IllustrationCONSUMER STATED THE FUEL TANK FILLER GROMMET WAS DAMAGED AND RUSTED. AS A RESULT FUEL FUMES SEEPED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN THE VEHICLE'S TANK WAS FULL .*AK *NM
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Contour years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
140–25K
3325–50K
4950–75K
2275–100K
12100–150K
7150K+
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
What owners actually said
419 reports1999 FORD CONTOUR, CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON, CAR JERKING/STALLING, TOOK IT TO LOCAL MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE PROBLEM, THEN HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO LOCAL FORD DELAERSHIP (KEY SCALES FORD, LESSBURG, FLORIDA), THEY KEPT CAR FOR 2 DAYS, CHARGED OVER $800 TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT, ATTEMPTED TO CHARGE AN ADDITIONAL $165 T…
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1999 FORD CONTOUR, CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON, CAR JERKING/STALLING, TOOK IT TO LOCAL MECHANIC WHO COULD NOT DIAGNOSE PROBLEM, THEN HAD TO HAVE CAR TOWED TO LOCAL FORD DELAERSHIP (KEY SCALES FORD, LESSBURG, FLORIDA), THEY KEPT CAR FOR 2 DAYS, CHARGED OVER $800 TO REPLACE THE TIMING BELT, ATTEMPTED TO CHARGE AN ADDITIONAL $165 TO REPLECE SPARK PLUGS (SERVICE DECLINED, SPARK PLUGS REPLACED BY LOCAL MECHANIC FOR $50), "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT STILL ON, CAR STILL JERKING/STALLING. AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR OUT OF IMMEDIATE NEIGHBORHOOD. LOCAL MECHANIC SUGGESTED POSSIBLY CATALYTIC CONVERTER PROBLEM BUT SAID IT COULD NOT EVEN BE TESTED BECAUSE OF THE POSITION OF THE CONVERTER IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE MANIFOLD AND IS INACCESSIBLE. LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP HAS NOT REPLIED TO EMAIL REQUESTING ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATION.*AK
VEHICLE STALLED WHILE DRIVING. DRIVER TRIED RESTARTED THE VEHICLE FIVE MINUTES LATER. TOOK IT TO DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. *AK
MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE DASHBOARD IS COMING UNGLUED AND HAS WARPED SIGNIFICANTLY. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY SAFETY IS JEOPARDIZED. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE LITERALLY FALLING OUT, DUE TO WHAT I PERCEIVE TO BE STRUCTURAL FAILURE. THERE IS NO SIGN OF VISIBLE RUST OR DECAY. AGAIN, MY SAFET…
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MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT. THE DASHBOARD IS COMING UNGLUED AND HAS WARPED SIGNIFICANTLY. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY SAFETY IS JEOPARDIZED. IN ADDITION, THE HEADLIGHTS ARE LITERALLY FALLING OUT, DUE TO WHAT I PERCEIVE TO BE STRUCTURAL FAILURE. THERE IS NO SIGN OF VISIBLE RUST OR DECAY. AGAIN, MY SAFETY IS AT RISK, AS MY VISIBILITY IS MINIMIZED BY THE INACCURACY OF THE AIMING OF THE HEADLIGHTS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH ON GRAVEL ROAD VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER AND HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
DASH BOARD IS PULLING AWAY. THERE WAS A RECALL IN 2002 WHICH WE JUST DISCOVERED, WE NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE AND WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND THE ORIGINAL RECALL WAS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. *JB
DASHBOARD, NEAR THE WINDSHIELD, HAS LIFTED (WARPED) TO THE POINT THAT THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT PROPERLY DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. DEALER WANTS $1700 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE CAR IS 6 YEARS OLD, AND THIS WAS PART OF AN EXPIRED RECALL. AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL I DID NOT OWN THE CAR, SO I COULDN'T HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED. NO…
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DASHBOARD, NEAR THE WINDSHIELD, HAS LIFTED (WARPED) TO THE POINT THAT THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT PROPERLY DEFROST THE WINDSHIELD. DEALER WANTS $1700 TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM, BECAUSE THE CAR IS 6 YEARS OLD, AND THIS WAS PART OF AN EXPIRED RECALL. AT THE TIME OF THE RECALL I DID NOT OWN THE CAR, SO I COULDN'T HAVE HAD IT REPAIRED. NOW I AM HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR A COSTLY REPAIR THAT THE DEALER SHOULD REPAIR, DUE TO FAULTY CRAFTSMANSHIP. *JB
EXHAUST MANIFOLD RUSTED OUT. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH REAR DRIVER' SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF VEHICLE. DAMAGE WAS INCURRED TO UNDERCARRIAGE BRAKE DRUM RIM RUNNING BOARD. LUG NUTS WERE DETERMINED TO HAVE COME LOOSE DUE TO FAILURE TO RE-TORQUE AFTER CHANGING SEASONAL TIRES (EVIDENCED BY ELONGATED LUG NUT HOLES) WOBBLING AND SHAKING OCCURRED 3 MILES PRIOR TO LOSS OF W…
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WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH REAR DRIVER' SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF VEHICLE. DAMAGE WAS INCURRED TO UNDERCARRIAGE BRAKE DRUM RIM RUNNING BOARD. LUG NUTS WERE DETERMINED TO HAVE COME LOOSE DUE TO FAILURE TO RE-TORQUE AFTER CHANGING SEASONAL TIRES (EVIDENCED BY ELONGATED LUG NUT HOLES) WOBBLING AND SHAKING OCCURRED 3 MILES PRIOR TO LOSS OF WHEEL. *AK *EH *JB
THE BLOWER RESISTER WIRES IN THE DEFROSTER MELTED ALMOST CAUSING A FIRE IN THE VEHICLE. *JB
Official recalls
300V350000 · 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
2DP06004 · 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