Electrical System. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports10 fire reports7 injury reports

What owners actually said

218 reports

Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2001

Wheels

CONSUMER HEARD A CRUNCHING SOUND. DEALER FOUND 2 STUDS WERE CRACKED ON LEFT FRONT WHEEL. AT THIS TIME, FRONT RIGHT SIDE HAS ONE CRACKED STUD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #882999

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2001

Power Train

TRANSMISSION GEARS HAVE DETERIORATED. DEALER IS REPAIRING VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #881349

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2001

Suspension

CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP/MECHANIC FOR A "ROARING" NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END. THIS NOISE WOULD BECOME LOUDER WITH SPEED. DEALER STATED THAT PROBLEM WAS WITH BEARINGS OF VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #880863

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2001

Electrical System

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE. WATER TEMPERATURE GAUAGE WOULD FLUCTUATE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. INFORMED BY MECHANIC A TSB WAS SENT BY MANUFACTURER ON CAUSE OF PROBLEM. SEEMED THAT COMPUTER CHIP CAUSED VEHICLE TO HESITATE. MECHANIC REMOVED BATTERY CABLE & LET VEHICLE SIT FOR AWHILE BEFORE REHOOKING CABLES. THIS CAUS…

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NHTSA ODI #879126

Mileage unknown · Jan 17, 2001

Power Train

IN COLD WEATHER IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE. CONSUMER HAS TO RESORT TO A SREW DRIVER TO HELP SHIFT, VEHICLE AT DEALER SINCE DECEMBMBER 28, 2000 TO REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS BUT KNOB ROTATES AND SHIFT BINDS STILL. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #878295

Mileage unknown · Jan 14, 2001

Electrical SystemFire

WIRES ARE FUSED TOGETHER AND SHORTED OUT. NO FUSE OR CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENNED. FIRE WENT OUT WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF. *AK

NHTSA ODI #739343

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2001

Engine And Engine CoolingExterior LightingVisibility

I ONLY HAVE 2 SPEEDS ON MY HEATER BLOWER,LO AND 2. I ALSO HAVE HAD SMOKE COMMING FROM UNDER THE DASH OR FROM A HEATER VENT WHEN THE HEATER HAS BEEN ON. WHEN I GO OVER A BUMP REGARDLESS OF HOW SMALL THERE IS A THUMP SOUND THAT COMES FROM THE TRUNK AREA. THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM SEEMS TO HIT REALLY HARD WITH ANY KIND OF BUMP IN THE…

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NHTSA ODI #738894

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

TEMPERATURE GAUGE DIDN'T WORK ALL THE TIME. CAR OVERHEATED, TOOK CAR TO PEP BOYS THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG, PAID FOR RADIATOR SERVICE. ABOUT 5 DAYS LATER CAR OVERHEATED AND BLEW A HEAD GASKET. TOWED CAR HOME. 2000 MILES OVER WARRANT. WHAT TO DO?*AK

NHTSA ODI #738869

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2000

Fuel System, Gasoline

AC/HEATER SWITCH WHICH PREVIOUSLY FAILED (VERY SIMILAR TO EXISTING INVESTIGATION # PE00023) IN OCT 2000, HAS FAILED AGAIN. THE AC/HEATER SWITCH WILL INTERMITTENTLY FAIL TO ENGAGE THE HVAC SYSTEM AND WILL FAIL TO ENGAGE THE AC COMPRESSOR WHEN AN AC MODE IS SELECTED. THIS IS THE SECOND FAILURE OF THIS PART AND I NOTICED SEVERAL O…

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NHTSA ODI #737586

Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2000

Equipment

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COMPRESSOR "FROZE-UP" WHICH LOCKED UP THE ENGINE AND WOULD NOT RUN. THE DEALER THAT I TOOK MY CAR TO, SAID THAT THEY HAD HAD OTHER CONTOURS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. I WAS FORTUNATE THAT I WAS STOPPED, AT MY SISTER'S HOUSE AND NOT ON THE ROAD. I HAD JUST TRAVELLED 130 MILES, WHEN THE CAR CRATERED. MY PROBLEM WITH THIS IS THAT IF FORD KNEW THE DESIGN WOULD RENDER THE ENGINE USELESS, IT WOULD BE A DESIGN PROBLEM. THERE'S NO WAY TO BY-PASS THE COMPRESSOR AS IT IS ON A PULLEY SYSTEM WITH ONE SERPENTINE BELT FOR EVERYTHING. MY BILL FOR REPAIRS IS IN EXCESS OF $800.00, OF WHICH THE COMPRESSOR IS OVER $500.00. PLEASE INVESTIGATE TO SEE HOW MANY CONTOUR OWNERS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THIS PROBLEM. IT'S NO WONDER THAT ANOTHER EMPLOYEE OF ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WARNED ME TO GET RID OF THAT "THING" AS SOON AS YOU CAN. DOES NOT SPEAK WELL FOR FORD. IF YOU NEED ANYTHING ELSE, PLEASE LET ME KNOW. *AK

NHTSA ODI #736977

Official recalls

01V230000 · Electrical System

Jul 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.

00V075000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components

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.

99V103000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

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.

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.

97V203000 · Fuel System, Other:storage

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 ↗