Faults:

Mass Air flow sensor at 80,000 miles.

ABS light will not turn off.

When backing up, the car shuts off.

Can't run the air conditioner in the city limits because the car will overheat.

Motor went out on the right side passenger window.

Motor needs to be replaced because oil and water are mixing in the engine and it seems to be coming out of the tailpipe when the car is running.

General Comments:

When I first got the car, it got me where I had to go with no problems at all. It seems like when it it 80,000 miles is when the problems started. First, the timing belt, and then the fan was not blowing as powerful as it should, so I couldn't ride with the air on unless I was riding long distances, the latest problem to occur is there is water mixing with oil in the engine and I don't feel that is is safe to drive. I would buy another contour because the car handles well aside from the numerous problems, I just need one that actually works. I now have a Honda Accord and I very very satisfied.

Faults:

I have had to replace a lot of things, most of them just things that go bad. I have replaced the alternator twice within 10,000 miles, the timing has been replaced, all the transmission and motor mounts have been replaced, the shifter had to be taken out of park as it would stick, and the list goes on, but none of these things have really beent things that don't go wrong on any car.

General Comments:

Although I have heard many bad things about Contours, I have taken very good care of mine and at 160,000 it drives like new. the interior is nice, the paint has stayed nice with no rust, the transmission shifts smoothly, the engine drives strong. I think that they are good inexpensive cars to have as long as you maintain them well.

Faults:

My oxygen sensoor went at 126,000 miles.

My rear stuts had to be replace at 130,000 miles.

My clock light blew out at 135,000 miles.

The ball joints needed replacement at 138,000 miles.

General Comments:

This car handles great in all types of weather including snow.

For a four cylinder car it is very peppy during takeoff.

It has never left me stranded.

Faults:

When I first bought the car, it had a bad wheel bearing on the front passenger side. I had that fixed and the driver's side front wheel bearing went. Now less than a year later, the same wheel bearing on the passenger side is going again.

The first day I drove the car, the blower motor broke. There was a recall on this so I got it fixed.

The timing belt rattles horribly whether or not its cold. It's just worse when it is cold.

The engine light is on. I was told that it is the (EPR) Valve and the (EPR) sensor. I don't know exactly what (EPR) stands for, but it has something to do with the fuel. Now I did try to replace this, however, you need a wrench and its hard to figure out what size it is. Once you figure out the size wrench you need, you'll have to make sure it is short enough to be able to turn it. There isn't a lot of space to work. So that's still not fixed.

The oxygen sensor went bad as well.

The doors all creak really bad. WD-40 works for a short while, but it still comes back. Sometimes they are hard to open.

Gas door release quit working, I had to break it open, so now it doesn't close.

Trunk release doesn't work.

Turn signals keep going out.

Condensation inside headlights.

Seat belts fell apart in back seat. I have one back there that works.

Driver's seat doesn't lock fully, so it jiggles just a little bit.

When I try to back up, there is a horrific sound like the brakes are going to fall off.

It doesn't idle at a constant speed.

It tries to stall when you first drive the car.

This car constantly needs wheel alignments or it shakes between 55 and 70 miles per hour.

The tires do not wear evenly.

Temperature gage started reading high. I had it tested and the fan kicks on at the right temperature, but it didn't used to do that. I also replace the thermostat, but that didn't fix it.

General Comments:

Overall as a car it is very comfortable and rides well aside from the shaking. It handles well in the snow. Since I had a manual transmission, I didn't really have a problem with pick up. However that's after the first 5-10 min of driving. With all the things that have gone wrong with this car. I will never again buy a Ford. I am sure with my list of things that went wrong I am probably forgetting something. But, as you can see many people have had many problems with this car. It is quite possibly the worst car ever produced.