1997 Ford Contour Electrical Problems

THE WIRING HARNESS HAS DETERIORATED TO WHERE THE ENGINE RUNS LEAN AND DIES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING. ONCE HOME I CHECKED EVERYTHING I COULD UNTIL THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COOLED THEN NOTICED THE WIRING ON THE NUMBER 1 CYLINDER. THE MORE I LOOKED I COULD SEE ALL THE INJECTOR PLUGS WERE DETERIORATED BADLY WITH NUMBER 4 BEING WORSE. JUST TOUCHING THE HARNESS CAUSES THE INSULATION TO FLAKE OFF AND BARE WIRES TO BE EXPOSED. I PURCHASED A CODE READER TO ALLOW PROPER INDICATIONS OF WHAT CODES WERE INDICATED WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. NOW FORD WANTS ME TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER SO THEY CAN CHARGE ME AND TELL ME WHAT I ALREADY KNOW AND CAN PLAINLY SEE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10469368

Incident

Jun 21, 2012

Mileage

134,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A BAD GROUND IN THE MAIN LINE HARNESS, WHICH CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 116,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.

NHTSA ID

10247601

Incident

Oct 31, 2008

Mileage

115,000 mi

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 *TR

NHTSA ID

10195359

Incident

Dec 17, 2006

Mileage

90,000 mi

I HAVE 1997 FORD CONTOUR SE. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH IT, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON CONSTANTLY, RADIATOR LIGHT COMES ON CONSTANTLY, RUNS POORLY. I HAD ALL CHECKED WHEN THEY HAPPEN ON MULTILPLE OCCASIONS. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND THAT THERE MAY BE A PROBLEM WITH THE WIRING HARNESS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I WAS TOLD BY A FREIND THAT HE HAD HEARD OF A PROBLEM LIKE THIS AND FORD WAS FIXING THEM, AND I SHOULD CALL THE DEALER. I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY CONFIRMED THERE WAS A RECALL BUT BASED ON MY VIN I WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO THE AGE OF MY CAR. THIS WAS DONE AT BRANDON FORD AROUND THE JULY/AUGUST TIME FRAME. THINKING THAT I HAD TO DO THE REPAIR MYSELF, DUE TO THE COST AT THE DEALERSHIP (OVER $3000.00), I STARTED LOOKING FOR PARTS MYSELF ON THE INTERNET. THERE I FOUND THE RECALL/EXT. WARRANTY INFO. 99M03 AND IN THIS IT STATES 10 YEARS OR 100,000 MILE. I AGAIN GOT HOPE THAT MAYBE THEY HAD MISSREAD THE RECALL AT THE DEALER SHIP. I THEN RETURNED WITH VIN AND THE INFO 99M03 IN HAD AND ONE OF THEIR SERVICE ADVISERS CONFIRMED THAT IT SHOULD BE COVERED. I THEN MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR THE NEXT DAY TO DROP THE CAR OFF AT 8:30AM TO HAVE IT DONE. I CALL THAT SAME DAY AT 2:30PM TO CHECK TO SEE IF AND FOR HOW LONG I WOUNLD NEED A RENTAL CAR. I WAS TOLD AT THAT TIME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED DUE TO IT'S AGE AND THAT IT RAN OUT ON 10/26/06. HAD THE FIRST PERSON LOOKED THE INFO. UP PROPERLY BACK IN THE JULY/AUGUST TIME FRAME IT WOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED. I WAS ALSO TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT THE REPAIR WOULD TAKE THEM APPROX. 3 DAYS TO DO, AND FOR ONLY GIVES THEM 6-7 HRS TO DO IT, SO THEY LOSE MONEY TO DO THESE REPAIRS. BASED ON THE 99M03 INFO I SHOULD HAVE RECIEVED A LETTER STATING THE EXT. WARRANTY WHICH I DID NOT, BUT HAD RECIEVED OTHER RECALL INFO. *NM

NHTSA ID

10177390

Incident

Dec 20, 2006

Mileage

85,000 mi

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE, VEHICLE WOULD SOMETIMES START AND SOMETIMES IT WOULD NOT, WHEN VEHICLE ON THE ROAD IT WOULD STOP WHEN MAKING A STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT, OR WHEN TURNING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10132771

Incident

Jul 27, 2005

DT: 01S22 FORD RECALL. CONSUMER HAD RECALL WORK DONE . DEALER SHOULD HAVE REPLACED THE HEATER BLOWER SWITCH AND A WIRE JUMPER HARNESS. DEALER COMPLETED WORK ON MARCH 15, 2002. DEALER IWAS MIKE SHAD FORD IN JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA. LAST TUESDAY JULY 12, 2005 THE WIRE JUMPER HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ON SIDE STREET, GLENWOOD AVE., AT NIGHT. FLAMES SHOT UP FROM WHERE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WERE LOCATED. FLAME LASTED A COUPLE SECONDS THEN WERE GONE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, CONTACTED FIRE DEPARTMENT, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP. DEALER DON JENKINS FORD IN SUQUAY, NORTH CAROLINA. CONSUMER CONTACTED INSURANCE COMPANY AND THEY SAID IT WAS A DEFECT SO THEY WOULD NOT PAY. CONSUMER FOUND ON NHTSA WEBSITE THAT FORD OFFERED A WARRANTY ON THIS RECALL OF 10 YEARS FROM ORIGINAL DATE OF SALE OR 150,000 MILES. WHEN SHE CONTACTED FORD THEY TOLD HER THAT WARRANTY WAS ONLY 100,000 MILES AND NHTSA WEBSITE INFORMATION WAS INCORRECT. FORD WILL NOT FIX VEHICLE FOR CONSUMER. *AK

NHTSA ID

10129328

Incident

Jul 12, 2005

Mileage

138,000 mi

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 2 MINUTES. THE LOCAL FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THE FIRE MARSHALL INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THE CAUSE MIGHT HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. THE DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID

10119131

Incident

Mar 11, 2005

Mileage

92,708 mi

HEADLIGHTS OVERHEATED, CAUSING THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS TO MELT.*AK THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 99V103000. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED AS OF YET. *TC

NHTSA ID

10099997

Incident

Oct 1, 2004

Mileage

130,000 mi

WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

10097767

Incident

Oct 24, 2004

Mileage

109,000 mi

WHEN THE HEADLIGHTS WERE TURNED ON THEY OPERATED PROPERLY BUT THE TAIL LIGHTS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS DID NOT. THIS VEHICLE WAS RECALLED AND REPAIRED FOR THIS PROBLEM ON 10/19/1999. RECALL# 99V103000 SUBJECT: HEADLIGHT SWITCH/WIRING HARNESS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10057363

Incident

Jan 28, 2004

ELECTRICAL FIRE INSIDE CAR ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DOWN A/C DOES NOT WORK, BACK WINDOW SWITCHES DO NOT WORK, KILLED BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR.

NHTSA ID

10016788

Incident

Jun 15, 2001

TAIL LIGHTS AND INTERIOR DASH LIGHTS WENT OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THIS WAS DUE TO LIGHT SWITCH HARNESS CONNECTORS MELTING, SHORTING OUT THE WIRES.*AK

NHTSA ID

8015232

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65 MPH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DID NOT WORK. IT NOT SHOW ANY INFORMATION, AND THERE WERE NO LIGHTS. CONSUMER HAD TO RESTART ENGINE TO MAKE IT WORKS AGAIN. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8000577

Incident

Dec 10, 2001

ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID

563480

Incident

Jul 6, 2001

WIRES INSIDE OF BATTERY WERE DEFECTIVE. WHEN HE STARTING VEHICLE IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID

896470

Incident

Sep 1, 2001

WIRES ATTACHED TO ENGINE WERE MISSING AND DEFECTIVE. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID

896350

Incident

Sep 10, 2001

DURING REPLACEMENT OF HEATER BLOWER SWITCH CONSUMER NOTICED THAT ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE MELTED TOGETHER AND CHARRED BLACK. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

894186

Incident

Aug 12, 2001

I CARRIED MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR RECALL SERVICE. THE DEALERSHIP NEVER COMPLETED THE RECALL WORK, BUT DID BILL FORD FOR IT. THE DEALERSHIP LATER OFFERED TO FIX THE SYMPTOMS THAT THE FAULTY PARTS WERE CAUSING FOR A FEE OR $279. I DID NOT HAVE $279 AT THE TIME TO PAY FOR THE SERVICE SO I PURCHASED THE PARTS FOR $101. AFTER I HAD INSTALLED THE PARTS, I SAW A NOTE IN THE PACKAGE THAT DESCRIBED WHAT THE DEALER SOLD TO ME. THE DEALERSHIP ACTUALLY SOLD ME THE RECALL REPAIR KIT. I HAVE THE DOCUMENTATION AND ORIGINAL PART TO PROVE THIS IS THE CASE. *AK ALSO TAIL LIGHTS AND DASH LIGHTS ARE INOPERABLE,HEAD LIGHT SWITCH HAS BURNED OUT, CONSUMER STATES HE SHOULD BE REIMBURSED FOR THE WARRANTY WORK , CONSUMER STATES HE HAS IN HIS POSSESSION THE RECALLED PART AND THAT HTE DEALERSHIP DID NOT PERFORM THE WORK, THAT THEY CLAIM THEY REPLACED, EVEN THOUGH THE WARRANTY WORK WAS NOT PERFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS BILLED FOR THE WARRANTY REPAIRS.*JB

NHTSA ID

746500

Incident

May 19, 2001

HEATER FAN CONTROL SWITCH BEGAN SMOKING AND SHUTDOWN WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN OPERATION. CONSUMER HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO PRIVATE MECHANIC, WHO INDICATED THAT DEFECT RESULTED FROM FACTORY WIRING HARNESS BEING TOO SMALL A GUAGE OF WIRING TO CARRY ELECTRICAL LOAD. REPLACEMENT WIRING HARNESS WAS OF A HIGHER GUAGE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

885770

Incident

Mar 31, 2001

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE. WATER TEMPERATURE GAUAGE WOULD FLUCTUATE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. INFORMED BY MECHANIC A TSB WAS SENT BY MANUFACTURER ON CAUSE OF PROBLEM. SEEMED THAT COMPUTER CHIP CAUSED VEHICLE TO HESITATE. MECHANIC REMOVED BATTERY CABLE & LET VEHICLE SIT FOR AWHILE BEFORE REHOOKING CABLES. THIS CAUSED COMPUTER CHIP TO RESET ITSELF. *AK

NHTSA ID

879126

Incident

Dec 20, 2000

THE WIRES TO THE A\C AND THE ALTERNATOR HAVE RECENTLY BURNED UP..COMPLETLY MELTED..I AM AFRAID THAT THE CAR IS GOING TO CATCH FIRE..ALSO IF YOU COULD LOOK AT MY WARRANTY THROUGH AUTO NATION YOU COULD SEE HOW MANY PROBLEMS I HAVE HAD WITH THIS CAR..IT'S OUTRAGOUS.. IF I DID NOT HAVE WARRANTY I DO NOT KNOW WHAT I WOULD DO..I WANT TO TRADE IT IN ALL THOUGH I HAVE ONLY HAD IT FOR ABOUT A YEAR IN A HALF..BUT I CAN'T AFORD TO KEEP FIXING IT....THANK YOU C.J STAFFORD. *AK

NHTSA ID

731953

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE MANUFACTURERS RECALL (99M03) ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION. *MJS

NHTSA ID

553215

Incident

Sep 14, 1998

WIRING HARNESS MALFUNCTIONED/SHORTED OUT. ALSO, WHEN TURNING LEFT, VEHICLE MADE A KNOCKING NOISE. *AK

NHTSA ID

860463

CONSUMER STOPPED AT A GAS STATION. WHEN HE PUT HIS KEY IN THE IGNITION, BATTERY BLEW UP. *AK

NHTSA ID

858436

Incident

Mar 10, 2000

THE WIRING, THAT RELAYS TO THE STARTER WHEN THE KEY IS TURNED ON IS FAILING, CAUSING THE BATTERY TO WEAR DOWN, AND STOP VEHICLE IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

856928