1998 Ford Contour: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Sep 18, 2007 · Engine · 75,237 miles · PA · fire

Tl*the contact owns a 1998 ford contour. While driving 20 MPH, the contact noticed smoke and flames rising from under the hood. The fire destroyed the vehicle. A police report was filed. As of september 18, 2007, the dealer had not inspected the vehicle to determine the cause of the fire. The purchase date was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 75,237.

Filed Mar 14, 2005 · Visibility · 79,000 miles · IL · fire

Recall campaign 01v230000 concerning heater blower resistor. On two separate occasions vehicle caught on fire while idling in the driveway. Both times consumer extinguished the fire, and vehicle was taken to a repair shop. The mechanic determined that the heater blower was the cause of both fires. Consumer contracted the dealer and the manufacturer. Both confirmed that this vehicle was not covered under the recall due to VIN.

Filed Sep 22, 2004 · Electrical, Engine · 72,000 miles · CT · fire

Smoke then flames came from the engine compartment and within 5 minutes of parking in the garage. The fire department extinguished the fire, and indicated that the fire occurred because of an electrical system failure.

Filed Sep 8, 2004 · Suspension · 69,000 miles · VA

While driving 55 MPH a popping noise was produced from the front driver's side tire. When driver looked out she didn't see anything so she continued to drive. Suddenly driver noticed smoke coming from the tire. She pulled over. As a result the coil spring broke, puncturing the tire. No impact reported. Two weeks later the passenger's side coil springs failed, puncturing the second tire. *ak

Filed Feb 5, 2004 · Electrical · 80,500 miles · MS · fire

The vehicle's blower switch caught fire around the steering column.

Filed Oct 1, 2003 · MO · fire

Several problems with vehicle has resulted in consumer paying for most of the recall repairs. *mr the vehicle experienced several mechanical problems. The vehicle also caught on fire once.

Filed Mar 11, 2003 · Brakes · UT

My compliant is that I was backing my car up and the front brakes locked up specifically the right front. The car would not move. You could smell burning and see smoke from the right front wheel. I had to have the car towed to my mechanic. After extensive work on the car we found out that the brake caliper piston would not retract into the caliper, after the mechanic reassembled the car, he found out the right caliper would not bleed out, after extensive testing the conclusion was reached no fluid would come out of the port on the hydraulic control unit to that wheel. Replacement of the hcu and module assembly was necessary. My car was towed to the mechanics on 2-06-2003 and was finally finished on 2-20-2003. The delay in getting the car finished was because it was the contour svt model 1998, changes in the brake parts had been made and were not easy to obtain. The ford dealer did not have the parts needed to complete the job they had to be ordered. I have all the parts that were pulled off the car. Also letter from my mechanic.

Filed Apr 15, 2002 · Engine · FL · fire

While vehicle was stopped consumer noticed temperature gauge rising. Consumer parked vehicle, hours later vehicle was restarted. Consumer test drove vehicle and notice d temperature gauge was raising. Consumer returned home, and noticed smoke coming from under the hood. Engine fan was on fire. Dealer replaced engine. Please provide further information.

Filed Mar 28, 2002 · Engine · FL

Consumer state while vehicle was stopping notice temperature gauge rising. Consumer parked vehicle one hour later vehicle was restarted and while driving the temperature gauge began to rise again. Consumer returned home and look under hood and saw that the engine fan was on fire. Dealer replace engine. Please provide further information. Nlm

Filed Feb 13, 2002 · Engine · FL

While the vehicle was parked with the engine running the temperture gauge indicated the vehicle was over heating and the vehicle began to smell like smoke, after inspection of the vehicle consumer notice that the engine fan was on fire. Nlm

Filed Sep 10, 2001 · Electrical · WV

Vehicle filled with smoke, no flames just wires burning. Consumer received a recall notice 01v230000/ manufacturer's recall 01s22.made and appointment, and part was ordered 4 days ahead, at that time information came up as a recall. Once consumer arrived at dealer was unable to pull up recall, and denied recall repairs.

Filed Aug 27, 2001 · Electrical, Suspension · FL

This vehicle has been a "lemon" since purchased new in august, 1997 from sam galloway ford in fort myers, florida. From the beginning, the car drove "rough" not smooth. The vehicle constantly was vibrating, and simply got worse over time. The vibrations would occur at speeds as low as about 40 miles per hour, increasing the faster you drove. You could actually feel and see your body shake. The ride was the total opposite of a smooth one. Rough and bumpy, even on smooth, florida roads. The vehicle felt like you were "pushing" or "forcing" it to drive. The gear shift has always been difficult to manuver, generally sticking while trying to change gears. A couple of times, this nearly caused an accident, due to the inability to change gears. When reported to ford, the only response that that "per the manual, the transmission needed some type of overhaul, at a cost of about $500. Also, several times, there was smoke and a burning rubber type smell emitting from the air vents. This was brought into ford several times, and not fixed. The final time, the entire car filled with smoke--I called the service manager, marlon hanson, from the vehicle on my cell phone, because I was scared that the car may burst into flames. His remarks made it sound like "no big deal" just bring in the car. Meanwhile, I had to pull over, I was so scared, not knowing if the vehicle was going to start on fire or even blow up. This vehicle was brought in twice more for this repair, and finally appears to be fixed. We were told that it was some wiring that was burning, or starting on fire. Our only compensation for that was a free rental car, after I pressured the service manager. The cassette portion of the radio broke early on. Never addressed that issue with dealer or ford. Steering column is increasingly difficult to manuever-very hard to turn. Airbag warning light intermittendly comes on, at any speed. Tires have been replaced, but newer tire keeps deflating--per tbs, coil spring problem?*a