Three problems related to tail light switch have been reported for the 1997 Ford Contour. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
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.
Tail light inoperative. Yh.
Tail lights and interior dash lights went out without warning. This was due to light switch harness connectors melting, shorting out the wires.