Eight problems related to vehicle speed control have been reported for the 1996 Ford Contour. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
Stalls out if you take your foot off the gas, surges between 1-4 rmps, engine light is on, all started after I had the heater blower switch replaced.
While traveling at approximatley 60 mph engine started running and rpms went to 8000. Consumer put transmission in neutral and turned vehicle off. Upon start up after the engine had been shut off, the engine began revving again. Dealership has not examined vehicle yet. Please provide any additional information/attachments.
On the morning of 11/10/2000, I just completed entering the southbound dallas tollway from legacy dr. In plano, TX. Upon reaching cruising speed, my vehicle continued to race at full throttle. Fortunately, traffic was light at the time of the incident. In addition to removing my foot from the accelerator, I tried to apply the brakes gently to find there was no power assist. I was able to get my foot under the accelerator pedal to insure that it was not stuck to the floor. With both feet and great effort I was able to apply enough braking force to safely manuever the automated toll gate. The vehicle continued to race uncontrollably and I exited at the west parker road exit in plano. The only way I was able to come to a stop at the traffic light I encountered was to slip the vehicle into neutral gear. At that point the engine was screaming, so I turned the ignition off. I restarted the vehicle on green and it started up at full throttle. Upon putting the vehicle into 'drive', the tires lost traction and the vehicle continued to speed along in a "runaway" fashion. I had to pass through another traffic light and intersection (with the same manuever as previously described) before I reached a shopping center parking lot (parkwood center, plano, TX). At this point I telephoned aaa for a tow to the dealership. While waiting for the tow truck, I made several attempts to restart the vehicle and each time the engine raced at full throttle. The dealer evaluated the problem as being a faulty resonater assembly for the engine air intake (allegedly a worn out gasket, which required replacement of the whole unit). I find it hard to believe that Ford engineers would permit the development of a product which has the potential to create such a serious and life-threatening situation. Just for your information, on another matter regarding this vehicle, Ford contacted me directly and reimbursed me $1,000. This was during the latter part of 1999.
Throttle body hose assembly : loud howling sound, engine surging. Engine: stalls when first started when engine is cold.
While parking vehicle, the engine suddenly revved up for no reason & then shot forward. Applying brakes, did not stop vehicle. It went over small embankment. Air bags did not deploy.
Vehicle experienced a sudden surge when vehicle was at a stop light. Consumer put transmission in neutral to stop the vehicle from pulling off on its own. Dealer has been contacted.
While driving extreme vibration occurred within the steering column. Also, engine idled very fast, and the vehicle jerked. , dealer stated that this was a normal condition. Please give any further details.
Power steering becomes disables when driven through puddles of water. Safety should be a recall by Ford motor corp.