IllustrationWHILE TRAVELING 70 MPH DASH INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON. VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN AND THEN STALLED. THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. A TECHNICIAN TRACED THE PROBLEM TO THE FUEL TANK. *AK
2000 Ford Contour
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2000 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
80–25K
2825–50K
2150–75K
1575–100K
9100–150K
6150K+
87 reports with mileage · 112 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 79 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports1 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
199 reports2000 FORD CONTOUR-SERVICE BULLETIN 01B78 WAS ISSUED FOR WARPED DASHBOARD. THE WARPING OCCURS NEAR THE WINDSHIELD AND VENTS FOR THE DEFROSTER. THE WARPED DASHBOARD OBSCURES THE DRIVER'S VIEW. IN ADDITION, THE DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY. FORD HAS DISCONTINUED REPAIRS.*AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE RELEASED THE SEAT BELT. CONSUMER SUSTAINED HEAD INJURIES. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
WHEN THE FUEL PUMP MALFUNCTIONED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED THREE TIMES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM
STALLS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT APPEARS THAT WHEN FUEL GETS DOWN TO APPROX. 1/2 TANK, IT WILL STALL OUT AT ANY TIME. FILL TANK AND IT WILL BE OKAY. CHAPMAN FORD IN COLUMBIA PA. SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $500.00 TO FIX. I ASKED WHY AND THEY SAID THATS THE WAY FORD MADE IT. HE ALSO SAID THE FOCUS HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. EVEN THOUG…
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STALLS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT APPEARS THAT WHEN FUEL GETS DOWN TO APPROX. 1/2 TANK, IT WILL STALL OUT AT ANY TIME. FILL TANK AND IT WILL BE OKAY. CHAPMAN FORD IN COLUMBIA PA. SAID IT WOULD COST ABOUT $500.00 TO FIX. I ASKED WHY AND THEY SAID THATS THE WAY FORD MADE IT. HE ALSO SAID THE FOCUS HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT, WE HAVE HAD CLOSE CALLS. VARIOUS INCIDENT DATES FOR PAST SIX MONTHS. EVEN IF ITS FIXED, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE HOW LONG IT WILL LAST. I THINK IT'S A LOUSY ANSWER. *AK
PANEL NEAR THE FRONT WINDSHIELD WARPED IN TWO PLACES. *PH SINCE THE PANEL WAS WARPED, IT CAUSED THE HEAT VENT TO BECOME PARTIALLY BLOCKED AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE WINDOWS DID NOT DEFROST. *JB
VEHICLE'S ENGINE BLEW UP. VEHICLE WAS 14 MILES OUT OF WARRANTY, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH 28 MILES ON IT. *LA *JB
DASH BOARD IS CURLING UP FROM WINDSHIELD AREA, DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK AS WELL, GRILL IS DETACHED ALSO. *AK
VEHICLE HAS DASHBOARD THAT IS WARPED UP TOWARDS THE WINDSHIELD AROUND THE DEFROST VENT. PROBLEM IS GETTING WORSE AND FORD WILL ONLY COVER 60% OF REPAIR (TOTAL COST $1000). THIS IS A KNOW MANUFACTURING DEFECT BY FORD HOWEVER, THEY CLAIM THE WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED THUS ONLY A GOODWILL OFFERING.
THE DASHBOARD IS LIFTING UP AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE GLUE WAS HOLDING IT IN PLACE AND NOW IT IS GETTING WORSE AND WHEN WE CONTACTED FORD DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY WILL FIX IT AT A COST TO ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS EVEN AS BAD AS IT HAS BECOME SINCE WINTER HAS COME AND THE HEATER IS BEING USED NOW. IT STARTED TO GET BAD…
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THE DASHBOARD IS LIFTING UP AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE THE GLUE WAS HOLDING IT IN PLACE AND NOW IT IS GETTING WORSE AND WHEN WE CONTACTED FORD DEALERSHIP THEY SAID THEY WILL FIX IT AT A COST TO ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS EVEN AS BAD AS IT HAS BECOME SINCE WINTER HAS COME AND THE HEATER IS BEING USED NOW. IT STARTED TO GET BAD WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON. I ALSO HAD THE BACK WINDOW FROSTED UP WHEN IT GOT COLD OUT AND ALL WINDOWS WERE SHUT AT THE TIME, CAUSE THE CAR WAS JUST SITTING IN THE DRIVE OVERNIGHT.
Official recalls
501V045000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
Feb 14, 2001
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT POWER BRAKE BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF EITHER THE MASTER CYLINDER OR POWER BRAKE BOOSTER IS SUBSEQUENTLY SERVICED WITH ONLY ONE OF THE CORRECT BRAKE BOOSTER OR MASTER CYLINDER PARTS, BRAKE PERFORMANCE WOULD BE REDUCED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CORRECT CONTOUR BRAKE BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER IN EACH OF THESE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 28, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT POWER BRAKE BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY.
Consequence: IF EITHER THE MASTER CYLINDER OR POWER BRAKE BOOSTER IS SUBSEQUENTLY SERVICED WITH ONLY ONE OF THE CORRECT BRAKE BOOSTER OR MASTER CYLINDER PARTS, BRAKE PERFORMANCE WOULD BE REDUCED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CORRECT CONTOUR BRAKE BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER IN EACH OF THESE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 28, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:power Assist:vacuum
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT WITH AN INCORRECT POWER BRAKE BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER ASSEMBLY.
Consequence: IF EITHER THE MASTER CYLINDER OR POWER BRAKE BOOSTER IS SUBSEQUENTLY SERVICED WITH ONLY ONE OF THE CORRECT BRAKE BOOSTER OR MASTER CYLINDER PARTS, BRAKE PERFORMANCE WOULD BE REDUCED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE CORRECT CONTOUR BRAKE BOOSTER AND MASTER CYLINDER IN EACH OF THESE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 28, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
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.
00V228001 · Seat Belts
Aug 18, 2000
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES, LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MINI VANS EQUIPPED WITH TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLE ASSEMBLIES. THE BUCKLE BASE OF THESE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND THEREFORE DO NOT PASS THE LOAD BEARING REQUIREMENT OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE DATE CODE ON CERTAIN SEAT BELT BUCKLES OF YOUR VEHICLE AND REPLACE ALL SEAT BELT BUCKLES THAT FALL WITHIN THE SUSPECT DATE CODE RANGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 26, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
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.
99V361000 · Equipment:other:labels
Dec 29, 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. AN INCORRECT LABEL WAS INSTALLED ON THE DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR. THIS LABEL CONTAINS INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ACTIVATION OF THE CHILDPROOF SAFETY LOCKS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE OPERATOR OF THE VEHICLE MAY BELIEVE THE CHILDPROOF SAFETY LOCK WAS ACTIVATED WHEN IT WAS NOT, POTENTIALLY ALLOWING THE DOOR TO BE OPENED FROM THE INSIDE.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A REPLACEMENT LABEL AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.
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
1DP06004 · 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.