Recall 97V203000: 1996–1997 Ford Contour

Report received

Nov 17, 1997

Manufacturer

Ford motor company

Potentially affected

1,800vehicles

Model years

1996–1997

Check your own vehicle. A recall applies only to vehicles within the affected build range. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer.

What NHTSA recorded

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.

Possible 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.

Affected model years

Pages for each model year show complaints, parts, mileage and other recalls.

• 1996 Ford Contour563 complaints
• 1997 Ford Contour218 complaints