Ford Contour years to avoid
The Ford Contour years to avoid are 1995, 1998, 1996, 1999 — each drew complaint volumes well above the model's norm or has an open safety investigation. The 2001 is the cleanest year on record.
4,570
Total complaints
27
Recall campaigns
1993–2001
Years covered
4
Years to avoid
Complaints by model year
Contour years to avoid
| Year | Why | Complaints | vs avg |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | High complaint rate | 1,323 | |
| 1998 | High complaint rate | 1,189 | |
| 1996 | High complaint rate | 858 | |
| 1999 | High complaint rate | 616 |
Every Contour year
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2001 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 248 | 7 | |
| 1999avoid | 616 | 5 | |
| 1998avoid | 1,189 | 12 | |
| 1997 | 314 | 8 | |
| 1996avoid | 858 | 11 | |
| 1995avoid | 1,323 | 12 | |
| 1994 | 13 | 0 | |
| 1993 | 5 | 0 |
Common questions
What are the worst Ford Contour years?
Based on NHTSA complaint rates and open investigations, the Contour years to avoid are 1995, 1998, 1996, 1999. The cleanest year on record is 2001.
What is the best year for the Ford Contour?
By complaint volume, 2001 has the cleanest NHTSA record among Contour years with enough data to compare.
How many recalls does the Ford Contour have?
Across all model years, the Contour has 27 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 4,570 consumer complaints on file.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.