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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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111,421 miles · May 30, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

RECALL PROBLEM WITH FORD/CONTOUR, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V367000. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10020732

Mileage unknown · May 8, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED, THE ENGINE OVER HEATED AND THE PLASTIC WATER PUMP DISINTEGRATED. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10019531

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

I OWN A 1995 FORD CONTOUR THAT QUITS WITH NO WARNING, MY SON HAS HAD IT STALL ON THE EXPRESSWAY 8 TO 10 TIMES AND THE FORD DEALERS KEEP REPLACING THINGS, BUT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO HAVE A CAR THAT WILL JUST STALL OUT AT ANY TIME. WHAT CAN I DO. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10014365

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR IDLES VERY ROUGHLY. HAD THE IDLER PULLEY REPLACED 3 TIMES WITHIN 1 1/2 YEARS. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10014241

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

CAR OVERHEATED. PLASTIC PART ON WATER PUMP BROKE AND MELTED. MECHANICS SAID THEY NEVER HEARD OF A PLASTIC IMPELLER FOR THE WATER PUMP.

NHTSA ODI #10000849

Mileage unknown · Jan 8, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE IN MOTION GOING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WILL DECELERATE AND JERK BACK AND FORTH. *JG *JB

NHTSA ODI #10001478

Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

HAD RECEIVED A NOTICE (00V367000) AND TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC REFUSE TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR AND INDICATED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. CONTACTED FORD AND A REPRESENTATIVE WAS SENT. MECHANIC FINALLY INDICATED HAD PARTS FOR REPAIR. ONCE RECALL WAS REPAIRED AND WAS DRIVING, STARTED SMELLING SMOKE. HAD PARKED AND LEFT …

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HAD RECEIVED A NOTICE (00V367000) AND TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. THE MECHANIC REFUSE TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR AND INDICATED NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE. CONTACTED FORD AND A REPRESENTATIVE WAS SENT. MECHANIC FINALLY INDICATED HAD PARTS FOR REPAIR. ONCE RECALL WAS REPAIRED AND WAS DRIVING, STARTED SMELLING SMOKE. HAD PARKED AND LEFT VEHICLE. NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. RAMEY FORD TAZEWELL VA 24651 PHONE #276 988 2572 TS

NHTSA ODI #10001587

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

I PURCHASED CAR 1998 AND NOW I HAD TO GET A ENGINE PUT IN MY CAR. DT

NHTSA ODI #770713

130,000 miles · Nov 15, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

THE CAR HAD JUST BEEN TURNED OFF, A FAINT ODOR OF SOMETHING HOT WAS NOTICED BUT FIGURED THE HEATING FAN MOTOR WAS MALFUNCTIONING. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER, THE BICKNELL FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT NOTIFIED US THAT THE CAR'S ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED AND TOTALLY DESTROYED EVERY…

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THE CAR HAD JUST BEEN TURNED OFF, A FAINT ODOR OF SOMETHING HOT WAS NOTICED BUT FIGURED THE HEATING FAN MOTOR WAS MALFUNCTIONING. APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES LATER, THE BICKNELL FIRE DEPARTMENT AND POLICE DEPARTMENT NOTIFIED US THAT THE CAR'S ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ENGULFED AND TOTALLY DESTROYED EVERY THING IN IT. ----DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS------769736. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10008552

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2002
Engine And Engine Cooling

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE JUST STALLED OUT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED. CONTACTED DEALERSHIP,COULD NOT FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8016828

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