Problems · by component

1996 Ford Contour fuel system, gasoline problems

28 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1996 Ford Contour cite fuel system, gasoline, 5% of all 581 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
28
5% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the fuel system, gasoline

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“WAS FILLING UP MY FUEL TANK AND JUST AS THE PUMP CLICKED OFF GASOLINE STARTED POURING OUT FROM THE TOP OF THE TANK AND IT STILL DOES IT EVERYTIME I FILL IT UP I AM VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE IT IS A SEVERE FIRE HAZARD PLEASE HELP ME OUT. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 20, 2009Fuel system, gasolineODI 10255608
“MY 1996 MERCURY VILLAGER DEVELOPED A FAILURE IN THE AIR FLOW SENSOR (PART $330) THAT RESULTED IN VEHICLE STALLS, INCLUDING STOPS ON THE HIGHWAY, THAT NEARLY RESULTED IN CRASHES. THE REQUIRED REPAIRS EXCEEDED $500. I KNOW FORD HAS A SIMILAR RECALL OUT NOW FOR THE 1997-2003 (/) MODELS). *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 7, 2007Fuel system, gasolineODI 10211101
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA RECALL #99V247000, REGARDING FUEL; HOSES/LINES/PIPES/FITTINGS DUE TO THE VIN. HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS THE MANUFACTURER PARTS WERE REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT SERVICE DEALER, BUT THE PROBLEM RECURRED. FUEL WAS DRIPPING ONTO THE TAIL PIPE. THE SERVICE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. UPDATED 10/04/06. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 12, 2006Fuel system, gasolineODI 10168044
“I SMELL GASOLINE, AND WHEN I FILL MY CAR WITH GASOLINE IT LEAKS. I HAVE HAD IT LOOKED AT BY A MECHANIC AND IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT IT IS THE FUEL FILL PIPE VENT HOSE. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH FORD AND THEY TELL ME THAT MY VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. *JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 16, 2005Fuel system, gasolineODI 10136743
“CONSUMER HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE 1996 FORD CONTOUR.*MR THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY RECALLS ON CONSUMER'S VEHICLE THAT SHE WASN'T AWARE OF BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER NEVER SENT NOTICES. SINCE THEN CONSUMER HAS BEEN PAYING FOR ENTIRE FULL PRICE AND IS ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT. HOWEVER, THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE IS THE GAS FUMES WHICH IS LEAKING THEREFORE LEAVING POISONOUS CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES COMING IN THROUGH THE HEATER VENTS. THESE HARSH CHEMICALS ARE DAMAGING TO THE LUNGS, BRAIN, RESPIRATORY SYSTEM AND ITS MAKING CONSUMER VERY TIRED AMONG OTHER SYMPTOMS. *TT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 12, 2005Suspension, Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Power train, Electrical system, VisibilityODI 10134493
“I HAVE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE SINCE FEBRUARY 14TH THIS YEAR. I CAN NOT FILL MY GAS TANK ALL THE WAY FULL. IT HAS BEEN LEAKING GAS EVERY TIME I DO. I HAVE TRIED SEVERAL TIMES AT DIFFERENT STORES WHEN I GAS UP MY CAR TO SEE IF IT WAS BECAUSE I HAD BEEN PARKED ON AN INCLINE. IT DOES NOT MATTER IF I AM ON LEVEL GROUND IT STILL LEAVES A PUDDLE UNDER MY CAR. IT IS WORSE IF I PARK ON ANYTHING BUT LEVEL GROUND . PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THERE IS ANYWAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM.*AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 26, 2004Fuel system, gasolineODI 10096457

Showing 6 of 28 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Fuel system

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FUEL FILLER PIPE VENT HOSE MAY HAVE LESS THAN THE INTENDED LEVEL OF OZONE RESISTANCE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN THE HOSE BECOMING BRITTLE AND CRACKING.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Sep 13, 1999NHTSA 99V247000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 6, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.