RoadVitals

1995 Ford Contour Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
24
Latest May 11, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 891 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1995 Ford Contour submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Exterior lighting
Filed May 11, 2004

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE CLOUDED FROM THE INSIDE. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE DUE TO HEADLIGHT CLOUDING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEADLIGHT LENSES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE LENSES WERE REPLACED. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10066912
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 29, 2003

I HAVE A 1995 FORD CONTOUR. MY HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE GETTING SO CLOUDY I CAN HARDLY SEE WHEN MY HEADLIGHTS ARE ON. I THINK THIS IS A SAFTY ISSUE. REPLACEMENTS COST $98.00 FOR EACH SIDE. IS THERE ANY RECOURSE OR ANY RECALL ON THE LENS. I BELIEVE THIS IS A DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10051219
Incident
Dec 28, 2003
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 25, 2003

THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLY IS NOT PERFORMING. SIGNIFICANT HAZE ON THE LENSES HAS REDUCED LIGHT OUTPUT TO DANGEROUSLY LOW LEVELS. PARTS ARE INTEGRAL TO THE AUTOMOBILE [NOT CUSTOMER REPLACEABLE].*AK

NHTSA ID
10029153
Incident
Jul 25, 2003
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 3, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE HEAD LIGHTS COVER GETS FOGGED UP,RESULTING IN A DIM REFLECTION FROM THE LIGHTS. CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.CONTACTED DEALER, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. NLM

NHTSA ID
8020148
Incident
Jul 30, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 19, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AND WITH NO WARNING HEADLIGHT LENS WILL FOG UP, DISTRACTING CONSUMER'S VIEW, MAKING IT HARD FOR CONSUMER TO SEE DURING NIGHT HOURS. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK CONSUMER STATES BOTH HEADLIGHT LENSES ARE CLOUDED NOT FOGGED AND THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT SHINE AS BRIGHT, THE HEADLIGHT IS MADE OF PLASTIC NOT GLASS.*JB

NHTSA ID
8019094
Incident
Aug 19, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 13, 2002

CONSUMER STATEST THAT THE HEADLIGHT LENSES TURN YELLOW AFTER A PERIOD OF TIME. CONSUMER NOT ABLE TO SEE OTHER CARS CLEARLY AT NIGHT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

NHTSA ID
8018611
Incident
Sep 11, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed May 3, 2002

HEADLIGHT COVERS HAVE YELLOWED WITH AGE, THIS MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT.*AK

NHTSA ID
8009135
Incident
Apr 1, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 22, 2002

HEADLIGHT PLASTIC IS BECOMING CLOUDY AND DOES NOT PERMIT THE HEADLIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE THE ROAD. THE VECHILE WAS TAKEN TO A FORD DEALER WHO SAID THE REPAIR WAS $400.00 AND NOT A RECALL ITEM. THIS IS A SAFETY DEFECT THAT COULD LEAD TO NUMEROUS DEATHS AND INJURY. FORD NEEDS TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE ITEMS AT NO CHARGE. *AK

NHTSA ID
759668
Incident
Oct 1, 2001
Driver assistanceExterior lightingSuspension
Filed Feb 5, 2002

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
757832
Incident
Jan 2, 2002
Heating & air conditioningElectricalEngine+5 more
Filed Jan 24, 2002
Fire reported

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON HIGHWAY AND NOTICED A SMOKE SMELL COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. HE PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK PRIOR TO RECALL 00V367, ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING AND BURNING EXCESS OIL FROM OVERHEATED PISTON RINGS, AFTER RECALL REPAIRS, THERE WAS AN INTERNAL ANTIFREEZE LEAK THAT WAS GOING INTO MOTOR OIL, ENGINE COOLING FANS WERE OPERATING INTERMITTENTLY WHEN ENGINE WAS HOT, DEALER FOUND UPPER RADIATOR HOSE AT WATER PUMP HAD A PINHOLE LEAK, ENGINE COOLING FAN WIRING OVERHEATED AND BURNED OUT AT FAN RELAY AND FAN CONNECTORS, THEN CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 01I009 AND HAD THESE REPAIRS COMPLETED ON VEHICLE, AFTER RECALL REPAIRS, ENGINE AND IN-DASH WIRING OVERHEATED AND BURNED, DEALER INSTALLED RECALL PARTS FOR BLOWER MOTOR AGAIN, CONSUMER LATER INFORMED A NEW MOTOR WAS NEEDED DUE TO NO COMPRESSION DUE TO OVERHEATING DAMAGE. THIS TOOK PLACE PRIOR TO VEHICLE FIRE. HEADLIGHT AND TAILLIGHT LENSES REPLACED. OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS INOPERATIVE, SHIFT LEVER INTERNAL SLIDING BEZEL HAD A STRESS CRACK, AT TIMES IT WAS HARD TO GET OUT OF PARK WHEN TEMPERATURE WAS COLD. A/C DID NOT BLOW COLD AIR AND WAS NOISY. FUEL DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN AT TIMES. SPEEDOMETER CABLE WAS REPLACED DUE TO A TICKING NOISE. *JB

NHTSA ID
8002848
Incident
Dec 30, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 3, 2001

HEADLIGHT SWITCH IS ALWAYS WARM AND HOT TO TOUCH.

NHTSA ID
9004690
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 30, 2001

HEADLAMP LENSES TURNED YELLOW AND HAZED OPAGUE SO LIGHT OUTPUT IS POOR!*AK

NHTSA ID
749445
Incident
Jun 1, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 27, 2001

HEADLIGHTS DO NOT SHINE AS BRIGHT AS THEY SHOULD SHINE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER SAID THAT CONSUMER HAS TO CHANGE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY.*AK

NHTSA ID
884300
Incident
Mar 1, 2000
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 22, 2001

HEAD LAMPS ARE DIM. THEIR IS SOMETHING FORMING ON LENS THAT IS CAUSING THIS. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
881156
Heating & air conditioningElectricalEngine+3 more
Filed Jan 3, 2001

DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE, AIRCONDITIONER WENT OUT, SMELLED SOMETHING MELTING, SMOKE FROM UNDER HOOD WHEN OPENED, TOLD IT WAS AIR, COULD DRIVE, BLEW 2 HEAD GASKETS DUE TO COOLING SYSTEM NOT WORKING, COST OVER 600$. FAN ONLY RUNS ON HIGH AND LOW. HEATER MOTOR GOING OUT. MANUAL TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING. BACK DOORS SQUEAK REALLY LOUD, AND OIL DON'T WORK. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON ALWAYS. AIRBAG LIGHTS ON ALWAYS. BACK SEAT BELT BROKE. ALTONATOR GOING OUT. RADIATOR LEAKS THEN STOPS, LEAKS THEN STOPS. FAN MAKES A LOUD NOISE WHEN RUNNING.

NHTSA ID
738711
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 26, 2000

HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE NOW GREENISH COLOR AND SIGNIFICANTLY DIMS THE HEADLIGHTS. NEW LIGHT BULBS DO NOT HELP. IN RAIN AND RURAL AREAS, LIGHTING RANGE IS SO DECREASED, SPEED HAS TO BE REDUCED. NO ACCIDENTS AT THIS TIME. I FEEL THIS IS SIGNIFICANT AND THE MATERIALS THE HEADLIGHT COVERS ARE DISINGRATING AND IMPAIRING NIGHT VISIBILITY.*AK

NHTSA ID
732533
BrakesExterior lightingSteering+1 more
Filed Mar 5, 2000

HAD TO REPLACED BRAKES. HEADLIGHTS DIM WHEN BRAKE IS PRESSED,INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON WHEN LEFT TAIL LIGHT GOES OUT (REPLACED 4 TIMES SINCE 1996) STEERING WHEEL BOUNCES UP AND DOWN WHEN SITTING WITH CAR RUNNING AND IN GEAR MUST PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AT STOP LIGHTS OR SITTING IN GEAR, SO AS TO NOT GET VIBRATED TO DEATH, MECH-NOT ABLE TO FIX PROBLEM, JUST THE WAY CAR IS BUILT.

NHTSA ID
719709
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 20, 1999

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILURE PRIOR TO RECALL (99V-103)NOTIFICATION. NLM

NHTSA ID
548594
Incident
Dec 2, 1998
Exterior lighting
Filed May 3, 1999

THE PLASTIC LENSES IN BOTH HEADLIGHTS HAVE FROSTED BADLY CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. MJS

NHTSA ID
545309
AirbagsExterior lighting
Filed May 28, 1997
Crash reported1 injury reported

AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT WAS VIOLENT, CAUSING BURNS TO LEFT ARM/RIGHT HAND, AND ALSO ON LEFT SIDE OF STOMACH WITH THE DEVELOPMENT OF A SMALL CYST. DUP OF 516955, ADDED ON 25-FEB-98. *AK

NHTSA ID
517430
Incident
Apr 9, 1997
BrakesExterior lightingTires & wheels
Filed Feb 27, 1997

STEEL TREAD CAME OUT OF TIRE.

NHTSA ID
515244
Body & structureBrakesHeating & air conditioning+6 more
Filed May 29, 1996

KEYLESS REMOTE SYSTEM FAILED.

NHTSA ID
505155
Incident
May 29, 1996
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 13, 1995

POOR PERFORMANCE ON THE HEAD LIGHT CAN NOT SEE THE ROAD IN THE DARK. TTWHEN MEETIMG TRAFFIC UNABLE TO SEE THE ROADS ADJUSTMENT IS NOT THE PROBLEM, THE MANUFACTURER PUT A SHIELD OVER THE BULB THAT WILL NOT ALLOW THE LIGHT TO SHINE BRIGHT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW.*JB

NHTSA ID
974896
Incident
Nov 3, 1995
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 19, 1995

LEFT REAR TURN SIGNAL BULB FAILED. *AKD

NHTSA ID
600322
Incident
Jul 1, 1995

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .