1996 Ford Contour GL review from North America
"Well, at least I like the color"
What things have gone wrong with the car?
The engine consistently stalls while idling.
The wipers won't hold the blades.
The "Check Engine" light comes on about once a month.
Many interior accessories were poorly designed and cheaply built.
The gas tank lid won't open from inside the car.
I can't accelerate without fear of stalling if the air conditioner is on.
The seal around the doors freezes in the winter.
The cassette player gets so hot it melts tapes.
General comments?
I purchased this used vehicle literally from a little old lady who only put 36,000 miles on it in almost 4 years. I like the response I get from it; however, it has become more and more undependable due to its threat of stalling, especially when the air conditioner is running. I have learned to turn the air off when I merge into traffic or back out of the driveway.
The stalling is a major problem that the mechanics have said they can't explain. It acts like a fuel injection problem, but they say nothing is wrong.
I can't find a set of wiper blades that won't get destroyed by the wipers, and consequently, I have run the wipers more than once when the blades weren't secured. Now I have swipe marks etched on my windshield. I am waiting for a large stone to hit so I can get the glass replaced.
The "Check Engine" light has become a regular feature of the interior. I have had it checked out and there is nothing wrong. I used to reset the computer to get it off, but it would invariable come back, so now I just ignore it.
Regarding the interior, I think overall it is a cheaply designed vehicle. So many things, including the cup holders, window knobs, air vent controls, shifter base (almost everything made of plastic) have just fallen off with regular use.
The access to the gas tank sticks regularly. There is an override in the trunk, and I have developed a technique of "jabbing" at the interior tank cap release which works about half of the time.
Something in the design of the rear doors allows a lot of moisture to get in the seal, and this creates a great deal of freezing.
Recommended reviews
| An excellent car for the money. I loved it |
|
| 1996 - Contour GL 2.0L 4 cylinder Decent car, but nothing outstanding |
| Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? | Don't Know |
| Year of manufacture | 1996 |
| First year of ownership | 1999 |
| Most recent year of ownership | 2003 |
| Engine and transmission | Automatic |
| Performance marks | 2 / 10 |
| Reliability marks | 1 / 10 |
| Comfort marks | 3 / 10 |
| Dealer Service marks | |
| Running Costs (higher is cheaper) | 1 / 10 |
| Overall marks (average of all marks) | |
| Distance when acquired | 36540 miles |
| Most recent distance | 39883 miles |
| Previous car | Chevrolet Venture |
| Date of Entry | 20th July, 2003 |