IllustrationCOVER OVER SCREW ON WINDSHIELD WIPER CAME OFF. CONSUMER HAS A BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, AND DEALER WANTS HER TO PAY FOR IT. CONSUMER SAID IT CAME FROM MANUFACTURER THAT WAY.*AK
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 reportsSEAT BELT FAILS TO RETRACT WHEN UNBUCKLING THE BELT AND EXITING THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES IT'S HAPPENED DAILY FOR 2 MONTHS. *SLC
I FEEL THAT THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL ON THE STANDARD TRANSMISSIONS BY FORD BECAUSE THERE IS DEFENITELY SOMETHING DEFECTIVE WITH THIS TRANSMISSION.*AK
ENGINE WILL SURGE FORWARD EITHER WHILE DRIVING OR SITTING STILL, CONSUMER HAS MANY CLOSE CALLS DUE TO VEHICLE SURGING FORWARD, DELAER HAS ATTEMPTED TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM 5 TIMES, HOWEVER HAS NOT BEEN SUCCESSFUL. *SLC
VEHICLE WAS MAKING SPITTING AND SPUTTERING NOISES, AND THEN IT STALLED. WHILE CONSUMER WENT INSIDE TO CALL DEALER, ABOUT A HALF HOUR LATER, WENT BACK OUT AND FOUND VEHICLE ON FIRE CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW WHY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK
INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WOULD CRANK, BUT WILL NOT START. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND UNABLE TO LOCATE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT SLOWER SPEEDS DRIVER HEARD A 'RUBBING' SOUND, CONSEQUENTLY HAD ROTORS TURNED AND THEN REPLACED. *AK
I HAVE HAD THIS VIBRATION AS FAR BACK AS THE ORIGINAL TIRES. I PAID FOR A BALANCE AND ALIGNMENT DUE TO UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR. THE FORD DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $87 FOR THE SERVICE. I WAS INFORMED IN WRITING THAT I HAD DEFECTIVE TIRES AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FIX THE VIBRATION UNTIL I REPLACED THE TIRE. ONCE I REPLACED THE TIRES $339.96…
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I HAVE HAD THIS VIBRATION AS FAR BACK AS THE ORIGINAL TIRES. I PAID FOR A BALANCE AND ALIGNMENT DUE TO UNUSUAL TIRE WEAR. THE FORD DEALERSHIP CHARGED ME $87 FOR THE SERVICE. I WAS INFORMED IN WRITING THAT I HAD DEFECTIVE TIRES AND WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO FIX THE VIBRATION UNTIL I REPLACED THE TIRE. ONCE I REPLACED THE TIRES $339.96. I STILL HAD THE VIBRATION. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER AND I WAS INFORMED IN WRITING THAT I HAD 2 DEFECTIVE TIRES. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE STORE THAT I PURCHASED THE TIRES FROM AND ENDED UP UPGRADING TO A MORE EXPENSIVE TIRE SINCE THE COULD NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. (COST $67.52)I WENT BACK TO THE FORD DEALER AND THEY ROLLED UP 517 MILES ON MY VEHICLE AND INFORMED ME THAT I HAD A DEFECT THAT COULD NOT BE FIXED. THEY SHOWED ME A SERVICE BULLETING FROM FORD THAT STATED A PROCEDURE TO FOLLOW AND THEN STOP EVEN IF THE VIBRATION WAS NOT ELIMINATED. I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE AND THEY ASKED ME TO RETURN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ANOTHER TRY. ANOTHER 400-500 MILES WERE ROLLED UP ON MY CAR AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. I CONTACTED FORD SERVICE AGAIN AND THEY ARE SENDING ME BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON? IF MY TIRES FAIL OR I HAVE ANOTHER FAILURE, WHO IS GOING TO COVER MY COSTS AND BE LIABLE. WHO IS GOING TO COVER THE EXPENSES HAVE ALREADY INCURRED?*AK (TIRESIZE: 205/60R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 205/60R15 )
WHILE PULLING INTO GARAGE THE CONSUMER COULD NOT GET THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE HITTING A FENCE AND DAMAGING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER RECIEVED RECALL 00V-075 REGARDING PCRV CORROSION, CONSUMER REQUEST THAT DEALER LOOK AT BRAKES BUT THEY REFUSED TO CHECK THEM UNLESS SHE PAID ALTHOUGH VEHICLE…
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WHILE PULLING INTO GARAGE THE CONSUMER COULD NOT GET THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE HITTING A FENCE AND DAMAGING THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER RECIEVED RECALL 00V-075 REGARDING PCRV CORROSION, CONSUMER REQUEST THAT DEALER LOOK AT BRAKES BUT THEY REFUSED TO CHECK THEM UNLESS SHE PAID ALTHOUGH VEHICLE WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. NLM
THE BRAKES MAKE A CONSTANT GRINDING NOISE AND MOSTLY WHEN THE CAR IS HEATED, THE DEALER STATES THIS IS NORMAL. *MJS
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