The 1996 Ford Contour has 5 recalls, the most serious being two separate fuel system fire risks: one affecting bi-fuel CNG models where a damaged natural gas line can leak gas near an ignition source, and one where a cracked fuel filler vent hose can leak gasoline during refueling.
The CNG fire risk applies only to bi-fuel vehicles modified to run on both gasoline and compressed natural gas. In a moderate to severe collision, the natural gas fuel line can sustain damage that bypasses the tank's automatic shut-off valve, allowing gas to escape and potentially ignite. On standard gasoline models, the vent hose running from the fuel filler pipe can become brittle over time and crack, releasing fuel vapor or liquid fuel when the tank is being filled.
On the electrical side, two related recalls cover the same underlying problem: the headlight switch terminals and their wiring harness connector can overheat and distort, breaking the circuit that powers the instrument panel lights, parking lamps, and tail lamps. This means the driver can lose rear running lights and dashboard illumination without warning, reducing visibility to other drivers at night. There is also a powertrain-adjacent concern involving the heater blower resistor, where rough stainless steel blades on the resistor wear away the copper surface of the wiring connector over time, gradually increasing electrical resistance until the blower motor stops working entirely.
