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1995 Ford Contour

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1995 Contour.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1995 Ford Contour, a passenger car entry in Ford's lineup, specified 4.5 quarts of 5W-20 API engine oil — yet it stands as the most problematic year in the model's entire 1993-2001 production run. With 1,073 owner complaints filed against it, dwarfing the 3 logged for the 1993 introductory model and accompanied by 12 recalls, the year is dominated by engine and engine cooling grievances. For researchers, 1995 effectively defines the Contour's reliability ceiling in reverse, serving as the high-water mark of mechanical complaints against which every subsequent model year would be measured.

Model year2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque94 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 96R · 590 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 96R · 590 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP185-70R14OEM · verified

Wheel / rim5.5 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	183.9 in
Overall width	69.3 in
Overall height	54.3 in
Wheelbase	106.3 in
Curb weight	2769 lb
Track (front / rear)	59.1 / 58.3 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	65/35

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 94 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	SYNTHETIC · 5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Engine Oil	SYNTHETIC · 5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5.5 qt

Engine torques

Clutch Pressure Plate Bolts	13.0-18.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)	44.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)	26.0-34.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	12-15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	13-16 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	6-8.8 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	13-16 ft-lbs
Oil Pan to Block Bolts	25.0-34.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts	94 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts	18.0-22.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub	246 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel Hub	210 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-4-2-5-3-6
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Motorcraft
Spark Plug Gap	0.048-0.052 in
Spark Plug Torque	9.0-13.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Motorcraft
Spark Plug Gap	0.056-0.056 in
Spark Plug Torque	7.0-15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.63 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	YN-12-D
Oil Capacity	7.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	96R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	590 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	40R

Service checks

Pressure Test	16 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	191 °F
Pressure Test	16 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	16 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	187 °F

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket	30 ft-lbs / 20 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	43 ft-lbs / 88 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.125; Rear: 0.125 in
Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in / 0.006 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.79 in / 0.95 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	18 ft. lbs.	18 ft. lbs
2	33 ft. lbs.	33 ft. lbs
3	105 degrees.	105 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages

1	27-32 ft. lbs.	27–32 ft. lbs
2	85-95 degrees.	85–95 degrees
3	Loosen 1 turn.
4	27-32 ft. lbs.	27–32 ft. lbs
5	85-95 degrees.	85–95 degrees
6	85-95 degrees.	85–95 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	35-40 ft. lbs.	35–40 ft. lbs
2	56-60

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 30,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 5,000 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Wheel Lug Nut (torque)
Every 5,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 10,000 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Wheel Lug Nut (torque)
Every 15,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (leak inspection)
Every 20,000 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 mi	Brake Linings (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
At 50,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · PCV Valve (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1995 Ford Contour stands out with 1,073 complaints, 12 recalls, and 7 investigations—dramatically higher than the 3 and 12 complaints in 1993 and 1994, and the highest complaint count in the entire 1993–2001 record. This launch year also concentrates severe issues, including 68 fire complaints and 42 crash complaints, alongside top problem areas in the engine and engine cooling (201 complaints) and electrical system (142 complaints). While the generation shows a second spike in 1998, the 1995 model year remains the peak for complaints and shares the highest recall count, indicating widespread early production problems. The data does not specify root causes, but the sheer volume of complaints and safety-related reports makes the 1995 Contour a notably risky choice compared to later years. Consequently, this model year is not a good buy given its disproportionate share of issues.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

257

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

1,073

Owner complaints

42 involved a crash · 68 a fire

NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars

Rollover★★★★★

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’93 ’94’95’96 ’97 ’98 ’99 ’00 ’01

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 1,073 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine & Engine Cooling201

Electrical System142

Power Train99

Suspension81

Fuel System, Gasoline72

Steering66

Service Brakes, Hydraulic59

Air Bags38

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 12 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

08E033000SuspensionReported 14/04/2008

FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS… Remedy: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.

06E022000Service Brakes, HydraulicReported 13/03/2006

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA… Remedy: AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 257 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
4102	2003-10-30	Engine And Engine Cooling	EBP SOLENOID SERVICE SEPARATELY FROM TURBO. SPECIAL SERVICE MESSAGE. MAKE/MODEL UNKNOWN…
03181	2003-09-15	Electrical System	REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) - SERVICE TIPS. *TT
03148	2003-07-21	Power Train	NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER - SERVICE TIPS. 2003 ESCORT AND SUPER DUTY F SERIES…
16880	2003-06-01	Electrical System	INOPERATIVE SHIFT INTERLOCK SOLENOID OR REPEAT INSTRUMENT INTERFACE MODULE FAILURE. *TT
16714	2003-03-01	Engine And Engine Cooling	FOR ALL OBDI VEHICLES THAT USE THE .5V DPFE SENSOR, A 1.0V SENSOR IS CURRENTLY THE ONLY…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Contour. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 96R battery Vehicles taking 4.5 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1995 Contour take?

4.5 qt of SYNTHETIC 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1995 Contour have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 12 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.