1997 Ford Contour Exterior lighting Problems
- Complaints
- 21about this part
- Share
- 10%of 218 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 88,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 21 complaints about the exterior lighting of the 1997 Ford Contour, 10% of the 218 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 88,500 miles. 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.
“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10260956, filed 2009-03, 87,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10137589, filed 2005-09, 119,533 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“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10021296, filed 2003-06, 78,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #738894, filed 2001-01Related recalls
- 99V103000May 5, 1999Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The terminals at the headlight switch and wiring harness connector can experience heat damage as a result of…Covers: Ford Contour 1996–1998, Mercury Mystique 1996–1998
Exterior lighting: other model years
Other parts of the 1997 Ford Contour
41 complaintsEngine cooling
35 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
30 complaintsBrakes
29 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 31, 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