Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1995 Ford Contour owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I have a Ford Contour 1995 manufactured in 12/94 I have some complaints about my car. There are some recalls out on this vehicle. But there are not list for my Contour VIN # but I have the same problems. My car was taken to the robins Ford delership in glenolden,pa for not starting. After they inspected the vehicle they called me and told me that I have a wiring harness defect that caused it to short circuit my spark plugs. They told me that the wires for this vehicle is out dated and for have been replacing them with updated wires. But they have not issued a recall for my VIN# but it is a known manufacturer defect with this car. I also have some problems that have just started that Ford have recalls on but again not my so called VIN#. My seat belts on this car have been breaking off at the connection tab as well as my defroster not working. Both have recalls on them. …
Vehicle has experienced same problem as mentioned in recall 95e006002/ manufacturer's recall# 7243. Passenger's side air bag did not deploy properly. Airbag blew up, causing dashboard to crack/ windshield/ sunvisor and passenger's side window to break. Sunvisor flew to rear of vehicle, and caused minor injuries to a child. Consumer rearended another vehicle at 10 MPH, causing airbags to deploy. During deployment, vehicle had black smoke.
Tl*- the contact stated that while driving the 1995 Ford Contour with 36000 failure mileage at 55 MPH the front front driver's side airbag deployed without any warning. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The Ford engineer checked the vehicle, and determined that there was no damage to the vehicle, but he determined that the sensor was faulty. The vehicle has been repaired. The driver received minor injuries.
Driver was at traffic tie u when a vehicle struck the driver from behind, the truck was moving at a hight rate of speed, pushed the driver into a van that was stopped in front and into the center cement divide. Driver's side seatback fell into a semi-recline position and the seat slid back, airbag did not deploy, the seat falling back caused the driver's lumbar spine to be injured.
Consumers daughter was stopped at a traffice light, when she was hit head on by another vehicle, both the driver and the passenger were wearing seat belts, however the seat belts failed to restrain them and both driver and the passenger were thrown foward, also the airbags failed to deploy, the driver and passenger suffered injuries.
While driving 60 MPH had a tire blowout, and lost control. Vehicle spun around and had a frontal impact with a group of trees. Upon impact, driver's and passenger's air bags did not deploy, which did not protect the occupant in this crash. Please provide further information.
Consumer was involved in a very low speed collision and the passenger's and driver's side air bags deployed, causing serious injuries to the occupant on the passenger side, no damage to the front end, all damage was from the deployment of the air bags.
Drivers side airbag is loose and consumer can stick hand behind airbag. Consumer is scared airbag May deploy and injure someone. Two weeks later while driving at 50 another driver hit consumer's vehicle from the front and airbags didn't deploy.
Vehicle hit a lamp pole and the driver's side and air bag deployed, but when it deployed it didn't deploy fully. Air bag came out half way. But the passenger's side air bag deployed but also cracked the windshield and dashboard.
Consumer was involved in a front end collision with another vehicle, but driver's side air bag did not deploy fully. As a result, driver hit steering wheel and dashboard. Dealer has been contacted. Please provide further details.
Airbag complaints in other Contour years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 1995 Ford Contour?
NHTSA has 44 complaints about the air bags of the 1995 Ford Contour, 5% of the model year's 891 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (23 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1995 Ford Contour airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 1995 Ford Contour, though it has 8 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1995 Ford Contour airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 45,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 21 crashes, 0 fires and 20 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.