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 reports

Mileage unknown · Jul 22, 2003

Air BagsCrashInjury

ON MAY 11, 2003 I WAS INJURED IN A CAR ACCIDENT IN MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10028896

59,545 miles · Jul 21, 2003

Structure

1999 FORD CONTOUR. DASBOARD IS COMING APART FROM THE WINDSHEILD AND AT THE BOTTOM WHERE THE LIGHT SWITCHES ARE LOCATED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10028702

Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2003

Equipment

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I BOUGHT A 1999 FORD CONTOUR, AND WHEN I BOUGHT IT I WAS INFORMED THAT THE DASH WAS COMING UP, BUT THEY WERE ON RECALL. THEN ABOUT A WEEK AGO I FOUND OUT THAT MY CAR IS NOT ON THAT RECALL LIST. EVER SINCE I DID BUY IT IN JANUARY 2003 THE DASH HAS COME UP EVEN MORE.THE ENTIRE TOP OF THE DASH IS WARPED.I HAVE TRIED EPOXY, BUT THE WHOLE DASH JUST NEEDS TO BE REPLACED,IT'S SO BAD. I DON'T AGREE WITH THAT BECAUSE IT IS A DEFAULT ON THE MAKERS END. I THINK THAT IT IS A BIG SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THERE ARE AIRBAGS UNDER THE DASH. WHY IS THIS NOT ON A RECALL LIST? CAUSE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR MY CHILDREN AND I. PLEASE CALL ME WITH INFORMATION. [XXX] VIN# [XXX]. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10028529

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2003

Air BagsElectrical SystemEquipmentInjury

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SEVERAL ITEMS FIRST THE DASH BOWED IN FROM BOTH SIDES,A MONTH AFTER PICKING THE CAR UP THE AIR CONDITIONER WENT OUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY PROBLEM, THE TIRES WERE BAD WE REPLACED THEM THEY ARE BAD ALL THE TIME HAVE TO BE REPLACED MORE THEN A NORMAL TIRE SHOULD , THE CAR BROKE DOWN LAST YEAR ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN MY PROBLEM THE ROTORS AND OTHER THINGS WERE BAD SOMTHING I AS A CONSUMER WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT , CANNOT GET CAR INSPECTED BECAUSE THE HORN DOES NOT WORK AND CANNOT BE FIXED DUE TO AIRBAG AGAIN MY PROBLEM O YES WAS IN A FINDER BINDER AIRBAG DID NOT WORK MINOR INJRIES , THE DRIVERS SEAT ROCKS THE REAR SEAT BELT WILL NOT WORK MORE PROBLEMS THIS CAR IS WORTH NOTHING I ON;Y DRIVE TO AND FROM WORK IN IT AND THE WAY IT IS FALLING APART YOUD THINK I TRAVEL ACROSS COUNTRY IN IT ...THIS IS NOT A GOOD CAR TO EVER PURCHASE WILL NEVER BUY FROM FORD AGAIN!!! SRB THIS PRBLEMS HAVE BEEN ON GOING FROM 2000-2003. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10025656

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2003

Structure

SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2002 DASHBOARD CURLS UP WHICH CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 7/3/2003. DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL, AND COULD BE FIXED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10026570

17,000 miles · Jun 26, 2003

Structure

INSTRUMENT PANEL WARPAGE - UNSAFE, BLOCKING FORWARD VIEW OF VEHICLE.FORD WILL NOT HONOR RECALL 01B78 BECAUSE IT EXPIRED IN AUGUST OF 2002.THIS IS NOT A COSMETIC ISSUE, AN ACCIDENT COULD EASILY OCCUR IF NOT PROPERLY REPAIRED.*AK THE PANEL WAS ALREADY REPAIRED ONCE UNDER WARRENTY AND WAS NOT REPAIRED PROPERLY.

NHTSA ODI #10023830

51,000 miles · Jun 26, 2003

Fuel System, Gasoline

THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE FLOATED ERRATICALLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE FUEL FLOW METER INSIDE THE FUEL TANK.*AK *JB

NHTSA ODI #10022106

9,000 miles · Jun 24, 2003

Equipment

AC DOES NOT BLOW COLD. THIRD TIME FOR THIS REPAIR. CAR HAS ONLY 35,000 MILES. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10023717

Mileage unknown · Jun 18, 2003

EquipmentFuel System, GasolineStructure

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NAR 06/19/2003. *MR THE CONSUMER HAD HIS VEHICLE TOWED TO VISTA FORD APPROX 3 TIMES IN ONE MONTH FOR A BROKEN FUEL PUMP THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.THE VEHICLE HAD A B ROKEN RADIO ANTENNA AND A VIBRATION WHICH WAS COMING FROM THE TIRES. IN ADDITION TO ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS THE DASHBOARD WAS COMING APART AND THE FLOOR MATERIAL UNDER THE HOOD OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT WAS COMING APART. FORD HAS NOT OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE IN EXPEDITING FEES AND COST OF REPAIRS. PLEASE ASSIST IN RESOLVING MATTERS. *CB *JB

NHTSA ODI #10024449

38,858 miles · Jun 17, 2003

TiresCrashInjury

BOTH PASSENGER FRONT AND REAR TIRES BLEW OUT AT THE SIDEWALL, THE VEHICLE LEFT THE ROAD WAY AND FLIPPED OVER. ONE TIRE BLEW WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING AND THE OTHER WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT. THE CONSUMER HAD THE SECOND FAILED TIRE IN THEIR POSSESSION. *JB *PH

NHTSA ODI #10012462

Official recalls

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

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

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

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