Faults:

Only half of the dash board lights work.

The car died on me at 20 below weather because anti-freeze leaked into the cylinders of the engine and consequently, the engine needed to be rebuilt (over $1000).

The rear cylinder brakes blew out - literally blew - while driving 55mph. All I hear was a loud noise, no light came on to warn me. I learned it was the brakes when I tried to slow down - very scary!!!

Then the timing belt broke. When it was taken apart, the whole area surrounding it was destroyed and there were no ball bearings. (over $700).

Now the transmission shifts hard and into other gears while driving at a steady speed. It goes into Neutral and down shifts.

It idles really low. We got it "fixed" numerous times, but it still feels like it's going to die while sitting at an intersection.

The engine knocks really loudly, but never leaked oil.

General Comments:

This car is a piece of junk, as I feel about the whole Ford brand. It's been one problem after the other and the mechanics are stumped as to what's wrong with the transmission.

I figure that I'll try to sell it for scraps or something, as the body is in good condition.

There are obviously a lot of problems with this model (perhaps because it was the first year that Ford made them - 1995).

Never ever buy one of these!!! I totally regret it. I'm afraid to drive it because I don't want to be left stranded somewhere!

Faults:

My mother gave me this car in exchange for the old junker I started out with. She did this so I would have a more reliable car to go back and forth to college with, and a four door car is much easier when you have a baby to put in and out of the back seat. We thought I was getting a great deal with a car in good condition with such low mileage, and it should make a good trade in some day.

One day, the blower for the air and heat goes out. We took it to get fixed. It was a burnt wire, so they replaced it and everything worked just fine. I think there was a recall on the blower switch, and it was replaced. Then the blower goes out again, and again, and again. Finally we find out that many wires have been burnt and a hole has been burnt into the fuse box. Since that was fixed a few months ago I haven't had any more trouble with the blower.

The Check Engine light comes on and stays on due to a short in the wire (used to be the battery light).

All the sudden my car keeps overheating, so we change out the thermostat and the coolant. It continues to overheat. We then find out it's the water pump so that had to be replaced.

If you own a Contour beware if you leave your lights on and drain the battery. It will completely shut down, even to the power door locks. In order to get the door open I had to crawl through the trunk and push while my mom pulled.

Now my dash lights continue to go out. I replace the fuse and it blows within a week. I replace it again, and it blows again, and again, and I think you get the point.

This car seems to require special everything. From a simple tire change to a tune up, anytime I have the car worked on I end up getting a call from the mechanic saying that my car requires a special type of whatever is getting fixed. A few extra dollars here and there really add up fast.

About two weeks ago I was on my way to a class when my car's oil light comes on and and it dies right there in the turning lane right before a busy intersection. I have never had a car die on me in traffic, nor have I ever been so embarrassed! Thanks to a couple strong men I was able to get it pushed out of traffic and into a McDonald's parking lot. I come to find out my oil pump failed and I basically burnt up my motor. The worst part about it was I had about a two minute warning that something was wrong, and the next thing I know I'm in need of a motor that I am not willing nor do I have the money to replace.

General Comments:

This car has been in the shop way too many times and has always been much more costly than what was expected.

I have talked with other Contour owners who complain of the same electrical and expense problems.

It's pretty sad that my old junker is the one still running.

It seems this once good trade in is now worth no more than a small down payment. At least, I hope I can get that much out of it.