Two problems related to brake hoses, lines/piping, and fittings have been reported for the 1997 Ford Contour. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
The contact owns a 1997 Ford Contour. While driving 25 mph on 3/19/07 the driver felt something heavy fall on his foot and he began to lose control of the steering wheel. The steering column fell on the brake pedal and he couldn't stop the vehicle. The contact's vehicle crashed into a parked truck. The passenger side air deployed; however, the driver side didn't deploy. Two passengers in the vehicle suffered minor injuries to their knees and chests. The police officer stated that he never heard of a steering column breaking while driving. The contact stated in the state of wisconsin insurance was not required as she was uninsured. The service mechanic on 01/13/07 stated that the brake failure was due to the brake hose being loose. The failure mileage was with 158,000. The contact doesnt have the current mileage.
Upon inspection of the brake flux hose, there was a lot of friction abrasion due to improper installation of hose. The abrasion was so excessive that it thinned the hose to the inner liner, and when the brakes were applied the pressure caused it to burst, and lose all brake fluid and braking capabilities. The part and pictures are available if needed. The dealer charged $328 to fix the problem, but I feel that it should have been done at no charge, since it was clear that it was defective due to improper installation at factory.