Reliability & cost of ownership
Ford Contour Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Ford Contour? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Ford Contour problems by model year
55 recall entries across 6 model years and 203 owner complaints across 7 model years on file, sourced from the federal NHTSA database. We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the remaining model year — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 Contour | Not confirmed | 4 | No overall rating on file | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2000 Contour | 7 | 199 | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1999 Contour | 5 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1998 Contour | 12 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1997 Contour | 8 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1996 Contour | 11 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
| 1995 Contour | 12 | None on file at try.vin | No overall rating on file | AI reliability outlook → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Ford Contour, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- structure81 complaints
- fuel system, gasoline34 complaints
- unknown or other26 complaints
- visibility23 complaints
- electrical system16 complaints
- engine and engine cooling15 complaints
- air bags9 complaints
- service brakes, hydraulic8 complaints