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1999 Ford Contour reliability record

Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 1999 Ford Contour — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.

Source-verified · 2026NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation Official source
NHTSA complaints
616
1 in the last 5 years
Top problem area
STRUCTURE
82 complaints
Recalls on record
0
none on record
Reported harm
39 reported crashes · 65 injuries · 19 fires

How this record compares

raw NHTSA counts, not defect rates

Complaint rank

#807

of 4,194 vehicle records

Vs Ford median

+279

median 338 across 514 Ford records

Vs 1997-2001

+348

median 268 complaints in 666 records

Top component share

13%

Structure: 82 complaints

What owners report fails — 1999 Ford Contour

  • STRUCTURE 82
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER 47
  • TIRES 24
  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE 22
  • AIR BAGS:FRONTAL 15

Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 1999 Ford Contour

A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.

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These are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 1999 Ford Contour units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Data as of 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).

Frequently asked questions

Is the 1999 Ford Contour reliable?

NHTSA has 616 consumer complaints on record for the 1999 Ford Contour. The most-reported problem area is structure (82 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 1999 Ford Contour units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.

What are the most common problems with the 1999 Ford Contour?

Owners most often report problems with: structure (82), unknown or other (47), tires (24), engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (22). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

How much does it cost to own a 1999 Ford Contour?

Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.

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