Electrical System. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 35 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 30 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports10 fire reports7 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

41 reports

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Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2000

Electrical System

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 ODI #856928

Mileage unknown · Feb 10, 2000

Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingEquipment

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HI, WE HAVE HAD SO MANY PROBLEMS I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT FORD DOSEN'T RECALL THE 97 CONTOURS.WE ONLY HAD THE CAR 1 MONTH AND THE E.G.R VALVE TO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED.THE P.C. VALVE HAS BEEN SERVICED 4 TIMES.THE EGR PRESSURE FEEDBACK /BACK PRESSURE WAS REPLACED.THE ROTOR ON THE BRAKES WAS CRACKED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED.WE HAVE HAD THE CAR IN THE SHOP A TOTAL OF 58 DAYS.WE TOOK THE CAR IN 5 TIMES TELLING THEM ABOUT THIS BURNING ODOR COMING FROM THE A/C VENTS. RECALL ABOUT WIRE HARNESS. THEY SAID COULD NOT VERIFY CONCERN. UNTILL MY HUSBAND TOOK IT FOR THE 4 TIME WHEN THE CAR WAS FULL OF THIS FOGGY SMOKE. HE MADE A SERVICE ADVISIOR COME OUT AND LOOK AT THE CAR FULL OF SMOKE.FOR THREE MONTHS 10-9-99 UNTILL PRESENT .WE HAVE HAD TO ENDURE HEADACHES VOMITING AND LOSS OF OUR VOICES BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT VERIFY CONCERN.WE NOW HAVE PICTURES OF NEGLECT OF THE SAFETY OF MY HUSBAND AND 5 CHILDREN. THE BURNED MELTED PARTS THEY SHOULD HAVE REPLACED BACK ON 10-9-99 IT TOOK UNTILL 1-22-00 AND AS OF RIGHT NOW 2- 10-00 ANOTHER DEALERSHIP HAS HAD THE CAR FOR 7 DAY'S. MAJOR DEFECTS WITH THE 97 CONTOUR.WE THINK THEY SOLD ALL THERE CNG CARS TO PEOPLE AND DIDN'T TELL THEM. I KNOW THEY SURE DIDN'T TELL US. 3 TIMES ON THE OIL CHANGE PAPER THEY MENTION ABOUT THE SELENOID.YOU DON'T HAVE THAT DONE WITH A OIL CHANGE.MAYBE YOU GUY'S CAN CHECK INTO IT? WHY ELSE WOULD OWNERS OF JUST THE 97 CONTOURS HAVE SO MANY PROBLEMS? CHECK YOUR T S B PAGES.PLEASE LET US KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO WE CAN'T TRUST ANYONE TO FIX IT RIGHT WHEN WE WERE TOLD BY FORD SERVICE PEOPLE THEY COULDN'T FIND THE PROBLEM.SOMETHING IS REALLY WRONG WITH ALL OF THESE CARS.

NHTSA ODI #718571

Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 1999

Electrical System

THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS I HAVE EXPERIENCED INCLUDE; FAILURE OF TEMPERATURE GAUGE, FAILURE OF CLOCK LIGHT, FAILURE OF ELECTRIC WINDOWS AND EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT IGNITING WHEN EMERGENCY BRAKE DISENGAGED.

NHTSA ODI #714080

Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 1999

Electrical System

DASH PANEL LIGHTS WENT OUT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER SHORTLY AFTER THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED, INDICATING THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE UNDER DASH WIRE HARNESS. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN INTO THE DEALERSHIP, HE WANTED THE CONSUMER TO PAY FOR REPAIRS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850548

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 1999

Electrical System

WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN WHILE DRIVING IN RAINY WEATHER OR GOING THROUGH SMALL PUDDLE OF WATER, THE WATER SPLASHES ON THE GENERATOR ,CAUSING COMPLETE POWER LOSS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP ON SEPTEMBER 20TH, BUT THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #850046

Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 1999

Electrical SystemSteering

THERE IS A SHORT WITHIN THE BATTERY, AND THE CONSUMER HAS TO GET SOMEONE TO GIVE HER A JUMP. ALSO, ALARM SYSTEM ISN'T WORKING. WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE IS STALLING AND CUTTING OFF. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #847910

Mileage unknown · Sep 8, 1999

Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

TERMINAL AT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRES WAS DAMAGED WHICH CAUSED ANTI- FREEZE TO LEAK . *AK

NHTSA ODI #847179

Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 1999

Electrical System

HEADLIGHTS KEEP BLOWING OUT AND ALL THE WINDOW'S AREN'T WORKING BECAUSE OF A FUSE THAT KEEPS BLOWING OUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #845565

Mileage unknown · Mar 2, 1999

Electrical SystemFuel System, GasolineSteering

VEHICLE IN NUMBER OF TIMES FOR POWER ASSIST GOING OUT WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN OR WATER. 2/99 ACCELERATION LOST WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE IN TRAFFIC, NO POWER. HAD VEHICLE IN PREVIOUS WEEK BEFORE WAS SUPPOSEDLY REPAIRED.

NHTSA ODI #703938

Mileage unknown · Jul 1, 1998

Electrical SystemFire

PARKED VEHICLE AND TURNED IGNITION OFF. WHEN THE OWNER CAME BACK OUTSIDE NOTICED THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. CONSUMER STATED THAT BEFORE THE FIRE BROKE OUT, HE SMELLED GAS FOR 10 DAYS, AND HE HAD MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT SERVICE STATION TO CHECK OUT VEHICLE. BUT THE VEHICLE HA…

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NHTSA ODI #824924

Official recalls

01V230000 · Electrical System

Jul 9, 2001

ON CERTAIN MY 1996-1998 PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY, CUAUTITLAN ASSEMBLY PLANTS OR ON MY 1999 PASSENGER VEHCLES BUILT AT THE AUTOMOTIVE ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY PLANTS, THE ROUGH SURFACE OF THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR'S STAINLESS STEEL BLADES CAN DAMAGE THE COPPER SURFACE OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. THE DAMAGE COULD, OVER TIME, CAUSE INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE CONNECTOR AND, DUE TO SUBSEQUENT TERMINAL RELAXATION, RESULT IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE OPEN CIRCUIT COULD LEAD TO ELECTRICAL ARCING THAT COULD MELT THE CONNECTOR HOUSING MATERIAL CREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR AND A NEW WIRE JUMPER HARNESS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 29, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

00V075000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components

Mar 9, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). A PRESSURE CONSCIOUS REDUCING VALVE (PCRV) IN THE REAR BRAKES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CORROSION AND RESULT IN MALFUNCTION, WHEN OPERATED IN AREAS THAT USE SALT COMPOUNDS ON THE ROADWAY FOR DE-ICING OR DUST CONTROL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF BOTH PCRV'S MALFUNCTION, VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED DURING BRAKING AS A RESULT OF THE REAR WHEELS LOCKING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL IMPROVED PCRV'S IN THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS RECALL WAS EXPANDED IN SEPTEMBER 2000 TO INCLUDE 1999 AND 2000 FORD CONTOUR, MERCURY MYSTIQUE AND COUGAR VEHICLES.

99V103000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

May 5, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TERMINALS AT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN EXPERIENCE HEAT DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF OVERHEATING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN DISTORTION OF THE TERMINAL CAUSING AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION, PARKING LAMP, AND TAIL LAMP CIRCUITS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLAMP SWITCH WIRING CONNECTOR CONTAINING BRONZE TERMINALS AND AN INSPECTION, AND REPLACEMENT IF NECESSARY, OF THE HEADLAMP SWITCH.

98V233000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

Sep 18, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FLOOR SHIFT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL CAN BE DAMAGED IF SUBJECTED TO CERTAIN INTERIOR CLEANING PRODUCTS. THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR CAN DETERIORATE AND NOT CORRECTLY INDICATE THE ACTUAL GEAR POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INCORRECT GEAR SELECTION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLOOR SHIFT CONTROL.

97V203000 · Fuel System, Other:storage

Nov 17, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BI-FUEL VEHICLES MODIFIED TO RUN ON EITHER GASOLINE OR COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG). THE NATURAL GAS FUEL TANKS HAVE A SOLENOID SHUT-OFF VALVE THAT STOPS FUEL FLOW FROM THE FUEL TANK IN THE EVENT OF CERTAIN MODERATE TO SEVERE COLLISIONS. IF THE VEHICLE IS IN A COLLISION AND THE NATURAL GAS FUEL LINE IS DAMAGED, THE SYSTEM COULD LEAK NATURAL GAS.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: FORD HAS REQUESTED OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES TO HAVE THE CNG FUEL SYSTEM DISABLED UNDER A PREVIOUS RECALL CAMPAIGN AND TO ONLY USE GASOLINE FUEL UNTIL A PERMANENT CORRECTIVE ACTION IS DEVELOPED. OWNERS ARE BEING ALERTED TO THIS SOLENOID VALVE CONCERN AT THIS TIME. THE TIMING OF CORRECTIVE ACTIONS IS BEING DELAYED TO ALLOW BOTH CONDITIONS TO BE REMEDIED AT ONE TIME. IN THE MEANTIME, THERE IS NOT RISK AS LONG AS THE NATURAL GAS SYSTEM HAS BEEN DISABLED AND THE VHEICLE IS ONLY OPERATED ON GASOLINE.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗