Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1999 Ford Contour, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Structure93
- Electrical system65
- Engine and engine cooling52
- Unknown or other46
- Service brakes, hydraulic42
- Visibility38
- Suspension32
- Air bags29
- Fuel system, gasoline26
- Tires25
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 34 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 9 1999 Contour vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 7 people died inside them, and 3 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1999 Ford Contour failed the safety check 2.41% of the time — 37% more often than the average 1999 passenger car (1.76%). Median odometer at inspection: 82,112 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 9.5–11.5 L/100 km (about 20–25 mpg US), CO₂ 219–265 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contour · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.0 | 7.6 | 9.5 |
| Contour · Compact · Regular gasoline | 11.8 | 8.5 | 10.3 |
| Contour · Compact · Regular gasoline | 13.4 | 9.1 | 11.5 |
| Contour · Compact · Regular gasoline | 13.5 | 9.0 | 11.5 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 1999 Ford Contour.
| 2000285 28 Nov 2000 | Fuel System On certain vehicles, a fuel tank filler pipe grommet could have been damaged during the installation of the bi-fuel system. If the grommet is damaged, fuel cou… |
| 2000077 21 Mar 2000 | Brakes On certain vehicles, the pressure conscious reducing valve (PCRV) in each of the rear brakes may be subject to malfunction due to corrosion when operated in are… |
| 1999049 25 Mar 1999 | Other Certain vehicles do not comply with the requirements of CMVSS 114 - Locking System. It may be possible to rotate the ignition key to the "LOCK" position and re… |
| 1998243 21 Dec 1998 | Visual System Certain vehicles do not comply with CMVSS 205 - glazing materials. The windshields on were produced without the "AS1" mark as required by American National Sta… |
| 1998234 23 Nov 1998 | Emissions Certain vehicles may not comply with CMVSS 1105 - evaporative emissions. The rear fuel lines may allow fuel to seep and evaporate at the metal line to nylon tub… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
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.
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.
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."
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1999 Ford Contour: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637575 | BATTERY LAMP ON, HOWEVER THE CHARGING SYSTEM IS FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. *TT |
| 637571 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE B1213, B1342, B1601, B2431. *TT |
| 636417 | GUIDANCE FOR CNG TANK INSPECTION FOR VEHICLES PRODUCED AFTER DECEMBER 2, 1996. *TT UPDATE. *TT |
| 636219 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.5L ENGINE MAY EXHIBIT MULTIPLE MISFIRE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES WITH NO DRIVEABILITY CONCERNS NOTED. *TT |
| 636065 | INFORMATION REGARDING DISCHARGED BATTERY CHARGING SERVICE TIPS AND GUIDELINES. *TT |
| 636042 | SUBJECT REGARDING ALTERNATIVE FUEL VEHICLE COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS TANK INSPECTION. *TT |
| 633583 | SUBJECT REGARDING INSTRUMENT PANEL COVER WARPAGE. *JG |
| 630685 | CONCERN WITH HEADLAMPS AND/OR INSTRUMENT PANEL LAMPS DIMMING SLIGHTLY AT IDLE. *TT |
| 630631 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE CD4E TRANSAXLE MAY EXHIBIT HARSH AND DELAYED 1-2/2-3 UPSHIFTS AFTER TRANSAXLE OR TURBINE SHAFT SPEED SENSOR REPLACEMENT, POSSIBLE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES 628, 642, 645, 646, 647, 648, P0731, P0732, P0734, P0741 AND P01744. *TT |
| 630542 | OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM 01B78 SUPPLEMENT #1 REGARDING INSTRUMENT PANEL COVER WARPAGE. *TT |
| 630515 | ENGINE OIL SYSTEM PRIMING PROCEDURES, SERVICE TIPS FOR REPORTS OF PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TT |
| 630408 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND/OR EGR DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES 332, P0401, P1407 (LACKOF EGR FLOW). *TT |
| 630331 | SOME COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT ROUGH IDLE OR NO START WHEN COLD. *TT |
| 630024 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NOISE THAT APPEARS TO COME FROM THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. *TT |
| 630001 | SOME ENGINE ASSEMBLIES WITH ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS REPAIRED IN-VEHILE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO LEAK COOLANT AND/OR OIL FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AREA. *TT |
| 627927 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VACUUM OR AIR LEAKS IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND / OR ENGINE SYSTEM CAUSING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0171 AND OR P0174. *TT |
| 627760 | INFORMATION TO AID IN DIAGNOSIS FOR CLARIFICATION OF LOCK-OFF SOLENOID AND SOLENOID TANK VALVE COIL RSISTANCES FOR BI-FUEL VEHICLES. *TT |
| 625783 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NOISE THAT APPEARS TO COME FROM THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS. *TT |
| 625715 | BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 624125 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE WARPAGE OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL COVER AT THE FRONT EDGE OF THE INSTUMENT PANEL COVER NEAR THE WINDSHIELD, ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND AROUND THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT. *SLC |
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 621067 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A/C DISCHARGE AIR TEMPERATURES DIFFERENCES OF GREATER THAN 10 DEGREES F FROM REGISTERS ON LEFT SIDE OF DASH THAN ON RIGHT. *TT |
| 620986 | SUBJECT REGARDING OVERVIEW OF BI-FUEL CNG VEHICLE PARAMETER IDENTIFICATION DATA (PID), INPUTS AND OUTPUTS AS A DIAGNOSTIC AID FOR BI-FUEL VEHICLES. *TT |
| 620202 | SOME VEHICLES MAY ILLUMINATE THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP OR RUN ROUGH AFTER THE CATALYST IS REMOVED AND / OR REPLACED. THIS MAY BE DUE TO VACUUM LEAKS AS A RESULT OF TOLERANCE STACKUP WITHIN THE EXHAUST / EGR / INTAKE SYSTEM. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
INSTRUMENT PANEL COVER WARPAGE
BLOWER SWITCH/RESISTOR OR WIRING HARNESS
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation