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EquipmentPart report

1996 Ford Contour Equipment Problems

Complaints
41about this part
Share
7%of 563 total for the year
Median mileage
48,500miles
Trend
StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 41 complaints about the equipment of the 1996 Ford Contour, 7% of the 563 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 48,500 miles. 1 a fire, according to the filers.

Example complaints

Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.

“This car has less than 70000 miles on it. We had trouble with the fuel door, front wheel bearings, brakes, door handles, transmission, electric windows, and now as a special treat the engine failed. This car has been the worst investment that my wife and I have ever made. I have have owned several cars and trucks with 200000 plus miles on them and none of them have ever been as problematic as this automobile.”

NHTSA complaint #10069333, filed 2004-01, 49,000 miles

“Pop up cup holders are very flimsy. The cup holders may cause beverage to tip over while driving. This results in driver's attention momentarily taken away from the road, which could result in an accident. Consumer feels the cup holders should be more stationary.”

NHTSA complaint #10057998, filed 2004-02, 48,000 miles

“Ford motor company did not send me a recall notification letter on my 1996 Ford Contour. I need to send my car back to Ford motor asap, and Ford needs to send me a brand new car. Due to also since the first day I bought my car in 1999 every part in my car is a defect fraud non Ford, also newman Ford in salem, nh refused and discriminated my disability and laughed at me and denied my services.”

NHTSA complaint #10109924, filed 2005-02

“It seems like when one thing started to short on my Contour everything started to go...first the lights started going on and off then ..the A/C started shorting then it completely froze causing timing to jump and noew ..I'm told the car needs new computer ..it dies in middle of road the sensors are bad ...please help me regarding this matter ..”

NHTSA complaint #721587, filed 2000-04

“I have previously had problems with this vehicle and have taken it more than eight different times to be service and problem still has not been resolved even after having engine replaced I am having some of the same problems. Car has been serviced on a regular basis and still it has problems.e . .”

NHTSA complaint #730541, filed 2000-09

Related service bulletins

Equipment: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
200042%
1999225%
1998293%
199773%
1996417%
1995222%
199418%

Other parts of the 1996 Ford Contour

Engine cooling
123 complaints
Electrical system
119 complaints
Transmission and drivetrain
77 complaints
Exterior lighting
64 complaints
Brakes
49 complaints
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
41 complaints
Suspension
38 complaints
Other or unknown
31 complaints
Vehicle speed control
31 complaints
Fuel system
30 complaints
Steering
30 complaints
Air bags
25 complaints

← All problems reported for the 1996 Ford Contour

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology