IllustrationONGOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE EXPERIENCING STALLING WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65-70 MPH. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER SHOP ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL REOCURRING. *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 reportsWHEN THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED VEHICLE VIBRATES. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ROTORS.*AK
IGNORE THIS MESSAGE...TESTING THE SERVER. *AK
IN ORDER TO USE THE HORN EXCESSIVE PRESSURE HAS TO BE APPLIED TO MAKE IT WORK. SOMETIMES IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE CONTACTS AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
I RECENTLY RENTED A 1999 MERCURY CONTOUR AND DROVE IT THROUGH RURAL WESTERN MASS, VERMONT AND NEW HAMPSHIRE BETWEEN DUSK AND DARK, ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. JUST AFTER DUSK I STOPPED TO REFUEL THE CAR. AT THAT POINT THE OVERHEAD DOME LIGHT TURNED ON, AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I DROVE TO THE NEXT REST AREA AND STOPPED TO READ THE OW…
Read full complaint
I RECENTLY RENTED A 1999 MERCURY CONTOUR AND DROVE IT THROUGH RURAL WESTERN MASS, VERMONT AND NEW HAMPSHIRE BETWEEN DUSK AND DARK, ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS. JUST AFTER DUSK I STOPPED TO REFUEL THE CAR. AT THAT POINT THE OVERHEAD DOME LIGHT TURNED ON, AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. I DROVE TO THE NEXT REST AREA AND STOPPED TO READ THE OWNER'S MANUAL. IT PROVIDED NO USEFUL INFORMATION ON TURNING OFF THE LIGHT. HOWEVER, WHILE I WAS ALONE IN THE REST AREA READING THE MANUAL IN A CAR LIT UP LIKE A SPOTLIGHT(AND I AM FEMALE), A STRANGE MAN APPROACHED MY CAR FROM BEHIND WITH WHAT I ASSUME WERE BAD INTENTIONS. I THEN DROVE ANOTHER 50 MILES TO A TOTAL OF 7 GAS STATIONS BEFORE I FOUND ONE WITH AN ATTENDANT. HE ALSO HAD NO IDEA HOW TO TURN OFF THE DOME LIGHT. I THEN HAD TO CHOOSE BETWEEN SPENDING THE NIGHT IN A RENTAL CAR IN A PARKING LIGHT NEAR THE INTERSTATE, OR DRIVNG HOME WITH A LIT DOME LIGHT AND CLOSE TO ZERO VISIBILITY. AS MY LIFE INSURANCE IS PAID UP, I CHOSE OPTION (B.) AND DROVE HOME. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT NHTSA SHOULD REQUIRE CAR MANUFACTURERS, AND ESPECIALLY THIS CAR MANUFACTURER, TO SUPPLY ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS WITH A POSITIVE ON-OFF SWITCH. EITHER THAT, OR SUPPLY LARGE SLEDGE HAMMERS AND A PROMISE OF INDEMNITY FROM CAR RENTAL AGENCIES. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU WILL DO ABOUT THIS UNSAFE DESIGN FLAW.
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE VEHICLE WAS HIT BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. HOWEVER, DURING THE COLLISION THE PASSENGER SIDE SHOULDER BELT BROKE CAUSING PASSENGER TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING AIRBAG TO HIT PASSENGER IN THE FACE. *YC
INTERMITTENT STALLING; THIS WAS THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. CONTACTED DEALER , AND HE WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. *AK
HORN IS INOPERABLE. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. *AK
DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT AND LOCK, CAUSING LOSS OF PROTECTION. *AK
FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH FIRE BEFORE IT WAS SERIOUS. FORD'S CONCERN REGARDING THE INCIDENT IS MINIMAL
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