Ford Contour Problems by Year
NHTSA has 3,140 owner complaints and 22 safety recalls on file for the Ford Contour, across 7 model years (1995–2001). The 1995 model year has the most complaints (891). The most reported problem area overall is engine and engine cooling.
Ford Contour years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Contour year: 1995, 1998. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 1995 Contour: 891 complaints, 8 recalls
- 1998 Contour: 846 complaints, 9 recalls
- 1996 Contour: 563 complaints, 8 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2001 Contour: 4 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2000 Contour: 199 complaints, 5 recalls
- 1997 Contour: 218 complaints, 5 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Ford Contour problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 581 | 7 | 6 |
| Electrical System problems | 551 | 6 | 4 |
| Power Train problems | 391 | 7 | 5 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 276 | 6 | 30 |
| Suspension problems | 276 | 6 | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 243 | 6 | 3 |
| Structure problems | 226 | 7 | 3 |
| Air Bags problems | 215 | 6 | 83 |
| Visibility problems | 207 | 6 | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 169 | 6 | 1 |
| Steering problems | 168 | 6 | 6 |
| Equipment problems | 125 | 6 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 125 | 6 | 17 |
| Seat Belts problems | 107 | 6 | 19 |
| Seats | 62 | 6 | 15 |
| Tires | 58 | 5 | 2 |
| Interior Lighting | 37 | 5 | 0 |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 33 | 5 | 0 |
| Wheels | 31 | 5 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Other | 25 | 6 | 0 |
| Parking Brake | 23 | 6 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 15 | 4 | 0 |
| Engine | 7 | 4 | 0 |
| Child Seat | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Service Brakes | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Ford Contour problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2000: structure (79)
- 1999: structure (93) · electrical system (65) · engine and engine cooling (52)
- 1998: engine and engine cooling (132) · electrical system (130) · power train (128) · suspension (102) · air bags (99) · service brakes, hydraulic (83) · fuel system, gasoline (62)
- 1996: engine and engine cooling (123) · electrical system (119) · power train (77) · exterior lighting (64)
- 1995: engine and engine cooling (224) · electrical system (180) · power train (126) · fuel system, gasoline (83) · suspension (83) · steering (76) · service brakes, hydraulic (72)
All Ford Contour model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 Contour | 4 | 0 | — | Structure | |
| 2000 Contour | 199 | 5 | — | Structure | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1999 Contour | 419 | 3 | — | Structure | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1998 Contour | 846 | 9 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1997 Contour | 218 | 5 | — | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 1996 Contour | 563 | 8 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | More complaints than other years |
| 1995 Contour | 891 | 8 | — | Engine and Engine Cooling | Far more complaints than other years |
More from Ford: all Ford models · Ford VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Contour years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1995 (891), 1998 (846) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Contour year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Ford Contour?
Engine and Engine Cooling, with 581 complaints across 7 model years.
How many recalls does the Ford Contour have?
22 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.