Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1996 Ford Contour, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling123
- Electrical system119
- Power train77
- Exterior lighting64
- Service brakes, hydraulic44
- Equipment41
- Visibility41
- Suspension38
- Vehicle speed control31
- Steering30
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 39 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 9.6–10.8 L/100 km (about 22–25 mpg US), CO₂ 221–248 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contour · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.3 | 7.5 | 9.6 |
| Contour · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.8 | 8.0 | 10.1 |
| Contour · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.7 | 8.6 | 10.8 |
| Contour · Compact · Regular gasoline | 12.8 | 8.3 | 10.8 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
8 Transport Canada recalls for the 1996 Ford Contour.
| 2001195 16 Jul 2001 | Powertrain Certain passenger vehicles. The rough surface of the heater blower resistor's stainless steel blades can damage the copper surface of the wiring harness connect… |
| 2000284 29 Nov 2000 | Electrical On certain vehicles equipped with 2.5 litre V6 engines, tightening of the engine cooling fan motor bearings, up to and including motor stall, can result in incr… |
| 2000077 21 Mar 2000 | Brakes On certain vehicles, the pressure conscious reducing valve (PCRV) in each of the rear brakes may be subject to malfunction due to corrosion when operated in are… |
| 1999166 20 Sept 1999 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, the fuel filler pipe vent hose may have less than the intended level of ozone resistance, which could result in the hose becoming brittle a… |
| 1999094 19 May 1999 | Lights And Instruments On certain vehicles, the terminals at the headlight switch and wiring harness connector may experience heat damage as a result of overheating. This can cause d… |
| 1998208 21 Oct 1998 | Powertrain On certain vehicles, the floor shift automatic transmission control may be damaged if subjected to certain vehicle interior cleaning products. If exposed to the… |
| 1998103 20 May 1998 | Emissions NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.5 LITRE ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. PREMATURE FAILURE OF THE CATALYST SUBS… |
| 1997221 11 Dec 1997 | Engine NOTE: ONLY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TRACTION CONTROL OPTION ARE INVOLVED. THE THROTTLE CABLES ON THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FUEL FILLER PIPE VENT HOSE MAY HAVE LESS THAN THE INTENDED LEVEL OF OZONE RESISTANCE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE HOSE BECOMING BRITTLE AND CRACKING.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TERMINALS AT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN EXPERIENCE HEAT DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF OVERHEATING.
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.
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.
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.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1996 Ford Contour: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637775 | SUBJECT REGARDING AUTOMATIC SHIFTER ASSEMBLY OR THE INDICATOR HOUSING REPLACEMENT. *TT |
| 636417 | GUIDANCE FOR CNG TANK INSPECTION FOR VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER DECEMBER 2, 1996. *TT UPDATE. *TT |
| 636042 | SUBJECT REGARDING ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS TANK INSPECTION. *TT |
| 630685 | CONCERN WITH HEADLAMPS AND/OR INSTRUMENT PANEL LAMPS DIMMING SLIGHTLY AT IDLE. *TT |
| 630631 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE CD4E TRANSAXLE MAY EXHIBIT HARSH AND DELAYED 1-2/2-3 UPSHIFTS AFTER TRANSAXLE OR TURBINE SHAFT SPEED SENSOR REPLACEMENT, POSSIBLE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES 628, 642, 645, 646, 647, 648, P0731, P0732, P0734, P0741 AND P01744. *TT |
| 630515 | ENGINE OIL SYSTEM PRIMING PROCEDURES, SERVICE TIPS FOR REPORTS OF PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TT |
| 630408 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND/OR EGR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES 332, P0401, P1407 (LACKOF EGR FLOW). *TT |
| 630331 | SOME COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT ROUGH IDLE OR NO START WHEN COLD. *TT |
| 630024 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NOISE THAT APPEARS TO COME FROM THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. *TT |
| 630001 | SOME ENGINE ASSEMBLIES WITH ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS REPAIRED IN-VEHILE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO LEAK COOLANT AND/OR OIL FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AREA. *TT |
| 627760 | INFORMATION TO AID IN DIAGNOSIS FOR CLARIFICATION OF LOCK-OFF SOLENOID AND SOLENOID TANK VALVE COIL RSISTANCES FOR BI-FUEL VEHICLES. *TT |
| 625783 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NOISE THAT APPEARS TO COME FROM THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. *TT |
| 625715 | BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 624136 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF FUNCTION WITH THE HEATER BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH IN ONE OR MORE SWITCH POSITIONS. *SLC |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 621067 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A/C DISCHARGE AIR TEMPERATURES DIFFERENCES OF GREATER THAN 10 DEGREES F FROM REGISTERS ON LEFT SIDE OF DASH THAN ON RIGHT. *TT |
| 619489 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (DRL) MAY EXHIBIT THE HIGH BEAM INDICATOR IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FLASHING WHEN THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS ARE ON. *TT |
| 619424 | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE OIL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE IN 2001 VEHICLES - SAE 5W-20 MOTOR OIL. *TT |
| 618641 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L DURATEC ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT AN ENGINE OVERHEAT CONDITION DUE TO LACK OF CIRCULATION OF COOLANT. *JB |
| 618586 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT NO FORWARD GEAR RANGES DUE TO THE MISALIGNMENT OF THE FORWARD / COAST CLUTCH CYLINDER SNAP RING WITH RESPECT TO THE LEGS OF THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON. *JB |
| 618580 | SAFETY RECALL PERTAINING TO BRAKE PRESSURE CONTROL REDUCING VALVE REPLACEMENT. *JB |
| 618575 | ADDRESSING CONCERNS OF VIBRATION NOISE FROM THE REAR OF VEHICLE AFTER INSTALLATION OF THE COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) TANK ON BI-FUEL VEHICLES ONLY. *JB |
| 618528 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE A NO START CONDITION AND / OR THE 10 AMP GFI INJECTOR FUSE MAY OPEN. *JB |
| 618047 | OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM REGARDING ADDITONAL COVERAGE FOR THE ENGINE COOLING FAN. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
INCORRECT GEAR INDICATION
BLOWER SWITCH/RESISTOR OR WIRING HARNESS
BLOWER SWITCH/RESISTOR OR WIRING HARNESS
VARIOUS INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL ISSUES
HEADLIGHT SWITCH
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation