1997 Ford Contour: problems, recalls and reliability
8 recalls and 218 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is electrical system (14% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Apr 2008
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 218 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“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. Now ford wants me to take the vehicle to a dealer so they can charge me and tell me what I already know and can plainly see! *tr”Owner report · Engine · Jun 2012
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford contour. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph, the vehicle suddenly stalled. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The contact personally performed a diagnostic. The contact replaced the timing belt, serpentine belt, water pump, fuel injector, and pulleys. The failure continued after the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 134,000. Updated 2/21/13 *cn status update 03/19/13”Owner report · Engine · Mar 2012
“Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford contour. The contact stated the vehicle repeatedly decelerates and accelerates without warrant. When the air conditioner was being operated, the vehicle would begin to shake violently. It would also take an unusually long time for the air conditioner to engage and would blow only hot air. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was 91,000 and the current mileage was 92,000.”Owner report · Equipment · May 2010
Show 7 more owner reports
“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. *tr”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Dec 2008
“Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford contour. The contact stated that there was a bad ground in the main line harness, which caused the electrical system in the vehicle to fail. The vehicle was not included in the recall. The current mileage was 116,000 and failure mileage was 115,000.”Owner report · Electrical System · Oct 2008
“Bought a 1997 ford contour and 4 days later the head gasket blew. After being in shop over a month and many other problems repaired I finally got car back and the very next day the head gasket blew again within 2 miles from my house. *tr”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Sep 2007
“Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford contour. While the contact applied the brakes at 30 mph, the vehicle failed to stop. The vehicle drove uphill and into a parking lot and stopped by emergency brake. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The current and failure mileages were 141,000. Updated 02-01-08 *bf the consumer stated the hydraulic vacuum line was leaking. Updated 02/01/08 *tr”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Jul 2007
“Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford contour. The contact stated that the defroster stopped working. The vehicle was serviced for NHTSA recall # 01i009000 (visibility:defroster/defogger system:windshield:controls/wiring) in 2001. The instrument panel and tail lights also do not work. The vehicle was serviced for NHTSA recall # 99v103000 (exterior lighting:headlights:switch) in 1999. The current mileage is 92,794 and failure mileage was 90,000. Updated 02-01-08 *bf updated 02/01/08 *tr”Owner report · Visibility · Dec 2006
“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.*ak”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Sep 2005
“Electrical system failure, vehicle would sometimes start and sometimes it would not, when vehicle on the road it would stop when making a stop at a stop sign or red light, or when turning either left or right. *nm”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2005
When filing, owners marked a crash in 11 of these complaints and injuries in 10 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 8 campaigns
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FLOOR SHIFT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL CAN BE DAMAGED IF SUBJECTED TO CERTAIN INTERIOR CLEANING PRODUCTS. THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR CAN DETERIORATE AND NOT CORRECTLY INDICATE THE ACTUAL GEAR POSITION.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLOOR SHIFT CONTROL.
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.
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.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TERMINALS AT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN EXPERIENCE HEAT DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF OVERHEATING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLAMP SWITCH WIRING CONNECTOR CONTAINING BRONZE TERMINALS AND AN INSPECTION, AND REPLACEMENT IF NECESSARY, OF THE HEADLAMP SWITCH.
CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA, RAYBESTOS, AIMCO, AC DELCO, CARQUEST, BENDIX, AND WAGNER. ONLY PRODUCTS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 27, 2005 THROUGH JANUARY 17, 2006 (DATE CODES 0529 THROUGH 0602) ARE SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL. WHEN SUBJECT TO VERY COLD TEMPERATURES, AN INTERNAL SEAL IN THE MASTER CYLINDER COULD LOSE FLEXIBILITY AND MAY CAUSE BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK.
Remedy: AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-323-0354.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). A PRESSURE CONSCIOUS REDUCING VALVE (PCRV) IN THE REAR BRAKES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CORROSION AND RESULT IN MALFUNCTION, WHEN OPERATED IN AREAS THAT USE SALT COMPOUNDS ON THE ROADWAY FOR DE-ICING OR DUST CONTROL.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL IMPROVED PCRV'S IN THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS RECALL WAS EXPANDED IN SEPTEMBER 2000 TO INCLUDE 1999 AND 2000 FORD CONTOUR, MERCURY MYSTIQUE AND COUGAR VEHICLES.
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.
Remedy: 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.
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1995-1997 FORD CONTOUR AND MERCURY MYSTIQUE VEHICLES. THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR COULD OVERHEAT CAUSING THE ATTACHED ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR TO MELT.
Remedy: FORD WILL PROVIDE ADDITIONAL WARRANTY COVERAGE FOR THE HEATER BLOWER SWITCH FOR 10 YEARS FROM ORIGINAL DATE OF SALE OF THE VEHICLE OR 150,000 MILES, WHICHEVER COMES FIRST. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR AND A NEW WIRE JUMPER HARNESS FREE OF CHARGE.
FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
Remedy: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.
How other years compare
Check your exact Contour by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1997 Ford Contour reliable?
NHTSA has 218 owner complaints and 8 recall campaigns on record for the 1997 Ford Contour. The most complained-about area is electrical system (14% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1997 Ford Contour problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 97,000 miles or less.
Does the 1997 Ford Contour have open recalls?
8 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:floor shift. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.