1993 Ford Contour problems
The Ford Mondeo I (first generation) is a mid-size car that was produced by Ford, beginning on 23 November 1992, with sales beginning on 22 March 1993. It is also known as the Mk I Mondeo; the 1996 facelift versions are usually designated Mk II. Available as a four-door saloon, a five-door hatchback, and a five-door estate, all models for the European market were produced at Ford's plant in the Belgian city of Genk. In December 1992, Autocar published a section on the Mondeo, and how it would conquer rivals.
Intended as a world car, it replaced the Ford Sierra in Europe, the Ford Telstar in a large portion of Asia and other markets, while the Ford Contour and Mercury Mystique replaced the Ford Tempo and Mercury Topaz in North America. Despite being billed as a world car, the only external items the Mondeo shared initially with the Contour were the windscreen, front windows, front mirrors and door handles. Thus, the CDW27 project turned out not to be a true world car in the sense that the original Ford Focus and newer Fords developed under the "One Ford" policy turned out to be. The first generation Mondeo was replaced in 2000, by the larger second generation; in the United States and Canada, the Contour/Mystique were replaced initially by the Focus and later the Fusion.
Design and development
Mk I
Instigated in 1986 (just before its Sierra predecessor received a major facelift), the design of the car cost Ford US$6 billion. It was one of the most expensive new-car programmes ever. The Mondeo was significant as its design and marketing were shared between Ford USA in Dearborn and Ford of Europe. Its codename while under development reflected thus: CDW27 signified that it straddled the C and D size classes and was a "world car". The head of the Mondeo project was John Oldfield, headquartered at Ford Dunton in Essex.
A large proportion of the high development cost was due to the Mondeo being a completely new design, sharing very little, if anything, with the Ford Sierra. Unlike the Sierra, the Mondeo is front-wheel drive in its most common form, with a rarer four-wheel drive version available on the Mk I car only. Over-optimistically, the floor pan was designed to accept virtually any conceivable drivetrain, from a transverse inline-four engine to a longitudinal V-8. This resulted in a hugely intrusive and mostly disused bellhousing cover and transmission tunnel. Resultingly the front interior, especially the footwells, feels more cramped than would be expected from a vehicle of this size. The Mondeo featured new manual and automatic transmissions and sophisticated suspension design, which give it class-leading handling and ride qualities, and subframes front and rear to give it executive car refinement. The automatic transmission featured electronic control with sport and economy modes plus switchable overdrive. The program manager from 1988, and throughout its early development, was David Price.
By 1989, Ford had confirmed that it would be launching an all-new front-wheel drive car to replace the Sierra within the next four years, although it had not yet decided whether the Sierra name would continue or be replaced, with some subsequent reports even hinting that the Cortina name could make a comeback, having been axed in 1982 when replaced by the Sierra. Several prototypes were tested that year, but the launch of the Nissan Primera in 1990 prompted Ford to make a number of major alterations to the final product, as it saw the new competitor from Nissan to be the benchmark car in this sector, having previously identified the Honda Accord as the class leader.
The car was launched in the midst of turbulent times at Ford of Europe, when the division was haemorrhaging hundreds of millions of dollars, and had gained a reputation in the motoring press for selling products which had been designed by accountants rather than engineers. The fifth-generation Escort and third-generation Orion of 1990 was the zenith of this cost-cutting/high-price philosophy, which was by then beginning to backfire on Ford, with the cars being slated for their substandard ride and handling, though a facelift in 1992 had seen things improve a little. The Sierra had sold well, but not as well as the all-conquering Cortina before it, and in Britain, it had been overtaken in the sales charts by the newer Vauxhall Cavalier. Previously loyal customers were already turning to rival European and Japanese products, and by the time of the Mondeo's launch, the future of Europe as a Ford manufacturing base was hanging in the balance. The new car had to be good, and it had to sell. It was unveiled to the public on 23 November 1992, although sales would not begin for another four months. At this stage, Ford confirmed that the new car would feature a completely new name and would be called the Mondeo.
Safety was a high priority in the Mondeo design, with a driver's side airbag (it was the first-ever car sold from the beginning with a driver's airbag in all of its versions, which helped it achieve the European Car of the Year title for 1994), side-impact bars, seat belt pretensioners, and antilock braking systems (higher models) as standard features. Other features for its year included adaptive damping, self-leveling suspension (top estate models), traction control (V6 and 4WD versions), and heated front windscreen, branded Quickclear.
The interiors were usually well-appointed, featuring velour trim, an arm rest with CD and tape storage, central locking (frequently remote), power windows (all round on higher models), power mirrors, illuminated entry, flat-folding rear seats, etc. Higher-specification models had leather seats, trip computers, electric sunroof, CD changer, and alloy wheels.
During its development, Ford used the 1986 Honda Accord and in the later stages the 1990 Nissan Primera as the class benchmarks that the CDW27 had to beat.
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Common 1993 Ford Contour problems
The Ford Contour, introduced in 1993, is often praised for its handling and performance, but it has also faced some common problems that have been reported by owners.
One of the most common problems with the Ford Contour is related to the transmission. Some owners have reported experiencing issues with the overdrive switch and automatic transmission not shifting out of Park. These problems can be costly to repair and may require the attention of a professional mechanic. The transmission issues can also affect the overall driving experience, making it difficult to shift gears smoothly and potentially causing delays in acceleration.
Another common problem with the Ford Contour is related to the suspension. Some owners have reported experiencing suspension rattles, which can be caused by loose components or worn-out shocks. These issues can affect the overall handling and ride quality of the car, making it uncomfortable to drive.
The fuel filler door and filler neck have also been reported as problematic areas in the Ford Contour. Some owners have reported difficulty opening the fuel filler door and issues with the filler neck causing gas pump nozzles to shut down midflow. These issues can be frustrating and may require the attention of a professional mechanic to resolve.
The 2.5-liter V6 engine, while powerful, has also been reported as having issues with reliability. Some owners have reported experiencing engine problems, particularly with the timing chain and tensioner. These issues can be costly to repair and may require the attention of a professional mechanic.
Finally, the limited availability of parts for the Ford Contour has been raised as a concern by some enthusiasts. Since this model was produced in limited numbers, finding replacement parts can be challenging and expensive. This can make maintenance and repairs more difficult for owners.
In summary, the Ford Contour has faced some common problems related to the transmission, suspension, fuel filler door, engine, and availability of parts. These issues can affect the overall driving experience and may require the attention of a professional mechanic to resolve. However, despite these drawbacks, many enthusiasts still appreciate what the Ford Contour has to offer, particularly its sporty handling and performance.
Why did Ford stop making the Contour?
Re: Why did Ford discontinue the Contours? It was because at the time, a fully loaded Contour/Mystique was almost as expensive as a moderately, but BIGGER Taurus/Sable. In the AMerican mind, bigger is better.
What kind of engine does a Ford Contour have?
2.5L V-6(SVT) 4dr Sedan
| MSRP | $22,905 |
|---|---|
| Engine | 2.5L V-6 |
| MPG | 20 city / 29 hwy |
When did they stop making the Ford Contour?
With Ford deciding to cancel production of the Contour model for sale in the USA after the 2000 model year, 2000 became the final year for the SVT Contour. The car still enjoy enthusiast following today. Bore x Stroke: 3.2 in.
What car replaced the Ford Contour?
Ford Taurus SE
End of the Contour
In the Ford lineup, the Contour was replaced by the Ford Taurus SE (a Taurus trim line, which was introduced in 1998). Those looking for a mid-sized car tended to purchase the larger Ford Taurus, while those looking for a small sedan tended to purchase the Escort.
Why did Ford stop making the Contour?
Re: Why did Ford discontinue the Contours? It was because at the time, a fully loaded Contour/Mystique was almost as expensive as a moderately, but BIGGER Taurus/Sable. In the AMerican mind, bigger is better.
What engine is in a Ford Contour?
Ford SVT Contour
It was powered by an upgraded version of the 2.5 L V6, producing 195 hp (200 hp from 1999).
When did they stop making the Ford Contour?
With Ford deciding to cancel production of the Contour model for sale in the USA after the 2000 model year, 2000 became the final year for the SVT Contour. The car still enjoy enthusiast following today. Bore x Stroke: 3.2 in.
What replaced the Ford Contour?
End of the Contour
In the Ford lineup, the Contour was replaced by the Ford Taurus SE (a Taurus trim line, which was introduced in 1998). Those looking for a mid-sized car tended to purchase the larger Ford Taurus, while those looking for a small sedan tended to purchase the Escort.
1993 Ford Contour car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Ford Contour problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Service brakes problems
- Hydraulic problems
- Engine and engine cooling problems
- Equipment problems
- Power train problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 1993 Ford Contour vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
1993 Ford Contour complaints
The NHTSA has received 3 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1993 Ford Contour.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2003-04-12
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
- Summary: THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH BOARD, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE LOST BRAKE FLUID. 8JB
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2000-03-01
- VIN: 1LNLM9744PY
- Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,EQUIPMENT
- Summary: I PAYED FORD 17,892.00 IN SEPT, 1998, BECAUSE THEY WERE GOING TO DAMAGE MY CREDIT BECAUSE I HAD TO MAKE SO MANY REPAIRS ON THIS CAR. THEY ONLY EXTENDED MY MONTHLY PAYMENTS SO I COULD REPAIR THE ENGINE. THE CAR IS STILL SITTING IN MY DRIVE WAY NEEDING REPAIRS. I HAD TO GET A USED 92 DODGE TO GO TO WORK IN. I WILL NEVER DO BUSINESS WITH FORD AGAIN, THEY ARE NOT FAIR TO THERE CUSTOMERS. I HOPE THIS WILL HELP SOMEONE IN THE FUTURE I HAD TO REFINANCE MY HOME TO PAY FORD MOTOR COMPANY OFF FOR THIS LEMON LINCOLN. *NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
POWER TRAIN PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 1993-11-03
- VIN: 1FALP66L0SK
- Components: POWER TRAIN
- Summary: NO ACCELERATION DURING FIRST SHIFT INTO 2ND GEAR. *SD
Additional sources
More sources of information about 1993 Ford Contour problems:
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Feb 22, 2008 ... Hard-core CEG'er ... It's a relatively common problem. Valve body worn and sticking, torque converter slipping and overheating the fluid. Steve...
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Nov 20, 2006 ... This seems to be a common problem with this year and make car and I have not heard any good solutions .Back to the osciliscope .At 1200 RPM I ...
The love/hate cult of the Ford SVT Contour - Hagerty Media
Apr 12, 2018 ... ... 1993, the SVT Contour was hailed as a ... The maintenance and repair issues that dog owners today were common even when cars were still under ...
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