IllustrationWHENEVER TURNING ON AIR CONDITIONER CAR HESITATES AND ON HIGHWAY, IT WON'T PICK UP SPEED.*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 reportsWE WERE DRIVING (ONE MILE FROM HOME) WHEN IT SOUNDED LIKE WE HAD A FLAT TIRE. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED. TIRES WERE FINE. HEARD THUMPING AGAIN. TURNED CAR AROUND BECAUSE OF 87 YEAR OLD FATHER IN VEHICLE. SMOKE CAME THROUGH THE VENTS. I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY. SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. HUSBAND WAS DOING YARD WORK. MY SON …
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WE WERE DRIVING (ONE MILE FROM HOME) WHEN IT SOUNDED LIKE WE HAD A FLAT TIRE. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED. TIRES WERE FINE. HEARD THUMPING AGAIN. TURNED CAR AROUND BECAUSE OF 87 YEAR OLD FATHER IN VEHICLE. SMOKE CAME THROUGH THE VENTS. I PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY. SMOKE CAME OUT FROM UNDER HOOD. HUSBAND WAS DOING YARD WORK. MY SON ADAM YELLED THAT THERE WERE FLAMES. MY HUSBAND RAN TO THE GARAGE AND GOT A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. PUT FIRE OUT. HAD TO CUT TWO WIRES TO STOP THE SMOKING AND SIZZLING. CONTACTED STATE FARM. A FIRE INVESTIGATOR SAID HE BELIEVES THAT THE WAY THE WIRES WERE ROUTED ONTO THE FIRE WALL, RUBBED AGAINST A SCREW THAT WAS STICKING OUT OF THE FIRE WALL AND OVER TIME WORE THE WIRE, CAUSING A FIRE.*AK
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN IT SUDDENLY STALLED OUT FOR NO REASON. HAD NO PRIOR WARNING OF ANY PROBLEMS. VEHICLE CAN BE RESTARTED AFTER WAITING FOR A WHILE. HAS TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP AT LEAST 6 TIMES FOR STALLING, BUT CAUSE OF PROBLEM COULD NEVER BE LOCATED. *AK
THE CONSUMER HAS TO CONSTANTLY UNJAM OR UNTWIST THE SEATBELTS TO BE ABLE TO PULL OUT OR RETACT PROPERLY TO BUCKLE OR UNBUCKLE. *MJS
CONSUMERS HAS BEEN TO DEALER FOR THE SAME BRAKE PROBLEM 7 TIMES BEFORE AND AFTER RECALL 00V075001/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00S03/ REAR BRAKE VALVES WAS DONE. BRAKES SQEUAL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. DEALER COULDN'T FIND A REMEDY.*AK CONSUMER STATES BRAKES SQUEAL AND SOMETIMES THEY FEEL LIKE THERE IS AIR IN THEM, DEALER HAS REPLAC…
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CONSUMERS HAS BEEN TO DEALER FOR THE SAME BRAKE PROBLEM 7 TIMES BEFORE AND AFTER RECALL 00V075001/MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00S03/ REAR BRAKE VALVES WAS DONE. BRAKES SQEUAL WHEN COMING TO A STOP. DEALER COULDN'T FIND A REMEDY.*AK CONSUMER STATES BRAKES SQUEAL AND SOMETIMES THEY FEEL LIKE THERE IS AIR IN THEM, DEALER HAS REPLACED REAR BRAKE DRUMS, PROBLEM STILL CONTINUES. *SLC
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK (TIRESIZE: 2056015T)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 2056015T )
VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE, SPEED WAS UNDETERMINED IN WHICH BOTH AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER / MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
RECALL 00 V 075 001BRAKE /REAR CHECK VALVE: RECALL REPAIRS WAS DONE IN OCT 2000. ON ABOVE INCIDENT DATE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A REAR WHEEL LOCK UP WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65 MPH,. THIS FORCED VEHICLE INTO AN EMBANKMENT. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE SENT OUT. *AK…
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RECALL 00 V 075 001BRAKE /REAR CHECK VALVE: RECALL REPAIRS WAS DONE IN OCT 2000. ON ABOVE INCIDENT DATE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A REAR WHEEL LOCK UP WHILE APPLYING BRAKES AT HIGHWAY SPEED OF 65 MPH,. THIS FORCED VEHICLE INTO AN EMBANKMENT. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WILL BE SENT OUT. *AK *SLC
FRONT END VIBRATES/ SHAKES WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. PADS AND ROTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED MORE THAN ONCE, AND THE PROBLEM IS STILL EXISTS. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
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