226 of the
4,570 complaints filed about the Ford Contour
are about the lighting —
5% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 1996.
I HAD JUST GOT ON INTERSTATE WHEN MY CAR STARTED CUTTING OUT. I IMMEDIATELY PUT MY FLASHERS ON & TRIED TO GET IN THE LEFT LANE SO I COULD GET ON SHOULDER OF INTERSTATE BUT CARS WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO GET OVER. MY CAR DIED IN MIDDLE OF INTERSTATE. I CALLED ASAP (A SERVICE IN ALABAMA FOR HELP ON THE INTERSTATE) & TOLD THEM WHERE I WAS & I NEEDED THEM TO BRING ME SOME GAS. THEN A CAR CAME FLYING UP BEHIND ME BUT WAS ABLE TO STOP & DID NOT HIT ME. THEN THE CAR BEHIND HIM HAD STOPPED BUT A TRUCK BEHIND HER WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP. HE HIT HER, SHE HIT THE MAN BEHIND ME AND HE HIT ME. PARAMEDICS WERE CALLED FOR A 4 YEAR OLD IN THE WOMANS CAR WHO SAID HIS HEAD HURT. I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IF THE CAR BEHIND ME HAD HIT ME AND TURNED MY CAR SIDEWAYS & WAS HIT ON THE SIDE BY ANOTHER CAR, BECAUSE EVERYONE WAS DRIVING WAY TOO FAST AND DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE MY FLASHERS AT ALL. THEY WOULD FLY PAST ME BLOWING THEIR HORNS. DID THEY THINK I WAS STOPPED ON PURPOSE? BELIEVE ME IF I COULD HAVE MADE THE CAR GO I WOULD HAVE. THIS CAR DOES THIS SOMETIMES WHEN ON A 1/4 TANK OF GAS, AND SINCE THIS ACCIDENT IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE. NOW IT DOES IT ON 3/4 TANK. I DO NOT GET ON INTERSTATE ANYMORE. NO ONE SEEMS TO BE ABLE TO FIND OUT WHY THESE CARS DO THIS.
NHTSA complaint #10482382 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE NOTICED THAT ON EVERY 1999 FORD CONTOUR THE HEADLIGHT COVERS TURN YELLOW AND START TO CRACK. I HAVE CHECKED A LOT OF PLACES AND LOOK AT THE LIGHTS AND EVERYONE I HAVE SEEN ARE THE SAME. I CAN'T DRIVE WITH MY LIGHTS ON LOW BEAM AT ALL. I KEEP THEM ON HIGH BEAM SO THAT I CAN SEE. LOW BEAM LOOKS AS IF THEY AREN'T ON.
NHTSA complaint #10354958 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PLUG ON THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH OVERHEATED AND MELTED THE WIRE IN THE PLUG. HE HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY EVERY TIME HE GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT CAUSED A FAILURE WITHIN THE PARKING LIGHTS. THE PLUG AND HEADLIGHT SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE FOUND RECALL 99V103000 ONLINE AND WAS TOLD BY BOTH THE MANUFACTURER AND THE DEALER THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED TO-DATE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 183,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 180,000.
NHTSA complaint #10298277 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1998 FORD CONTOUR. HEADLIGHT CONNECTOR OVER HEATED RESULTING IN LOSS OF TAIL LIGHTS AND PARKING LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION. TERMINAL 15 OF CONNECTOR WAS BURNED. SAFETY RECALL 99S14 ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM BUT FORD DEALER SAYS THIS CAR WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. . I INSTALLED FORD KIT F5RZ14A411BA AND FIXED THE PROBLEM. WHY WAS THIS CAR NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL OR IS THE FORD DEALER MISTAKEN? SHOULD THE RECALL BE EXPANDED? I SAVED THE OLD CONNECTOR.
NHTSA complaint #10261823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
COULD NOT GET AN INSPECTION STICKER - NO MECHANIC COULD FIND OUT WHY THE CHECK ENGINE WILL NOT GO OFF -VERY COSTLY. IT STALLS WHEN RAINING, THE PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE DOES NOT WORK, IT HAS TO WARM UP FOR 5 MINUTES BEFORE IT WILL MOVE, THE TAIL LIGHTS CAME LOOSE, CAUSING MELTING OF HOUSING, EVERY VALVE IMAGINABLE HAS BEEN REPLACED, BELT SQUEALS WHEN AIR OR DEFROST TURNED ON.
NHTSA complaint #10260956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I CURRENTLY AM THE SECOND OWNER OF A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. RECENTLY THE PARKING, AND DASHBOARD LIGHTS CEASED TO OPERATE. I CHANGED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH LASTED FOR A WEEK AND BURNED OUT.. RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET REVEALED THERE WAS A SERVICE RECALL DATED 5/10/99 UNDER SERIAL #99V10300 FOR THE HEADLIGHT HARNESS WHICH WAS CAUSING THE ABOVE DESCRIBED PROBLEM. I CONTACTED FORD WHO STATED THEIR WAS NO OPEN RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET REVEALED ADDITIONAL OWNERS WHO HAD THE SAME PROBLEM BUT WERE INFORMED BY FORD THAT THEIR PARTICULAR VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL. MY COMPLAINT IS IF SO MANY FORD CONTOUR MODELS ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM WHY ARE ONLY CERTAIN VEHICLES COVERED WHEN MANY ARE HAVING IDENTICAL PROBLEMS THANKYOU
NHTSA complaint #10257729 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED. IN 2001, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V255000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS). THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME AND STATED THAT NO REPAIR WAS NEEDED. HOWEVER, NOW THAT THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS NO LONGER VALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 01/09/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE COILS SPRINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED REPLACED HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND CABLE IN ENGINE. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR UPDATED 06/04/08.
NHTSA complaint #10203548 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFROSTER STOPPED WORKING. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA RECALL # 01I009000 (VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:CONTROLS/WIRING) IN 2001. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND TAIL LIGHTS ALSO DO NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR NHTSA RECALL # 99V103000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH) IN 1999. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 92,794 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 02-01-08 *BF UPDATED 02/01/08
NHTSA complaint #10195359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE HEADLIGHT IN THE CONSUMER'S 1998 FORD CONTOUR DO NOT ILLUMINATE THE ROAD ENOUGH WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. *KB VISIBILITY IS ESPECIALLY BAD WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT IN THE RAIN BECAUSE THE LIGHTS FOG UP. THE CONSUMER HAS ALMOST HAD AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THE HEADLIGHTS.
NHTSA complaint #10164764 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I HAVE A 1998 FORD CONTOUR THAT THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND REAR TAILLIGHTS HAVE STOPPED WORKING, WHILE THE HEADLIGHTS CONTINUE TO FUNCTION. THE CAUSE WAS THE WIRING OVERHEATING AND I HAD TO REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS AND THE SWITCH. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND LOCATED A RECALL NHSTA CAMPAIGN 99V103000 FOR THE 1998 FORD CONTOUR FOR THIS EXACT PROBLEM, BUT ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I HAVE HAD TO PAY FOR THE WORK OUT OF POCKET, BUT I AM WONDERING IF IT WAS IN ERROR THAN MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED.
NHTSA complaint #10158569 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON 98 FORD CONTOURS BOTH OF THE HEADLIGHTS FORM CONDENSATION ON THE INSIDE AND THEN BECOME PITTED. THIS GREATLY REDUCES THE VISIBILITY AT NIGHT AND DURING STORMY WEATHER. WE HAVE CHANGED THE BULBS BUT NOT THE ENTIRE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY. WHEN WE WENT TO LOOK FOR A SET OF HEADLIGHTS WE DISCOVERED THAT ALL THE USED SETS HAVE THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THE LIGHTS NEED TO BE REPLACED AND THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING ON ALL FORD CONTOURS AND ITS MERCURY COUNTERPART.
NHTSA complaint #10156509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FORD WILL NOT REPAIR A RECALL (99S14) ON MY 1998 CONTOUR SE DUE TO THE FACT THAT MY SPECIFIC VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE YEAR IS IN THE RECALL. THE PROBLEM IS THE SAME. (INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS NOT WORKING WHEN HEADLIGHTS ARE TURNED ON.) THE DESCRIPTION OF THE FORD RECALL 99S14 IS THE SAME AS MY OBSERVED PROBLEM. UNSAFE TO DRIVE CAR AT NIGHT. NO CORRECTION HAS BEEN PERFORMED. FORD SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS KNOWN RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #10149255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT 1997 FORD CONTOUR WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND THE TAIL LIGHTS. THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED, AND FORD TOLD HER THAT THE TAILLIGHTS WERE ON RECALL 99V133000 AND WAS ALREADY FIXED. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE CONSUMER DID NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, AND SHE WANTED SOME ONE TO FIX IT. THE CONSUMER HAS ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR ONE MONTH. THE CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT NOW BEING CHECKED.
NHTSA complaint #10137589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT 1997 FORD CONTOUR WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND THE TAIL LIGHTS. THE CONSUMER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED, AND FORD TOLD HER THAT THE TAILLIGHTS WERE ON RECALL 99V133000 AND WAS ALREADY FIXED. THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT FIX THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THE CONSUMER DID NOT WANT TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS, AND SHE WANTED SOME ONE TO FIX IT. THE CONSUMER HAS ONLY OWNED THE VEHICLE FOR ONE MONTH. THE CAR IS AT THE DEALERSHIP RIGHT NOW BEING CHECKED.
NHTSA complaint #10137589 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HEADLIGHTS ARE CLOUDING OVER, MAKING IT DIMMER AT NIGHT AND HARDER TO SEE THE ROAD AHEAD. I HAVE TRIED TO CLEAN THE PLASTIC LENS BUT NOTHING SEEMS TO WORK. I THINK THIS IS A POOR ENGINEERING SOLUTION WHEN THE CAR IS ONLY 6 YEARS OLD.
NHTSA complaint #10135270 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN TURNING HEADLIGHTS ON, TAIL LIGHTS AND INTERIOR PANEL LIGHTS DO NOT COME ON. THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM (NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER 99V103000). HOWEVER, FORD SAYS THAT IT IS NOT THEIR RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE OF THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER [XXX]. UPDATED 07/19/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #10130258 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
DT: LENSES OF THE HEADLIGHTS GET WATER IN THEM WHEN IT RAINS. WHEN THE MECHANIC OPENED FOUND A LOT WATER INSIDE ABOUT A QUART OR MORE. CONDENSATION HAS COLLECTED INSIDE SINCE SHE BOUGHT IT. INTERNALLY, THE TAIL LIGHT ALSO BLEW. *AK *TT
NHTSA complaint #10120279 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WELL I HAD THE WORST EXPERIENCE EVER IN MY LIFE SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR. I HAD THIS CAR REPAIRED SO MANY TIME I CANT START TO NAME OFF DATES. I DO KNOW LESS THAN 6 MONTHS AFTER I BOUGHT THIS CAR I DROVE TO THE BEACH LESS THAN 30 MINUTES ALWAYS AND IT CUT OFF. IT STARTED BACK UP, BUT CUT OFF 4 TIME BEFORE I GOT HOME. NEXT DAY I HAD TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALER TO REPAIR IT. SINCE I HAD THIS CAR IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT A BURDEN. I HAD TO REPLACE THE BALL JOINT ONCE BEFORE, AND AS I WRITE THIS LETTER IT IS BEING DONE AGAIN FOR A 2ND TIME. MY HEAT AND AIR STOP WORKING. HEAT ONLY WORKS ON HIGH, AND MY DEFROST TAKE FOR EVER TO CLEAR MY WINDOWS. MY DOOR JUST WONT STAY CLOSED IT POPS OPEN WHILE DRIVING. ON MY PASSENGERS SIDE ON THE FLOOR. IT GETS SOAKED WITH RAIN EVERYTHING. IF ITS RAINY AND IM DRIVING MY CAR MAKES A LOUD SCRATCHING NOISE. MY BRAKES HAVE TO BE CHANGED EVERY 3-4 MONTHS. SHOCKS GAVE OUT LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER BUYING MY CAR. MY ENGINE LIGHT WONT GO OFF. I TOOK MY CAR TO OVER 3 FORD DEALERS AND MANY SHOPS, AND NO CAN SAY WHY THE LIGHT KEEP POPPING ON. SO TODAY I DROPPED MY CAR OFF TO THE SHOP TO HAVE BRAKES,DOOR,ENGINE LIGHT, BALL JOINTS AND TO SEE WHY THE OVER DRIVE OFF LIGHT KEEP BLINKING WHILE IM DRIVING. THIS IS THE WORST CAR EVER MADE BY FORD. I KNOW ITS NOTHING ON MY BEHALF WHY THIS CAR IS SO HORRIBLE BECAUSE IS KNOW 4 OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE OR HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS ME. THEY WERE SMART ENOUGH TO GET RID OF THIS PIECE OF '!@#$%, I JUST CANT AFFORD IT. WELL I KNOW THIS SUMMER IF I DO HAVE THE PLEASURE AND JUNGIAN THIS CAR, IM GOING TO PUSH IT OFF A BRIDGE MYSELF, AND NEVER EVER BY A FORD AGAIN. I THINK FORD SHOULD BE ASSUMED FOR PUTTING OUT SUCH A BAD MODEL. HOW DARE U TRY AND MAKE A QUICK BUCK INSTEAD OF BUILDING A RELIABLE CAR FOR FAMILIES.
NHTSA complaint #10118666 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE DASHBOARD IS COMING UNGLUED AND HAS WARPED SIGNIFICANTLY. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY SAFETY IS JEOPARDIZED. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE LITERALLY FALLING OUT, DUE TO WHAT I PERCEIVE TO BE STRUCTURAL FAILURE. THERE IS NO SIGN OF VISIBLE RUST OR DECAY. AGAIN, MY SAFETY IS AT RISK, AS MY VISIBILITY IS MINIMIZED BY THE INACCURACY OF THE AIMING OF THE HEADLIGHTS.
NHTSA complaint #10114343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.