Ford Contour Problems — All Years, Common Issues & Reliability Report
Year-by-year breakdown of safety recalls, NHTSA owner complaints, reported injuries, and worst problem areas. Data sourced from federal safety databases and updated daily.
Own a Ford Contour? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.
Ford Contour — Year-by-Year Problem Comparison
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Worst Component | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000Best | 7 | 252 | 12 | STRUCTURE | Full report → |
| 1999 | 5 | 459 | 36 | STRUCTURE | Full report → |
| 1998 | 12 | 968 | 61 | POWER TRAIN | Full report → |
| 1997 | 8 | 252 | 12 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Full report → |
| 1996 | 11 | 640 | 42 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | Full report → |
| 1995Worst | 12 | 1073 | 46 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | Full report → |
Most Common Contour Problems
Based on 3644 owner complaints filed with NHTSA across recent model years.
Contour Years to Avoid
Best Contour Years to Buy
Not enough data to identify standout years with low issues.
Years with the fewest combined complaints and recalls in recent data.
Ford Contour Problems by Year
Frequently Asked Questions — Ford Contour Reliability
What year Contour has the most problems?
Based on NHTSA data, the 1995 Ford Contour had the highest combined complaint and recall count among recent model years — 1073 complaints and 12 safety recalls. See the full 1995 report for details on specific defects.
Is the Ford Contour reliable?
The Ford Contour has accumulated 3644 owner-filed complaints and 55 safety recalls across recent model years in NHTSA's national database. The 2000 model year stands out as having the fewest reported issues in recent data. Reliability varies significantly by year and individual vehicle history — always run a VIN check before purchasing any used Contour.
What are the most common Contour problems?
The most frequently cited problem areas for the Ford Contour across recent model years are: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING (487 reports), ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (407 reports), POWER TRAIN (310 reports), SUSPENSION (233 reports). These are based on NHTSA complaints submitted directly by vehicle owners.
How do I check if my Contour has an open recall?
You can check for open recalls on any Ford Contour using the vehicle's 17-character VIN at VinCheckEngine.com. Our free VIN report pulls the latest NHTSA recall data along with accident history, odometer records, and other key information. Recalls on this page are model-level — a VIN check will confirm whether your specific vehicle's recall was remedied.
Check a Specific Ford Contour VIN
Model-level data shows what can go wrong. A VIN-specific report shows what has gone wrong with a particular vehicle — including auction history, odometer discrepancies, lien status, open recalls, accident records, and 30+ intelligence signals.
Run a Free Ford Contour VIN Report →No account required · Instant results · Updated daily