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Ford ContourYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 3,140 NHTSA owner complaints across 7 model years, no Ford Contour year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 1996, 1997, 1999 and 2000. The Contour has 22 safety recalls on record.

Ford Contour
Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 1995, 1998Best years'96 '97 '99 '00Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints3,140Top: Engine and engine coolingSafety recalls221995–2001 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.

Best & worst years

Ford Contour years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Contour median. Tap a year for its full report.

'95'96'97'98'99'00'01
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2001Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls2000Best73/100199 complaints · 5 recalls1999Solid54/100419 complaints · 3 recalls1998Caution37/100846 complaints · 9 recalls1997Best70/100218 complaints · 5 recalls1996Solid46/100563 complaints · 8 recalls1995Caution35/100891 complaints · 8 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Ford Contour problems

All model years combined: 3,140 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling58349
Electrical system55583
Power train3948
Service brakes, hydraulic27832
Suspension2767
Fuel system, gasoline2449
Structure2276
Air bags21591
Visibility20810
22 other systems100598
22 recalls

Ford Contour recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Springs: coil springs01V-255 · 1998 · Aug 8, 2001 · 108,000 vehicles–Electrical system01V-230 · 1996–1998 · Jul 9, 2001 · 342,962 vehicles–Foundation components: master cylinder01V-045 · 2000 · Feb 14, 2001 · 80 vehicles–Engine and engine cooling00V-367 · 1995–1996 · Nov 6, 2000 · 262,559 vehicles–Storage: tank assembly00V-350 · 1998–2000 · Oct 30, 2000 · 3,750 vehicles–Seat belts00V-228 · 2000 · Aug 18, 2000 · 144,435 vehicles–Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components00V-075 · 1996–2000 · Mar 9, 2000 · 436,200 vehicles–Other: labels99V-361 · 2000 · Dec 29, 1999 · 1,381 vehicles–Tank assembly: filler pipe and cap99V-247 · 1996 · Sep 13, 1999 · 22,324 vehicles–Frontal: sensor/control module-inactive99V-243 · 1998 · Sep 8, 1999 · 280,481 vehicles–Vehicle speed control99V-194 · 1998 · Jul 20, 1999 · 159,565 vehicles–Headlights: switch99V-103 · 1996–1998 · May 5, 1999 · 605,581 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 22 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

12 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Contour

  1. INSTRUMENT PANEL COVER WARPAGEDP06004 · 1999–2000 · closed Apr 10, 2007
    No recall
  2. INCORRECT GEAR INDICATIONRQ02006 · 1995–1998 · closed Sep 12, 2002
    Led to recall 98V-233
  3. BLOWER SWITCH/RESISTOR OR WIRING HARNESSEA01001 · 1995–1999 · closed Jul 31, 2001
    Led to recall 01I009000
  4. FUEL EXPULSION DURING REFUELINGEA00025 · 1998 · closed Jan 25, 2001
    No recall
  5. FUEL EXPULSION DURING REFUELINGPE00027 · 1998 · closed Oct 4, 2000
    No recall
  6. BLOWER SWITCH/RESISTOR OR WIRING HARNESSPE00023 · 1995–1998 · closed Jan 5, 2001
    No recall
  7. ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRESEA00005 · 1995 · closed Nov 9, 2000
    Led to recall 00V-367
  8. VARIOUS INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL ISSUESRQ99019 · 1995–1998 · closed Mar 7, 2001
    Led to recall 99V-243
  9. ENGINE COOLING FAN FIRESPE99052 · 1995 · closed Feb 23, 2000
    No recall
  10. HEADLIGHT SWITCHPE98063 · 1996 · closed May 10, 1999
    Led to recall 99V-103