Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Ford Contour submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
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. *TR
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
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.*AK
THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WIRING CAUSED AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION, THE PARK LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS. *JB
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
CAR HAD A PROBLEM WITH LIGHTS WHICH I FEEL SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVER UNDER RECALL 99V-103 (FORD CAMPAIN NUMBER 99S14). BUT WAS TOLD MY VIN # 1FAL653XVK143361 WAS NOT COVERED. THE PROBLEM IS ECACTLLY AS STATED IN THE RECALL. I FEEL THE PROBLEM IS MORE WIDE SPREAD THAN FORD IS SAYING.*AK
E-MAIL FM C. REYNOLDS (NC) COMPLAINT OWNER OF A 1997 FORD CONTOUR UNABLE TO OBTAIN REPLACEMENT LENS FM FORD MOTOR COMPANY. *MR *SCC *JB
TURN SIGNAL MAKES CLICKING NOISE WHEN SIGNAL NOT IN USE. SIGNALS DO WORK. THIS LASTED ON/OFF FOR 7 MONTHS, THEN SMOKE STARTED COMING OUT OF STEERING COLUMN. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SAME DEFEC TAS MENTIONED IN RECALL #99V103000 CONCERNING HEADLIGHTS. THS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *NLM.....*AK
TRANSMISSION FLOOR SHIFT LEVER BUTTON WOULD STICK MAKING IT VERY HARD TO GET OUT OF PARK INTO GEAR REPAIR DONE BY FORD REPLACED SHIFT ACTUATOR & SOLENOID. TURN SIGNAL MAKES CLICKING NOISE WHEN SIGNAL NOT IS USE. SIGNALS DO WORK.
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
I ONLY HAVE 2 SPEEDS ON MY HEATER BLOWER,LO AND 2. I ALSO HAVE HAD SMOKE COMMING FROM UNDER THE DASH OR FROM A HEATER VENT WHEN THE HEATER HAS BEEN ON. WHEN I GO OVER A BUMP REGARDLESS OF HOW SMALL THERE IS A THUMP SOUND THAT COMES FROM THE TRUNK AREA. THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM SEEMS TO HIT REALLY HARD WITH ANY KIND OF BUMP IN THE ROAD. I ALSO HAD TO HAVE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ASSY FIXED ACCORDING THE RECALL BECAUSE OF TAILLIGHT AND PANEL FAILURE.*AK
SINCE THIS CAR WAS NEW I HAVE REPLACED THE REAR SIGNAL BULBS 3 TIMES MYSELF BEFORE BRINGING THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD THIS CAR AT THE DEALER NO LESS THAN 5 TIMES IN THE LAST 3 YEARS FOR SIGNAL LIGHTS. THEY HAVE REPLCACED THE BULBS 5 TIMES MOSTLY DRIVERS SIDE. REPLACED DEFECTIVE BULB SOCKETS AND POOR WIRING(LOOSE CONNECTIONS).I WAS TOLD THAT THE BULBS ON BOTH REAR SIGNALS WERE REPLACED THE LAST TIME AT THE DEALER.I ALSO NOTICED HEAT DAMAGE ON SOME OF THE SOCKETS.I REALLY DON'T THINK EVERYTHING IS OK.
HEAT BLOWER FAILED.
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #99V103000. CONTACTED DEALER. TOOK VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS, WHICH WAS DONE. THE REMEDY HAD FAILED. TOOK VEHICLE BACK TO DEALER AT LEAST 6 TIMES AFTERWARDS. EACH TIME THE REMEDY FAILED. MECHANIC IS ORDERING A DIFFERENT LIGHT SWITCH AFTER PUTTING IN RELAY SWITCH. *AK
TERMINAL AT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRES WAS DAMAGED WHICH CAUSED ANTI- FREEZE TO LEAK . *AK
THE LIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL THE CAR BEGINS TO BACK UP
BATTERY DRAINED SEVERAL TIMES POSSIBLY DUE TO RECALL RELATED COMPONENT FAILURE. NLM
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT ALL LIGHTS GO OUT EXCEPT FOR FRONT HEADLIGHT AND FOG LIGHTS. CONSUMER HAD THIS PROBLEM REPAIRED BEFORE, AND THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. *AK
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
LIGHT THAT INDICATES OVERFLOW OF COOLANT TANK FAILED TO GO OFF. SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP AND A SERVICE BULLETIN #10159 WAS PERFORMED. THIS DIDN'T CHANGE THE LIGHTING FAILURE. *AK
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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