IllustrationONE PIECE VENT ON DASHBOARD HAS POPPED OUT. DASHBOARD HAS ROLLED ITSELF UPWARD, LOCKING APPROXIMATELY 2 1/2 INCHES OF FRONT WINDSHIELD. VEHICLE HAS A TEHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN LISTED. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*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 reportsTHE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THE ECOND TIME, IT JUST WOULD NOT RELEASE, AND I HAD TO CUT THE SEATBEAT SO THE PASSENGER COULD GET OUT. AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER SWITCH JUST WENT OUT ONE DAY. THE AIR CONDITIONER WILL ONLY WORK IF I KEEP THE CONTROL TURNED TO "HIGH." I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE…
Read full complaint
THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT LOCKED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE. THE ECOND TIME, IT JUST WOULD NOT RELEASE, AND I HAD TO CUT THE SEATBEAT SO THE PASSENGER COULD GET OUT. AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER SWITCH JUST WENT OUT ONE DAY. THE AIR CONDITIONER WILL ONLY WORK IF I KEEP THE CONTROL TURNED TO "HIGH." I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE BOTH OF THESE ITEMS REPLACED BY FORD, IF POSSIBLE. "*AK
VEHICLE VIBRATED AT 10 MPH. TOOK TO DEALER, AND THEY STATED THERE WAS VIBRATION, BUT IT WAS NORMAL FOR THESE CARS. AT 6000 MILES FRONT PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE TIRE WERE WEARING OUT. AT 17000 MILES ALL 4 TIRE WERE WORN. DEALER WILLINGLY REPLACED ALL 4. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
THE DASHBOARD IS COMING OFF. AS IT IS COMING OFF IT IS CURLING UP AND I AM AFRAID IT IS GOING TO GET IN THE WAY OF MY VISION AS I AM DRIVING. IT IS A '1999 AND I FEEL LIKE IT SHOULD NOT BE COMING APART LIKE THAT.*AK
TRANSMISSION SHIFTS FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL AND INTO ANY GEAR WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY DEALER.*AK
WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER A STOP VEHICLE STALLS. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER ,AND CAN'T FIND CAUSE OF PROBLEM.*AK *YD
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CAR CUT OFF WITHOUT ANY INDICATION, AND WILL NOT START BACK UP. DEALER CONTACTED, FIXED PROBLEM 3 TIMES, BUT DIDN'T INFORM CONSUMER OF WHAT PART. PROBLEM STILL REOCCURRING.*AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON HIGHWAY TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP. THEN HAD IT REPAIRED, BUT LATER FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS NOT COMPLETELY REPAIRED. ALSO, AFTER ABOUT 2 WEEKS FOUND OUT THAT IT WAS A TECHNICAL ERROR THAT CAUSED TRANSMISSION TO LEAK FLUID.*AK
VEHICLE IS MAKING CLUNKING NOISE THAT WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD. BACK LIGHTS WERE NOT WORKING. O DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK
THIS TIRE WAS ALWAYS PROPERLY MAINTAINED, AND HAD NOT BEEN ABUSED. IT FAILED WITH LITTLE WARNING. MAYBE 5 TO 10 SECONDS OF VIBRATION PRIO TO FAILING.*AK (DOT NUMBER: UNKOWN TIRESIZE: P18570R14)
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