While driving and braking engine revved and suddenly accelerated and the brakes would not slow down the vehicle. Had to use the emergency brake, and run up an a curb in order to stop the vehicle. Manufacturer contacted. Please provide further information.
1996 Ford Contour: sudden unintended acceleration
5 of the 562 complaints about the 1996 Ford Contour describe sudden unintended acceleration.
- owner complaints
- 5
- of this car's complaints
- 1%
- recalls
- 1
Is there a fix? There is 1 recall and 7 service bulletins for this area of the car. See below
Sudden unintended acceleration by model year
- 19993
- 19988
- 19965
- 19953
What owners say
While backing out of a parking area the vehicles engine began to accelerate until the rear bumper struck a light pole. Driver then placed the transmission into drive and the car surged forward at an uncontrollably high speed, jumping the curb and striking a concrete pillar, resulting in considerable damage to the front area of the vechicle and bruising the drivers left arm. Pressing hard on the brakes seemed to have little or no effect. It appears that the throttle linkage/cruise control or some related mechanism malfunctioned.
While parking vehicle, the engine suddenly revved up for no reason & then shot forward. Applying brakes, did not stop vehicle. It went over small embankment. Air bags did not deploy.
Throttle linkages and control hesitate on occasion as well as sudden acceleration.
While parking vehicle, backing up, vehicle suddenly accelerated, jumped curve and slammed into metal newspaper box.
Service bulletins that may apply
- Information to aid in diagnosis for clarification of lock-off solenoid and solenoid tank valve coil...
- Information regarding speed control switch voltage readings - service tip
- Subject regarding the speed control switch voltage readings - service tip
- Some vehicles may exhibit a hard start / long crank, cold start stall, cold rough idle concern
- Long crank - sticking idle air control (IAC) valve - vehicles built from 11/1/94 through 3/30/96 -stall -...
- To improve startability of 2.0L engine at ambient temps below 0 deg f (-18 c) depress the accelerator to...
- 2.5L cold start/stall
Related recalls
Vehicle speed control: cables
- What is wrong
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with the traction control option. The throttle cables were damaged during vehicle assembly leading to fraying or separation of the throttle cable.
- Risk
- This condition could prevent the engine from returning to idle.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the throttle cable with a revised design that is less susceptible to bending or kinking during installation.
Recall number 97V225000 · Recall details
Questions about the 1996 Ford Contour sudden acceleration
Is sudden unintended acceleration a common problem on the 1996 Ford Contour?
5 of 562 owner complaints about the 1996 Ford Contour (1%) mention sudden unintended acceleration. The model year with the most reports is 1998.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 1996 Ford Contour?
There is 1 recall and 7 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.
Other symptoms on the 1996 Ford Contour
Headlights 54Stalling 34Overheating 24Fire or smoke 21Check engine light 17Engine failure 11Loss of power 11Transmission failure 10Won't start 9ABS 8Brake failure 8Warning lights 7Ball joint 6Power windows 6Seat belt 6Grinding brakes 5Door locks 5Tire blowout 5
VIN decoder
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