Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1999 Ford Contour submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 30 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 30, in the owner's own words
THE FUEL TANK STRAP IS COMPLETELY CORRODED AWAY, AND THE FUEL TANK IS READY TO FALL OFF. THE PROTECTIVE COATING IS DEFECTIVE AND HAS COMPLETELY FALLEN OFF, CAUSING THE FUEL STRAP TO BE EATEN AWAY BY RUST AND CORROSION. THE FUEL TANK IS GOING TO FALL OFF EVENTUALLY. THE FUEL FILLER NECK AND EMISSION FITTINGS AT THE TANK, ARE CORRODING BADLY TOO. *TR
THE FUEL PUMP FAILED FREQUENTLY WHILE DRIVING, USUALLY UPHILL. CAR WOULD STALL AND SOMETIMES RESTART, CREATING A HAZARD WHEN ON THE FREEWAY. EVENTUALLY THE FUEL PUMP FAILED COMPLETELY. MY MECHANIC REPLACED IT, HAVING TO RETROFIT THE GAS TANK IN ORDER FOR THE PUMP TO BE INSTALLED, REMOVING CERTAIN FITTINGS. THE FILLER GROMMET WAS DEFECTIVE, AND AFTER THE FUEL PUMP WAS FIXED AND REFUELING WAS TAKING PLACE, GASOLINE POURED OUT OF THE TANK AND THE CAR HAD TO BE RETURNED TO THE MECHANIC. THE REPLACEMENT FUEL PUMP FAILED ABOUT 10 MONTHS LATER, IN SEPT. 2011. AT THAT TIME, THE CAR HAD BEEN WORKING FINE THE NIGHT BEFORE AND WOULDN'T START IN THE MORNING. FORD WILL ONLY GUARANTEE THE ORIGINAL REPLACEMENT, SO IF THE REPLACEMENT HAD FAILED AFTER MORE THAN TWO MONTHS, FORD WOULDN'T HAVE REPLACED THE PART. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW MOTOR HAS BROKEN THREE TIMES. I HAVE ALSO HAD TROUBLE WITH THE AIR INTAKE SYSTEM, WHICH CAUSES A WHINE WHENEVER THE CAR IS STARTED COLD. THIS IS IRRITATING, BUT DOESN'T SEEM TO CAUSE ANY DIFFICULTY WITH THE OPERATION OF THE CAR. THE DASHBOARD WAS RECALLED, A CHEAP PLASTIC PIECE PLACED OVER THE VENTS, WHICH RUINED THE LOOK OF THE DASHBOARD. I PERSUADED THE DEALER TO REPLACE THE DASHBOARD AS ORIGINALLY PROMISED IN THE RECALL NOTICE. THE REPLACEMENT HAS NOW ALSO DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WITH THE VENT BEING SEPARATED FROM THE DASH. THERE ARE ALSO VAGUE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, INCLUDING SURGING AND DIMMING OF LIGHTS. CAN'T USE THE RADIO FOR FEAR OF STALLING THE CAR, OR USE THE HEATING SYSTEM ALONG WITH THE REAR DEFROST SIMULTANEOUSLY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAPS WERE RUSTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000. UPDATED 06/16/11*LJ UPDATED 07/11/11
1999 FORD CONTOUR, FUEL CONSTANTLY CUTTING OFF AND NOT RESTARTING. SHOWS GAS BUT ACTS LIKE NO GAS IN CAR. SAID TO BE FUEL PUMP PROBLEM. NO ONE CAN FIND ISSUE. I HAVE BABIES AND HAD BEEN STUCK ON FREEWAY FOR OVER TWO HOURS WHEN SOMEONE HAD TO COME AND GET US AND TOW VEHICLE HOME. STILL NOT WORKING. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT WAS REFUELING THE VEHICLE WHEN HE NOTICED LARGE AMOUNTS OF FUEL SPILLING FROM THE VEHICLE AND ONTO THE GROUND ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC ADVISED HIM THAT THE FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET WAS LEAKING. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V350000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO SECURE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AT HIS EXPENSE BUT WAS AWAITING THE REQUIRED PARTS NEEDED FOR REPAIRS, WHICH WERE ON BACKORDER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,556.
DASH CURLING BACK. STRAP FOR FUEL TANK RUSTED, GOING TO BREAK, RUST ON BRAKE LINE, RUST UNDER BOTH BACK DOORS AND SPREADING TO UNDERNEATH CAR, RADIO SPEAKERS OUT, CAR HESITATES WHILE ACCELERATING, TRUNK LEAKS DEFROSTER NOT WORKING PROPERLY BECAUSE OF DASH. WAS NOT AWARE OF A RECALL FOR DASH. SHOULD BE RECALL FOR CORROSION PROBLEM AS IT IS UNSAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE NO OTHER MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION SO I TAKE A HUGE CHANCE EVERYTIME I DRIVE WHICH IS 3 OR 4 TIMES A WEEK TO WORK.. FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON FOR NO REASON. PIECE OF JUNK AND I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY ANOTHER CAR. FORD SHOULD BE ASHAMED OF THEMSELVES. THEY SHOULD HAVE TO FIX THESE CARS OR REPLACE THEM. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THE STRAP FOR FUEL TANK IS GOING TO BREAK. THE CAR ONLY HAS 61,000 MILES ON IT. WHAT A JOKE! *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE ADDING FUEL TO THE FUEL TANK, GASOLINE BEGAN LEAKING. A TECHNICIAN CONCLUDED THAT THE FUEL TANK SEAL CAUSED THE EXHAUST SYSTEM HOSE TO MELT. THE VEHICLE WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING REPAIRED . THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 150,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. THE VEHICLE STALLS AND MAKES A LOT OF NOISE DURING ACCELERATION. THE OVERHEAD LIGHTS AND OTHER INTERIOR LIGHTING WILL NOT DIM WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT MUST REMOVE THE BULBS TO DIM THE LIGHTS. WHEN THE KEY IS INSERTED IN THE IGNITION, THE IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS UP. A MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT SWAY BAR WAS LEAKING AND THE BRAKES, ROTORS, AND STRUTS WERE CORRODED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PURCHASE DATE AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 100,000.
1999 FORD CONTOUR SE SPORT DASHBOARD PEELING. MY DASHBOARD STARTED TO PEEL AWAY AT APPROX 60,000 MILES. I NOW HAVE 80,000 MILES ON MY CAR. I DID NOT RECEIVE NOTICE OF A RECALL ON THIS MATTER, WHICH WAS APPARENTLY A SECRET. I HAVE OWNED 3 FORDS AND WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER DUE TO THE LAX CUSTOMER SERVICE AND FAILURE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR PRODUCT FAILURE. I HAVE ALSO HAD ALL THE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED (I AM 60 AND HARDLY HOT RODDING), REAR STRUTS AND SOMETHING RELATED TO A LOUD HUMMING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD THAT WAS ESSENTIAL FOR THE CAR TO REMAIN IN WORKING ORDER AND PROBLEMS WITH THE KEY STICKING IN THE IGNITION AND ALSO A FUEL PUMP. *TR
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY, IT LOST POWER AND WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE GAS PEDAL. I HAD TO STEER IT TO THE SHOULDER AND AFTER A WHILE IT RESPONDED LONG ENOUGH FOR ME TO TAKE IT TO A SERVICE STATION WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED TO HAVE A DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMP AND FLYWHEEL. *NM
MY CAR SPORADIC STALLED IN TRAFFIC BECAUSE THE NEW FUEL PUMP WOULD SHUT OFF. THE CAUSE WAS FAULTY WIRING THAT SHORTED OUT AND IN TURN DESTROYED THE CARS COMPUTER. NO PARTS ARE AVAILABLE SO DEALER WAS USING PARTS FROM DIFFERENT MAKE/MODEL PARTS FOR REPAIRS. I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A RECURRING PROBLEM. *JB
RECALL 00V350000: FUEL GROMMET LEAKAGE IS FOR BI-FUEL CARS (CONTOURS) AND MY VEHICLE WAS AT THE MECHANICS AND I AM HAVING THE SAME ISSUE BUT MY VEHICLE IS NOT A BI-FUEL VEHICLE. WHILE I WAS HAVE MY VEHICLE WORKED ON I ASKED TO CHECK THE FUEL BECAUSE AS I STORE MY VEHICLE IN THE GARAGE FOR THE WINTER I NOTICED A GASOLINE SMELL. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THERE WAS A RECALL AND I CONTACTED 2 FORD DEALERS AND FORD ITSELF AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT ON THE RECALL. THE IS A VERY SERIOUS ISSUE AND SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AS IT IS THE SAME SPECIFIC INFORMATION ON THE RECALL BUT NOT FOR MY VEHICLE. *JB
DT: CONTACT OWNS 1999 FORD CONTOUR. THE GAS TANK STRAP WHICH HOLDS THE GAS TANK BROKE. THE CONTACT FELT THIS WAS A SAFETY DEFECT BECAUSE IT COULD BREAK OFF AND POSSIBLY CAUSE A FIRE. THIS HAPPENED ON JULY 6, 2005. *AK LOUDON MOTORCRAFT REPLACED THE GAS TANK STRAP ASSEMBLY. *TT
MY DASH BEGAN TO BUCKLE TO THE POINT WHERE THE DEFROST VENT WOULD NOT STAY IN PLACE. THE DASH FACE ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STEERING WHEEL IS FALLING OFF. THE FLOOR ON BOTH SIDES IN THE FRONT SEAT GETS SOAKED EVERY TIME I DRIVE THROUGH PUDDLES OR RAIN. THE DOME LIGHTS WOULD NOT GO OFF. THE DOOR BUZZER HAS TENDENCIES TO COME ON WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING EVEN THOUGH ALL 4 DOORS ARE SHUT TIGHT. THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AND WHEN THE MECHANIC WAS GOING TO REPLACE IT, HE BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION THAT ALL WIRES CONNECTING TO THE PUMP HAD BURNED THE WIRING INSULATION. THE FUEL PUMP HAPPENS TO BE LOCATED IN THE FUEL TANK. THERE WERE BARE WIRES IN THE FUEL TANK! (I DO STILL HAVE THE FUEL PUMP)THE TRUNK LATCH LOCATED INSIDE THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT SEAT HAS NOT WORKED SINCE 1 MONTH AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE. ALL OF THESE THINGS HAVE HAPPENED SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 2001 AND I CANNOT SEEM TO GET FORD TO OWN UP TO ANY OF THEM. THE RECALL ON THE DASH APPARENTLY IS NOT IMPORTANT ENOUGH FOR THEM TO ASSIST ME. I CANNOT GET THROUGH TO SOMEONE WHO WILL HELP ME SOLVE THESE PROBLEMS AT ANY OF THE DEALERS IN MY AREA. I AM CURRENTLY STILL PAYING FOR A VEHICLE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE AND NO LONGER CARE TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH. NEEDLESS TO SAY THE CAR IS SITTING IN THE DRIVEWAY AND I WILL PROBABLY NEVER DRIVE IT AGAIN.
CONSUMER STATED THE FUEL TANK FILLER GROMMET WAS DAMAGED AND RUSTED. AS A RESULT FUEL FUMES SEEPED INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT WHEN THE VEHICLE'S TANK WAS FULL .*AK *NM
THERE WAS A STRONG FUEL ODOR IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE AFTER FUELING. ALSO, THERE WAS A FUEL SYSTEM TANK ASSEMBLY ADVISORY ON THIS ISSUE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. *AK.....STRONG FUEL ODORS CONTINUE WHENEVER CONSUMER ATTEMPTS TO FILL FUEL TANK. TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR STATION ON 12/31/2004, AND THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET WAS DAMAGED RUSTED. *AK
I JUST BOUGHT MY VEHICLE A FEW DAYS AGO. I WAS NOTIFIED OF A DEFECT OF THE DASHBOARD, AND COULD PLAINLY SEE IT. THE DASHBOARD HAS WARPED VERY BADLY, CAUSING MY SIGHT TO BE LIMITED. I AM ALSO HAVING A PROBLEM WITH FUEL INJECTION. I HAD IT CHECKED BY A COMPUTER AND IT REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE WAS NOT GETTING ENOUGH FUEL. *AK
AS SOON AS I EXITED THE FREEWAY (ALMOST A FULL CIRCLE EXIT), MY CAR STARTED CHOKING AND FINALLY STOPPED. NO FUEL SEEMED TO BE REACHING THE ENGINE. I HAD AAA TOW IT HOME SINCE I WAS CLOSE TO HOME. THE ENGINE CRANKED BUT WOULDN'T START. THIS CHOKING HAPPENED ONCE BEFORE WHEN I ENTERED THE FREEWAY ON A SIMILAR FULL-CIRCLE RAMP, AND THEN STEPPED ON THE GAS TO PICKUP SPEED. IT COUGHED A BIT BUT THEN RAN FINE. SEEMS LIKE THE SPIN CAUSES SOMETHING TO CHOKE. OTHER CONTOUR OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS BEFORE. IT SUPPOSEDLY HAPPENS WHEN THE FUEL IS LESS THAN A QUARTER OF THE TANK. FORD HAD RECALLED THE FORD FOCUS FOR FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM PROBLEMS AND MY CAR EXHIBITS THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS. WHEN I TALKED TO FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, THEY ASKED ME TO TAKE IT TO A DEALER, HAVE IT FIXED AT MY EXPENSE AND THEN THEY WOULD CONSIDER RE-IMBURSING THE EXPENSES, BUT THEY ALSO SAID THAT I SHOULDN'T COUNT ON A REIMBURSEMENT. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS SINCE IT CAN HAPPEN WHILE ENTERING A FREEWAY. I'VE SEEN A FEW MORE COMPLAINTS LIKE THIS ON THIS SITE (WWW.NHTSA.ORG) BUT NO SOLUTIONS. SOME SAY THAT THE DEALER CANNOT FIGURE OUT THE CAUSE. THE SOLUTION SHOULD BE THE SAME AS THE FORD FOCUS RECALL SOLUTION AND SHOULD BE FIXED AT FORD'S EXPENSE.
SINCE I TOOK THE OWNERSHIP OF MY 99 FORD CONTOUR SVT, IT HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT TROUBLE. I WANT TO KEEP THIS SHORT, SO I WILL BREIFLY TELL YOU OF THE PROBLEMS I HAVE ENCOUNTERED. IN LESS THAN 2 YEARS THIS HAS ALL HAPPENED. FOG LIGHTS HAVE GONE OUT, TWICE. CV AXIS BOOT HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO FLAWED MANUFACTURING. ABS SYSTEM FAILURE, REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER WENT OUT. ITS ON ITS 3RD FUEL PUMP. VERY TOUGH STARTS WHEN ITS COLD, STOCK ALARM MALUFUCTION, RIGHT REAR TAIL LIGHT WENT OUT, LEFT FRONT SPEAKER WENT OUT, DRIVERS DOOR HANDLE MALUFUCTION, THE DASH CAME UP FROM THE WINDSHIELD BACK ABOUT 6". HONESTLY THERE IS MORE, I AM TRYING TO PULL ALL THIS FROM MEMORY. TO CONCLUDE I WOULD LIKE TO SAY THAT I WILL NEVER OWN A FORD AGAIN. EVER.
CAR JUST STALLS WHILE DRIVING ON THE ROAD. HAS HAPPENED ATLEAST THREE TIMES.
THE FUEL GAUGE NEEDLE FLOATED ERRATICALLY. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS A DEFECTIVE FUEL FLOW METER INSIDE THE FUEL TANK.*AK *JB
NAR 06/19/2003. *MR THE CONSUMER HAD HIS VEHICLE TOWED TO VISTA FORD APPROX 3 TIMES IN ONE MONTH FOR A BROKEN FUEL PUMP THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.THE VEHICLE HAD A B ROKEN RADIO ANTENNA AND A VIBRATION WHICH WAS COMING FROM THE TIRES. IN ADDITION TO ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS THE DASHBOARD WAS COMING APART AND THE FLOOR MATERIAL UNDER THE HOOD OF THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT WAS COMING APART. FORD HAS NOT OFFERED ANY ASSISTANCE IN EXPEDITING FEES AND COST OF REPAIRS. PLEASE ASSIST IN RESOLVING MATTERS. *CB *JB
THE VEHICLE HAD POOR GAS MILEAGE. THE DRIVERS WINDOW JAMMED. THE RUBBER PIECE AROUND THE FRAME OF THE RIGHT SIDE REAR PASSENGER'S SEAT CONSTANTLY CAME OFF. THE SHOULDER HARNESS ON DRIVER'S SIDE AND IN THE REAR SEATS TWISTED AND JAMMED. THE DASHBOARD COVER CAME LOOSE. THE RADIO OPERATED POORLY. THE TRUNK LATCH OFTEN REQUIRED MULTIPLE PULLS TO OPEN THE TRUNK. THE AIR BAG LIGHT INTERMITTENTLY CAME ON. WHILE DRIVING THERE WAS A WHINING/GRINDING NOISE. *AK *NLM
THE VEHICLE HAS NOT WORKED PROPERLY IN A YEAR, THE VEHICLE HAD 5 NEW FUEL PUMPS PUT ON WITHIN A 8 MONTH PERIOD, TOWED 3 TIMES AND PERIODICALLY JERKS AND DIES . THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPARTMENT CAN NOT FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *JB
CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE DASHBOARD DISCONNECTED FROM THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING A DISTRACTION TO THE CONSUMER. DEALER NOTIFIED TS
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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