Illustration1-GRADUAL WARPING OF THE DASH STARTING FROM THE EDGE CLOSEST TO THE WINDSHIELD 2-IT IS STARTING TO SEVERELY INHIBIT THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DEFROSTER AND WILL INHIBIT THE LINE OF SIGHT OUT THE WINDSHIELD IF IT CONTINUES TO WARP 3-THIS HAS NOT YET BEEN CORRECTED. *JB
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 reportsALTERNATOR DIED AFTER ONLY 60,000 MILES. *NM
I HAVE OBSERVED AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH MY 1999 FORD CONTOUR WHERE THE ABS COMES ON WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL IS PRESSED, ESPECIALLY AT LOWER SPEEDS (UNDER 15 MPH). I DO NOT KNOW WHAT FAILED TO CAUSE THIS CONDITION AND OFFERED TO BRING THE CAR TO A FORD DEALER FOR INSPECTION, BUT THEY DECLINED TO HAVE ME DO SO. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER'S CAR HAD BRAKING PROBLEMS. THE BRAKES LAGGED ON REACTION TIME IN AN EMERGENCY BRAKING SITUATION WHICH RESULTED IN THE CAR BEING TOTALED. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, AND NO ONE WAS INJURED. THE CAR WAS NEVER TAKEN TO A MECHANIC TO CHECK THE BRAKES.*AK
RECALL 00V350000: FUEL GROMMET LEAKAGE IS FOR BI-FUEL CARS (CONTOURS) AND MY VEHICLE WAS AT THE MECHANICS AND I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT A BI-FUEL VEHICLE. WHILE I WAS HAVE MY VEHICLE WORKED ON I ASKED TO CHECK THE FUEL BECAUSE AS I STORE MY VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE FOR THE WINTER I NOTICED A GASOLINE SMELL. T…
Read full complaint
RECALL 00V350000: FUEL GROMMET LEAKAGE IS FOR BI-FUEL CARS (CONTOURS) AND MY VEHICLE WAS AT THE MECHANICS AND I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT A BI-FUEL VEHICLE. WHILE I WAS HAVE MY VEHICLE WORKED ON I ASKED TO CHECK THE FUEL BECAUSE AS I STORE MY VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE FOR THE WINTER I NOTICED A GASOLINE SMELL. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL AND I CONTACTED 2 FORD DEALERS AND FORD ITSELF AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE RECALL. THE IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AS IT IS THE SAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE RECALL BUT NOT FOR MY VEHICLE. *JB
1999 FORD CONTOUR LEFT HUB BEARING WAS LOOSE. THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME THIS HAS BEEN REPLACED. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** *JB
THE DASHBOARD VINYL HAS SEPARATED FROM THE DASH AND CURLED UP WHICH AFFECTS VISIBILITY AS WELL AS REDUCING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE DEFROSTER. *JB
DASHBOARD CURLS UP AND IMPAIRS VISION OUT OF THE FRONT OF THE CAR. CAN'T USE DEFROSTER UP FRONT OR ELSE THE DASH CURLS UP EVEN MORE. THIS IS DANGEROUS FOR CONTOUR OWNERS AND SHOULD BE FIXED IMMEDIATELY. *NM
DASH WARP / CURL / DELAMINATION DISLODGES DEFROSTER VENT PANEL. UNDER HIGH HUMIDITY CONDITIONS AND DURING RAIN EVENTS, THE DEFROSTER / DEFOGGING SYSTEM IS COMPROMISED AND VISIBILITY IS POOR. *NM
1999 FORD CONTOUR SVT, DASHBOARD WARPING. JUST STARTED THIS PAST SUMMER (2005). FORD HAD A RECALL ON THIS ISSUE BUT IT EXPIRED IN AUGUST OF 2002. DASHBOARD HAS PEELED UP SO IT HAS LIMITED SITE TO ABOUT 4" ABOVE THE BOTTOM OF THE WINDSHIELD. *NM
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