IllustrationMY 1999 FORD CONTOUR CLEAR PAINT IS BUBBLE UP. I HAVE A RED CAR. I WANT TO KNOW IF IT'S BEEN IN A WREACK COULD THAT BE THE REASON OR IT'S JUST BAD PAINT. I BOUGHT MY CAR IN SEPTEMBER 2000.
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 reportsINSTRUMENT PANEL AND DASHBOARD WARPED ON A 1999 FORD CONTOUR.*MR THE DEALER WAS SUPPOSE TO REPLACE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AGAIN BUT THEY REFUSED TO AND THE CONSUMER NEEDS REPAIRS BECAUSE IT'S DEFECTIVE. *CB *JB
CAR JUST STALLS WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. HAS HAPPENED ATLEAST THREE TIMES.
PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD.*MR *CB *JB
AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN REAR ENDED. MY CAR WAS PUSHED INTO INTERSECTION. DAMAGE TO CAR WAS BUMPER, HAD TO REPLACE MUD GUARDS AND ATTACHING HARDWARE. CONTACTED FORD ABOUT MY CONCERN THEY SAID THAT THE FORCE PROBABLY WASN'T GREAT ENOUGH. EVERYONE I SPOKE WITH ASKED ABOUT THE AIRBAGS AND WERE SUPRISED WHEN THEY DIDN'T DEPL…
Read full complaint
AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN REAR ENDED. MY CAR WAS PUSHED INTO INTERSECTION. DAMAGE TO CAR WAS BUMPER, HAD TO REPLACE MUD GUARDS AND ATTACHING HARDWARE. CONTACTED FORD ABOUT MY CONCERN THEY SAID THAT THE FORCE PROBABLY WASN'T GREAT ENOUGH. EVERYONE I SPOKE WITH ASKED ABOUT THE AIRBAGS AND WERE SUPRISED WHEN THEY DIDN'T DEPLOY AS THE FORCE WAS GREATER THAN 20 MILES AN HOUR. *AK
THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT A DASHBOARD PROBLEM WHICH AFFECTED THE USE OF THE DEFROSTER. THERE WAS NO AIR MOVEMENT.*AK
PRODUCT DEFECT, LOSS OF REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS DUE TO WATER LEAK FROM LENSES WHICH CAUSED A SHORT CIRCUIT.*MR (NAR) *CB *JB
IN SUMMER, 2003, THE DASHBOARD WARPED WHICH CAUSED THE DEFROSTER GRILL TO SEPARATE AND RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY AT THE LOWER PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD. *NLM
THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS WARPED. THIS ALLOWED BIG PIECES OF PLASTIC TO FLY THROUGH. SOME OF THE PLASTIC PIECES WERE SHARP AND CAME IN CONTACT WITH THE OCCUPANTS. THE DASHBOARD WARPING IS DUE TO THE SUNRAYS AND HEATER BLOWER. *NLM
VEHICLE'S DASHBOARD IS CURLED UP AND THE AIR VENT HAS POPPED OUT. *MR THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE WINDOWS DID NOT DEFROST PROPERLY AND THE AIR CONDITION FOGGED THE WINDOW BECAUSE THE DASHBOARD CURLED UP TO THE POINT IT TOUCHED THE WINDSHIELD. *JB *NM
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