1998 Ford Contour: headlights failing or too dim

Filed Apr 19, 2011 · Airbags, Electrical · 135,000 miles · TN

My 1998 ford contour has three safety recalls. However, I'm having a terrible time getting ford to provide the parts needed to service the vehicle. The recalls are: (a) 01s22 - heater blower resistor and connector, (b) 99s14 - headlight switch connector, and (c) 99s23 - front crash sensors. Presently my airbags are offline and offer no crash protection. It's been a little over a month since I began trying to get this resolved (basically when I bought the car - the seller didn't disclose the recalls were not fixed to me). The blower stopped working a few days ago and it smelled like electrical wires were perhaps burning. So now I don't have defrost/defog capability. The dealer is trying to get the parts, but ford hasn't shipped them.

Filed Mar 14, 2009 · Lights · 87,000 miles · MD

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 kit f5rz14a411ba and fixed the problem. Why was this car not covered by the recall or is the ford dealer mistaken? Should the recall be expanded? I saved the old connector.

Filed Feb 6, 2009 · Lights · 85,400 miles · NY

I currently am the second owner of a 1998 ford contour. Recently the parking, and dashboard lights ceased to operate. I changed the headlight switch which lasted for a week and burned out.. Research on the internet revealed there was a service recall dated 5/10/99 under serial #99v10300 for the headlight harness which was causing the above described problem. I contacted ford who stated their was no open recall on this vehicle. Further research on the internet revealed additional owners who had the same problem but were informed by ford that their particular vehicle was not covered under the recall. My complaint is if so many ford contour models are having this problem why are only certain vehicles covered when many are having identical problems thankyou

Filed Sep 20, 2007 · Engine, Lights · 73,000 miles · MA

Tl*the contact owns a 1998 ford contour. The vehicle was taken to the repair shop for regularly scheduled maintenance. The mechanic stated that the front passenger side coil spring failed. In 2001, the contact received a recall notice for the federal safety agency campaign id number 01v255000 (suspension:front:springs:coil springs). The dealer inspected the vehicle at that time and stated that no repair was needed. However, now that the failure has occurred, the manufacturer stated that the recall was no longer valid. The failure mileage was 73,000 and current mileage was 81,000. Updated 01/09/08. *lj the consumer stated the coils springs have been replaced twice in this vehicle. The dealer stated replaced headlight switch and cable in engine. Updated 12/12/07 *tr updated 06/04/08.

Filed Sep 14, 2006 · Lights · PA

Headlights do not provide sufficient illumination.

Filed Jul 31, 2006 · Lights · WV

The headlight in the consumer's 1998 ford contour do not illuminate the road enough while driving at night. *kb visibility is especially bad while driving at night in the rain because the lights fog up. The consumer has almost had an accident because of the headlights.

Filed May 30, 2006 · Lights · VA

I have a 1998 ford contour that the dashboard lights and rear taillights have stopped working, while the headlights continue to function. The cause was the wiring overheating and I had to replace the wiring harness and the switch. I did some research online and located a recall nhsta campaign 99v103000 for the 1998 ford contour for this exact problem, but according to the dealership my car was not included in the recall. I have had to pay for the work out of pocket, but I am wondering if it was in error than my car was not included.

Filed May 1, 2006 · Lights · 70,000 miles · PA

On 98 ford contours both of the headlights form condensation on the inside and then become pitted. This greatly reduces the visibility at night and during stormy weather. We have changed the bulbs but not the entire headlight assembly. When we went to look for a set of headlights we discovered that all the used sets have the exact same problem. The lights need to be replaced and this problem is occurring on all ford contours and its mercury counterpart.

Filed Feb 1, 2006 · Lights · 109,000 miles · CA

Ford will not repair a recall (99s14) on my 1998 contour se due to the fact that my specific VIN number is not included in the recall, although the year is in the recall. The problem is the same. (instrument panel lights and tail lights not working when headlights are turned on.) the description of the ford recall 99s14 is the same as my observed problem. Unsafe to drive car at night. No correction has been performed. Ford should take responsibility for this known recall.

Filed Dec 30, 2005 · Electrical · 72,500 miles · VA

The 1998 ford contour have many known problems, the one I am currently having an issue with is a faulty headlight switch that causes the dashboard lights to go out creating a situation where a driver can not see their safe speed and worse the running lights also stop working, preventing people from seeing your car from behind. The brake lights and turning lights work but not the running lights. On a dark road the car is not visible from behind. Both these conditions make it extremely unsafe to operate the vehicle at night. There is a recall from ford covering this exact problem however for some reason the ford can not tell me, my car is not included. I have a 1998 ford contour. So far no one at the dealer will help me to determine why my car is not included although they agree it is the same problem and calls to ford have gotten me no where as well. What can I do now? It is an expensive repair and a safety issue as well.

Filed Jul 27, 2005 · Lights · 99,100 miles · VA

When turning headlights on, tail lights and interior panel lights do not come on. This is a known problem (the federal safety agency campaign number 99v103000). However, ford says that it is not their responsibility because of the vehicle identification number [xxx]. Updated 07/19/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)

Filed Jul 21, 2004 · Lights · OR

When driving the vehicle at night, the driver noticed that the headlights were dim. The consumer will take the vehicle to the dealership for inspection. Please provide any further details.