seconds after that, the oil light lit , temperature gauge registered hot suddenly and simultaneously engine died. Ford dealer service dept. Diagnosed "water pump failure". Removed water pump. The plastic impeller has multiple cracks and no longer spins with shaft. Ford dealer has service bulletin acknowledging problems with water pumps on my type vehicle, and extends warranty to 6 years/75,000 miles. My car is "too old" to qualify for coverage, although it is under the mileage limit, and I think it is unfair. One of the major reasons I purchased this car was the 2.5l engine that doesn't require a tune-up until it reaches 100,000 miles. This engine blew at 70,381 miles because of a little piece of plastic that was supposed to keep it from overheating. In my opinion, it is irresponsible of the manufacturer to use plastic in such an environment without fail-safe warning systems that allows vehicle operator the opportunity to slow down, get off the road and prevent total destruction of a very expensive motor. The estimated repair costs of $6,700.00 exceed the value of the car which would have been $6,435 (kelly blue book dealer retail) before the water pump went out and caused engine failure. The current value of the car according to regional salvage yards, wholesalers and the local ford dealer is a generous $250.00. Thank you for registering my complaint. Any information or assistance you could provide me regarding this matter is greatly appreciated.
After recall repairs were done problem re reoccurred. Dealership wanted to charge for replacement although recall letter stated that will replace if problem reoccurres.
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