1998 Ford Contour Exterior lighting Problems

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10261823

Incident

Mar 11, 2009

Mileage

87,000 mi

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 *TR

NHTSA ID

10257729

Incident

Jan 24, 2009

Mileage

85,400 mi

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 HOWEVER, NOW THAT THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS NO LONGER VALID.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. *LJ

NHTSA ID

10203548

Incident

Apr 1, 2005

Mileage

73,000 mi

HEADLIGHTS DO NOT PROVIDE SUFFICIENT ILLUMINATION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10168233

Incident

Aug 13, 2006

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. *NM

NHTSA ID

10164764

Incident

Jan 1, 1901

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. *JB

NHTSA ID

10158569

Incident

May 30, 2006

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. *NM

NHTSA ID

10156509

Incident

May 1, 2006

Mileage

70,000 mi

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. *NM

NHTSA ID

10149255

Incident

Jan 30, 2006

Mileage

109,000 mi

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 ID

10130258

Incident

Jul 27, 2005

Mileage

99,100 mi

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT, THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE DIM. THE CONSUMER WILL TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10083359

Incident

Jul 16, 2004

INTERMITTENTLY THE TURN SIGNAL MALFUNCTIONED. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE BULB NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10079446

Incident

May 25, 2004

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AT HIGHWAY SPEED. CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THAT A CIRCUIT INSIDE THE HEADLAMP BURNT. *AK ++++++++++++++++++++

NHTSA ID

10067033

Incident

Mar 31, 2004

DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE BRONZE TERMINALS, BUT REFUSED TO REPLACE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AS STATED IN THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH/WIRE HARNESS RECALL 99V103000. INSTRUMENT PANEL LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. *AK *MR

NHTSA ID

10056114

Incident

Jan 27, 2004

Mileage

119,700 mi

VEHICLE DIDN'T PASS SAFETY INSPECTION DUE HEADLIGHT LENSES BEING OPAQUE. *LA *MR

NHTSA ID

10061022

VEHICLE IS WITHOUT DASH LIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS. DEALERSHIP WILL NOT HONOR RECALL. *AK

NHTSA ID

10055708

Mileage

79,000 mi

OVER A PERIOD OF TIME THE HEADLIGHT LENS FADED. THIS MADE IT DIFFICULT TO SEE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10051977

Incident

Dec 8, 2003

Mileage

57,000 mi

CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. ALTERNATOR, FUEL TANK, GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR, COMPUTER SENSOR'S (VARIABLE CAM TIMING OVER RETARDED), AUTOMATIC SHIFT LABORED AND FAILS, COOLING FAN MOTOR, ETC. THIS VEHICLE IS IN SOME FORM OF REPAIR SHOP ON A REGULAR BASIS. HAVE I DRIVEN A FORD LATELY? YES, AND SORRY I CHOSE TO DO SO. *AK

NHTSA ID

10037076

Incident

Sep 1, 2003

Mileage

18,000 mi

I WENT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP HERE IN LOUISIANA AND SHOWED THEM THE PAPERS THAT WAS SENT TO ME CONCERNING RECALLS FOR MY YEAR & MAKE OF CAR. I TOLD THEM THAT SOME OF THE RECALLS ON THOSE PAPERS WAS HAPPENING TO MY CAR AND WHY HAVEN'T THEY BEEN REPAIRED WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR IN AND THEY STATED TO ME THAT IF THE VIN # FOR MY CAR DIDN'T COME UP AS A RECALL AND AS LONG AS THE PROBLEM DIDN'T EXIST THEN THEY COULD NOT REPAIR IT . AND I STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH MY VIN DIDN'T COME UP AND EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS HAVING SOME THESE RECALLS PROBLEMS YALL ARE NOT GOING TO REPAIR THEM BECAUSE MY VIN # DIDN'T COME UP AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT EXISTING RIGHT NOW ALL ARE NOT GOING TO REPAIR OR FIX THESE RECALLS, AND I WAS TOLD YES. WELL, SOME OF THESE RECALLS ARE EXISTING ON MY CAR AND I CAN'T GET THE FORD PLACE TO REPAIR OR FIX THEM WHY IS THAT? I THINK THAT'S VERY UNFAIR TO THE CUSTOMER.*AK

NHTSA ID

10032722

Incident

Aug 4, 2003

I OWN A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. I HAVE BEEN HAVING SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE HEADLAMPS. THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLAMP HOLD MOISTURE INSIDE AND THE DRIVER SIDE IS STARTING TO DO THE SAME THING. NOT ONLY THIS BUT BOTH HEADLAMPS GO OUT OF AIM EVERY SO OFTEN. WHEN THE LIGHTS ARE ON LOW BEAM I CAN'T SEE TEN FEET IN FRONT OF THE CAR AND I HAVE TO DRIVE WITH THE HIGH BEAMS ON SO I CAN SEE WHAT IS IN FRONT OF ME. THIS HAS CAUSED FOUR NEAR MISSES. TWO WITH DEERS, ONE WITH A MAIL BOX, AND ON WITH ANOTHER CAR. I DON'T KNOW IF THE MOISTURE IN THE HEADLIGHTS HAS ANYTHING TO DO THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS THEMSELVES. WHEN I HAD THE HEADLIGHTS AIMED FOR THE THIRD TIME I ASKED THE DEALER ABOUT THE MOISTURE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE BOTH THE HEADLIGHTS.

NHTSA ID

10028854

Incident

Oct 1, 2002

Mileage

110,125 mi

NO DASH LIGHTS, BACK-UP, OR LICENSE PLATE LIGHT. TOOK TO DEALER AND DASH LIGHTS WERE FIXED $200.PLUS. BUT NO CLOCK LIGHT, LICENSE PLATE LIGHT OR BACK-UP LIGHTS. ALL FUSES WHERE CHECKED AND OK.*AK

NHTSA ID

10020870

Incident

Jun 2, 2003

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HEAD LIGHT SWITCH BEING INOPERABLE (CONNECTOR WAS BURNED CAUSING NO FUNCTION TO THE TAIL LIGHT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ID

10004468

Incident

Jan 22, 2003

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE ARE SWEATING ON THE INTERIOR WALL AND ARE BURNING VERY DIM. CONSUMER WONDERS WILL THERE BE A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *JG

NHTSA ID

567576

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE POPPED OUT OF GEAR AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THERE ARE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH GETTING VEHICLE INTO GEAR, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SHIFT AND CLUTCH PROBLEMS. *SLC

NHTSA ID

566887

Incident

May 15, 2000

I KNOW A COUPLE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE HAD EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS WITH THEIR CONTOURS AS I HAVE. I BOUGHT THIS CAR THROUGH A PRIVATE PARTY AND TOOK OUT AN EXTENDED WARRANTY THROUGH MY CREDIT UNION. THE TRANSMISSION WAS COVERED BUT THE SIGNALS AND THE SHIFTER LEVER WAS NOT COSTING ME HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE UNTIL THE MANUFACTURER IS FORCED TO RECALL THE PARTS. I READ THE COMMENTS ON THE TRANSMISSIONS AND IT IS AMAZING THAT EVERYONE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME THING, IT GOES OUT WITHOUT WARNING.*AK

NHTSA ID

762068

Incident

Feb 28, 2002

HEADLIGHTS CANNOT BE ADJUSTED TO PRODUCE PROPER LIGHTING AT NIGHT, CONSUMER NOT ABLE TO DRIVE VEHICLE AT NIGHT. TO DEALER 3 TIMES, REPLACED HEADLIGHTS, DID NOT REMEDY. THEN DEALER STATED IT WAS A DEFECT BECAUSE LIGHTS WERE NOT ADJUSTABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

884010

Incident

Mar 1, 1999