Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (headlights, tail lights, turn signals, interior lights).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Ford Contour owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl 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 needed to be replaced. He found recall 99V103000 online and was told by both the manufacturer and the dealer that his vehicle was not included. The vehicle had not been repaired to-date. The current mileage was approximately 183,000. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.
Car stalls when parallel parking, especially in reverse, or when parking slopes. Car stalled when starting up from red light in center city philadelphia intersections. Headlamps out of alignment (don't shine down onto road, beams not centered). Air bag light on control panels blinks sporadically, frequently; anxiety that air bag will deploy while driving. Dealer comment on stalling: "probably something stupid" and wasn't able to fix problem, mentioned something about a vacuum tube. Dealer charged $95 to tell me that the memory in the vehicle didn't give any codes for the stalling or air bag problems, then added that the memory is wiped clean every time the car is turned off. Question: if they know that about the car in the first place, why charge the customer for a pointless diagnostic? Headlights still out of alignment after having been "adjusted" by dealer in January 2005.
I own a 1996 Ford Contour [redacted] that the instrument panel lights and tail lights went out on. There was a recall on this item (recall 99s14) back in 1999. Upon bringing the car into an brookdale Ford (brooklyn center, mn), they told me that they would fix the problem free of charge because it did not apply to my vehicle. I then called Ford motor company customer relationship center. They told me that the problem was already fixed on my car (even though I never brought the car in for this service). They refused to help. Even if the recall was fixed on my car, the fact that the same two parts of my car (instrument panel and tail lights) failed, tells me that the recall repair was not done correctly.
Headlight switch terminals and wiring harness terminals experienced heat damage. The instrument panel, tail lights and parking lights failed. Robin Ford dealer, 100 n. Mcdade blvd, glenolden, pa indicated that there is a recall for this problem on the 96 Ford Contour but my VIN does not apply to the recall. My VIN is [redacted].
The headlight switch malfunctioned and caused the tail lights and instrument panel light to go out without warning. The vehicle was recall once for this problem and repaired but the problem has reocurred. Manufacturer stated since the recall was repaired once, they will not repair it again free of charge.
Had headlights on & noticed smoke coming from dashboard. The headlight switch caught fire. Electrical system had shorted out. Took to dealer & called manufacturer informed owner's fault for electrical short & fire. Will not repair defect.
The first noticable symptom was that my dashboard lights went out. I then learned that, although my headlights, brake lights, turn signals, and ememgency flashers still functioned, my running lights were also out. Upon taking the car into the dealership, I was informed that my headlight switch had shorted and caused damage to the interior wiring harness. To add further insult to injury, I had to purchase an entire wiring harness regardless of whether or not I wished to have the damage harness repaired or replaced because the needed parts could not be obtained separately. This has all been reported to Ford motor company and they are looking into the matter. I have only reported my case to the NHTSA after finding a listing in your online investigations database for action number pe98063 and thought that my story May pertain to this investigation. Thank you for your consideration.
Have had numerous problems: interior/brake lights failed to light. Replaced switch twice. Fuel filler door will not open with latch inside. Never worked. Cigarette lighter failed. Power window on driver's side has failed. Car intermittently will not start due to drained battery. Mechanic could find no cause for this related to alternator/charging system of car. Never able to fix this. Trunk leaks water around seal. ABS light keeps coming on . Mechanic could find no problem with ABS. Air conditioner/heater would only blow out defrost setting. Also bad smell comes from ac when on. Rear seat belts keep jamming; not able to use sometimes because they won't come out. Worst problem so far: transmission has failed. Not yet fixed. I loved this car once, now I hate it! The whole thing should be recalled.
The right and left tail lights and instrument panel lights failed. The terminals on the headlight switch show signs of heat damage. This is the same symptoms as NHTSA campaign id # 99V103000 (mfg campaign # 99s14) applicable to certain 1995-1998 Ford Contour vehicles. This recall does not apply to my Ford Contour (VIN # [redacted]) according to two Ford dealers. The symptoms of this recall exactly describe the current symptoms of my Ford Contour and it is questionable as to why this recall is not currently applicable to my VIN #.
Problems with the engine light coming on and the servicing dept at the Ford dealer and other auto servicing center could not figure out why to this day it is on. At one time the entire interior lights and rear brakes lights went out. It currently shut its self off ( stalls) and get hot. The engine sounds revved up and shortly after the ac unit went out.everything has been checked out/ the alternator was replaced the crankshaft was replaced some wiring had to be replaced all the fluids are where they should be and it still stalls and overheats for no reason. Both front windows electrical motors have gone out.
Related recalls
Exterior lighting › Headlights › Switch
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.
NHTSA investigations
Headlight switch
Odi opened the preliminary evaluation on December 3, 1989 based on five consumer complaints, all of which mentioned concerns centered on the dashboard-mounted headlight switch.these concerns included an allegation of the switch catching fire, an allegation of headlight loss, and three allegations of instrument panel and tail light outages.three of the reports specifically identified the headlight switch and its…
Headlight complaints in other Contour years
Frequently asked questions
How common are headlight problems on the 1996 Ford Contour?
NHTSA has 72 complaints about the lights of the 1996 Ford Contour, 13% of the model year's 563 complaints. The component named most often is headlights › switch (39 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Ford Contour headlight problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 99V-103 (switch, May 5, 1999). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1996 Ford Contour headlight problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 106,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 3 fires and 0 injuries to lights problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.