Ford Contour years to avoid
No model year of the Ford Contour stands out with more than twice its typical number of complaints.
Best Ford Contour years
Not enough model years on the road yet to compare.
Ford Contour complaints by model year
Owner complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so expect them to grow.
Most common Ford Contour problems
All model years combined.
- Engine590
- Electrical555
- Transmission392
- Brakes310
- Suspension276
- Fuel system267
- Body227
- Airbags216
- Visibility208
- Lights191
- Steering170
- Acceleration124
Most reported problems on the Ford Contour
Stalling 177Headlights 130Coil spring 120Fire or smoke 101Check engine light 91Loss of power 53Grinding brakes 52Won't start 50Engine failure 50ABS 50Transmission failure 47No deployment 47Jerking 42Brake failure 38Seat belt 37Power steering loss 32Door locks 23
Ford Contour problems year by year
Tap a year to see its problems, recalls and what owners say.
| Year | Score | Complaints | Top problem | Typical mileage | Recalls | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | - | 4 | Body | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2000 | - | 199 | Body | 55,000 | 5 | 8 | |
| 1999 | - | 419 | Body | 60,000 | 3 | 28 | |
| 1998 | - | 844 | Engine | 85,000 | 9 | 50 | |
| 1997 | - | 217 | Electrical | 97,000 | 5 | 11 | |
| 1996 | - | 562 | Engine | 91,000 | 8 | 35 | |
| 1995 | - | 891 | Engine | 100,000 | 8 | 39 | |
| 1994 | - | 12 | Electrical | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1993 | - | 3 | Brakes | 0 | 0 |
Recalls 22
Questions about the Ford Contour
What years of the Ford Contour should you avoid?
No single model year of the Ford Contour has more than twice its typical number of owner complaints.
What is the best year for a used Ford Contour?
There are not enough model years on the road yet to compare.
What is the most common problem with the Ford Contour?
Engine, with 590 complaints across all years, followed by electrical (555) and transmission (392).
How many recalls does the Ford Contour have?
22 recalls between 1993 and 2001. The 1998 model year has the most, with 9.
VIN decoder
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Buying a used Ford Contour?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
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