THIS CONTOUR HAS A MODERATE STEERING/ HYDRAULIC NOISE WHEN TURNING AT ANY TIME. FORD ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEFECT DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION COMPONENT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THEN THEY CHANGED THEIR MIND FORD TOLD DEALER NOT TO CHANGE THE UNIT. STATED THAT FORD WAS WORKING ON A FIX FOR …
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THIS CONTOUR HAS A MODERATE STEERING/ HYDRAULIC NOISE WHEN TURNING AT ANY TIME. FORD ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEFECT DURING THE WARRANTY PERIOD. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE RACK AND PINION COMPONENT WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. THEN THEY CHANGED THEIR MIND FORD TOLD DEALER NOT TO CHANGE THE UNIT. STATED THAT FORD WAS WORKING ON A FIX FOR PROBLEM. MAY TAKE UP TO SIX MONTHS. I HAD A LAWYER WRITE A LETTER TO FORD ASKING FOR A BUY BACK. THEY REFUSED AND STATED THAT THE NOISE WAS "NORMAL." WELL, WHICH IS IT? A NOISE THAT A DEALER WAS GOING TO REPLACE THE UNIT TO FIX, THAT THE FORD ENGINEERING IS SUPOSEDLY WORKING ON, OR A NORMAL NOISE? MY WIFE IS SCARED TO DRIVE VEHICLE SAYS THE NOISE IS GETTING WORSE. I THOUGHT STEERING SYSTEM IS A SAFETY SENSITIVE SYSTEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #708212
Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 1999
Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineSteering
VEHICLE IN NUMBER OF TIMES FOR POWER ASSIST GOING OUT WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN OR WATER. 2/99 ACCELERATION LOST WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC, NO POWER. HAD VEHICLE IN PREVIOUS WEEK BEFORE WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED.
NHTSA ODI #703938
Mileage unknown · Jun 19, 1998
Steering
STEERING FAILURE.
NHTSA ODI #537111
Mileage unknown · May 19, 1998
Steering
WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN WET CONDITIONS, THE POWER STEERING STOPS FOR ABOUT 3-5 SECONDS. WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO OCCASIONS, DEALER STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND WORKING ON A CORRECTION. *AK
NHTSA ODI #823457
Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 1998
SteeringFire
POWER STEERING PRESSURE SWITCH FAILED CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK, RESULTING IN ENGINE FIRE.
NHTSA ODI #534405
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. …
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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
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
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