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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 →

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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

224 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OR WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR. VEHICLE HAD REQUIRED LARGE AMOUNTS OF ANTIFREEZE AND OIL. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL ON COOLING FAN. QUESTIONED DEALER IF RECALL HAD ANYTHNG TO DO WITH GASKET BLOWING. DEALER SAID THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY RELAT…

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HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND SMOKE. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OR WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR. VEHICLE HAD REQUIRED LARGE AMOUNTS OF ANTIFREEZE AND OIL. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL ON COOLING FAN. QUESTIONED DEALER IF RECALL HAD ANYTHNG TO DO WITH GASKET BLOWING. DEALER SAID THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANY RELATIONSHIP. *AK THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START DUE TO SPARK PLUG ASSEMBLY FAILURE AND ENGINE HEAD GASKETS FAILURE. *YH

NHTSA ODI #880241

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUGHT ON FIRE, TOTALLING VEHICLE . RECALL 00 V367 000/ COOLING VAN HAS BEEN ISSUED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #880116

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER CONTACTED FT MILL FORD FOR RECALL00V367000/ COOLING FAN SEVERAL TIMES, BUT DEALER HAS NOT SET UP AN APPOINTMENT TO PERFORM RECALL REPAIRS IN TIMELY MANNER . IN MEANTIME CONSUMER IS DRIVING AN UNSAFE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #880093

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM STARTED TO ACT UP, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE INSIDE VEHICLE STARTED TO REACH THE OVERHEATING AREA, AND THEN ENGINE BLEW. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER SAID THEY WILL TAKE A LOOK AT VEHICLE. *AK THERMOSTAT HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND GALLONS OF WATER AND ANTIFREEZ…

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WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 65 MPH ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM STARTED TO ACT UP, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE INSIDE VEHICLE STARTED TO REACH THE OVERHEATING AREA, AND THEN ENGINE BLEW. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER SAID THEY WILL TAKE A LOOK AT VEHICLE. *AK THERMOSTAT HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND GALLONS OF WATER AND ANTIFREEZE HAD BEEN PUT INTO THE RADIATOR SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE THE INCIDENT OCCURED. *YH

NHTSA ODI #879747

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #740414

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingPower Train

THIS VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. I HAD TO REPLACE WITH A NEW VEHICLE IN JUNE 2000. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #740409

Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

FIRST START OF DAY WHILE ENGINE WAS RUNNING FAN MOTOR CAUGHT ON FIRE, CAUSING ABOUT $4000 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #879173

Mileage unknown · Jan 18, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE WILL OVERHEAT. TEMPERATURE GAUGE WILL GO ALL WAY TO RED PART, AND A DARK SMOKE WILL COME FROM DASHBOARD WITH A PLASTIC SMELL. COOLING SYSTEM WILL NOT WORK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #878523

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingVisibilityCrash

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDERS, AND VEHICLE COOLED DOWN. ABOUT 25 MINUTES LATER, THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL INSIDE OF VEHICLE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. ALSO, ENGINE WAS REPLACED. *AK THE MANUFACTURER HAD ISSUED RECALL NOTICE AND THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED. RE…

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CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY, AND VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDERS, AND VEHICLE COOLED DOWN. ABOUT 25 MINUTES LATER, THERE WAS A BURNING SMELL INSIDE OF VEHICLE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. ALSO, ENGINE WAS REPLACED. *AK THE MANUFACTURER HAD ISSUED RECALL NOTICE AND THE VEHICLE WAS FIXED. RECALL # 00V-367. *YH

NHTSA ODI #878243

Mileage unknown · Jan 12, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

WATER PUMP FAILED CAUSING THE ENGINE TO OVERHEAT AND CRACK, DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE WOULD NEED REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #559035

Official recalls

8

00V367000 · 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.

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.

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

7

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

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