Illustration1: IN COLD WEATHER, PARKING BRAKE WILLN'T RELEASE THUS DRAGS TIRES. 2: CALIPERS DON'T FULLY DISENGAGE; NOTICABLE DRAGGING (WEATHER NOT FACTOR) 3: DEALER RELUCTANT TO ASSIST.
1995 Ford Contour
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
More warning signs than most Contour years
Owner complaints for the 1995 Ford Contour are substantially higher than the model-year median of 218.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Contour years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 78 of 891 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 224 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 180 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 126 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
38 crash reports65 fire reports28 injury reports
What owners actually said
891 reportsWHEN DRIVING ON WET PAVEMENT AND WATER SPLASHES UNDER THE VEHICLE, THE PULLEY ON THE POWER STEERING SLIPS, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY. WHILE DRIVING AND PARKED SMELLED GAS FUMES. IN ADDITION, THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE GAS STATION TO FILL UP VEHICLE AND THE GAS PUMP CUTS OFF AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS FULL, EVEN WHEN IT WAS NOT. THE DEFECTS DESCRIBED COMPLY WITH RECALL NUMBERS 94V203000 AND 94V1…
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THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY. WHILE DRIVING AND PARKED SMELLED GAS FUMES. IN ADDITION, THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE GAS STATION TO FILL UP VEHICLE AND THE GAS PUMP CUTS OFF AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS FULL, EVEN WHEN IT WAS NOT. THE DEFECTS DESCRIBED COMPLY WITH RECALL NUMBERS 94V203000 AND 94V184000. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
FRONT AND REAR BRAKE MAKING EXCESSIVE GROANING NOISE. REPEATED REPAIRS HAVE BEEN NESSARY YET THE PROBLEM REMAINS. YH *MJS
WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THERE IS A NOISE AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED BRAKES 5 TIMES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, AND THE PASSENGER REAR SEATBELT BUCKLE IS BROKEN WHICH WONT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. DAV…
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WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THERE IS A NOISE AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DEALER REPLACED BRAKES 5 TIMES. CAUSE UNKNOWN. ALSO PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION, AND THE PASSENGER REAR SEATBELT BUCKLE IS BROKEN WHICH WONT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. DAVID RANDOLPH CALLED ON BEHALF OF HIS SISTER MARY HATZELL. PLEASE DIRECT ANY QUESTIONS TO HIM. *AK
CAR WILL NOT START AT ALL I HAVE TAKEN IT TO TWO DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY HAVEN'T FIGURED OUT WHAT IS WRONG YET.
WHENEVER VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IN WET CONDITIONS ,WATER WOULD GET ONTO POWER STEERING BELT, CAUSING THE BELT TO SLIP ON THE PULLEY, RESULTING IN POWER STEERING FAILURE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND MFR IS AWEAR OF DEFECT AND HAS A CORRECTIVE KIT. DEALER REFUSES TO DO REPAIRS UNLESS COST GOES TO CONSUMER.
MADE A LITTLE NOISE AT START-UP/HAD WOBBLY ROUGH FEEL/ CAR HAS BEEN IN SERVICE DEPT. SINCE OCT.21/REQUESTS TO SEE VEHICLE WERE DENIED /SNEAKED IN BEHIND DEALERSHIP TONIGHT AFTER WORK/CAR WAS SUPPOSEDLY BROKEN DOWN FOR INSPECTION &REBUILD /I CRAWLED UNDERNEATH WITH SPOTLIGHT AND THE OILPAN HAS BEEN REMOVED/PHANTOM PARTS CAN'T BE …
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MADE A LITTLE NOISE AT START-UP/HAD WOBBLY ROUGH FEEL/ CAR HAS BEEN IN SERVICE DEPT. SINCE OCT.21/REQUESTS TO SEE VEHICLE WERE DENIED /SNEAKED IN BEHIND DEALERSHIP TONIGHT AFTER WORK/CAR WAS SUPPOSEDLY BROKEN DOWN FOR INSPECTION &REBUILD /I CRAWLED UNDERNEATH WITH SPOTLIGHT AND THE OILPAN HAS BEEN REMOVED/PHANTOM PARTS CAN'T BE LOCATED ANYWHERE IN U.S. ACCORDING TO SERVICE DEPT./AM TOLD A DIFFERENT STORY EACH WEEK/ CAN ANYONE HELP ME?
CAR HAS HAD MULTIPLE RECALLS. EVERYTIME I WENT IN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE CARS COMPLETE SHUTDOWN WHEN WET, I WAS TREATED AS IF I WERE IMAGINING THINGS. EVENTUALLY, A RECALL WAS INITIATED AND THAT PROBLEM WAS FIXED - SEVERAL TIMES. NOW, AT 62000 MILES, ONE DAY I HAVE A TRANSMISSION AND THE NEXT DAY I DON'T. WHEN I CONTACTED THE…
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CAR HAS HAD MULTIPLE RECALLS. EVERYTIME I WENT IN COMPLAINING ABOUT THE CARS COMPLETE SHUTDOWN WHEN WET, I WAS TREATED AS IF I WERE IMAGINING THINGS. EVENTUALLY, A RECALL WAS INITIATED AND THAT PROBLEM WAS FIXED - SEVERAL TIMES. NOW, AT 62000 MILES, ONE DAY I HAVE A TRANSMISSION AND THE NEXT DAY I DON'T. WHEN I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP, WAS COMMISERATED WITH, REASSURED THAT REPAIRS WERE COVERED AS I HAD PURCHASED A 60000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH THEY TOLD ME WAS ADDED ON TO THE 6000+ MILES ON THE CAR, WHEN I PURCHASED IT. YET, WHEN I RESEARCH YOUR DATABASE I AM OVERWHELMED BY THE NUMBER OF RECALLS ISSUED ON THIS CAR, SOME OF WHICH I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT, AS WELL AS THE VAST NUMBER OF ENTRIES IN THE DEFECTS INV. DATABASE CONCERNING TRANSMISSIONS, AS WELL AS THE VAST NUMBER OF TRANSMISSION ENTRIES IN YOUR OTHER DATABASES. ADDITIONALLY, WHEN I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, INITIALLY VERY HELPFUL, HAD CAR TOWED...MADE APPOINTMENT, COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, NOW THEY REFUSE TO HONOR THEIR WORD, STATE CAR "OUT OF WARRANTY" AND IT'S MY PROBLEM. SEEMS AWFUL CONVENIENT TO ME. PLEASE HELP. I AM 100% DISABLED WITH LEFT ANTERIOR FRONTAL LOBE BRAIN DAMAGE FROM AN AUTO ACCIDENT IN 1995. WHEN I PURCHASED THIS CAR(1ST AUTO PURCHASE EVER-IN 1996)THE SALESMAN(WHO WAS LET GO APPROX.3 WEEKS LATER)WALKED ME THROUGH THE PAPERWORK,TOLD ME WHERE TO SIGN & TOLD ME OF HUGE SELLING BONUS FOR HIM. I AM THE VICTIM OF A FAULTY TRANSMISSION, FALSE & MISLEADING SALES TACTICS AS WELL AS THE VICTIM OF "BAIT & SWITCH" TACTICS WHEN MY CAR WAS TOWED TO THEIR DEALERSHIP, FIRST BEING TOLD THAT IT WAS WARRANTY COVERED, THEN BEING CALLED & TOLD THAT IT WAS NOT. THEY KNEW THE MILEAGE ON THE CAR. BEFORE THE YOUNG MAN ASSURED ME THAT IT WAS 60000 MILES ON TOP OF ORIGINAL MILES, HE REQUIRED THAT I FIND THE VIN NUMBER SO THAT HE COULD FIND IT IN THE COMPUTER AND CONFIRM ITS COVERAGE. I EXPECT THEM TO HONOR THEIR WORD. OTHERWISE, I FEEL THAT I HAVE BEEN THE VICTIM OF FRAUDULENT PRACTICES.
THE CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH FRONT AND REAR COIL SPRINGS. FOUR COIL SPRINGS BROKE OFF VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
Official recalls
800V367000 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Nov 6, 2000
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
98V233000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift
Sep 18, 1998
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INCORRECT GEAR SELECTION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLOOR SHIFT CONTROL.
97V225000 · Vehicle Speed Control:cables
Dec 8, 1997
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
95V232000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
Dec 5, 1995
THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE OPENING REINFORCEMENT, CONSTRUCTED FROM TWO SEPARATELY MOLDED PIECES, CAN LEAK AT THE WELD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK ASSEMBLIES WITH UNITS CONTAINING ONE-PIECE MOLDED REINFORCEMENTS.
95V228000 · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
Dec 4, 1995
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.
95V009000 · Visibility:windshield
Jan 24, 1995
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."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF THE WINDOW BREAKS, THE GLASS FRAGMENTS OF THE REAR WINDOWS EXCEED THE SIZE SPECIFICATIONS OF FMVSS NO. 205.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE RIGHT REAR DOOR GLASS.
94V203000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
Oct 18, 1994
THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE OPENING REINFORCEMENT CAN LEAK AT THE WELD.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, AS APPROPRIATE, REPLACE THE FUEL TANKS.
94V184000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
Sep 29, 1994
A METAL SHIELD ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE PLASTIC FUEL FILLER PIPE CAN DEVELOP A STATIC ELECTRICAL CHARGE DURING REFUELING OF THE VEHICLE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, MODIFY THE VEHICLES BY ADDING A GROUND STRAP BETWEEN THE FILLER PIPE SHIELD AND THE BODY.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
7RQ02006 · Incorrect Gear Indication
Opened Feb 26, 2002 · Closed Sep 12, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train
There is no summary currently available
EA01001 · Blower Switch/resistor Or Wiring Harness
Opened Jan 5, 2001 · Closed Jul 31, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
PE00023 · Blower Switch/resistor Or Wiring Harness
Opened Jun 14, 2000 · Closed Jan 5, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
EA00005 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened Feb 23, 2000 · Closed Nov 9, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
There is no summary currently available
RQ99019 · Various Intermittent Electrical Issues
Opened Sep 15, 1999 · Closed Mar 7, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other
There is no summary currently available
PE99052 · Engine Cooling Fan Fires
Opened Aug 18, 1999 · Closed Feb 23, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Engine And Engine Cooling
ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION ON AUGUST 18, 1999, BASED ON FOUR REPORTS OF FIRE INVOLVING THE ENGINE COOLING FAN.THE REPORTS ALLEGE THE ELECTRONIC COOLING FAN CAUGHT FIRE WITH RESULTANT DAMAGE TO THE FAN AND WIRE HARNESS AND/OR THE HARNESS CONNECTOR.IN ITS PE RESPONSE, FORD PROVIDED INFORMATION RELEVANT TO 46 ADDITIONAL ALLEGED FIRE INCIDENTS AND 47 ALLEGED FAILURES OF THE COOLING FAN INVOLVING THERMAL DAMAGE TO THE FAN.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO FURTHER STUDY THE ISSUE.
PE98050 · Front Suspension Coil Spring Failure
Opened Sep 14, 1998 · Closed Feb 4, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available