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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

419 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 2, 2002
Electrical SystemEquipmentVisibilityFire

OUR CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS SINCE DAY ONE WE HAVE 2 DIFFERENT EMBLAMS ON THE FENDERS, WINDOW FELL OUT, SPEAKERS BUSTED, CARPET RUINED BY LEAKS, FAN SWITCH ONLY WORKS ON HIGH SETTING, INSTRUMENT PANEL SMOKED UP AS IF BURNING, HOOD DOESN'T MEET UP WITH COWL, TRUNK STAYS SOAKED, AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS ALL HAPPENED WITHI…

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OUR CAR HAS HAD PROBLEMS SINCE DAY ONE WE HAVE 2 DIFFERENT EMBLAMS ON THE FENDERS, WINDOW FELL OUT, SPEAKERS BUSTED, CARPET RUINED BY LEAKS, FAN SWITCH ONLY WORKS ON HIGH SETTING, INSTRUMENT PANEL SMOKED UP AS IF BURNING, HOOD DOESN'T MEET UP WITH COWL, TRUNK STAYS SOAKED, AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS OTHER PROBLEMS ALL HAPPENED WITHIN SIX MONTHS OF ORIGINAL PURCHASE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #760154

Mileage unknown · Feb 17, 2002
Electrical SystemStructureVisibility

SAID CAR HAD DEFECTS ALMOST AS SOON AS WE PURCHASED IT, WE NOTICED IT HAD 2 DIFFERENT EMBLAMS ON THE FENDERS AND THEY HAD TO RUN THE VIN# SO THEY COULD FIND OUT WHICH IT WAS. THE CAR STARTED LEAKING WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASE, THEY WORKED ON IT 3 TIMES TO NO PREVAIL(STILL LEAKS) THE DASH HAS BOWED UP AT THE WINDSHIELD AND AT…

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SAID CAR HAD DEFECTS ALMOST AS SOON AS WE PURCHASED IT, WE NOTICED IT HAD 2 DIFFERENT EMBLAMS ON THE FENDERS AND THEY HAD TO RUN THE VIN# SO THEY COULD FIND OUT WHICH IT WAS. THE CAR STARTED LEAKING WITHIN 6 MONTHS OF PURCHASE, THEY WORKED ON IT 3 TIMES TO NO PREVAIL(STILL LEAKS) THE DASH HAS BOWED UP AT THE WINDSHIELD AND AT THE PANEL BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL, INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS SMOKED UP, HEATER SWITCH ONLY WORKS ON HIGH SETTING, PASS. SIDE FRONT WINDOW FELL OUT OF DOOR TRACK WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, SPEAKER BUSTED, CARPET RUINED BECAUSE OF LEAKS. BLANCETTS HAD ALL OF THESE PARTS ORDERED FOR OVER 6 MONTHS AND THEY STILL DID NOT GET ALL OF THEM IN, AN D FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS CLOSED THEM DOWN. I DON'T KNOW THE SPECIFICS OF THE REASONS FOR CLOSING THEM, BUT THEY HAD TROUBLE ONCE OR TWICE WITH GETTING CARS AND TRUCKS WITH MILEAGE ROLLBACK PROBLEMS.

NHTSA ODI #758345

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2002
Tires

ONLY 17,000 MILES ON MY CAR & THE TIRES NEED TO BE REPLACED ALREADY

NHTSA ODI #9005838

Mileage unknown · Feb 7, 2002
Electrical SystemVisibility

DASHBOARD IS COMING UP, AND DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. ALSO, THERE ARE BUBBLES ON DASHBOARD.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8003728

Mileage unknown · Feb 5, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicCrash

DRIVER WAS TRAVELING AT 30 MPH WHEN ANOTHER DRIVER CROSSED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER, CONSUMER HIT THE BRAKES, AND REAR OF VEHICLE HYDROPLANED AND FLIPPED OVEDR 3 TIMES. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THAT THE PCV WAS DEFECTIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #8003590

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2002
Air Bags

WHILE ANOTHER VEHICLE WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE, CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO USE HIS HORN, HOWEVER IT WAS INOPERABLE, DEALER STATED THE AIR BAG ASSEMBLY AT THE TOP OF THE STEERING COLUMN WAS THE FAULTY PART. *JB

NHTSA ODI #8001547

Mileage unknown · Dec 22, 2001
Visibility

HEATER CONTROL SWITCH WILL NOT WORK ON NORMAL SETTING BUT WILL ONLY WORK IF YOU PUT IT ON HIGH AND THAT IS RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF POWER OR DECREASING POWER IN THE ALTERNATOR. *AK

NHTSA ODI #755946

Mileage unknown · Dec 17, 2001
Air BagsElectrical SystemVisibilityFire

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL COME ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL AND DIE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. CAR WAS ON FIRE WHICH BURNED UP FUSE BOX. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8000763

Mileage unknown · Dec 10, 2001
Visibility

CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALLL NOTICE RELATING TO FRONT VENT RIGHT BELOW THE WINDSHIELD. CONSUMER IS DISATISFIED WITH THE KIT BECAUSE IT TAKES AWAY FORM THE CAR. CONSUMER PLEASE ATTACH A COPY OF THE RECALL LETTER . *AK

NHTSA ODI #6900610

Mileage unknown · Oct 15, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE WILL SHUTDOWN WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ODI #897766

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