U.S. public vehicle records

1997 Ford CONTOUR problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

147 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

97,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1997 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 15 of 147 complaints (10.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Electrical and battery issues	21	14.3%
Transmission and shifting	20	13.6%
Steering behavior	12	8.2%
Braking behavior	11	7.5%
Engine operation	6	4.1%
Fuel system concerns	4	2.7%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

Electrical System

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline

Electrical System:Wiring

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System

Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner

Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash

Component breakdown data
Category	Count
Power Train:Automatic Transmission	15
Electrical System	7
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood	7
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline	7
Electrical System:Wiring	6
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System	6
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner	6
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash	5

Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 15; Electrical System: 7; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 7; Electrical System:Wiring: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 6; Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner: 6; Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash: 5

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 11; 100,000 to 149,999: 13; 150,000 and above: 2

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 116 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2012

2013

2000: 39; 2001: 44; 2002: 20; 2003: 18; 2004: 8; 2005: 6; 2006: 2; 2007: 5; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1

Pattern summary

Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 21 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 20 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10016788 · 2003-04-30 (April 30, 2003)

ELECTRICAL FIRE INSIDE CAR ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM DOWN A/C DOES NOT WORK, BACK WINDOW SWITCHES DO NOT WORK, KILLED BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10016788 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10049024 · 2003-12-02 (December 2, 2003)

I BELIEVE ALL 1997 FORD CONTOURS SHOULD BE RECALLED, OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS I HAVE REPLACED THE CLUTCH, WATERPUMP, BLOWER MOTOR, BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BUSHINGS, SWAY BARS, WHEEL BEARINGS, FRONT & REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS(BOTH TWICE!!!!), AXLE, 2 OXYGEN SENSORS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, EGR VALVE, COIL SPRINGS, BATTERY, BALLJOINTS, DOOR LATCH, ALMOST ALL OF THE FULL FRONT SUSPENSION!!!! THERE ARE MORE PARTS THAT I HAD REPLACED BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL THE NAMES OF THE PARTS THERE ARE TOO MANY!! MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF, SEAT BELT L…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10049024 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10042928 · 2003-10-15 (October 15, 2003)

CD4E TRANSMISSION IN 1998 FORD CONTOUR GL (SAME COMPLAINT AS THE C4DE IN THE MAZDA 626). TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT DUE TO THE TSS SENSOR BREAKING AND FALLING INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION - WHICH STOPPED THE PUMP AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE SENSOR IS IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE FENDERWELL, WHERE IT IS EXPOSED TO ROAD HAZARDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS. NOT A GOOD DESIGN. FURTHERMORE, THE REPAIR COSTS $3000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND ALL THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE FORD PUT THE SENSOR IN A POSITION WHERE IT CAN BREAK AND CAUSE SIGNIFICA…

Owner-reported narrative. 97,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10042928 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10060791 · 2004-03-09 (March 9, 2004)

TRASMISSION FAILURE AT 48000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 101000 MILES BOTH REQUIRING COMPLETE REBUILD. BOTH FAILURES WERE SUDDEN ONSET AND THE SECOND OCCURED AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITCH NEARLY CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT (THANK GOD FOR THE QUICK THINKING DRIVER BEHIND ME) TOOK TO 5 DIFFERENT SHOPS FOR DIAGNOSES. ALL SAID THAT THE CD4E TRANSIMISSION WAS A NOTORIOUSLY BAD TRANSMISSION ON BOTH FORDS AND MAZDAS

Owner-reported narrative. 101,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060791 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003586 · 2003-01-28 (January 28, 2003)

THE POWER STEERING LINE IS ROUTED UNDER THE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE AXIL AND HAS RUB A HOLE IN THE LINE. AND HAS CAUSED A LEAK.

Owner-reported narrative. 110,652 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003586 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10006000 · 2003-01-30 (January 30, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10006000 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10003795 · 2003-01-14 (January 14, 2003)

CONSUMER STATES WHEN PULLING OFF OR BRAKING THE PASSENGER SEAT MOVES BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS, CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO JERK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10003795 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10012324 · 2003-03-24 (March 24, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL DESCENDED TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN FOR THE SAME REPAIRS THREE TIMES. *NLM

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012324 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10046326 · 2003-11-04 (November 4, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH WITH FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP, THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD VEHICLE TOWED HAVE TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RESOLVED.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046326 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10260956 · 2009-03-06 (March 6, 2009)

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-reported narrative. 87,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10260956 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10004408 · 2003-02-05 (February 5, 2003)

THE CONSUMER WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSE FOR A MELTED FUEL PUMP. PH

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10004408 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10469368 · 2012-08-06 (August 6, 2012)

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 LIG…

Owner-reported narrative. 134,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10469368 at NHTSA ↗