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1997 Ford Contour

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1997 Contour.

Body PASSENGER CAR

The 1997 Ford Contour is a passenger car with an oil capacity of 4.5 quarts and a specified viscosity of 5W-20 API, establishing its maintenance requirements alongside its body classification. With 252 owner complaints and 8 recalls on record, and the electrical system identified as the primary trouble spot, this model year occupies a middle position in the reliability spectrum. Falling between the 1995 peak of 1,073 complaints and the 1993 low of three within the 1993-2001 production timeline, the 1997 model represents a midpoint in the nameplate's run, suggesting it generated moderate owner feedback compared to the range's extremes.

Model year2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.5 qtOEM · verified

Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified

Lug nut torque94 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 96R · 590 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 96R · 590 CCAOEM · verified

Tire sizeP185-70R14OEM · verified

Wheel / rim5.5 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length	183.9 in
Overall width	69.3 in
Overall height	54.3 in
Wheelbase	106.7 in
Curb weight	2769 lb
Track (front / rear)	59.1 / 58.7 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)	64/36

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.5 qt of 5W-20 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 94 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-4-2-5-3-6. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake Fluid	DOT 3
Engine Coolant	ETHYLENE GLYCOL
Engine Oil	5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	4.5 qt
Engine Oil	5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity	5.8 qt
Power Steering Fluid	ATF

Engine torques

Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s)	47.0-53.0 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts	88 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	12-15 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	13-16 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts	6-8.8 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts	13-16 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0-22.0 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug	18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts

94 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order	1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order	1-4-2-5-3-6
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	MT: 880, AT: 800 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	25 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)	MT: 720, AT: 770 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)	25 rpm
Spark Plug Manufacturer	Motorcraft
Spark Plug Gap	0.048-0.052 in

Battery & A/C

Refrigerant	R134a
Refrigerant Capacity	1.63 lbs
Oil Group	PAG
Oil Type	YN-12-D
Oil Capacity	7.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number	96R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance	590 cca
Optional BCI Group Number	40R

Service checks

Pressure Test	13-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	13-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	187-194 °F
Pressure Test	13-18 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief	13-18 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature	183-190 °F

Brakes

Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Torque Caliper to Bracket	30 ft-lbs / 88 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle	43 ft-lbs / 85-105 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness	Front: 0.125; Rear: 0.125 in
Brake Application	WITH REAR DISC / WITH STANDARD
Rotor Max Parallel Variation	0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit	0.003 in / 0.006 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From	0.79 in / 0.95 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages

37 ft. lbs., step 2: 90

37 ft. lbs

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

1	18 ft. lbs.	18 ft. lbs
2	33 ft. lbs.	33 ft. lbs
3	105 degrees.	105 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 6 stages

1	27-32 ft. lbs.	27–32 ft. lbs
2	85-95 degrees.	85–95 degrees
3	Loosen 1 turn.
4	27-32 ft. lbs.	27–32 ft. lbs
5	85-95 degrees.	85–95 degrees
6	85-95 degrees.	85–95 degrees

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

1	35-40 ft. lbs.	35–40 ft. lbs
2	56-60

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 mi; spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 5,000 mi	Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Wheel Lug Nut (torque)
Every 5,000 mi	Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 10,000 mi	Brake System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Wheel Lug Nut (torque)
Every 15,000 mi	Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection)
Every 30,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Exhaust System Heat Shield (inspect)
At 50,000 mi	Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 mi	Accessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 mi	Spark Plugs (replace)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1997 Ford Contour sits at a notable low point in the first generation's federal complaint arc, with 252 complaints, 8 recalls, and 4 investigations — a steady decline from the 1995 peak of 1,073 complaints and 12 recalls, continuing down through 1996's 640. However, that downward trend reverses sharply in 1998, when complaints spike back to 968 with 12 recalls and 7 investigations, before declining again through 2000. The 1997 model's top complaint areas are broadly distributed — Electrical System (30), Power Train (26), Engine & Engine Cooling (26), and Service Brakes, Hydraulic (23) — with 12 fire complaints and 11 crash complaints adding cause for caution. The data does not specify root causes for any of these areas, so it is impossible to determine whether the 1998 spike reflects delayed-onset failures in 1997 vehicles or problems unique to the 1998 model. While 1997 represents the lowest complaint volume of the mid-generation period, the presence of 8 active recalls and 238 technical service bulletins indicates substantial ongoing manufacturer-acknowledged issues. For a used buyer, 1997 is comparatively the better pick within the 1995–1998 window, but it is not a clean bill of health — verify that all 8 recalls have been completed and budget for electrical and powertrain attention.

Open recalls

NHTSA campaigns

238

Service bulletins

Manufacturer communications

ODI investigations

Office of Defects Investigation

252

Owner complaints

11 involved a crash · 12 a fire

Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

’93 ’94 ’95 ’96’97’98 ’99 ’00 ’01

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 252 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System30

Power Train26

Engine & Engine Cooling26

Service Brakes, Hydraulic23

Visibility16

Suspension14

Exterior Lighting14

Steering10

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 8 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

08E033000SuspensionReported 14/04/2008

FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS… Remedy: FEDERAL MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 22, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL MOGUL AT 877-489-6659.

06E022000Service Brakes, HydraulicReported 13/03/2006

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT BRAKE CYLINDERS FOR CERTAIN FORD, DAIMLERCHRYSLER, AND JEEP PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE BRAKE CYLINDERS WERE SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF NAPA… Remedy: AFFINIA (BRAKE PARTS, INC.) WILL REPLACE THE SUBJECT BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 20, 2006. OWNERS CAN CONTACT AFFINA GROUP CUSTOMER…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 238 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

Bulletin	Date	Component	Summary
020503	2005-03-21	Fuel System, Gasoline	GUIDANCE FOR CNG TANK INSPECTION FOR VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER DECEMBER 2, 1996. *TT…
042107	2004-12-13	Power Train	GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT
041516	2004-08-09	Electrical System	MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE(S) P0420 AND/OR…
03181	2003-09-15	Electrical System	REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) - SERVICE TIPS. *TT
03148	2003-07-21	Power Train	NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER - SERVICE TIPS. 2003 ESCORT AND SUPER DUTY F SERIES…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420

Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1

P0300

Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected

P0171

System too lean — Bank 1

P0455

Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak

P0128

Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature

P0442

Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN

Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Contour. OEM

Build data

Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.

Recalls

Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 96R battery Vehicles taking 4.5 qt

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBs OBD-II trouble codes Torque specifications Maintenance schedules Fluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1997 Contour take?

4.5 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1997 Contour have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.