1996 Ford Contour Wheels Problems
- Complaints
- 7about this part
- Share
- 1%of 563 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 119,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 7 complaints about the wheels of the 1996 Ford Contour, 1% of the 563 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 119,000 miles. 2 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I have a loud clicking noise from rear of car only when four people in car.when inspecting wheels and tires found wheel to be cracked from hub center to rim edge between lug nut holes.inspecting other wheels found 2 more with same crack in length and location.”
NHTSA complaint #10090850, filed 2004-09, 119,000 miles“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“All four studs on right front tire, sheared off. Resulting in loss of control of vehicle and tire traveling loose through traffic. Tire completely destroyed front fender and rotor assembly was broken when car came crashing down onto it. Studs showed no signs that they hadn't been tightened to specs. (rounded out stud holes on rims or rounded out threads.) complete simualtanous stud failure on all four studs.”
NHTSA complaint #758722, filed 2002-02“The worst problem was the wheel falling off while in operation, with no warning. The axil, rotor, and balljoint was replaced. The heating and cooling is all messed up. The fan will only blow on low, it is niether hot nor cold. The tail lights and panel lights do not work. It's not a fuse”
NHTSA complaint #704138, filed 1999-03“Lug nuts were loose, causing wheel to fall off while driving, resulting in loss of control/accident, also no deployment of driver's airb ag upon impact. Driver sustained injuries.”
NHTSA complaint #985019, filed 1996-07Wheels: 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 complaintsFuel system
30 complaintsSteering
30 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1996 Ford Contour
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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