NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
123 reportsClear category filterMileage unknown · Aug 14, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
EVER SINCE BUYING OUR 1996 2.5L CONTOUR IN AUG. OF 1999 WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS OUT OF IT. OUR FIRST PROBLEM WE EXPERIENCED WAS A LOUD HOWLING COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, LATER TO DISCOVER THE FACTORY INSTALLED MASS AIR FLOW INTAKE HOSE KIT HAD BEEN REVISED THUS LEAVING US TO HAVE TO PURCHASE THE NEW AT A TOTAL …
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EVER SINCE BUYING OUR 1996 2.5L CONTOUR IN AUG. OF 1999 WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS OUT OF IT. OUR FIRST PROBLEM WE EXPERIENCED WAS A LOUD HOWLING COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, LATER TO DISCOVER THE FACTORY INSTALLED MASS AIR FLOW INTAKE HOSE KIT HAD BEEN REVISED THUS LEAVING US TO HAVE TO PURCHASE THE NEW AT A TOTAL PRICE OF $97.00 DOLLARS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SHORTLY AFTER GETTING THIS ONE PROBLEM FIXED ANOTHER AROSE. THIS TIME BOTH THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND COOLING SYSTEM LIGHTS ARE ON CONTINUOSLY DESPITE HAVING PROPER FLUID LEVELS. ALONG WITH THE OTHER PROBLEMS EVERY TIME THE CAR IS STARTED IN THE MORNING OR ANY TIME THE ENGINE IS COLD IT IDLES ROUGHLY FOR ABOUT 20 SECONDS AND THEN QUITS AND NO ONE CAN EXPLAIN THIS WEIRD PHENOMENA BUT IS SURE SEEMS TO HAPPEN TO THE MAJORITY OF THESE CARS. NEEDLESS TO SAY WITH FORD'S LACK OF ATTENTION TO THESE MATTERS NOT JUST MINE BUT ALL OF THEM THIS WILL BE MY LAST AUTO BEARING THE FORD NAME.*AK
NHTSA ODI #750436
Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentPower Train
ASKED DEALERSHIP TO PERFORM RECALL 00V-367000 AND THEY SAID FORD HAS NO SUCH RECALL.*AK
NHTSA ODI #750336
Mileage unknown · Jul 23, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFire
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE OVERHEATED, CONSUMER STOPPED TO ADD ANTI-FREEZE, A LITTLE WHILE LATER VEHICLE BEGAN TO MAKE NOISES AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP, VEHICLE HAD CAUGHT ON FIRE. OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #562175
Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED OUT AND OVERHEATED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING ENGINE TO BURN UP. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES HER PROBLEM WAS EXACTLY WHAT RECALL 00V367 WAS FOR. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #891791
Mileage unknown · May 28, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
THIS ENGINE SITUATION WAS INTRACTABLE BECAUSE THE FORD BULLETIN ADVISES THAT HEAD GASKET REMOVAL WARRANTS REPLACEMENT, THEREFORE EVEN FORD TECHNICIANS HAVE TO ?!@#$% FOOT AROUND TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM IS ELSEWHERE RATHER THAN GOING RIGHT TO THE SOURCE. I BORROWED $10,000 TO FINISH SCHOOL THIS YEAR AND MUCH OF THAT MONEY WAS SPEN…
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THIS ENGINE SITUATION WAS INTRACTABLE BECAUSE THE FORD BULLETIN ADVISES THAT HEAD GASKET REMOVAL WARRANTS REPLACEMENT, THEREFORE EVEN FORD TECHNICIANS HAVE TO ?!@#$% FOOT AROUND TO SEE IF THE PROBLEM IS ELSEWHERE RATHER THAN GOING RIGHT TO THE SOURCE. I BORROWED $10,000 TO FINISH SCHOOL THIS YEAR AND MUCH OF THAT MONEY WAS SPENT ON THIS CAR. IT DESTROYED MY ACADEMIC YEAR AND I BARELY GRADUATED THANKS TO THIS MAJOR HEADACHE. THE WAS ONLY AT 49,000 MILES WHEN IT FINALLY WENT CAPUT. WHEN THE ENGINE WAS DISASSEMBLED IT WAS TOTALLY WARPED AND BLOWN. I BOUGHT A FORD REBUILT ENGINE BECAUSE I COULDN'T AFFORD THE EXTRA $700 FOR A JASPER REBUILT ENGINE... SEE THEY REBUILD THE SAME ENGINE AND MAKE A 7 YEAR 100,000 WARRANTY ON THE REBUILT ENGINE BECAUSE THEY USE A GRAPHITE HEAD GASKET AND MAKE OTHER IMPROVEMENTS THAT FORD DOESN'T MAKE. FORD NOT ONLY SELLS THEIR WEAKER REBUILT ENGINES BUT ONLY PUT A 1 YEAR 12,000 MILE WARRANTY ON IT. WELL, I'M BROKE AND IT'S TOTALLY FORD'S FAULT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #746026
Mileage unknown · May 27, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHEN THE WATER PUMP FAILED TH HEAD GASKET ALSO FAILED . AND POSSIBLY A CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD.*AK
NHTSA ODI #745994
Mileage unknown · May 25, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY 70MPH WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING ALL LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD AND THERE WAS A CLICKING NOISE . VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *AK *JB
NHTSA ODI #889212
Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING ENGINE OVERHEATED. THEN, TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER. DEALER FOUND OUT THAT PROBLEM WAS WITH WATER PUMP THAT MALFUNTIONED, AND CAUSED OVERHEATING.*AK THE EMPELLOR FELL APART CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVER HEAT. *YH
NHTSA ODI #886317
Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE ENGINE COOLING FAN BROKE PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-367 CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT, THE CONSUMER HAD TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE INSTALLED, CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
NHTSA ODI #560217
Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE OVERHEATED, DEALER STATED THAT VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL DUE TO VIN, CONSUMER FEELS THIS VEHICLE SHOULD BE INCLUDED. *SLC
NHTSA ODI #881034
Official recalls
8Jul 9, 2001
ON CERTAIN MY 1996-1998 PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY, CUAUTITLAN ASSEMBLY PLANTS OR ON MY 1999 PASSENGER VEHCLES BUILT AT THE AUTOMOTIVE ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY PLANTS, THE ROUGH SURFACE OF THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR'S STAINLESS STEEL BLADES CAN DAMAGE THE COPPER SURFACE OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. THE DAMAGE COULD, OVER TIME, CAUSE INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE CONNECTOR AND, DUE TO SUBSEQUENT TERMINAL RELAXATION, RESULT IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE OPEN CIRCUIT COULD LEAD TO ELECTRICAL ARCING THAT COULD MELT THE CONNECTOR HOUSING MATERIAL CREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR AND A NEW WIRE JUMPER HARNESS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 29, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
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.
Mar 9, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). A PRESSURE CONSCIOUS REDUCING VALVE (PCRV) IN THE REAR BRAKES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CORROSION AND RESULT IN MALFUNCTION, WHEN OPERATED IN AREAS THAT USE SALT COMPOUNDS ON THE ROADWAY FOR DE-ICING OR DUST CONTROL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF BOTH PCRV'S MALFUNCTION, VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED DURING BRAKING AS A RESULT OF THE REAR WHEELS LOCKING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL IMPROVED PCRV'S IN THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS RECALL WAS EXPANDED IN SEPTEMBER 2000 TO INCLUDE 1999 AND 2000 FORD CONTOUR, MERCURY MYSTIQUE AND COUGAR VEHICLES.
Sep 13, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FUEL FILLER PIPE VENT HOSE MAY HAVE LESS THAN THE INTENDED LEVEL OF OZONE RESISTANCE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE HOSE BECOMING BRITTLE AND CRACKING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A CRACKED HOSE COULD RESULT IN FUEL LEAKAGE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING FUELED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUEL FILLER VENT HOSE CONTACTING THE APPROPRIATE BLEND OF PVC AND NITRILE RUBBER.
May 5, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TERMINALS AT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN EXPERIENCE HEAT DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF OVERHEATING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN DISTORTION OF THE TERMINAL CAUSING AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION, PARKING LAMP, AND TAIL LAMP CIRCUITS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLAMP SWITCH WIRING CONNECTOR CONTAINING BRONZE TERMINALS AND AN INSPECTION, AND REPLACEMENT IF NECESSARY, OF THE HEADLAMP SWITCH.
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.
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.
Nov 17, 1997
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BI-FUEL VEHICLES MODIFIED TO RUN ON EITHER GASOLINE OR COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG). THE NATURAL GAS FUEL TANKS HAVE A SOLENOID SHUT-OFF VALVE THAT STOPS FUEL FLOW FROM THE FUEL TANK IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN MODERATE TO SEVERE COLLISIONS. IF THE VEHICLE IS IN A COLLISION AND THE NATURAL GAS FUEL LINE IS DAMAGED, THE SYSTEM COULD LEAK NATURAL GAS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy: FORD HAS REQUESTED OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES TO HAVE THE CNG FUEL SYSTEM DISABLED UNDER A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN AND TO ONLY USE GASOLINE FUEL UNTIL A PERMANENT CORRECTIVE ACTION IS DEVELOPED. OWNERS ARE BEING ALERTED TO THIS SOLENOID VALVE CONCERN AT THIS TIME. THE TIMING OF CORRECTIVE ACTIONS IS BEING DELAYED TO ALLOW BOTH CONDITIONS TO BE REMEDIED AT ONE TIME. IN THE MEANTIME, THERE IS NOT RISK AS LONG AS THE NATURAL GAS SYSTEM HAS BEEN DISABLED AND THE VHEICLE IS ONLY OPERATED ON GASOLINE.
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
5RQ02006 · 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
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
PE98063 · Headlight Switch
Opened Dec 3, 1998 · Closed May 10, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
ODI OPENED THE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION ON DECEMBER 3, 1989 BASED ON FIVE CONSUMER COMPLAINTS, ALL OF WHICH MENTIONED CONCERNS CENTERED ON THE DASHBOARD-MOUNTED HEADLIGHT SWITCH.THESE CONCERNS INCLUDED AN ALLEGATION OF THE SWITCH CATCHING FIRE, AN ALLEGATION OF HEADLIGHT LOSS, AND THREE ALLEGATIONS OF INSTRUMENT PANEL AND TAIL LIGHT OUTAGES.THREE OF THE REPORTS SPECIFICALLY IDENTIFIED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND ITS ASSOCIATED WIRING AS HAVING BEEN HEAT DAMAGED.FORD INVESTIGATIONS HAVE FOUND THAT OVERHEATING OF AN ELECTRICAL TERMINAL AT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CONNECTOR CAUSES LOSS OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND TAIL LIGHTS.FORD WILL REMEDY THIS CONDITION IN 1996-1998 MODEL CONTOUR AND MYSTIQUE VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM APRIL 20, 1995 THROUGH AUGUST 12, 1998 AND AT THE CAUTITLAN, MEXICO ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM JUNE 13, 1995 THROUGH AUGUST 24, 1998 UNDER RECALL 99V-103.THE REMEDY INVOLVES REPLACEMENT OF THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CONNECTOR AND IF NECESSARY, THE SWITCH ITSELF.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION IS CLOSED.
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