UPON INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE FLUX HOSE, THERE WAS A LOT OF FRICTION ABRASION DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF HOSE. THE ABRASION WAS SO EXCESSIVE THAT IT THINNED THE HOSE TO THE INNER LINER, AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PRESSURE CAUSED IT TO BURST, AND LOSE ALL BRAKE FLUID AND BRAKING CAPABILITIES. THE PART AND PICTURES …
Read full complaint
UPON INSPECTION OF THE BRAKE FLUX HOSE, THERE WAS A LOT OF FRICTION ABRASION DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION OF HOSE. THE ABRASION WAS SO EXCESSIVE THAT IT THINNED THE HOSE TO THE INNER LINER, AND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED THE PRESSURE CAUSED IT TO BURST, AND LOSE ALL BRAKE FLUID AND BRAKING CAPABILITIES. THE PART AND PICTURES ARE AVAILABLE IF NEEDED. THE DEALER CHARGED $328 TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT I FEEL THAT IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN DONE AT NO CHARGE, SINCE IT WAS CLEAR THAT IT WAS DEFECTIVE DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION AT FACTORY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #706706
Mileage unknown · Mar 10, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
WHILE DRIVNG IN SNOWY/WET CONDITIONS ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP/VIBRATES/SHAKE. THEN VEHICLE SLID IN THE DIRECTION IT WAS GOING, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKING ABILITY AT ALL. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED THE REAR LEFT CALIPER. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT SAID IT WAS THE W…
Read full complaint
WHILE DRIVNG IN SNOWY/WET CONDITIONS ABS BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE WHEELS TO LOCK UP/VIBRATES/SHAKE. THEN VEHICLE SLID IN THE DIRECTION IT WAS GOING, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKING ABILITY AT ALL. ALSO, DEALER REPLACED THE REAR LEFT CALIPER. DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT SAID IT WAS THE WAY THE SYSTEM OPERATED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORAMTION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #835650
Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, Hydraulic
PROBLEMS OCCURRED SINCE CAR WAS LESS THAN 500 MILES OLD. THE CUTTING OFF OF THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPORTED FROM THAT TIME AND STILL OCCURS AFTER 17,600 MILES. PROBLEM CANNOT BE FOUND. LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHEN THE ABS AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHEN DRIVING DURING A SNOWY WEATHER. LOSS CONTROL OF CAR AND WENT OFF THE ROAD. OTHER PRO…
Read full complaint
PROBLEMS OCCURRED SINCE CAR WAS LESS THAN 500 MILES OLD. THE CUTTING OFF OF THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPORTED FROM THAT TIME AND STILL OCCURS AFTER 17,600 MILES. PROBLEM CANNOT BE FOUND. LOSS CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHEN THE ABS AND ENGINE SHUT DOWN WHEN DRIVING DURING A SNOWY WEATHER. LOSS CONTROL OF CAR AND WENT OFF THE ROAD. OTHER PROBLEMS INCLUDE DRIVER SEAT MOVES FORWARD INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKING.
NHTSA ODI #702190
Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 1998
Service Brakes, HydraulicSuspension
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT 45 TO 50 MPH STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES, CAUSE UNKNOWN. ALSO, VEHICLE HAS EXCESSIVE BRAKE NOISE. *AK *JB
NHTSA ODI #825579
Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 1998
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
REAR BRAKES VIBRATE.
NHTSA ODI #532485
Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 1998
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteeringCrashInjury
DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES, GOT INTO RIGHT LANE AND TOUCHED BRAKES LIGHTLY TO STEER CAR STRAIGHT, STEERING LOCKED UP, COULDN'T STEER LEFT OR RIGHT, STEERING STUCK IN SLANT POSITION. PUMPING BRAKES AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING. CAR RAN INTO GUARDRAIL AND FLIPPED THREE TIMES. AIR BAG DEPLOYED. …
Read full complaint
DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO CHANGE LANES, GOT INTO RIGHT LANE AND TOUCHED BRAKES LIGHTLY TO STEER CAR STRAIGHT, STEERING LOCKED UP, COULDN'T STEER LEFT OR RIGHT, STEERING STUCK IN SLANT POSITION. PUMPING BRAKES AND THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING. CAR RAN INTO GUARDRAIL AND FLIPPED THREE TIMES. AIR BAG DEPLOYED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #820621
Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED , THE BRAKES START MAKING LOUD NOISES. HAD THE PADS REPLACED LAST MONTH AND NOW THE SAME NOISE HAS RETURNED AGAIN. DEALER SAID THAT ROTORS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. *AK
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
4
RQ02006 · 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
1997 Ford Contour Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year