Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 132 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 130 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 128 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

50 crash reports20 fire reports36 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

33 reports

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Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2001

Air BagsUnknown Or Other

ENGINE LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT HAVE ILLUMINATED ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR CAMPAIGN 99V243000 PREVIOUSLY, CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW DATE. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #898923

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2001

Fuel System, GasolineUnknown Or Other

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED FUEL PUMP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #898627

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2001

Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

VEHICLE STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS FIXED SO CONSUMER WOULD SEE THE WARNING SIGN. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT CURRENTLY AN ONGOING ISSUE. ENGINE NEEDS A VCT SOLENOID REPLACED AT THE CONSUMER'S COST.*AK

NHTSA ODI #894952

Mileage unknown · Jul 12, 2001

Unknown Or Other

THE DASH IS DISTORTED SO THAT THE DEFROSTER WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. NLM

NHTSA ODI #785526

Mileage unknown · May 27, 2001

Unknown Or Other

Read full complaint

I KNOW A LOT OF OTHER OWNER OF THE SAME CAR ENCOUNTERED THE EXACTLY SAME VCT PROBLEM (CODE P1381), AND IT COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO BE FIXED. IF ANYONE TAKE TIME READ THE CONTOUR OWNER'S PROBLEM FORUM LOCATED ON THE WEB (WWW.CONTOUR.ORG), HE FINDS TONS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM OF THIS CAR. IT'S DEFINITELY OUTRAGOUS IN THE SENSE OF STATISTICS. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT OF THIS CAR IS WAY ABOVE THE WILDEST IMAGINE ON THE FREQUENCY THAT IT COULD EVER HAPPED TO ANY EXISTING MODEL OF CAR. THIS IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, AT LEAST IN THE SENSE OF A NATIONAL RECALL. CEL, THE BIGGEST NIGHTMARE OF FORD CONTOUR! ANYONE WHO MADE THIS CAR SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #745965

Mileage unknown · Nov 8, 2000

Unknown Or Other

CAR SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING,WHILE IN GEAR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #736012

Mileage unknown · Sep 29, 2000

Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other

Read full complaint

WHILE UNDER WARRANTY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. HAD IT REPLACED. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY HAD THE REAR MAIN SEAL REPLACED. JUST THREE WEEKS AFTER THAT REPAIR THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND FOUND THAT IT WAS AT THE PROPER LEVEL.I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. NOW I HAVE APPEALED TO FORD MOTER CO. TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT THEIR COST. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE FAILURE BEGAN UNDER WARRANTY BUT ONLY MANIFESTED ITSELF 3 WEEKS AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD.

NHTSA ODI #732821

Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2000

Unknown Or Other

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON.*AK

NHTSA ODI #868467

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2000

Power TrainUnknown Or Other

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYED ON THE DASHBOARD CONSTANTLY. VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE BEYOND 30 MPH IN FIRST GEAR. THEN WHEN VEHICLE IS IN SECOND GEAR IT GOES UP TO 70MPH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #867621

Mileage unknown · Jul 31, 2000

Service Brakes, HydraulicUnknown Or OtherVehicle Speed Control

WATER PUMPS FAILED.*ET

NHTSA ODI #553284

Official recalls

01V255000 · Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

Aug 8, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY ASSEMBLY PLANT AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS MAY FRACTURE AS A RESULT OF CORROSION IN HIGH CORROSION ENVIRONMENTS. DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL SPRING CATCHER BRACKETS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 23, 2001. 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 1-866-436-7332.

01V230000 · Electrical System

Jul 9, 2001

ON CERTAIN MY 1996-1998 PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY, CUAUTITLAN ASSEMBLY PLANTS OR ON MY 1999 PASSENGER VEHCLES BUILT AT THE AUTOMOTIVE ALLIANCE INTERNATIONAL ASSEMBLY PLANTS, THE ROUGH SURFACE OF THE HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR'S STAINLESS STEEL BLADES CAN DAMAGE THE COPPER SURFACE OF THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR. THE DAMAGE COULD, OVER TIME, CAUSE INCREASED RESISTANCE IN THE CONNECTOR AND, DUE TO SUBSEQUENT TERMINAL RELAXATION, RESULT IN AN OPEN CIRCUIT CONDITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE OPEN CIRCUIT COULD LEAD TO ELECTRICAL ARCING THAT COULD MELT THE CONNECTOR HOUSING MATERIAL CREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR AND A NEW WIRE JUMPER HARNESS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 29, 2001. 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.

00V350000 · Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly

Oct 30, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BI-FUEL VEHICLES. THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE A FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DAMAGED DURING THE INSTALLATION OF THE BI-FUEL SYSTEM. IF THE GROMMET IS DAMAGED, FUEL COULD LEAK. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE GROMMET IS DAMAGED, FUEL COULD LEAK. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET.

00V075000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components

Mar 9, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES NOT EQUIPPED WITH THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS). A PRESSURE CONSCIOUS REDUCING VALVE (PCRV) IN THE REAR BRAKES MAY BE SUBJECT TO CORROSION AND RESULT IN MALFUNCTION, WHEN OPERATED IN AREAS THAT USE SALT COMPOUNDS ON THE ROADWAY FOR DE-ICING OR DUST CONTROL.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF BOTH PCRV'S MALFUNCTION, VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED DURING BRAKING AS A RESULT OF THE REAR WHEELS LOCKING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL IMPROVED PCRV'S IN THE REAR BRAKE SYSTEM. THIS RECALL WAS EXPANDED IN SEPTEMBER 2000 TO INCLUDE 1999 AND 2000 FORD CONTOUR, MERCURY MYSTIQUE AND COUGAR VEHICLES.

99V243000 · Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control MODULE-INACTIVE

Sep 8, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE AIR BAG SENSOR WIRING PIGTAIL INSULATION CAN BECOME BRITTLE AND CRACK OVER TIME DUE TO ACCUMULATION OF WATER IN THE PIGTAIL PROTECTIVE CONVOLUTE IN COMBINATION WITH HIGH UNDERHOOD TEMPERATURES RELATED TO THE ROUTING OF THE WIRING PIGTAIL NEAR THE RADIATOR. THIS CAN RESULT IN ENVIRONMENTAL STRESS CRACKING OF THE INSULATION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN SOME CASES, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAN ILLUMINATE AND THE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM DISABLED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AIR BAG SENSORS WITH REVISED WIRING INSULATION. IN ADDITION, VEHICLES WHICH HAVE THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WILL HAVE A NEW AIR BAG DIAGNOSTIC MONITOR INSTALLED.

99V194000 · Vehicle Speed Control

Jul 20, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE ACCELERATOR CABLE MAY HAVE BEEN MANUFACTURED WITH A BURR ON OR NEAR THE END OF THE CABLE SLEEVE INTERIOR. THIS BURR COULD FRAY THE CORE WIRE RESULTING IN THE ACCELERATOR NOT RETURNING TO IDLE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR IS RELEASED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE THROTTLE STICKING, BINDING, OR CAUSING HIGH ENGINE RPM.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REVISED ACCELERATOR CABLE THAT HAS A FLARED CONDUIT SLEEVE END AND MOLDED ON END FITTING.

99V103000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

May 5, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TERMINALS AT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN EXPERIENCE HEAT DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF OVERHEATING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN DISTORTION OF THE TERMINAL CAUSING AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION, PARKING LAMP, AND TAIL LAMP CIRCUITS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLAMP SWITCH WIRING CONNECTOR CONTAINING BRONZE TERMINALS AND AN INSPECTION, AND REPLACEMENT IF NECESSARY, OF THE HEADLAMP SWITCH.

98V233000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

Sep 18, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FLOOR SHIFT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL CAN BE DAMAGED IF SUBJECTED TO CERTAIN INTERIOR CLEANING PRODUCTS. THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR CAN DETERIORATE AND NOT CORRECTLY INDICATE THE ACTUAL GEAR POSITION.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INCORRECT GEAR SELECTION.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLOOR SHIFT CONTROL.

98V028000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights

Feb 10, 1998

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE TEXT AND/OR GRAPHICS FOR THE VEHICLE HEADLAMP AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES ARE NOT SUFFICIENTLY CLEAR. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED.

Remedy: OWNER GUIDES CONTAINING REVISED AIMING INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE MAILED TO OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗