2000 Ford CONTOUR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
199 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
55,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2000 model year. Data snapshot: . 87 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Structure is the most frequently named component, appearing in 73 of 199 complaints (36.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel system concerns | 29 | 14.6% |
| Engine operation | 21 | 10.6% |
| Braking behavior | 9 | 4.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 3.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 2.0% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Structure | 73 |
| Unknown Or Other | 26 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 17 |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 11 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 9 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 9 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Visibility | 5 |
Structure: 73; Unknown Or Other: 26; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 17; Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System: 11; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 9; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 9; Air Bags: 5; Visibility: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 28 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 21 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 9 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 28; 50,000 to 74,999: 21; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 9; 150,000 and above: 6
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (28). 112 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 19 |
| 2002 | 26 |
| 2003 | 39 |
| 2004 | 37 |
| 2005 | 28 |
| 2006 | 18 |
| 2007 | 12 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2020 | 1 |
2000: 5; 2001: 19; 2002: 26; 2003: 39; 2004: 37; 2005: 28; 2006: 18; 2007: 12; 2008: 4; 2010: 5; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2020: 1
Pattern summary
Structure leads the component reports. Fuel system concerns appears in 29 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 21 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10007619 · 2003-02-16 (February 16, 2003)
WHEN VEHICLE GETS TO 1/4 TANK OF GAS IT WILL NOT RUN. NEEDED TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP.
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014562 · 2003-03-27 (March 27, 2003)
THE FUEL PUMP WAS REPLACED TWICE. *JB ENGINE HESITATED, SURGED AND LOST POWER. FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE WITHIN A 2 YEAR PERIOD. ALSO THE DASHBOARD STARTED TO LIFT. RECALL FOR DASHBOARD REPAIRS ALREADY EXPIRED. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 21,597 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014562 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10017682 · 2003-04-28 (April 28, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED, AND LOST POWER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10017682 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10021468 · 2003-06-12 (June 12, 2003)
CAR STALLED WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY 49. GLAD MY KIDS WERE NOT WITH ME. CAR HAS ONLY 60000 MI. TURNED OUT TO BE A BAD FUEL PUMP. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10021468 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10072986 · 2004-05-22 (May 22, 2004)
EVERY TIME I TAKE MY CAR IN FOR MAINTENANCE THEY TELL ME THERE IS A LIST OF RECALLS ON IT SO I TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE NONE BUT MY CAR HAS THE PROBLEMS THAT ARE LISTED ON THEIR RECALL,SO I CALL THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THERE WERE RECALLS BUT THE TIME HAD LAPSED FOR ME TO GET IT FIX,I NEVER RECIEVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM THE DEALER AND BECAUSE I WAS NOT THE ORIGNAL OWNER AND THEY HAD NO SERVICE RECORDS ON THE CAR.BUT THEY SHOULD STILL HAVE TO FIX THE RECALLS FOR SAFETY REASONS.I HAVE ALREADY PAID TO HAVE BRAKES AND BURN…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10072986 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10149115 · 2006-01-31 (January 31, 2006)
DT*: 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 REPLACED 5 TIMES WITHIN A 6 MONTH PERIOD. THE HEATER BLOWER MALFUNCTIONED AND WOULD NOT BLOW HOT AIR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WERE THE SENSOR TO THE HEATER BLOWER WAS REPLACED.
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10149115 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10047937 · 2003-11-13 (November 13, 2003)
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. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 84,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10047937 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10078570 · 2004-06-21 (June 21, 2004)
Y FUEL PUMP FAILED ON MAY 21, 2003. CAR TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP (MILEAGE 41,711). MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT COVER UNDER WARRANTY, TOTAL COST TO CONSUMER FOR REPAIR: $463.80. DEALERSHIP THAT COMPLETED REPAIRS ADVISED THAT FUEL FILTER ALSO HAD TO BE REPLACED OR WARRANTY ON NEW FUEL PUMP WOULD BE VOIDED. THIS WAS THE SECOND FUEL PUMP TO FAIL. ORIGINAL FUEL PUMP FAILED ON JUNE 6, 2001 (MILEAGE:8,884). MANUFACTURER COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. DEALERSHIP DID NOT INSTALL NEW FUEL FILTER. MARCH 28, 2003 ALTERNATOR FAILED (MILEAGE: 38,…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10078570 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10038118 · 2003-10-01 (October 1, 2003)
DASHBOARD WARPED AND SEPARATED FROM THE BODY OF VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE DEFROSTER NOT TO WORK PROPERLY AND MADE IT DIFFICULT FOR THE DRIVER TO JUDGE THE DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIS VEHICLE. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO EXPERIENCED DELAYED SHIFTING. *AK *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10038118 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10080802 · 2004-07-11 (July 11, 2004)
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, BLINKERS, AND AC DON'T WORK, AND IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT OUT OF PARK WITHOUT USING A MANUAL OVERRIDE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10080802 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10138132 · 2005-09-29 (September 29, 2005)
1) NO EVENT YET. 2) THE DASH IS CURLED AND PULLED AWAY FROM WINDSHIELD TO THE POINT THE DEFROSTERS CAN'T WORK. THE ENTIRE FRONT DASH ASSEMBLY HAS TWISTED UNTIL THERE IS TENSION ON THE AIRBAGS, STEERING WHEEL, STEREO HAS FALLEN OUT, NO VENTING WORKS. SO MUCH DISTORTION THAT WE ARE FEARFUL OF THE AIR BAGS RELEASING ANY TIME THE VEHICLE HITS A BUMP. 3) I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR OTHER MAINTENANCE ISSUES THE FIRST YEAR AND ASKED HIM ABOUT THE DASH, WHY IT WAS PULLING AWAY FROM THE CAR. HE COULDN'T EXPLAIN IT. THREE TIMES THE FIRST YEAR…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10138132 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10174712 · 2006-11-29 (November 29, 2006)
DASH WARPED ON 2000 FORD CONTOUR. I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN FEB. OF 2001 AND HAD THE DASH REPLACED ONCE ALREADY WHEN IT WAS COVERED UNDER FORD'S WARRANTY. THE 2ND TIME IT HAPPENED FORD REFUSED TO HELP AS MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE DASH IS SEVERELY WARPED TO THE POINT WHERE IT'S HITTING THE WINDSHIELD. CONSIDERING MY HEIGHT, IT HAS CERTAINLY HAD AN EFFECT ON MY VISION OF THE ROAD. IT ALSO HAS AN ADVERSE IMPACT ON THE DEFROSTER FUNCTION. THE FRONT OF THE DASH IS NOW BEGINNING TO WARP AS WELL JUST ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. NUMEROUS OWNERS O…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10174712 at NHTSA ↗