I have 1997 Ford Contour SE. I have had several problems with it, check engine light comes on constantly, radiator light comes on constantly, runs poorly. I had all checked when they happen on multilple occasions. After doing some research on the internet, I found that there may be a problem with the wiring harness in the engine compartment. I was told by a freind that he had heard of a problem like this and Ford was fixing them, and I should call the dealer. I called the dealer and they confirmed there was a recall but based on my VIN I was not included due to the age of my car. This was done at brandon Ford around the July/August time frame. Thinking that I had to do the repair myself, due to the cost at the dealership (over $3000), I started looking for parts myself on the internet. There I found the recall/ext. Warranty info. 99M03 and in this it states 10 years or 100,000 mile. I again got hope that maybe they had missread the recall at the dealer ship. I then returned with VIN and the info 99M03 in had and one of their service advisers confirmed that it should be covered. I then made an appointment for the next day to drop the car off at 8:30am to have it done. I call that same day at 2:30pm to check to see if and for how long I wounld need a rental car. I was told at that time that my car was not covered due to it's age and that it ran out on 10/26/06. Had the first person looked the info. Up properly back in the July/August time frame it would have been fixed. I was also told by the service manager that the repair would take them approx. 3 days to do, and for only gives them 6-7 hrs to do it, so they lose money to do these repairs. Based on the 99M03 info I should have recieved a letter stating the ext. Warranty which I did not, but had recieved other recall info.

- Brandon, FL, USA

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.

- Mission, TX, USA

During replacement of heater blower switch consumer noticed that electrical wires were melted together and charred black. Dealership has not examined vehicle. Please provide any additional information/attachments.

- St. Thomas, PA, USA

I carried my car to the dealership for recall service. The dealership never completed the recall work, but did bill Ford for it. The dealership later offered to fix the symptoms that the faulty parts were causing for a fee or $279. I did not have $279 at the time to pay for the service so I purchased the parts for $101. After I had installed the parts, I saw a note in the package that described what the dealer sold to me. The dealership actually sold me the recall repair kit. I have the documentation and original part to prove this is the case. Also tail lights and dash lights are inoperable, head light switch has burned out, consumer states he should be reimbursed for the warranty work, consumer states he has in his possession the recalled part and that hte dealership did not perform the work, that they claim they replaced, even though the warranty work was not performed by dealership the Ford Motor Company was billed for the warranty repairs.

- Gainesville, GA, USA

Heater fan control switch began smoking and shutdown while vehicle was in operation. Consumer has taken vehicle to private mechanic, who indicated that defect resulted from factory wiring harness being too small a guage of wiring to carry electrical load. Replacement wiring harness was of a higher guage. Please provide any additional information/attachments.

- Gouldsboro, ME, USA

Vehicle experienced failure of the manufacturers recall (99M03) on several occasions prior to recall notification.

- Annandale, VA, USA

Hi, we have had so many problems I can't believe that Ford dosen't recall the 97 Contour.we only had the car 1 month and the e.g.R valve to the exhaust manifold was replaced.the P.C. valve has been serviced 4 times.the egr pressure feedback /back pressure was replaced.the rotor on the brakes was cracked and had to be replaced.we have had the car in the shop a total of 58 days.we took the car in 5 times telling them about this burning odor coming from the A/C vents. Recall about wire harness. They said could not verify concern. Untill my husband took it for the 4 time when the car was full of this foggy smoke. He made a service advisior come out and look at the car full of smoke.for three months 10-9-99 untill present.we have had to endure headaches vomiting and loss of our voices because they said they could not verify concern.we now have pictures of neglect of the safety of my husband and 5 children. The burned melted parts they should have replaced back on 10-9-99 it took untill 1-22-00 and as of right now 2- 10-00 another dealership has had the car for 7 day's. major defects with the 97 Contour.we think they sold all there CNG cars to people and didn't tell them. I know they sure didn't tell us. 3 times on the oil change paper they mention about the selenoid.you don't have that done with a oil change.maybe you guy's can check into it" why else would owners of just the 97 Contour have so many problems" check your T S B pages.please let us know what we can do we can't trust anyone to fix it right when we were told by Ford service people they couldn't find the problem.something is really wrong with all of these cars.

- Anaheim, CA, USA

Terminal at the headlight switch and wires was damaged which caused anti- freeze to leak.

- Kissimmee, FL, USA

Parked vehicle and turned ignition off. When the owner came back outside noticed that vehicle was on fire. The fire started under the hood. Vehicle was totaled. Consumer stated that before the fire broke out, he smelled gas for 10 days, and he had made an appointment at service station to check out vehicle. But the vehicle had caught on fire before the appointment. There were a couple of recalls listed on this vehicle concerning fires.

- Hampstead, MD, USA