Is the Ford Contour Reliable?

19952000 reliability analysis based on NHTSA safety recalls and owner complaints.

50/100
Fair

Reliability Score

40
Total Recalls
2453
Owner Complaints
134
Reported Injuries
12
Reported Deaths

Own a Ford Contour? Check your specific VIN for a full history report.

Ford Contour Reliability by Year

Model YearRecallsComplaintsInjuriesDeathsReliability ScoreRating
200061248
71
Good
1999433225
66
Good
19988615432
36
Poor
1997616812
69
Good
1996848420
55
Fair
199587302610
0
Poor

Reliability scores are proprietary to VinCheckEngine and incorporate multiple weighted safety signals.

How the Contour Compares to Similar Vehicles

Ford Contour50/100
Sedan Category Average72/100

The Contour scores 22 points below the average sedan. Consider checking years with lower complaint volumes.

Known Ford Contour Reliability Issues

The following components appear most frequently in owner complaints filed with NHTSA:

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
116
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
109
STRUCTURE
89
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
88
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
77
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
70

Based on 2453 owner complaints across recent model years.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ford Contour reliable?+

The Ford Contour scores 50/100 on our reliability index — rated "Fair." Across 6 recently analyzed model years, it accumulated 40 recall campaigns and 2453 owner complaints in the NHTSA database.

What year Contour is most reliable?+

Among the years analyzed, the 2000 Contour achieved the highest reliability score of 71/100 with 6 recalls and 124 complaints.

How many miles does a Contour last?+

With consistent maintenance, most Ford Contour owners report 150,000 to 200,000+ miles of service life. Checking the VIN of any specific used Contour will reveal its actual mileage history and any title events.

More Ford Contour Research

Check a Specific Ford Contour VIN

Model-level reliability scores show general trends. A VIN-specific report reveals the exact history of any individual vehicle — accidents, odometer records, auction events, and open recalls.

Run a Free VIN Report →