1996 Ford Contour Fuel system Problems
- Complaints
- 30about this part
- Share
- 5%of 563 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 127,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 30 complaints about the fuel system of the 1996 Ford Contour, 5% of the 563 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 127,000 miles. 2 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Was filling up my fuel tank and just as the pump clicked off gasoline started pouring out from the top of the tank and it still does it everytime I fill it up I am very concerned because it is a severe fire hazard please help me out.”
NHTSA complaint #10255608, filed 2009-01“I smell gasoline, and when I fill my car with gasoline it leaks. I have had it looked at by a mechanic and it has been determined that it is the fuel fill pipe vent hose. I have spoken with Ford and they tell me that my vehicle is not covered under the recall.”
NHTSA complaint #10136743, filed 2005-09“I received a card that said: danger, the Ford that you are driving is involved in a product safety campaign #99525 and needs immediate attention. What is the safety campaign about? We bought this vehicle used and the original car dealer is in another state. What is wrong with the car?”
NHTSA complaint #758686, filed 2002-02“I have only had the vehicle since february 14th this year. I can not fill my gas tank all the way full. It has been leaking gas every time I do. I have tried several times at different stores when I gas up my car to see if it was because I had been parked on an incline. It does not matter if I am on level ground it still leaves a puddle under my car. It is worse if I park on anything but level ground . Please let me know if there is anyway to fix the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10096457, filed 2004-10“Twice the transmission failed on the freeway and had to be completely replaced even though the car was 1 and 3 months old. The dealer was extremely rude and I promise I will never purchase another Ford again and neither will anybody that has heard my story.”
NHTSA complaint #700085, filed 1998-10Related recalls
- 99V247000Sep 13, 1999Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The fuel filler pipe vent hose may have less than the intended level of ozone resistance, which could result in the…Covers: Ford Contour 1996, Mercury Mystique 1996
- 97V203000Nov 17, 1997Vehicle 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…Covers: Ford Contour 1996–1997
Fuel system: other model years
Other parts of the 1996 Ford Contour
123 complaintsElectrical system
119 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
77 complaintsExterior lighting
64 complaintsBrakes
49 complaintsEquipment
41 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
41 complaintsSuspension
38 complaintsOther or unknown
31 complaintsVehicle speed control
31 complaintsSteering
30 complaintsAir 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