1996 Ford Contour Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 119 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the 1996 Ford Contour, 21% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 102,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “wiring harness” (18% of reports).
- 119electrical system complaints
- 102,000median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $1,550typical repair cost reported by owners
- 38%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Wiring harness: mentioned in 22 of 119 complaints (18%)
- Please provide further: mentioned in 6 of 119 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the 1996 Ford Contour at $1,550, and half of them between $480 and $2,750.
Based on 6 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2009), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do electrical system problems happen?
Based on 24 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 119 complaints, 15 a fire.
Ford Contour electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Contour | 16 | 8% | 87,000 |
| 1999 Contour | 65 | 16% | 61,000 |
| 1998 Contour | 130 | 15% | 85,465 |
| 1997 Contour | 41 | 19% | 112,000 |
| 1996 Contour | 119 | 21% | 102,000 |
| 1995 Contour | 180 | 20% | 120,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electrical system
Problem: 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.
Risk: The open circuit could lead to electrical arcing that could melt the connector housing material creasing the potential for a fire.
Fix: 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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My car was recalled in 2001. The past 6 mo my electrical system smells like its burning or something melting. Almost like its going to catch on fire
The wire harness motor, transmission and fuel injection are bad ,and was stationary 5 year ago like many many many contours and mistyques in my country , i need a solution please, couse responsability is from ford company in all the world. Thank you. I am in mexico.
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 ford contour. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, it would fail to start due to a melted wire in the engine. In addition, the contact stated that the odometer failed to provide the accurate reading. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 1996 Ford Contours have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 119 owner complaints about electrical system for the 1996 Ford Contour (21% of the 563 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Ford Contour electrical system?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electrical system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 102,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the 1996 Ford Contour?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,550 (half paid between $480 and $2,750), from 6 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about electrical system problems on the 1996 Ford Contour?
The most frequent phrase is “wiring harness”, in 22 of 119 complaints, followed by “please provide further” (6).
Other 1996 Ford Contour problems
See all 1996 Ford Contour problems or electrical system problems across all Contour years.