Ford Contour complaints by model year
3,155 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 | 199 | 8 | 1 | 5 |
| 1999 | 419 | 28 | 10 | 3 |
| 1998 | 846 | 50 | 20 | 9 |
| 1997 | 218 | 11 | 10 | 5 |
| 1996 | 563 | 35 | 24 | 8 |
| 1995 | 891 | 39 | 65 | 8 |
| 1994 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 1993–2001. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 1 | 224 | 123 | 35 | 132 | 52 | 14 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 0 | 4 | 180 | 119 | 41 | 130 | 65 | 16 | 0 |
| Power train | 1 | 2 | 126 | 77 | 30 | 128 | 25 | 4 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 0 | 76 | 48 | 27 | 89 | 44 | 8 | 0 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 83 | 38 | 17 | 102 | 32 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 0 | 1 | 85 | 30 | 12 | 71 | 29 | 37 | 0 |
| Structure | 0 | 1 | 14 | 15 | 5 | 18 | 93 | 79 | 2 |
| Air bags | 0 | 0 | 44 | 25 | 9 | 99 | 29 | 9 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Ford Contour recalls (22)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Contour model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 01V255000 | Aug 8, 2001 | FORD/FRONT COIL SPRING CORROSION | 1998 | — |
| 01V230000 | Jul 9, 2001 | FORD/HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR | 1996, 1997, 1998 | — |
| 01V045000 | Feb 14, 2001 | FORD/POWER BRAKE BOOSTER/MASTER CYLINDER | 2000 | — |
| 00V367000 | Nov 6, 2000 | FORD/ENGINE COOLING FAN | 1995, 1996 | — |
| 00V350000 | Oct 30, 2000 | FORD/FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET | 1998, 1999, 2000 | — |
| 00V228001 | Aug 18, 2000 | FORD/FMVSS 209/TRW SEAT BELT BUCKLES | 2000 | — |
| 00V075000 | Mar 9, 2000 | FORD/REAR BRAKE VALVE | 1996–2000 | — |
| 99V361000 | Dec 29, 1999 | FORD/LABEL | 2000 | — |
| 99V247000 | Sep 13, 1999 | FORD/FUEL VENT HOSE | 1996 | — |
| 99V243000 | Sep 8, 1999 | FORD/AIR BAG SENSOR ASSEMBLY | 1998 | — |
| 99V194000 | Jul 20, 1999 | FORD/THROTTLE CABLE | 1998 | — |
| 99V103000 | May 5, 1999 | FORD/HEADLIGHT SWITCH/WIRING HARNESS | 1996, 1997, 1998 | — |
| 99V060000 | Mar 17, 1999 | FORD/FMVSS 114 | 1999 | — |
| 98V233000 | Sep 18, 1998 | FORD/SHIFT LEVER DAMAGE | 1995–1998 | — |
| 98V028000 | Feb 10, 1998 | FORD/FMVSS 108 | 1998 | — |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Ford Contour FAQ
How many recalls has the Ford Contour had?
NHTSA lists 22 recall campaigns that cover at least one Ford Contour model year from 1993 to 2001. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Ford Contour year has the most complaints?
Among the last 9 model years with settled counts, the 1995 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (891) and the 1993 the fewest (3). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Ford Contour problems?
Across the 1993–2001 model years, owners most often name the engine and engine cooling, electrical system, power train in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Ford Contour get?
EPA rates the 2000 Ford Contour at 21 to 25 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.