Ford Contour Vehicle Speed Control Problems
Owners have filed 125 complaints with NHTSA about vehicle speed control problems on the Ford Contour across 6 model years. The 1995 model year has the most (42). The words owners use most often: “provide further” (7% of reports).
- 125vehicle speed control complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 17mention a crash
- 11mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 41%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Provide further: mentioned in 9 of 125 complaints (7%)
- Throttle cable: mentioned in 8 of 125 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do vehicle speed control problems happen?
Based on 14 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 125 complaints, 17 mention a crash, 11 an injury.
Ford Contour vehicle speed control complaints by model year
| Model year | Vehicle Speed Control complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Contour | 3 | 2% | — |
| 1999 Contour | 13 | 3% | 52,889 |
| 1998 Contour | 34 | 4% | 89,310 |
| 1997 Contour | 2 | 1% | 74,000 |
| 1996 Contour | 31 | 6% | 79,500 |
| 1995 Contour | 42 | 5% | 196,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Vehicle speed control
Model years: 1998
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The accelerator cable may have been manufactured with a burr on or near the end of the cable sleeve interior. This burr could fray the core wire resulting in the accelerator not returning to idle when the accelerator is released.
Risk: This condition can result in the throttle sticking, binding, or causing high engine rpm.
Fix: Dealers will install a revised accelerator cable that has a flared conduit sleeve end and molded on end fitting.
Vehicle speed control:cables
Model years: 1995, 1996
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with the traction control option. The throttle cables were damaged during vehicle assembly leading to fraying or separation of the throttle cable.
Risk: This condition could prevent the engine from returning to idle.
Fix: Dealers will replace the throttle cable with a revised design that is less susceptible to bending or kinking during installation.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 ford contour. The contact stated that the vehicle would independently accelerate when driving with the cruise control activated at various speeds. The contact stated that the failure started intermittently but progressively became worse over time. The vehicle was not…
Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford contour. The contact stated while driving at approximate speeds of 25 mph, the vehicle abnormally accelerated without driver intent. The contact applied the emergency brake and shifted into neutral until the vehicle coasted to a stop. The vehicle was towed to a…
I was never notified of any recalls. I have had to pay out of pocket expenses lost control of vehicle replaced starter and brakes several times feels like suspension is falling apart and never notified i have small and older children shameful. These events starting taking place when i purchased the…
Several times during the past 3 months the gas pedal/accelerator seemed to "stick" or race and i could not get the car to idle to back down until i put it in gear. July 3, while driving in busy traffic, the accelerator/gas pedal went to the floor and fortunately i was able to steer the car around a…
Tl*the contact owns a 1998 ford contour. The contact stated that the engine is not returning to idle. The accelerator pedal sticks and, when it is released, the engine continues to idle at high rpms. The throttle also sticks while driving between 10-80 mph. The failure occurs each day under normal…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Contours have vehicle speed control problems?
No. NHTSA has 125 owner complaints about vehicle speed control for the Ford Contour. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Contour vehicle speed control?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list vehicle speed control. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about vehicle speed control problems on the Ford Contour?
The most frequent phrase is “provide further”, in 9 of 125 complaints, followed by “throttle cable” (8).
Other Ford Contour problems
See all Ford Contour problems.