Ford Contour Exterior Lighting Problems
Owners have filed 169 complaints with NHTSA about exterior lighting problems on the Ford Contour across 6 model years. The 1996 model year has the most (64). The words owners use most often: “headlight switch” (19% of reports).
- 169exterior lighting complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- 55%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.
- Headlight switch: mentioned in 32 of 169 complaints (19%)
- Wiring harness: mentioned in 10 of 169 complaints (6%)
At what mileage do exterior lighting problems happen?
Based on 31 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 169 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 1 an injury.
Ford Contour exterior lighting complaints by model year
| Model year | Exterior Lighting complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Contour | 3 | 2% | 167,000 |
| 1999 Contour | 13 | 3% | 53,500 |
| 1998 Contour | 43 | 5% | 86,200 |
| 1997 Contour | 21 | 10% | 88,500 |
| 1996 Contour | 64 | 11% | 98,950 |
| 1995 Contour | 25 | 3% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Exterior lighting:headlights:switch
Model years: 1996, 1997, 1998
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The terminals at the headlight switch and wiring harness connector can experience heat damage as a result of overheating.
Risk: The damage could result in distortion of the terminal causing an open circuit in the instrument panel illumination, parking lamp, and tail lamp circuits.
Fix: Dealers will install a headlamp switch wiring connector containing bronze terminals and an inspection, and replacement if necessary, of the headlamp switch.
Exterior lighting:headlights
Model years: 1998
Problem: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The text and/or graphics for the vehicle headlamp aiming instructions provided in the owner guides are not sufficiently clear. This does not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Risk: If the headlamp assemblies are replaced, customers may be confused by the aiming instructions provided in the owner guides causing the headlamps to be improperly aimed.
Fix: Owner guides containing revised aiming instructions will be mailed to owners of these vehicles.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I had just got on interstate when my car started cutting out. I immediately put my flashers on & tried to get in the left lane so i could get on shoulder of interstate but cars would not allow me to get over. My car died in middle of interstate. I called asap (a service in alabama for help on the…
I have noticed that on every 1999 ford contour the headlight covers turn yellow and start to crack. I have checked a lot of places and look at the lights and everyone i have seen are the same. I can't drive with my lights on low beam at all. I keep them on high beam so that i can see. Low beam…
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 ford contour. The contact stated that the plug on the headlight switch overheated and melted the wire in the plug. He had to disconnect the battery every time he got out of the vehicle because it caused a failure within the parking lights. The plug and headlight switch…
1998 FORD CONTOUR. HEADLIGHT CONNECTOR OVER HEATED RESULTING IN LOSS OF TAIL LIGHTS AND PARKING LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION. TERMINAL 15 OF CONNECTOR WAS BURNED. SAFETY RECALL 99S14 ADDRESSES THIS PROBLEM BUT FORD DEALER SAYS THIS CAR WAS NOT COVERED BY THE RECALL. . I INSTALLED FORD…
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…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Contours have exterior lighting problems?
No. NHTSA has 169 owner complaints about exterior lighting for the Ford Contour. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Contour exterior lighting?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list exterior lighting. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
What do owners say about exterior lighting problems on the Ford Contour?
The most frequent phrase is “headlight switch”, in 32 of 169 complaints, followed by “wiring harness” (10).
Other Ford Contour problems
See all Ford Contour problems.