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Electrical system

Ford Contour Electrical problems by year

564 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Ford Contour's electrical system. Dead batteries, warning lights, wiring, alternators, infotainment and electronic module failures.

Electrical complaints by model year

YearElectrical complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
200028040
199969111
1998129221
199742021
1996118001
1995174110
19944000

Electrical recalls

Latest Contour electrical complaints

1996 Ford ContourSuspensionElectrical systemDriver assistance

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

Filed Incident Suspension · Electrical system · Electronic stability control (ESC)NHTSA 11161985
1998 Ford ContourElectrical system

"Takara recall" my heater motor in my 98 ford contour se just stopped working.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 11153253
1998 Ford ContourTransmission & drivetrainElectrical systemBrakes

Was driving down route 322 on day and had to hit the break and all of a sudden they went to the floor. I pulled over and checked my break fluid resivour and it was empty. I think the passenger side drum break is leaking fluid.

Filed Incident Power train · Electrical system · Service brakesNHTSA 11153195
1996 Ford ContourElectrical system

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.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10991732
1996 Ford ContourElectrical systemFire

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. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10864256
1996 Ford ContourElectrical system

Car was purchased from a used car dealer on 8/11/15. The car has 58606 miles on it. The transmission had to be replaced due to electrical issues caused by a faulty wiring harness. Wiring harness was under the owner notification and not repaired. Ford has not offered any type of assistance and mechanic says the car is a fire hazard and harness has to be replaced. Contacted ford who said the car was not under any type of recall and they no longer make the part.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10783099
1996 Ford ContourElectrical system

Tl* the contact owns a 1996 ford contour. The contact stated that while driving at 65 mph, the taillight and front panel failed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,000.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10780554
1998 Ford ContourElectrical system

I just traded and got this car, it seems to sway in the back going over wet roads or bumpy roads not sure what it is, but I fear my safety as the previous owner did not tell me about this. I also have noticed that the temperature gauge does not work and the heater blower only works on high. I cannot afford to get things fixed if there is recalls on them. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10553556
1998 Ford ContourElectrical systemEngine & cooling

I am the owner of a 1998 ford contour and the engine harness wire overheated over a long period of time and I was unaware until I had to change my radiator due to a leak and the harness wire had to be disconnected. That was when we found the wire melted and cracked and could not be reused. This harness connects to vehicle main supply. Without harness vehicle is not operable. Ford should be responsible to replace defective harness. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 10535001
1996 Ford ContourElectrical systemEngine & cooling

I purchased a used 1996 ford contour for my granddaughter and after a few days the check engine light came on. My mechanic diagnosed the problem and fixed it. A few miles down the road it came back on. After further diagnostics it was found that the engine wiring harness was bad. The insulation on the wires was flaking off and in one spot the wire bundle covering had melted. Research on line showed that ford had a recall on this problem (99m03) and extended the recall for 10 years. In an attempt to repair the...

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problem with a different wiring harness has proved to be a loosing battle I contacted ford and they said that they no longer build this part and that they had no parts in stock throughout the usa. I tried salvage yards and there are no good parts out there. How can a used car lot sell cars without looking into safety recalls on the vehicles. I have no recourse but to junk the car and take a $3000 loss. Is there any help out there? *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 10519497
1996 Ford ContourElectrical systemFire

My car had been having many issues .Fixing what we thought were the problem we found that the electrical connected to the cooling fan was melted as well as many problems in wire harnesses in front of engine.. It is very apparent the wiring is defective and caused melting n burn wires throughout the wiring system. I have had 4 mechanics look at it and was told by all that this make n model is very well known for this electrical issue. *Tr

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10482706
1997 Ford ContourElectrical systemEngine & cooling

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

Filed Incident Electrical system · EngineNHTSA 10469368
1998 Ford ContourFuel systemElectrical system

The engine wiring harness which connects to the vehicle's main power supply box has wiring for which the insulation comes off exposing live, bare wires. This leads to shorts in the electrical system which affects drivability (engine runs erratically and affects the electric fuel pumps operation) and could lead to a vehicle fire if the wiring suffers catastrophic failure. It goes without saying that if the car's fuel supply or engine control systems fail, the driver may lose control and become involved in a crash...

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or collision. Ford does not sale replacement parts nor are parts available on the secondary market. The part number for the wiring harness on my car is f8rz14289ca. Ford should be required to replace these defective harnesses. *Tr

Filed Incident Fuel system, gasoline · Electrical systemNHTSA 10422939
1996 Ford ContourElectrical systemFire

Tl* the contact owns a 1996 ford contour. While parked, the contact smelled smoke and noticed flames near the rear of the radio and the center column that divided the front and rear driver side doors. The contact was able to extinguish the flames herself. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for diagnostics. There was a recall under nhtsa campaign id number: 01v230000 (electrical system) that could possibly have been related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised that the vin...

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was not included in the recall. The contact stated the failure affected the exterior lighting and interior lighting of the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 62,922.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10418136
1995 Ford ContourElectrical system

Tl* the contact owns a 1995 ford contour. The contact stated that the vehicle was on while in park when a fuse blew and the vehicle stalled. The dealer informed the contact that the wiring harness failed and needed to be replaced. A private mechanic then confirmed that the wiring harness needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. No repairs were performed. The failure and current mileages were 97,000.

Filed Incident Electrical systemNHTSA 10412276

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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