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1999 Ford Contour

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 1999 Ford Contour do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 218.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

137 reports with mileage · 282 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Structure. Review the 93 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 52 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

28 crash reports9 fire reports22 injury reports

Seat Belts complaints

24 reports
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Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2001
Seat Belts

REAR DRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT IS STUCK IN LOCKED POSITION . DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #893863

Mileage unknown · Jun 29, 2001
Air BagsSeat BeltsCrashInjury

ENTIRE AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON A FULL FRONTAL IMPACT. CONSUMER NOTED THAT FORD STATED THAT VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS ARE SPECIFIED TO DEPLOY AT 8 TO 14 MPH. CONSUMER CANNOT START VEHICLE UNTIL MOVING STEERING WHEEL UP AND DOWN WITH THE KEY IN IGNITION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK SEAT BELT FAILED ALSO. …

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ENTIRE AIR BAG SYSTEM FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON A FULL FRONTAL IMPACT. CONSUMER NOTED THAT FORD STATED THAT VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS ARE SPECIFIED TO DEPLOY AT 8 TO 14 MPH. CONSUMER CANNOT START VEHICLE UNTIL MOVING STEERING WHEEL UP AND DOWN WITH THE KEY IN IGNITION. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK SEAT BELT FAILED ALSO. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #891672

Mileage unknown · Apr 7, 2001
Seat Belts

THE CONSUMER HAS TO CONSTANTLY UNJAM OR UNTWIST THE SEATBELTS TO BE ABLE TO PULL OUT OR RETACT PROPERLY TO BUCKLE OR UNBUCKLE. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #785389

Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 2001
Seat Belts

SEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT WHEN UNBUCKLING THE BELT AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES IT'S HAPPENED DAILY FOR 2 MONTHS. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #785307

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2000
Seat BeltsInjury

IN THE REAR SEAT THERE IS A BELT THAT DOESN'T RELEASE. THE BELT HAD TO BE CUT AFTER CONSUMER'S CHILD GOT HER HEAD CAUGHT IN THE BELT. IT LOCKED & THERE WAS NO WAY TO RELEASE IT. DEALER IS LOOKING TO SEE IF THIS IS A DEFECT PROBLEM. DEALER CAN FIX IT, BUT THE CONSUMER DOESN'T WANT IT FIXED UNTIL THEY CAN FIND OUT HOW TO RELE…

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IN THE REAR SEAT THERE IS A BELT THAT DOESN'T RELEASE. THE BELT HAD TO BE CUT AFTER CONSUMER'S CHILD GOT HER HEAD CAUGHT IN THE BELT. IT LOCKED & THERE WAS NO WAY TO RELEASE IT. DEALER IS LOOKING TO SEE IF THIS IS A DEFECT PROBLEM. DEALER CAN FIX IT, BUT THE CONSUMER DOESN'T WANT IT FIXED UNTIL THEY CAN FIND OUT HOW TO RELEASE THE BELT. *AK THE CHILD WAS CAUGHT IN THE BELT STRAP AND WAS CHOCKING IN A MATTER OF SECONDS, BUT THE PARENT CUT THE STRAP WITH KNIFE AND RESCUED THE CHILD. *YH

NHTSA ODI #871538

Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 2000
Seat Belts

BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT MECHANISMS FREQUENTLY JAM AND NON-FUNCTIONAL. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE MANAGED TO FREE THEM WITH TIME AND EFFORT. THE LAST TIME, I WAS UNABLE TO UNJAM THE BELT AND HAD TO LEAVE IT AT THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED. DEALER SAYS FORD DOES NOT WARRANTY SEATBELTS AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY THE INEVITABLE N…

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BOTH FRONT SEAT BELT MECHANISMS FREQUENTLY JAM AND NON-FUNCTIONAL. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE MANAGED TO FREE THEM WITH TIME AND EFFORT. THE LAST TIME, I WAS UNABLE TO UNJAM THE BELT AND HAD TO LEAVE IT AT THE DEALERSHIP TO BE REPAIRED. DEALER SAYS FORD DOES NOT WARRANTY SEATBELTS AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY THE INEVITABLE NEXT TIME THIS HAPPENS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #719981

Mileage unknown · Feb 4, 2000
Seat Belts

BOTH FRONT SEAT BELTS WOULD GET TANGLED UP AND WOULD NOT RETRACT. DEALER NOTIFIED, HAD BOTH BELTS REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS, PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING. *AK *ML

NHTSA ODI #856327

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2000
Air BagsEngine And Engine CoolingSeat Belts

BRAKES FAILED AND REPLACED WITHIN THE FIRST MONTH, AFTER REPAIR ACCIDENT OCCURRED DUE TO LACK OF BRAKING ABILITY, DURING COLLISION NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG AND THE SEAT BELT CAME LOOSE. *MJS

NHTSA ODI #550204

Mileage unknown · Oct 22, 1999
Seat Belts

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. HOWEVER, DURING THE COLLISION THE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT BROKE CAUSING PASSENGER TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING AIRBAG TO HIT PASSENGER IN THE FACE. *YC

NHTSA ODI #851503

Mileage unknown · Sep 28, 1999
Seat Belts

DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT AND LOCK, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #846002

Official recalls

3

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.

99V060000 · Electrical System:ignition:switch

Mar 17, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS WHICH UTILIZE A PARK/LOCK SOLENOID. IT IS POSSIBLE TO ROTATE THE IGNITION KEY TO THE LOCK POSITION AND REMOVE THE KEY WITHOUT THE SHIFT LEVER AND TRANSMISSION BEING IN PARK. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 114, "THEFT PROTECTION."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A CRASH AND POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES. VEHICLES THAT HAVE UNITS WITH IGNITION KEYS REMOVABLE IN GEAR POSITIONS OTHER THAN PARK, WILL HAVE THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED.

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

NHTSA investigations

2

DP06004 · Instrument Panel Cover Warpage

Opened Oct 23, 2006 · Closed Apr 10, 2007

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure; Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System:fan/motor

THE AGENCY HAS DENIED A PETITION REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION OF INSTRUMENT PANEL WARPAGE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. THE NOTICE OF DENIAL WAS PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER, VOLUME 72, NUMBER 67, ON MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2007, PAGES 17605 AND 17606.SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH FOR DETAILS.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Structure

THE AGENCY HAS DENIED A PETITION REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION OF INSTRUMENT PANEL WARPAGE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. THE NOTICE OF DENIAL WAS PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER, VOLUME 72, NUMBER 67, ON MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2007, PAGES 17605 AND 17606.SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH FOR DETAILS.

Visibility:defroster/defogger/hvac System:fan/motor

THE AGENCY HAS DENIED A PETITION REQUESTING AN INVESTIGATION OF INSTRUMENT PANEL WARPAGE FOR THE SUBJECT VEHICLES. THE NOTICE OF DENIAL WAS PUBLISHED IN THE FEDERAL REGISTER, VOLUME 72, NUMBER 67, ON MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2007, PAGES 17605 AND 17606.SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH FOR DETAILS.

EA01001 · Blower Switch/resistor Or Wiring Harness

Opened Jan 5, 2001 · Closed Jul 31, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System

There is no summary currently available

Electrical System

There is no summary currently available