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 1256 — driven primarily by 12 recalls, 1073 complaints, and issues with ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING.

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 297, meaning 7 recalls and 252 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, injuries, and deaths. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.

Ford Contour Years to Avoid

#1 WORST

1995

12 recalls · 1073 complaints

46 reported injuries

11 reported deaths

Top issue: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Problem score: 1256

#2 WORST

1998

12 recalls · 968 complaints

61 reported injuries

4 reported deaths

Top issue: POWER TRAIN

Problem score: 1146

#3 WORST

1996

11 recalls · 640 complaints

42 reported injuries

Top issue: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Problem score: 757

Best Ford Contour Years to Buy

#1 BEST

2000

7 recalls · 252 complaints

Main area: STRUCTURE

Problem score: 297

#2 BEST

1997

8 recalls · 252 complaints

Main area: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Problem score: 300

#3 BEST

1999

5 recalls · 459 complaints

Main area: STRUCTURE

Problem score: 546

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

Ford Contour — Year-by-Year Problem Report

Year	Recalls	Complaints	Problem Score	Verdict
2000	7	252	297	Good
1999	5	459	546	Caution
1998	12	968	1146	Avoid
1997	8	252	300	Good
1996	11	640	757	Caution
1995	12	1073	1256	Avoid

Higher scores indicate more reported safety issues across recalls, complaints, and injury data.

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. Confirm all historical recalls have been completed.

Frequently Asked Questions

What year Contour should I avoid?+

Avoid the 1995 Ford Contour if possible. It has 12 recalls, 1073 owner complaints, and the most common complaint category is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING. The overall problem score is 1256 — 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 297. It has only 7 recalls and 252 complaints on record with NHTSA.

Which Contour has the fewest problems?+

The 2000, 1997, 1999 model years have the fewest documented problems across recall and complaint databases. 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 →