1995 Ford CONTOUR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
613 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
99,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 model year. Data snapshot: . 78 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood is the most frequently named component, appearing in 58 of 613 complaints (9.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 100 | 16.3% |
| Braking behavior | 56 | 9.1% |
| Steering behavior | 55 | 9.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 42 | 6.9% |
| Engine operation | 38 | 6.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 30 | 4.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 58 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan | 40 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 39 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 37 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 37 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 33 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 32 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap | 28 |
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 58; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan: 40; Engine And Engine Cooling: 39; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 37; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 37; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 33; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 32; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Filler Pipe And Cap: 28
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 7 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 20 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 28 |
| 150,000 and above | 11 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 7; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 20; 100,000 to 149,999: 28; 150,000 and above: 11
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (28). 535 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 54 |
| 1996 | 67 |
| 2000 | 90 |
| 2001 | 188 |
| 2002 | 79 |
| 2003 | 50 |
| 2004 | 29 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 9 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 9 |
| 2009 | 7 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2015 | 1 |
1995: 54; 1996: 67; 2000: 90; 2001: 188; 2002: 79; 2003: 50; 2004: 29; 2005: 11; 2006: 9; 2007: 10; 2008: 9; 2009: 7; 2010: 4; 2011: 3; 2013: 2; 2015: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 100 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 56 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 55 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10004587 · 2003-01-24 (January 24, 2003)
MECHANIC STATED THAT THEY ARE GETTING SEVERAL VEHICLES WHERE THE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION IS BEING COMPROMISED DUE TO HEAT FROM THE EXHAUST. THE HARNESS IS TOO CLOSE TO THE HEAT SIDE OF MOTOR. ALSO, THE WIRE COATING IS NOT MEETING SPECIFICATIONS AND IS CRUMBLING. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004587 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004889 · 2003-01-29 (January 29, 2003)
I HAVE A FORD CONTOUR 1995 MANUFACTURED IN 12/94 I HAVE SOME COMPLAINTS ABOUT MY CAR. THERE ARE SOME RECALLS OUT ON THIS VEHICLE. BUT THERE ARE NOT LIST FOR MY CONTOUR VIN # BUT I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEMS. MY CAR WAS TAKEN TO THE ROBINS FORD DELERSHIP IN GLENOLDEN,PA FOR NOT STARTING. AFTER THEY INSPECTED THE VEHICLE THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME THAT I HAVE A WIRING HARNESS DEFECT THAT CAUSED IT TO SHORT CIRCUIT MY SPARK PLUGS. THEY TOLD ME THAT THE WIRES FOR THIS VEHICLE IS OUT DATED AND FOR HAVE BEEN REPLACING THEM WITH UPDATED WIRES. BUT TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004889 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009173 · 2003-02-24 (February 24, 2003)
CONSUMER SIMULTANEOUSLY PRESSED ON THE GAS AND BRAKE PEDAL.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009173 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009248 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)
THE ACCELERATOR AND BRAKE PEDAL WAS APPLIED SIMULTANEOUSLY.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009248 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10002866 · 2003-01-17 (January 17, 2003)
ABRUPT LOSS OF STEERING POWER WHEN DRIVING THROUGH PUDDLES, RECURRING ISSUE. FOUND DESCRIPTION AFTER INTERNET SEARCH (TSB 97-11-2). DATE CITED IS MOST RECENT EVENT. DEALER AND FORD ACKNOWLEDGE ISSUE BUT WILL NOT INSTALL KIT TO PREVENT RECURRENCE AT THEIR EXPENSE.
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002866 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016220 · 2003-04-19 (April 19, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A SEVERE STEERING PROBLEM DUE TO A BROKEN SPRING. MECHANIC FOUND ALL FOUR SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. THE MECHANIC STATED ALL FOUR SPRINGS APPEARED TO HAVE BEEN BROKEN FOR A LONG TIME. THE CAR IS ONLY USED ON PAVED ROADS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 62,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016220 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003035 · 2003-01-20 (January 20, 2003)
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE SECOND GEAR OR OVERDRIVE. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 89000 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003035 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10012116 · 2003-03-19 (March 19, 2003)
WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012116 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014365 · 2003-04-14 (April 14, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10014365 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10023668 · 2003-06-24 (June 24, 2003)
MY CAR STALLED ON ME BACK IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, AND WHEN IT WAS LOOKED AT A GARAGE, THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A FAULTY ENGINE WIRING HARNESS ON MY 1995 FORD CONTOUR. I LOOKED AROUND ON THE INTERNET, AND SAW THAT THERE WAS INDEED A RECALL ON THIS SAME HARNESS. I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM FORD ABOUT IT. I CONTACTED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER, AND THEY VERIFIED THAT THERE WAS INDEED A RECALL ON IT, AND TO BRING IT IN TO HAVE THE WORK DONE. I THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED THERE TO HAVE IT FIXED. AFTER THEY HAD IT FOR ABOUT THREE OR FOUR DAYS, I WENT BACK TO CHEC…
Owner-reported narrative. 155,121 miles reported. Look up ODI 10023668 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10004508 · 2003-01-23 (January 23, 2003)
CONSUMER NOTICE GAS TANK VENT TUBE BROKE CAUSING A GAS LEAK. REPLACED A YEAR LATER PROBLEM RECCURRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10004508 at NHTSA ↗