KnownCarProblems2000 Ford Contour Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 199 complaints with NHTSA about the 2000 Ford Contour, most often about the body and structure (40% of complaints, typically around 43,000 miles). It is the most complained-about Contour model year since 2000 and has 5 recalls.
Most common 2000 Ford Contour problems
Body and structure
79 complaints · 40%Half of these problems showed up before 43,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, frame and members.
Vehicles' instrumental panel started to delaminate. Consumer took vehicle to dealership to be serviced, who informed them at that time there was a recall for this part. Consumer was never notified, and recall campaign has expired. Ts .
My Ford Contour (2000) dash is bending up where the defroster vent is. It has warped at least an inch above normal height. The Ford company refuses to stand behind its vechicles and fix the dash. I have received horrible customer service from them and decided to never buy another Ford.
Fuel system
38 complaints · 19%Half of these problems showed up before 54,500 miles. Parts named most often: delivery, storage, carburetor system.
For the past year I have not been able to drive my 2000 Ford Contour se when the gas tank gets below 1/2 tank. I t begins sputtering and stalling below that. It dies out entire.ly at 1/4 tank. I thought it was water in the fuel at first. And kept my tank filled and utilized a "heet" type product. It begame appearant…
Fuel tank warpage - plastic fuel tank can warp causing fuel to fail to feed. Because usable fuel quantity is unkown, engine can stall at unpredictable instances. Replaced fuel tank & pump/sender assembly.
Other or unspecified
26 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 59,000 miles.
Vehicle has dashboard that is warped up towards the windshield around the defrost vent. Problem is getting worse and Ford will only cover 60% of repair (total cost $1000). This is a know manufacturing defect by Ford however, they claim the warranty has expired thus only a goodwill offering.
Mfr.# & NHTSA# 01-f-139-000/instrument panel: the consumer states that the dash board is detaching from the defroster grill. The dealer and manufacturer have been notified and both informed that the recall has ended in august.
Visibility and wipers
24 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 57,500 miles. Parts named most often: defroster/defogger/hvac system, windshield.
Dashboard began slowly warping over a year. It got to the point where visibility ahead was compromised, and the defroster vents were no longer functioning. Dealer would not cover a replacement, so I had the work done at a local body shop at my full cost. So far, the replacement dash is ok.
The leading edge of the dashboard (portion nearest the windshield) has "warped" upward severely (6+ inches!). It now presses against the windshield, preventing the defroster from functioning properly at all. This is a safety hazard especially during winter months. It is unknown if this dashboard warpage would…
Electrical
16 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 87,000 miles. Parts named most often: wiring, ignition, 12v/24v/48v battery, instrument cluster/panel.
While driving in rush hour traffic vehicle stalled. Dealer had difficulty in diagnosing the problem, and contacted the manufacturer for any recommendations. The manufacturer indicated that vehicle stalled due to a malfunction in the wiring harness.
I purchased my vehicle at 88,000 miles from the federal government at an auction. The fed gov. Is required to meet manufacturer standards on maintenance. However, the vehicle has had major electrical problems which numerous mechanics can not fix. There is a voltage drain, which makes fuses blow. The cruise control…
Engine
14 complaints · 7%Parts named most often: engine, cooling system.
The dashboard, which was once recalled, the recall has since expired. Is delaminating off the foam , preventing proper defrosting of windshield and hindering view out of front window. The fuel pump which was recalled on other Ford models for exactly the same problem, fails, preventing acceleration onto highways. The…
Brakes
9 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: foundation components, conventional, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
I was driving in the evening returning home-I braked for the red light and heard metal on metal on the passenger side of my vehicle and jerked to a stop-I had to have emergency repairs done-failure of the calipers, roger and laser only on the passenger side of the car.
: the contact stated several problems occurred to the vehicle. While driving at 20mph, a humming sound was heard coming from the right side of the vehicle. It was taken to a local independent repair shop where it was discovered both right front and rear wheel bearings needed replaced. The brake rotors on the rear were…
Air bags
9 complaints · 5%Parts named most often: frontal, side/window.
While driving at 50 MPH, the consumer lost control of the vehicle and hit a concrete barrier. None of the airbags deployed which resulted in the driver being critically injured.
2000 Ford Contour se sport automatic, 64,200 miles. My pregnant wife and I were rear ended by a man in a Ford cargo van doing about 40 MPH, not paying attention. Conditions were sunny and warm, about 1:15 pm. I was the driver and was at a complete stop, waiting for a Ford taurus in front of me to turn left onto a side…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2000 Ford Contour recalls
Brakes: master cylinder
Risk: If either the master cylinder or power brake booster is subsequently serviced with only one of the correct brake booster or master cylinder parts, brake performance would be reduced.
Fix: Dealers will install the correct contour brake booster and master cylinder in each of these vehicles. Owner notification began january 28, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles built with an incorrect power brake booster and master cylinder assembly.
Fuel system: tank assembly
Risk: If the grommet is damaged, fuel could leak. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel tank filler pipe grommet.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: bi-fuel vehicles. These vehicles may have a fuel tank filler pipe grommet that could have been damaged during the installation of the bi-fuel system. If the grommet is damaged, fuel could leak. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire. Dealers will replace the fuel tank filler pipe grommet.
Seat belts
Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the occupant may not be properly restrained.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the date code on certain seat belt buckles of your vehicle and replace all seat belt buckles that fall within the suspect date code range. Owner notification began october 26, 2000. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles, light duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and mini vans equipped with trw seat belt buckle assemblies. The buckle base of these seat belt assemblies were not properly heat treated and therefore do not pass the load bearing requirement of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "seat belt assemblies."
Brakes: foundation components
Risk: If both pcrv's malfunction, vehicle handling could be adversely affected during braking as a result of the rear wheels locking, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install improved pcrv's in the rear brake system. This recall was expanded in september 2000 to include 1999 and 2000 ford contour, mercury mystique and cougar vehicles.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles not equipped with the anti-lock braking system (ABS). A pressure conscious reducing valve (pcrv) in the rear brakes may be subject to corrosion and result in malfunction, when operated in areas that use salt compounds on the roadway for de-icing or dust control.
Equipment: labels
Risk: The operator of the vehicle may believe the childproof safety lock was activated when it was not, potentially allowing the door to be opened from the inside.
Fix: Owners will be provided with a replacement label and installation instructions.
Full defect summary
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. An incorrect label was installed on the driver side rear door. This label contains instructions for the activation of the childproof safety locks.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Instrument panel cover warpage
Summary
The agency has denied a petition requesting an investigation of instrument panel warpage for the subject vehicles. The notice of denial was published in the federal register, volume 72, number 67, on monday, april 9, 2007, pages 17605 and 17606.see document search for details.
Questions about the 2000 Ford Contour
- What are the most common problems with the 2000 Ford Contour?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: body and structure (79 complaints, typically around 43,000 miles); fuel system (38 complaints, typically around 54,500 miles); other or unspecified (26 complaints, typically around 59,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2000 Ford Contour have?
- 5 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from February 14, 2001 (brakes). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2000 a bad year for the Ford Contour?
- It is the most complained-about Contour model year since 2000, with 199 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.
Other Ford Contour years
- 2000