1997 Ford Contour Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 41about this part
- Share
- 19%of 218 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 112,000miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 41 complaints about the electrical system of the 1997 Ford Contour, 19% of the 218 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 112,000 miles. 7 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10469368, filed 2012-08, 134,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10177390, filed 2006-12, 85,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10119131, filed 2005-06, 92,708 miles“Headlights overheated, causing the electrical harness to melt. The consumer noticed that the vehicle lights were not working. Nhtsa campaign id number : 99v103000. The problem has not been corrected as of yet.”
NHTSA complaint #10099997, filed 2004-12, 130,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10129328, filed 2005-07, 138,000 milesRelated recalls
- 01V230000Jul 9, 2001On certain my 1996-1998 passenger vehicles built at the kansas city, cuautitlan assembly plants or on my 1999 passenger vehcles built at the automotive…Covers: Ford Contour 1996–1998, Mercury Mystique 1996–1998, Cougar 1999
Related service bulletins
- 10011161Aug 9, 2004Malfunction indicator lamp (mil) illuminated with diagnostic trouble code(s) p0420 and/or p0430.
- 10020445Oct 1, 1999Under hood wire harness. Additional 10 years or 100,000 miles. Ford.
Electrical system: other model years
Other parts of the 1997 Ford Contour
35 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
30 complaintsBrakes
29 complaintsExterior lighting
21 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
19 complaintsSuspension
17 complaintsSteering
16 complaintsFuel system
12 complaintsAir bags
9 complaintsEquipment
7 complaintsOther or unknown
7 complaintsTires
7 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Ford Contour
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 28, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology