1995 FORD CONTOUR Engine And Engine Cooling Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, A BURNING ODOR BEGAN TO EMIT FROM THE VENTS. IN ADDITION, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE INSULATION ON THE WIRING HARNESS MELTED. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE THERMOSTAT, RADIATOR, OXYGEN SENSOR, FUEL PUMP AND FUEL FILTER. THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THERE WAS A RECALL UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V367000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) THAT MAY BE RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED A SECOND TIME. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000. UPDATED 2/23/12 *CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED ACCORDING TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 00V367000(ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING) IN 2004. FIVE YEARS LATER, THE FAN MOTORS HAVE OVERHEATED AND CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO MELT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT ASSUME RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY REPAIRS BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WAS PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED ACCORDING TO THE RECALL. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF HAVING THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 58,109. UPDATED 07/28/09 *BF UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB

MY CAR HAS CONTINUALLY TO RUN HOT, THE PART THAT SENDS THE INFORMATION THE ENGINE FOR THE FAN TO COME ON WAS DEFECTIVE. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP TO TRY TO PURCHASE THE PART AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THIS PART WAS A RECALL PART. BY THIS PART BEING DEFECTIVE IT HAS DAMAGED MY ENGINE AND THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT MY CAR WAS OVER THE MILES AND THE RECALL DATE WAS OVER AND THEY WAS NOT GOING TO HONOR THE RECALL. THEY TOLD ME THAT I CAN PURCHASE THE PART, BUT THEY WAS NOT GOING TO REPLACE MY ENGINE. THIS PART HAS DAMAGED MY ENGINE AND THEY SHOULD NOT ONLY REPLACED THE DEFECTIVE PART WITH NOT CHARGE, BUT THEY SHOULD ALSO REPLACE MY ENGINE DUE THE DEFECTIVE PART. THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER STATED THAT THEY WERE ONLY FOLLOWING FORD MOTOR COMPANY GUIDELINES.

I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM MY SISTER SHE SOLD IT TO ME BECAUSE WHEN IT RAINS, RUN OVER A PUDDLE OR THE WATER IS UP SOME THE CAR STARTS SPUTTERING -IF THE RAIN IS HEAVY THE BRAKES LOCK AS WELL AS THE STEERING WHEEL. SHE HAS TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL MECHANICS, THEY SAY THEY CAN'T FIX 1995 CONTOUR--HAS IT BEEN RECALLED--OR IS THERE A POSSIBLE WAY TO FIX THIS??*JB

THE CAR HAS ALWAYS RUN HOT AND I HAVE HAD THE COMPRESSOR FIXED AND A MONTH LATER I KNOW HAVE A BURNT OUT BLOWER MOTOR THAT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM. I NEVER WAS NOTIFIED ABOUT THE RECALL AND THAN WAS TOLD I MISSED THE CUT OFF DATE TO FILE FOR A REPAIR, BOTTOM LINE I WASNT COVERED. I ALSO BROUGHT MY CAR IN A DAY BEFORE MY WARRANTY WAS UP AND THEY DIDNT HONOR IT, I WAS TOLD IT WAS TOO LATE.

I'M A HEARING IMPAIRED DRIVER/OWNER OF FORD '95 CONTOUR GL (LOW-INCOMER, AVERAGE $21,000 A YEAR). I'VE BOUGHT THIS CAR IN 1997 FROM A MINNEAPOLIS-AREA FORD DEALERSHIP (QUALITY AUTO DEALERSHIP IN BLOOMINGTON, MINNESOTA). AT THE TIME, I HAD LESS THAN $10,000 TO PAY FOR A RECENT USED CAR(ONE THAT IS WITHIN 2-3 YEARS AFTER IT CAME ON THE MARKET). I TRIED OUT FEW CARS AND THE WHITE 1995 FORD CONTOUR GL. THE DEALER INSISTED THAT '95 FORD CONTOUR GL WAS A GOOD BUY AT AN AFFORDABLE PRICE. I WAS WILLING TO TRADE UP MY OLD CAR TO REDUCE THE PRICE BUT IT WAS STILL TOO HIGH FOR ME SINCE IT DIDN'T INCLUDED OTHER FEES LIKE THE TITLE AND REGISTRATION LICENSE. AFTER A SHORT, PERSUASIVE NEGOTIATION, I GOT THE DEALER TO AGREE TO MARK DOWN TO $9995 AND I ACCEPTED THAT. SO I BOUGHT THE CAR. AFTER A FEW DAYS, I WAS...

I WAS REAR-ENDED EARLIER THIS YEAR AND TOOK MY CAR IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR BUMPER REPLACEMENT. DEALERSHIP DID NOT INFORM ME THAT FORD DISCONTINUED MY BUMPER MODEL, SO THEY REPAIRED IT INSTEAD OF REPLACING IT -- WITHOUT MY PERMISSION! SILVER PLASTIC STRIP THAT RUNS THROUGH CENTER OF BUMPER WAS RE-INSTALLED AS-IS - CRACKED - SINCE BUMPER WAS NOT BEING MADE ANYMORE AND NEW PART WASN'T AVAILABLE. BOTH HORNS WERE REPLACED, IN SPITE OF RARELY BEING USED. RUBBER WINDOW STRIPS LOOSEN, POP UP EASILY. ONE POWER WINDOW IN REAR CAN ONLY GO DOWN ABOUT 6 INCHES, SQUEAKING TERRIBLY AS IT MOVES DOWN; TOO EXPENSIVE TO FIX. OUTER GAS DOOR RELEASE STICKS. BOTH METHODS OF OPENING THE DOOR (FLOOR LEVER AND TRUNK STRAP) STOPPED WORKING THIS YEAR. PAID FOR REPAIR AT DEALERSHIP, BUT BOTH METHODS STOPPED WORKING AGAIN AFTER A FEW DAYS. I NOW HAVE TO OPEN UP MY TRUNK EVERY...

CONSUMER STATED DIDN'T RECEIVE A RECALL LETTER, AND MANUFACTURER STATED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS OVER 100,000 MILES, AND WAS NOT COVERED ANY LONGER UNDER THIS RECALL. VEHICLE WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *AK

ENGINE COOLING FAN CAUGHT FIRE IN 1999 - CAR UNDER WARRANTY AND REPAIRED BY DEALERSHIP. 2 MORE ENGINE COOLING PROBLEMS IN 1999 THE MOST SERIOUS PROBLEM WAS WHEN THE WATER PUMP FAILED. THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN 2002 THE ENGINE BEGAN OVERHEATING AND WE HAD TO REPLACE THE THERMOSTAT, OTHER PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED WERE REPLACEMENT OF OXYGEN SENSOR AND FUEL PUMP DUE TO LEAKAGE. IN JUNE 2003 CAR OVERHEATING, THE COOLING FAN CONNECTION HAD BECOME DISCONNECTED. IN JULY 2003 CAR OVERHEATING, CHECKED BY MECHANIC WHO NOTED THAT THERE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING, RECOMMENDED DEALERSHIP REPAIR DUE TO COST. ON DAY ONE DEALERSHIP ESTIMATED COST OF WATER PUMP REPLACEMENT $380.00. DAY TWO DEALERSHIP CALLS - HEAD GASKET BLOWN AND FAN BELT WORN BILL NOW $1100.00. DAY THREE DEALERSHIP CALLS - ONE OF THE OXYGEN SENSORS AND ANOTHER PART NEEDS REPLACING AN ADDITIONAL $300-400.00. TOTAL BILL $1600.00. *JB

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING VEHICLE WILL STALL, AND IT WILL BE HARD FOR THE CONSUMER TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

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

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

CONSUMER STATES SINCE VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN FOR SAFETY RECALL 00V367, THE VEHICLE HAS BEGUN TO OVERHEAT. BECAUSE CONSUMER WAS UNAWARE OF THE FUNCTION OF THE POSITIVE TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT DEVICE (INSTALLED AS PART OF THE RECALL), WHICH IS TO TURNOFF THE ENGINE FAN, CONSUMER WAS UNAWARE WHY VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND STEPS TAKEN TO SOLVE IT WHICH INCLUDED FLUSHING THE RADIATOR AND REPLACING THE THERMOSTAT DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER FOUND OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT HEATING PROBLEM ON THE INTERNET. CONSUMER IS APPALLED THERE WAS A $100 FEE FOR BRINGING VEHICLE BACK FOR FAILURES DUE TO RECALL REPAIRS. CONSUMER IS ALSO CONCERNED THAT MANUFACTURER IS NOT RESPONSIBLE ENOUGH TO MAKE ANY FURTHER REPAIRS OR MODIFICATIONS TO HER VEHICLE. *TT

THE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATES ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE STARTS WHEN IT WANTS TOO. ALSO, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE AFTER A RECALL CAME IN THE MAIL. CONSUMER HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIR. *JG

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE 00S-440 ON ENGINE COOLING FAN ELECTRONIC FUSE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AFTER REPAIR THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT WORSE THAN BEFORE. *YH

RECALL COMPONENT FAILED, 00V367, CAUSING HEAD GASKET TO BLOW, NOW ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED. *JB

VEHICLE DEVELOPED A NOISE AND DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, HOWEVER NOISE DID NOT GO AWAY, DEALER STATED NOISE WAS DUE TO PULLEY THAT HAD RUSTED AND CORRODED, RECALL 00V367, REGARDING THE FAN MOTOR, CAUSED THE PULLEY TO RUST AND CORRODE, THEREFORE CAUSING THE NOISE, VEHICLE HAD OVERHEATED AND DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND MANY OTHER COMPONENTS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT, CONSUMER STATES THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED. *SLC

CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF THE TEPERATURE GAUGE BEING OVER TOO FAR. *JG

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNED UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK AFTER DEALER PERFORMED RECALL CAMPAIGN 00V367000, CONSUMER COULD SMELL SOMETHING BURNING, ANOTHER MECHANIC FOUND WIRING HARNESS WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. CONSUMER ADDS THAT THE OIL PUMP ALSO FAILED. *TT

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON HIGHWAY AND NOTICED A SMOKE SMELL COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. HE PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK PRIOR TO RECALL 00V367, ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING AND BURNING EXCESS OIL FROM OVERHEATED PISTON RINGS, AFTER RECALL REPAIRS, THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ANTIFREEZE LEAK THAT WAS GOING INTO MOTOR OIL, ENGINE COOLING FANS WERE OPERATING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ENGINE WAS HOT, DEALER FOUND UPPER RADIATOR HOSE AT WATER PUMP HAD A PINHOLE LEAK, ENGINE COOLING FAN WIRING OVERHEATED AND BURNED OUT AT FAN RELAY AND FAN CONNECTORS, THEN CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 01I009 AND HAD THESE REPAIRS COMPLETED ON VEHICLE, AFTER RECALL REPAIRS, ENGINE AND IN-DASH WIRING OVERHEATED AND BURNED, DEALER INSTALLED RECALL PARTS FOR BLOWER MOTOR AGAIN, CONSUMER LATER INFORMED A NEW MOTOR WAS NEEDED DUE TO NO COMPRESSION DUE TO OVERHEATING DAMAGE. THIS TOOK PLACE PRIOR TO VEHICLE...

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE 00S-440 ON ENGINE COOLING FAN ELECTRONIC FUSE AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AFTER REPAIR THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO OVERHEAT WORSE THAN BEFORE. *YH

RECALL COMPONENT FAILED, 00V367, CAUSING HEAD GASKET TO BLOW, NOW ENGINE NEEDS REPLACED. *JB

VEHICLE DEVELOPED A NOISE AND DEALER REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP, HOWEVER NOISE DID NOT GO AWAY, DEALER STATED NOISE WAS DUE TO PULLEY THAT HAD RUSTED AND CORRODED, RECALL 00V367, REGARDING THE FAN MOTOR, CAUSED THE PULLEY TO RUST AND CORRODE, THEREFORE CAUSING THE NOISE, VEHICLE HAD OVERHEATED AND DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AND MANY OTHER COMPONENTS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT, CONSUMER STATES THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS ILLUMINATED. *SLC

CONSUMER COMPLAINS OF THE TEPERATURE GAUGE BEING OVER TOO FAR. *JG

THE ENGINE COOLING FAN FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-367 RESULTING IN A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE IN MOTION. NLM

THE VEHICLES ENGINE COOLING FAN FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE, THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

THE ENGINE COOLING FAN FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-367. NLM

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTIFICATION (00V-367), HOWEVER DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE UNTIL PART ACTUALLY FAILS. *JB

THE VEHICLES ENGINE COOLING FAN FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-367 RESULTING IN A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD, THE CONSUMER REQUEST FULL REIMBURSEMENT BUT WAS ONLY GIVEN A PARTIAL REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

THE CONSUMER BELIEVES HER VEHICLE EXPERIENCED RECALL (00V-367) FAILURE OF THE ENGINE COOLING FAN MOTOR PRIOR TO NOTICE RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE. NLM

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY AND TEMPERATURE LIGHT CAME ON, AND ENGINE GASKET BLEWOUT. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. *AK

CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER IN REFERENCE TO NHTSA RECALL 00V367000/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00S44/ COOLING FAN FAILURE. DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT RECALL. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THERE ARE SEVERAL RECALLS WAITING TO BE COMPLETED ON VEHICLE. *SLC

THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY OVERHEATED QUICKLY DAMAGING THE HEAD GASKET AND THERMOSTAT, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES SHE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIR UNDER RECALL 00V-367, DEALER REFUSED REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 00V367, HOWEVER REPAIRS COULD NOT BE COMPLETED FOR ANOTHER WEEK DUE TO A LACK OF PARTS. *SLC

THE DEALER HAD NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO FIX RECALL (00S44/00M13), WHEN THE CONSUMER REQUESTED THE RECALL LETTER BACK BUT THE TECHNICIAN SAID HE THREW IT AWAY NOW THE CONSUMER DOES NOT HAVE A RECALL NOTICE TO TAKE TO ANOTHER DEALER FOR REPAIR. NLM CONSUMER STATES HE IS STILL CONTINUING TO HAVE TRACKING CONTROL PROBLEMS WHEN IT RAINS OR WHEN VEHICLE IS TAKEN TO THE CAR WASH. *SLC

CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE ENGINE DUE TO ENGINE COOLING FAN MALFUNCTIONING, CAUSING ENGINETO MELT. AND WAS REPLACED. PRESENTLY, CONSUMER HAD RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00S44 FOR ENGINE COOLING FAN.*AK RECEIVED RECALL REGARDING WIRING HARNESS AND HAD REPAIRS, HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. DEALER REPLACED ENGIN DUE TO OVERHEATING VEHICLE SOON EXPERIENCED A BAD MISS AND POOR MILEAGE, DEALER THEN FOUND DEFECTIVE HEADS, HOWEVER MISS IN ENGINE WAS STILL PRESENT. DEALER STATED CAUSE WAS A CRACKED FLYWHEEL WITH BROKEN SENSORS. CONSUMER FEELS DEALER BROKE FLYWHEEL DURING ENGINE INSTALLATION. MISS IN ENGINE STILL NOT CORRECTED. DEALER FINALLY FOUND CAUSE TO BE TORQUE CONVERTER NOT SEALING CAUSING DAMAGE TO ADJUSTING SENSOR. *YH

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED ENGINE INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON .VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. TECHNICIAN STATED VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING AND NEEDED VALVE JOB .*AK CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE COMPONENT IN RECALL 00V367 MAY HAVE BEEN THE PROBLEM ALL ALONG AND YET HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS WITH THE VALVE AND GASKET, THE RECALL COMPONENT HAS FAILED 2 TIMES. *SLC

CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP REGARDING RECALL 00V367000/MANUFACTURER RECALL 00S44/00M13/COOLING FAN FAILURE. DEALER WAS REFUSING TO PERFORM NECESSARY REPAIRS. *AK THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE WAS DIED AND THE DAUGHTER BROUGHT IN THE VEHCILE FOR RECALL SERVICE. ORIGINAL DOCUMET WAS MISPLACED, BUT THE DAUGHTER HAD A COPY WHICH THE DEALER DECLINED TO ACCEPT. *YH

CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START VEHICLE, WOULD NOT TURN OVER. RAISED HOOD OF VEHICLE AND TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE. ON THE SECOND ATTEMPT A FIRE STARTED AND WAS IMMEDIATELY PUT OUT BY CONSUMER. INSURANCE COMPANY WAS IN POSSESSION OF VEHICLE FOR 2 MONTHS, AND COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH VEHICLE. CONSUMER CLAIMED THAT A PIECE OF MOTOR THAT WAS INITIALLY BURNED, HAS BEEN REPLACED. *AK PREVIOUSLY CONSUMER HAD THE WATER PUMP AND TIMING BELT REPLACED DUE TO ENGINE STALLING, THERE WAS ALSO A COOLANT LEAK, THERE IS A RECALL REGARDING ENGINE FIRES (00V367). *SLC

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

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

A/C STOPPED COOLING, TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT TO HOT AND I PULLED OVER. THERE WAS NO SIGN THAT THE CAR HAD GOTTEN HOT. NO STEAM, ETC. REGULAR MAINTENANCE ON CAR DONE. *AK

ORIGINAL OXYGEN GAS SENSOR CAUSING CHECK ENGINE CHECK LIGHT TO COME ON. COST TO FIX $400. LOW COOLANT SENSOR WARNING LIGHT COMES ON. COST TO FIX $70. THESE SHOULD NOT BE MY RESPONSIBILITY. THERE IS NOTHING THAT I CAN DO TO CAUSE THESE ITEMS TO MALFUNCTION. THESE ARE MANUFACTURERS' PARTS PROBLEMS. *AK

THE CONSUMER WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND ABOUT 15 TO 20 FEET UP, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. PULLED OVER, POPPED THE HOOD ,AND THERE WAS A FIRE DUE TO THE ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM OVEHEATING. *AK

VEHICLE OVERHEATS AFTER DRIVING SHORT DISTANCES CONTINUALLY.

COOLANT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATES. *SD