Ford Contour Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy

Q: What year Contour should I avoid?

Based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, the 1995 Ford Contour has the most documented problems with a problem score of 856 — driven by 8 recalls, 730 complaints, and 10 reported deaths.

Q: What is the best year Contour to buy?

The 2000 Ford Contour is the best-scoring year in our analysis with a problem score of only 158, meaning 6 recalls and 124 complaints on record.

Q: Which Contour has the fewest problems?

The 2000, 1997, 1999 model years have the fewest reported problems in the NHTSA database. Always verify a specific vehicle's history with a VIN report before purchasing.

Every Ford Contour model year (1995–2000) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.

Years Tracked

Total Recalls

2453

Total Complaints

134

Reported Injuries

Reported Deaths

Ford Contour Years to Avoid

#1 WORST

1995

8 recalls · 730 complaints

26 reported injuries

10 reported deaths

Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Problem score: 856

#2 WORST

1998

8 recalls · 615 complaints

43 reported injuries

2 reported deaths

Top issue: SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS

Problem score: 735

#3 WORST

1996

8 recalls · 484 complaints

20 reported injuries

Top issue: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

Problem score: 548

Best Ford Contour Years to Buy

#1 BEST

2000

6 recalls · 124 complaints

Main area: STRUCTURE

Problem score: 158

#2 BEST

1997

6 recalls · 168 complaints

Main area: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Problem score: 210

#3 BEST

1999

4 recalls · 332 complaints

Main area: STRUCTURE

Problem score: 394

Found the right year? Verify that specific Contour with a free VIN report.

Ford Contour — Year-by-Year Problem Report

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Injuries	Deaths	Problem Score	Verdict
2000	6	124	8	—	158	Good
1999	4	332	25	—	394	Caution
1998	8	615	43	2	735	Avoid
1997	6	168	12	—	210	Good
1996	8	484	20	—	548	Caution
1995	8	730	26	10	856	Avoid

All 6 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.

Ford Contour Shopping Guide by Era

Pre-2013

Proceed with Caution

Older Contour models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year Contour should I avoid?+

Avoid the 1995 Ford Contour if possible. It has 8 recalls, 730 owner complaints, and 10 reported deaths. The overall problem score is 856 — the highest in our dataset.

What is the best year Contour to buy?+

The 2000 Ford Contour is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 158. It has only 6 recalls and 124 complaints on record with NHTSA.

Which Contour has the fewest problems?+

The 2000, 1997, 1999 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.

More Ford Contour Research

Reliability Score

Overall reliability rating and score breakdown for the Ford Contour.

Common Problems

Full breakdown of every reported defect for the Ford Contour.

Check a Specific Ford Contour VIN

Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.

Run a Free VIN Report →