Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 132 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 130 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 128 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

50 crash reports20 fire reports36 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

132 reports

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Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

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FORD OPERATION #991308A FORD IS AWARE OF A PROBLEM WITH THE CYCLE VARIABLE CAMSHAFT TIMING (VCT) SOLENOID WHICH ACCORDING TO A PRINT OUT IS STILL COVERED UNDER THE EMISSIONS WARRANTY COVERAGE OF 80,000MILES AND 8 YEARS. HOWEVER, WHEN CALLING THE DEALER ONTHE PROBLEM - THEY PLAY STUPID AND QUOTE A PRICING IN THE THOUSANDS. WHAT GIVES??? MY INFORMATION COMES DIRECTLY FROM FORD TO THE MITCHELL INFORMATION COMPANY., LLC. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE TECH WHO LOOKED AT THE CAR - HE SAID THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HE IS SEEING TOO FREQUENTLY ON THE CONTOUR, ESPECIALLY THE 98. IS THIS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY FORD DISCONTINUED TO PRODUCE THIS CAR? SHOULD THIS BE A RECALL, SINCE THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE THE CAR TO STALL IN THE DRIVE POSITION WITHOUT WARNING? DT

NHTSA ODI #769347

46,000 miles · Nov 4, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND WILL STAY ON THE REMAINDER OF THE TIME VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. DEALER NOTIFIED, OXYGEN SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY A DIFFERENT TECHNICIAN WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. MR *NLM

NHTSA ODI #8022112

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

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I'VE HAD TO REPLACE THE WATER PUMP 4 TIMES ON MY 1998 FORD CONTOUR. DEC. 28, 2001 - 1ST INCIDENT: WATER PUMP FAILURE, ALSO HAD TO REPLACE SENSOR AND THERMOSTAT BECAUSE THE RADIATOR HAD ZERO WATER IN IT. MARCH 26, 2002 - 2ND INCIDENT: WATER PUMP FAILURE. MAY 24, 2002 - 3RD INCIDENT: WATER PUMP FAILURE. OCTOBER 24, 2002 - 4TH INCIDENT: WATER PUMP FAILURE, ALSO HAD TO HAVE A BELT ON THE PUMP REPLACED. I CALLED NORMA AT THE FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER (1-800-392-3673) AND SHE TOLD ME THERE IS NOTHING THAT FORD CAN DO SINCE THE PARTS WARRANTY (12 MONTH/12,000 MILES) IS OVER THE MILEAGE. I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT OF A WATER PUMP AND IF THERE ARE FUTURE FAILURES UNDER THE WARRANTY ONCE I'VE PAID FOR THE REPAIRS IT WILL BE REPLACED AT NO CHARGE. I INFORMED NORMA THAT THE DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THEY HAVE OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THE WATER PUMP FAILURE/DEFECT AND THAT FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP HAS GRACIOUSLY PAID FOR A RENTAL CAR FOR ALL 4 REPLACEMENTS AND HAS GIVEN ME A DISCOUNT ON LABOR FOR THIS 4TH REPLACEMENT. ALSO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUALLY STAYS ON EVEN AFTER BEING "SERVICED" BY THE DEALERSHIP. DT

NHTSA ODI #768890

Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER STATES WHILE TRAVELING, AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION VEHICLE STALLS, VEHICLE WAS SERVICED BY TECHNICIAN WHO NOTICE TIMING BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACE VEHICLE IS ON THE SECOND TIMING BELT. NLM

NHTSA ODI #8020026

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

THE VEHICLE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING WHILE STOPPED, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO TWO DEALERS BUT NEITHER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. *NLM *SCC

NHTSA ODI #8019783

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2002

Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE DRIVING NOTICED A FIRE ON RIGHT SIDE OF VEHICLE IN COOLING FAN. CAR WAS TOTALED. *AK *NLM

NHTSA ODI #8018356

Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

TIMING CHAIN BROKE WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8017635

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. VHEICLE WAS TOWED TO GARAGE AND A MECHANIC STATED THAT FLYWHEEL NEEDED REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8016842

Mileage unknown · Aug 17, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

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ENGINE STALLS WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING LOSS OF STEERING AND BRAKES. HAVE HAD THE CAR BACK TO CHARAPP FORD NUMERIOUS TIMES FOR SAME COMPLAINT. FIRST TIME VCT SOLENOID WAS REPLACED, SECOND TIME VCT REPLACED AGAIN. THIS PAST WEEK WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. AFTER TALKING WITH TECHICIAN HE CONFIRMED THE STALLING PROBLEM. WAS TOLD IT WAS A CARBON BUILD UP AND TO TRY DRIVING WITH GAS TREATMENT IN CAR. STALLED TWICE LEAVING CHARAPP. CONTINUED STALLING 6 TIMES THAT DAY. DROVE FOR OVER TWO HUNDRED MILES AND NO CHANGE. THIS PROBLEM HAS TO BE ADDRESSED. PEOPLES LIVES ARE AT STAKE! MY CAR STALLED WHILE TURNING INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC FROM A STOP SIGN. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO GET OFF THE ROAD.*AK

NHTSA ODI #765788

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

PLASTIC IMPELLER BLADES ON WATER PUMP HAVE REPORTEDLY FAILED ON NUMEROUS CONTOURS, RESULTING IN ENGINE OVERHEATING. COOLANT FROM RESERVOIR SPRAYED INSIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. UPON LIFTING HOOD, BOILING COOLANT WAS VISIBLE IN RESERVOIR. THIS PRESENTS AN INJURY HAZARD FROM THE HOT COOLANT, AS WELL AS FROM POSSIBLE ENGINE FAILURE…

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NHTSA ODI #765220

Official recalls

01V255000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

Aug 8, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY ASSEMBLY PLANT AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS MAY FRACTURE AS A RESULT OF CORROSION IN HIGH CORROSION ENVIRONMENTS. DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SPRING CATCHER BRACKETS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 23, 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 1-866-436-7332.

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.

00V350000 · Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly

Oct 30, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BI-FUEL VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING THE INSTALLATION OF THE BI-FUEL SYSTEM. IF THE GROMMET IS DAMAGED, FUEL COULD LEAK. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE GROMMET IS DAMAGED, FUEL COULD LEAK. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET.

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.

99V243000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Sep 8, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE AIR BAG SENSOR WIRING PIGTAIL INSULATION CAN BECOME BRITTLE AND CRACK OVER TIME DUE TO ACCUMULATION OF WATER IN THE PIGTAIL PROTECTIVE CONVOLUTE IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH UNDERHOOD TEMPERATURES RELATED TO THE ROUTING OF THE WIRING PIGTAIL NEAR THE RADIATOR. THIS CAN RESULT IN ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS CRACKING OF THE INSULATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN SOME CASES, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAN ILLUMINATE AND THE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM DISABLED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AIR BAG SENSORS WITH REVISED WIRING INSULATION. IN ADDITION, VEHICLES WHICH HAVE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WILL HAVE A NEW AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC MONITOR INSTALLED.

99V194000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Jul 20, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH A BURR ON OR NEAR THE END OF THE CABLE SLEEVE INTERIOR. THIS BURR COULD FRAY THE CORE WIRE RESULTING IN THE ACCELERATOR NOT RETURNING TO IDLE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE THROTTLE STICKING, BINDING, OR CAUSING HIGH ENGINE RPM.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED ACCELERATOR CABLE THAT HAS A FLARED CONDUIT SLEEVE END AND MOLDED ON END FITTING.

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.

98V028000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Feb 10, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.

Remedy: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗