Vehicle recall 97V203000 · November 17, 1997
1996-1997 Ford Contour
Vehicle description: bi-fuel vehicles modified to run on either gasoline or compressed natural gas (CNG).
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- Vehicle description: bi-fuel vehicles modified to run on either gasoline or compressed natural gas (CNG). The natural gas fuel tanks have a solenoid shut-off valve that stops fuel flow from the fuel tank in the event of certain moderate to severe collisions. If the vehicle is in a collision and the natural gas fuel line is damaged, the system could leak natural gas.
- Consequence
- Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
- Remedy
- Ford has requested owners of these vehicles to have the CNG fuel system disabled under a previous recall campaign and to only use gasoline fuel until a permanent corrective action is developed. Owners are being alerted to this solenoid valve concern at this time. The timing of corrective actions is being delayed to allow both conditions to be remedied at one time. In the meantime, there is not risk as long as the natural gas system has been disabled and the vheicle is only operated on gasoline.
- Notes
- Owner notification began February 9, 1998.OWNERS will be notified when service kits are available.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 1-800-424-9393.
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 97V203000
- Reported to NHTSA
- November 17, 1997
- Filed by
- FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Owner notification
- February 9, 1998
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 1,800
- Initiated by
- the manufacturer
- Components
- Fuel system, other › Storage
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Ford Contour (1996-1997): 1997, 1996
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