- The problem
- Federal mogul is recalling 6,903 aftermarket ball joint assemblies shipped between november 9, 2007 and march 26, 2008, which may have been packaged with incorrect nuts. The part numbers packaged with incorrect nuts are: k7147, k7329, k8683, and 104353. These parts were made for use on the various vehicles listed above.
- The risk
- The nuts included in the packaging for these ball joint assemblies are missing the intended prevailing torque (self-locking) feature. If the incorrect nut was to become loose, the joining members may loosen leading to a separation of the ball joint. This may result in loss of vehicle control, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Federal mogul will notify owners and replace the parts free of charge. The recall began on may 22, 2008. Owners can contact federal mogul at 877-489-6659.
Vehicle safety record
1995 Ford Contour Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 908 complaints about the 1995 Ford Contour with NHTSA, most often about the engine & cooling (216) and the electrical system (174). Those complaints describe 39 crashes, 65 fires, 38 injuries and 11 deaths. It is covered by 12 recalls, the latest in April 2008 for the suspension. For comparison, the 1994 has 12 and the 1996 has 581.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Contour year, for its age
#3 most complained-about 1995 vehicle
- Complaints
- 908
- Recalls
- 12
- Crashes
- 39
- Fires
- 65
- Injuries
- 38
- Deaths
- 11
Most common 1995 Ford Contour problems
Share of all 908 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1995 Ford Contour recalls 12
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Certain aftermarket brake hydraulic master cylinders sold as replacement brake cylinders for certain ford, daimlerchrysler, and jeep passenger vehicles. These brake cylinders were sold under the brand names of napa, raybestos, aimco, ac delco, carquest, bendix, and wagner. Only products that were manufactured from july 27, 2005 through january 17, 2006 (date codes 0529 through 0602) are subject to this recall. When subject to very cold temperatures, an internal seal in the master cylinder could lose flexibility and may cause brake fluid to leak.
- The risk
- Loss of brake fluid can lead to a decrease in brake line pressure and an increase in stopping distance, which can result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Affinia (brake parts, inc.) Will replace the subject brake hydraulic master cylinders free of charge. The recall began on march 20, 2006. Owners can contact affina group customer service at 1-800-323-0354.
- The problem
- This is not a safety recall in accordance with the safety act. However, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. Vehicle description: 1995-1997 ford contour and mercury mystique vehicles. The heater blower resistor could overheat causing the attached electrical connector to melt.
- The risk
- THIS COULD CREATE THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.
- The fix
- Ford will provide additional warranty coverage for the heater blower switch for 10 years from original date of sale of the vehicle or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first. Dealers will install a new heater blower resistor and a new wire jumper harness free of charge.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: 1995 passenger vehicles equipped with the 2.0L and 2.5L engines, and 1996 vehicles equipped with 2.5L engines. Tightening of the engine cooling fan motor bearings, up to and including motor stall, can result in increased motor torque and higher than normal motor current and accompanying high motor temperatures.
- The risk
- Overheating of the cooling fan motor due to excessive current can result in smoke and odors from bearing grease, insulation and other internal motor components. If electrical current continues to be applied to the motor, internal motor components could ignite possibly igniting other engine compartment components.
- The fix
- Dealers will install a positive temperature coefficient device in-line with each fan motor. Ford will also extend the warranty on the engine cooling fan assembly to a total of 8 years of service or 100,000 miles from the warranty start date, whichever occurs first. If the vehicle already has more than 100,000 miles, this coverage will last until july 31, 2001.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The floor shift automatic transmission control can be damaged if subjected to certain interior cleaning products. The gear position indicator can deteriorate and not correctly indicate the actual gear position.
- The risk
- This condition can result in incorrect gear selection.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the automatic transmission floor shift control.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- This condition could prevent the engine from returning to idle.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the throttle cable with a revised design that is less susceptible to bending or kinking during installation.
- The problem
- The fuel tank filler pipe opening reinforcement, constructed from two separately molded pieces, can leak at the weld.
- The risk
- FUEL LEAKAGE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the fuel tank assemblies with units containing one-piece molded reinforcements.
- The problem
- Cracks have been found in the front safety belt outboard anchor tabs due to a combination of hydrogen embrittlement of the tab and stress introduced during attachment of the anchor tab to the seat frame. This does not conform with the requirements of fmvss no. 210, "Seat belt assembly anchorages."
- The risk
- Consequence of non-compliance: a fracture or separation in this area would reduce the load that the anchor and the front safety belt anchorages could sustain, increasing the risk of injury in a vehicle collisoin.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect and install an anchor tab reinforcement or replacement of the complete front seat belt assembly if an anchor tab is found to have fractured.
- The problem
- The passenger side air bag has an inflator body that cracked during forming of the curl that retains the igniter plug in the end of the inflator. Also the igniter end cap can separate from the inflator.
- The risk
- The passenger side air bag may not inflate properly resulting in reduced occupant protection in a vehicle accident. If the igniter end cap separates in a frontal collision, hot gases can be released and ignite flammable material or cause burn injuries.
- The fix
- Dealers will remove and replace the passenger side air bag module.
- The problem
- The glass tempering process on the right hand rear door windows was not correctly performed. This does not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 205, "Glazing materials."
- The risk
- Consequence of non-compliance: if the window breaks, the glass fragments of the rear windows exceed the size specifications of fmvss no. 205.
- The fix
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT REAR DOOR GLASS.
- The problem
- The fuel tank filler pipe opening reinforcement can leak at the weld.
- The risk
- FUEL LEAKAGE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect and, as appropriate, replace the fuel tanks.
- The problem
- A metal shield on the outside of the plastic fuel filler pipe can develop a static electrical charge during refueling of the vehicle.
- The risk
- A static charge can discharge and serve as an ignition source for fuel vapors in the area of the filler pipe, resulting in a flash vapor ignition and a vehicle fire.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, modify the vehicles by adding a ground strap between the filler pipe shield and the body.
What owners say
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4 people checked this vehicle in the last 30 days. Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
908 complaints about the 1995 Ford Contour
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 37.
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 ford contour. While driving approximately 70 mph, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was restarted after fifteen minutes and driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who stated that a new transmission sensor was needed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 84,000. Ma 10/2 updated 11/28/2017*cn
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 ford contour. The contact stated a burning odor was emitted from the air vents. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnosis, where the mechanic stated that the insulation on the wiring harness had melted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vin was not included in nhtsa campaign id number 00v367000 (engine and engine cooling). The approximate failure mileage was 158,140.
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 ford contour. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 mph, the contact noticed that the front passenger side tire was flat. The tire was replaced with a spare, which was also punctured. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The mechanic stated that the front driver and passenger side coil spring would have to be replaced as well as the spare tire. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 ford contour. The contact stated that while parked, a burning odor began to emit from the vents. In addition, the check engine light illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for diagnostics, where the mechanic stated that the insulation on the wiring harness melted. The mechanic replaced the thermostat, radiator, oxygen sensor, fuel pump and fuel filter. The failure continued. There was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number 00v367000 (engine...
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and engine cooling) that may be related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the vin was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired a second time. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. Updated 2/23/12 *cn
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 ford contour. The contact stated that the vehicle was on while in park when a fuse blew and the vehicle stalled. The dealer informed the contact that the wiring harness failed and needed to be replaced. A private mechanic then confirmed that the wiring harness needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. No repairs were performed. The failure and current mileages were 97,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1995 ford contour. The contact stated that the engine wiring under the hood was fracturing from the plastic covering and the wires were touching which made the vehicle inoperable. In addition, the contact was concerned about the potential of the wires shortening or causing a fire. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop who advised that the failure of the wiring was so severe that they were unable to successfully run a diagnostic test. The manufacturer was contacted who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 120,000.
I have a 1995 ford contour and just found out all along there was a campaign on the wiring harness in the engine compartment . This is very unsafe and is causing the car to act erratically it is a fire hazard due to the fact the wiring harness is frayed if I touch any of the wires the insulation just falls off what hasn't already fell off. Engine dies and stalls all the time and car is un drivable called ford and they said there was a campaign and recall on wiring harness . But is unavailable now but I could buy one for $1300.00 It has caught small fire due to this. *Tr
The entire wiring harness in the engine compartment is defective. The plastic covering the wires is cracked and peeling off in the entire system causing the car to occasionally brake for no reason and to kick and sputter when driving especially when it has been raining. The ford dealer admits it is a common problem caused by an experimental plastic that was used that year but the complaint is not covered under any recalls so we have had to have minor repairs done to the wiring every time the car dies due to a short...
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in the system. The car is in perfect shape mechanically and the body is in great shape also. I am wondering why no one has addressed this problem before because I hate to think of how many others there are just like me who may have to junk a perfectly good car because they cannot afford to keep paying for wiring problems. I have never had another car that the wiring was the first to go. Especially one that is as well maintained as this one is. If you have any suggestions or solutions please let me know. It would be nice to know that the government was looking in at the problem trying to help the consumers as I have not seen it mentioned anywhere else yet. *Tr
I recently purchased a 1995 ford contour and I noticed its been smoking the mechanic keeps saying there is nothing wrong or they cant detect a problem. I noticed this model car has had several recalls. Could this used car be affected by a faulty part and can I qualify for a recall part repair if this car has a defective part? *Tr
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.
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,...
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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. *Tr
I have a 1995 ford contour which has a faulty wiring harness that led to vehicle problems. After research on the internet I found that a recall (99m03) was issued for faulty wires. My car was not included in that recall even though it has the same problem that was mentioned in the recall. Why were not all of the cars with this defect recalled? *Tr
I took my 1995 ford contour in to my local perry lincoln ford dealer, on hitchcock st., In santa barbara, ca--today (10/12/09. I stated to the repairman that I noticed, on the internet, that the '95 ford contours had been recalled for ignition fires. I told him that my ignition switch heats up, every time I drive it, even a short distance of 3 miles to work, every day. I told him that the ignition switch gets so hot, that my key is too hot to handle!! The entire driver's wheel component, that includes...
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the ignition switch, gets hot. The repairman, at ford, took my vin no.; And researched my car, on his ford computer; and my vin no. Did not show a recall. I told him, I thought the recall was for all 1995 ford contours, not just some. Do I have to wait for a fire to start, in the ignition switch, before anything is done about it? I am a working registered nurse; and would rather prevent a fire than wait for one to burn my face and body; and destroy my entire car. The ford repairman did nothing about my concerns. He just said there has been no recall on my particular car!!! What can I do to protect myself from injury and harm, especially since my ignition switch, car key--and entire driver's wheel device overheats? All your 4 questions, below and to the right of this box are cut off except for the "approx. Incident date!!"! Your questionnaire also does not allow me to choose "ignition switch" for the defective part!! *Tr
Tl*the contact owns a 1995 ford contour. The contact's vehicle was repaired according to nhtsa campaign id number 00v367000(engine and engine cooling) in 2004. Five years later, the fan motors have overheated and caused the electrical components to melt. The dealer and manufacturer stated that they would not assume responsibility for any repairs because the vehicle was previously repaired according to the recall. The contact is in the process of having the vehicle repaired. The failure and current mileages were 58,109. Updated 07/28/09 *bf updated 07/30/09.*Jb
This was an "owner notification" or a ford recall (not ordered by the fed gov.) Number 99m03, wherein ford replaced under warranty the main wiring harness on 1995 ford contour vehicles. This is a safety issue and has not been performed on this particular vehicle. I purchased the vehicle after the notification to owners expired and wish to have ford stand by their warranty and complete this task under the warranty/recall. *Tr
Its 1995 ford contour all wiring under hood has insulation cracking and falling off all the way to hot cables at power distribution box. Checked several cars at wrecking yard for good harness all were the same car doesn't run now wires going to crank sensor shorted out car has 57,000 miles on it. *Tr
Tl*the contact owns a 1995 ford contour. While driving 35 mph, the vehicle completely shut off. The contact was not accelerating or decelerating prior to the failure, but maintained the same speed the entire time. All power was lost, including the brakes. The vehicle took approximately two hours to restart and was towed to the contact's residence. The ford manufacturer was called and stated that there was a recall, in which the previous owner did not have repaired. The recall date has currently expired and the contact would be responsible for the repair cost. The failure mileage was 95,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 1995 ford contour. While driving approximately 20 mph on normal road conditions, the contact smelled a strong odor of fuel coming from the vehicle. She also observed a small amount of fuel spilling from the fuel tank. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop and the mechanic stated that the failure was related to the filler pipe in the fuel tank system. The technician discovered nhtsa campaign id number 94v203000 (fuel system, gasoline:storage:tank assembly:filler pipe and cap) for the identical failures; however, the vin was excluded from the recall. The failure mileage was 37,000 and current mileage was 38,000.
Turn car on when car reaches to normal temp check engine light comes on and stalls most of the time at a complete stop shut engine off and check engine light is off till run for a min when engine is called light stays off till engine is warm again. *Tr
Ltr from regarding complaints about the electrical system in his 1995 ford contour. The consumer stated the underhood wiring harness was brittle and the insulation coating was peeling off exposing the wire harness. *Jb
My automatic transmission shift position indicator mounted on my floor console has disintegrated over time, and no longer exists. This failure has been recognized previously, and is due to defective, poor quality, plastic material that the shift indicator is made of. The consequence of this failure is that one cannot determine which gear the transmission is operating in, and can cause overheating of the transmission and/or engine, and possibly cause an auto accident, or fire. This has been a recognized defect...
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failure and was reported as a safety recall as early as 1998. However upon contact with the ford dealership and also the ford motor company representatives, they deny that my 1995 contour is included in the safety recall. There are numerous 1995 contour vehicle owner complaints filed with the ford motor company on this denial of safety recall application by other 1995 ford contour owners who have experienced that same lack of support through the ford motor co representatives. This material defect is a generic problem that affects all 1995 contours, however the ford representatives deny that my vin is included in the safety recall. *Tr
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...
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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 nhtsa for recalls due to this problem. *Tr
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...
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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. *Tr
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...
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in nhtsa 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.
I had both front coil springs on my 1995 ford contour fail (left spring broke into two pieces, the right into three). Resulted in car drifting back and forth. No response from dealership. *Tr
Ford Contour: every year compared
All Contour years1995 Ford Contour vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 Ford Contour | 908 | 12 | F | |
| 1995 Ford Crown Victoria | 265 | 12 | F | Compare |
| 1995 Ford Aerostar | 157 | 7 | C | Compare |
| 1995 Ford Bronco | 109 | 2 | F | Compare |
| 1995 Ford Aspire | 79 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 1995 Ford Club Wagon | 30 | 1 | F | Compare |
| 1995 Ford B800 | 3 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 1995 Ford Aeromax | 2 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 1995 Ford Cargo | 2 | 0 | C | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1995 Ford Contour
Does the 1995 Ford Contour have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 12 recalls for the 1995 Ford Contour: suspension (April 2008); service brakes, hydraulic (March 2006); electrical heating element (July 2001); engine and engine cooling (November 2000) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1995 Ford Contour?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the engine & cooling (216), electrical system (174), transmission & drivetrain (120).
How many complaints has the 1995 Ford Contour had?
908 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on September 4, 1994 and the latest on July 20, 2015. Of these, 39 describe a crash and 65 a fire, and together they report 38 injuries and 11 deaths.
Is the 1995 Ford Contour a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 11 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Ford Contour year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Ford Contour years have the most complaints?
1995 (908), 1998 (861), 1996 (581). See every Ford Contour year compared.
What should I do if my 1995 Ford Contour has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data