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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

Structure complaints

93 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 2003
Structure

CONSUMER STATED THAT DASHBOARD WAS DETACHING FROM THE GRILL, AND IT WAS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10041988

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2003
Structure

THE DASHBOARD SEPARATED FROM THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED THE DEFROSTER TO FAIL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10033724

30,000 miles · Sep 12, 2003
Structure

THE DASHBOARD WARPED WHICH CAUSED THE DEFROSTER GRILL TO SEPARATE AND RESULTED IN POOR VISIBILITY AT THE LOWER PORTION OF THE WINDSHIELD. *AK *TS

NHTSA ODI #10030189

35,000 miles · Sep 12, 2003
Structure

THE DASHBOARD SEPARATED FROM THE WINDSHIELD WHICH CAUSED THE DEFROSTER VENT TO MALFUNCTION AND BLOCKED THE DRIVER'S VISION. AK THE DEFROSTER VENTS POPPED OUT OF THE DASH. THE DASH SLID UP INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED A SIZEABLE GAP BETWEEN THE TWO WHICH RESTRICTED THE DRIVERS VIEW. THE PROBLEM MAY CAUSE THE PASSENGER SID…

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THE DASHBOARD SEPARATED FROM THE WINDSHIELD WHICH CAUSED THE DEFROSTER VENT TO MALFUNCTION AND BLOCKED THE DRIVER'S VISION. AK THE DEFROSTER VENTS POPPED OUT OF THE DASH. THE DASH SLID UP INTO THE WINDSHIELD AND CAUSED A SIZEABLE GAP BETWEEN THE TWO WHICH RESTRICTED THE DRIVERS VIEW. THE PROBLEM MAY CAUSE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. OWNER OF THE VEHICLE/DANIEL VIRES *SCC *JB

NHTSA ODI #10029447

Mileage unknown · Sep 2, 2003
Structure

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT DASHBOARD PROBLEMS ON PASSANGER'S SIDE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10038010

62,000 miles · Aug 26, 2003
Structure

THE DASHBOARD IS BLISTERING AND FLAKING. CONSUMER IS BARELY ABLE TO SEE OVER THE DASHBOARD BECAUSE OF THE WARPING.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10037695

48,000 miles · Aug 26, 2003
Structure

DASHBOARD HAS WRAPPED AND SEPARATED FROM THE STRUCTURE. THIS IS REDUCING DRIVER'S VISIBILITY BECAUSE THE DASHBOARD HAS LIFTED UPWARDS INFRONT OF THE WINDSHIELD. AN OWNERS NOTIFICATION LETTER WAS SENT OUT PRIOR , BUT THE FAILURE HAD NOT OCCURRED, SO IT WASN'T REPAIRED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10037662

59,545 miles · Jul 21, 2003
Structure

1999 FORD CONTOUR. DASBOARD IS COMING APART FROM THE WINDSHEILD AND AT THE BOTTOM WHERE THE LIGHT SWITCHES ARE LOCATED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10028702

Mileage unknown · Jul 8, 2003
Air BagsElectrical SystemEquipmentInjury

SEVERAL ITEMS FIRST THE DASH BOWED IN FROM BOTH SIDES,A MONTH AFTER PICKING THE CAR UP THE AIR CONDITIONER WENT OUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY PROBLEM, THE TIRES WERE BAD WE REPLACED THEM THEY ARE BAD ALL THE TIME HAVE TO BE REPLACED MORE THEN A NORMAL TIRE SHOULD , THE CAR BROKE DOWN LAST YEAR ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN MY PROBLEM THE RO…

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SEVERAL ITEMS FIRST THE DASH BOWED IN FROM BOTH SIDES,A MONTH AFTER PICKING THE CAR UP THE AIR CONDITIONER WENT OUT THE DEALERSHIP SAID MY PROBLEM, THE TIRES WERE BAD WE REPLACED THEM THEY ARE BAD ALL THE TIME HAVE TO BE REPLACED MORE THEN A NORMAL TIRE SHOULD , THE CAR BROKE DOWN LAST YEAR ON THE HIGHWAY AGAIN MY PROBLEM THE ROTORS AND OTHER THINGS WERE BAD SOMTHING I AS A CONSUMER WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT , CANNOT GET CAR INSPECTED BECAUSE THE HORN DOES NOT WORK AND CANNOT BE FIXED DUE TO AIRBAG AGAIN MY PROBLEM O YES WAS IN A FINDER BINDER AIRBAG DID NOT WORK MINOR INJRIES , THE DRIVERS SEAT ROCKS THE REAR SEAT BELT WILL NOT WORK MORE PROBLEMS THIS CAR IS WORTH NOTHING I ON;Y DRIVE TO AND FROM WORK IN IT AND THE WAY IT IS FALLING APART YOUD THINK I TRAVEL ACROSS COUNTRY IN IT ...THIS IS NOT A GOOD CAR TO EVER PURCHASE WILL NEVER BUY FROM FORD AGAIN!!! SRB THIS PRBLEMS HAVE BEEN ON GOING FROM 2000-2003. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10025656

Mileage unknown · Jul 3, 2003
Structure

SINCE THE SUMMER OF 2002 DASHBOARD CURLS UP WHICH CAUSES POOR VISIBILITY THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER ON 7/3/2003. DEALER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT ON RECALL, AND COULD BE FIXED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10026570

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