NHTSA recall 99V103000
A recall listed here may apply to a vehicle of this year, make and model. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle: check the VIN with the official lookups.
| Published by | NHTSA (United States) |
|---|---|
| Campaign number | 99V103000 |
| Manufacturer's number | 99S14 |
| Manufacturer | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| Reported | 1999-05-05 |
| Owners notified | 1999-07-16 |
| Component | EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH |
| Units potentially affected | 605581 |
What is wrong
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TERMINALS AT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN EXPERIENCE HEAT DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF OVERHEATING.
What can happen
THE DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN DISTORTION OF THE TERMINAL CAUSING AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION, PARKING LAMP, AND TAIL LAMP CIRCUITS.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLAMP SWITCH WIRING CONNECTOR CONTAINING BRONZE TERMINALS AND AN INSPECTION, AND REPLACEMENT IF NECESSARY, OF THE HEADLAMP SWITCH.
Notes
OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 16, 1999. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
| 1996 FORD CONTOUR | Built 1995-04-20 to 1998-08-24. |
|---|---|
| 1997 FORD CONTOUR | Built 1995-04-20 to 1998-08-24. |
| 1998 FORD CONTOUR | Built 1995-04-20 to 1998-08-24. |
| 1996 MERCURY MYSTIQUE | Built 1995-04-20 to 1998-08-24. |
| 1997 MERCURY MYSTIQUE | Built 1995-04-20 to 1998-08-24. |
| 1998 MERCURY MYSTIQUE | Built 1995-04-20 to 1998-08-24. |
A vehicle with no link is not in this site's catalog, which covers cars, multipurpose vehicles and trucks by model year. The campaign is from data as of 2026-10-19.
Investigated as PE98063
This recall followed 1 NHTSA investigation. An investigation is NHTSA looking into a possible defect. It is not a finding that a defect exists, and it does not say that any one vehicle is affected.
| PE98063 | Preliminary evaluation, opened 1998-12-03, closed 1999-05-10. HEADLIGHT SWITCH. EXTERIOR LIGHTING. |
|---|
From NHTSA's investigation file, as of 2026-10-19. The JSON has NHTSA's summary of each.
Bulletins for the same vehicles and component
| 14775 | 2001-06-01. Service bulletin. SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS (DRL) MAY EXHIBIT THE HIGH BEAM INDICATOR IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER FLASHING WHEN THE DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS ARE ON. *TT |
|---|---|
| BC3274970207 | 1997-07-17. Service bulletin. REPLACEMENT HEADLAMP BULBS - SEVERAL AFTERMARKET COMPANIES ARE OFFERING REPLACEMENT BULBS WITH A HIGHER WATTAGE THAT ARE NOT DOT APPROVED - SOLD WITH DISCLAIMER OF "FOR OFF-ROAD USE ONLY" - THE BULBS DRAW MORE CURRENT THAN THE OEM BULBS AND CAN RESULT IN ACTUATION OF THE SHOR CIRCUIT PROTECTION FEATURE. *TW |
A bulletin is the manufacturer's note to its dealers. It is not part of this recall.