1995 Ford Contour 1.8L

Summary:

LEMON. Don't buy it - turn and run!

Faults:

2nd and 3rd started grinding while shifting 2 weeks after I bought it. Would cost $1600 to fix - still grinding. Timing chain and bearings had to be replaced 3 months later - cost over $600. This week (3 months since last repair) engine started leaking oil real bad.

Engine loses antifreeze/water. I have to add both every two weeks. No water in oil or out the exhaust - it just disappears.

Electric door locks and windows are all jacked up. Work when they want to. Blows cruise control fuses for no reason about every couple of months.

The only lemon Ford I've ever bought. Various other little issues on a weekly basis.

General Comments:

Quite possibly the worst car I've ever owned. It does get great gas mileage though (33-35 on highway).

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th July, 2009

17th Jul 2009, 06:24

That's right, that's right - go ahead and call this car a "lemon". After all it ONLY had 118,000 miles on it when you bought it, and it was manufactured during the Clinton administration (fourteen years ago).

Why-oh-why didn't it come with a lifetime warranty?

17th Jul 2009, 14:03

I think you are not quite sure what kind of car you have. It has either a 2L 4 cylinder engine, code 3 (8th position of the VIN) with a timing BELT or it has a 2.5L V6 engine, code L, with a timing CHAIN.

I am not aware of any Ford US car with a 1.8L engine of 1995 vintage.

24th May 2012, 20:11

How could you have replaced the timing chain? The vehicle's engine has a timing BELT!

1995 Ford Contour LX 2.0

Summary:

Great reliable car

Faults:

The car had a little squeak on the rear roll bar, but the mechanic fixed it easily.

General Comments:

This is a great car that is very reliable. It gets great fuel mileage, yet with the manual shift, it is very quick and handles well.

I think the criticisms of the car are overblown, and I know for a fact that I've spent less on car repairs than my friends with similar aged and sized Volkswagens or Accords.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 16th March, 2009

16th Mar 2009, 15:06

The Contour's/Mystique's with manual transmissions are durable cars, I would only avoid those with automatic transmissions.

10th Jun 2009, 10:23

They are hard to find though.

1995 Ford Contour GL 2.0L SFI DOHC

Summary:

Just like a credit card; lots of hidden fees

Faults:

Thermostat housing cracked, thermostat, shocks and struts, brakes and rotors. Found all of this after I bought it, but when you pay $200 for a car, you get what you paid for.

General Comments:

Good bang for the buck, but look the car over first. I would all over again.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 4th November, 2007

1995 Ford Contour

Summary:

Maximum overdrive problem

Faults:

This car has was wonderful up until it started going in and out of overdrive. Now it has been sitting in the yard without being driven for over 5 years. The car continuously goes in and out of O/D. It's had 13 miles put on it in 5 years. It will start up and drive right now, but after about 2 miles it will jump into overdrive for about 10 seconds then back out. If you are driving 50 miles per hour plus, it feels like you slammed on the brakes when it goes into O/D.

General Comments:

The seats have started to rot away and the dash is crumbling.

It starts fine and drives great for about a mile.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? No

Review Date: 21st August, 2007

1995 Ford Contour LE V6

Summary:

Starting to worry!

Faults:

Can anyone tell me what the problem might be when this car starts and idles rough?

And the battery light flashes when in drive and I stop at a light?

Other than that, the car seem fine for what I paid for it. $2000.00 for a low mileage car, fully loaded with a 6 cyl.

Any comments would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

General Comments:

The car has a lot of pep when compared with my Tercel. I had to replace my motor 2 times in that one.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 12th August, 2007

28th Aug 2007, 08:52

Do a google search and you will find out. The Contour Enthusiast Group is a good source for fixes as well. I suspect electrical problems: plugs, wires, coil pack, then: MAF sensor, idle air control motor, throttle position sensor etc. It could also be a fuel delivery problem: Add some "Lucas Fuel Treatment" and see if it gets better. If it does it's likely clogged fuel injectors.

Start with the cheapest.