I have the exact same problem with my 96 LX Duratec. Except that it isn't intermittent anymore. The radio controls are also dead, and the defrost is on high all the time. The "football" is dark, but I found that the rear defroster button works.
The VSS is cheap enough to just swap out to try it, but I hear that it's not easy to replace. I haven't looked yet.
The VSS is cheap enough to just swap out to try it, but I hear that it's not easy to replace. I haven't looked yet.