RoadVitals

1999 Ford Contour Steering Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Oct 14, 2009
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 419 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
5

What this page shows

Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. 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. 12 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.

Owner reports naming steering

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Body & structureDriver assistanceOther / unspecified+2 more
Filed Oct 14, 2009
Crash reported3 injuries reported

I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALLS. I HAVE HAD TO PAY OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE REPLACED STARTER AND BRAKES SEVERAL TIMES FEELS LIKE SUSPENSION IS FALLING APART AND NEVER NOTIFIED I HAVE SMALL AND OLDER CHILDREN SHAMEFUL. THESE EVENTS STARTING TAKING PLACE WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN 1999 ARM CONTROL 3 TIMES REPLACED I WAS LIED TO BY FORD AND SAID I MUST OF HIT A BUMP BUMP MY BUMP 3 TIMES ALMOST DEAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10287331
Incident
Sep 18, 2009
Mileage
37,777 mi
BrakesInterior & seatsSteering+1 more
Filed Feb 9, 2004

DASH WAS REPLACED, BUT IT WAS INSTALLED IMPROPERLY. ALSO, AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM HAS LEAK, AND WILL BE REPLACED NEXT SPRING. *LA VEHICLE HAS HAD THE FOLLOWING REPAIRS OR REPLACEMENTS: WHEEL BEARINGS, BRAKES, TIE RODS, DASHBOARD, INTAKE MANIFOLD, PASSENGER REAR STRUTS, LEFT FRONT DOME LAMP SWITCH, LEFT FRONT SPEAKERS, AND OYGEN SENSOR.*MR

NHTSA ID
10057352
Incident
Jan 12, 2002
Steering
Filed Oct 23, 2000

WHEN VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN THROUGH A SMALL AMOUNT OF STANDING WATER AT LOW SPEED, ALL POWER STEERING WAS LOST. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP. OWNER WAS TOLD THAT VEHICLE WAS OPERATING CORRECTLY. *AK

NHTSA ID
873587
SteeringTires & wheels
Filed Oct 11, 2000
1 injury reported

POSSIBLE STEERING FAILURE, VEHICLE SWERVED FROM SIDE TO SIDE OUT OF CONTROL CAUSING INJURY TO CONSUMER, CONSUMER ALSO SUSPECTS POSSIBLE FIRESTONE TIRE FAILURE COULD HAVE CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROL. *SLC

NHTSA ID
555566
Incident
Sep 18, 2000
Steering
Filed Sep 28, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

TOTAL STEERING LOSS,ON SLIGHT CURVED RD. TOTAL RIGHT WHEEL AND EVERYTHING ATTACHED CAME OFF. EVEN THE COLLISION REPAIR SHOP SAID THEY NEVER SAW ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I AM SUSAN CANALES AND HAVE MY SON'S POWER OF ATTORNEY HE IS IN THE NAVY AND AT SEA RIGHT NOW THANK YOU. *AK

NHTSA ID
732778
Incident
Sep 9, 2000
Steering
Filed Aug 25, 2000

ON JULY 8, VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING. TOOK TO DEALER THEY SAID IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. CONSUMER NOTICED PROBLEM AGAIN ON JULY 11 WHEN BACKING OUT OF DRVEWAY AND COMING UP TO A STOP SIGN. CONSUMER LET OFF BRAKE, AND CAR WAS BOUNCING AND VIBRATING. ENTIRE TIRE WAS FLIPPING AROUND. TOWED TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID TIE ROD WAS BROKEN. *AK

NHTSA ID
868737
Incident
Oct 30, 1999
EngineSteeringSuspension
Filed Jul 31, 2000

REPEATED STALLING, MISSING & LOSS OF POWER APPEARS MOSTLY WHEN IT'S VERY HOT OUT & CAR HAS BEEN DRIVEN A LOT. ROUGH IDLE EVEN UNDER NO LOAD IN NEUTRAL. NO INDICATORS LIGHT EXCEPT DURING STALL WHICH HAPPENS EVEN WITH CLUTCH DEPRESSED. MISSING IS MOST NOTICEABLE DURING ACCELERATION OR STEADY HIGHWAY SPEEDS, EVEN WITH CRUISE ON. CAR SOMETIMES SHAKES AT HIGH SPEED (70MPH). MULTIPLE ALIGNMENTS NEVER SHOW SAME RESULTS. DEALER CAN NEVER DUPLICATE, SAYS I AM DUMPING CLUTCH TO STALL & LOSS OF POWER IS DUE TO A/C. THEY ALSO CLAIM EXCESSIVE TIRE WEAR IS DUE TO MY DRIVING HABITS. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )

NHTSA ID
726297
EngineSteeringSuspension+2 more
Filed Jul 20, 2000

WHEN CONSUMER STEERED TO THE LEFT VEHICLE PULLED MORE THAN INTENDED. DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE & FOUND NOTHING WRONG.*AK THE STEERING PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY BAD FRONT END ALIGNMENT. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. BROKEN MOTOR MOUNT WAS FOUND. THE HEATER FAILED TOO. *YH

NHTSA ID
865763
Incident
Jul 14, 2000
EngineInterior & seatsSteering
Filed May 26, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELLING 70MPH, EXITED OFF THE FREEWAY AND BEGAN TO BRAKE WHEN ENGINE CUT OFF. ALSO, INSTRUMENT LIGHTS CAME ON, AND THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN. ENGINE TURNED BACK ON, AND WAS ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
862630
Incident
Apr 28, 2000
ElectricalInterior & seatsSteering
Filed Feb 13, 2000

WHILE DRIVING; RADIO & INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF WHEN BLINKER, DOOR & OR OTHER ELECTRONIC COMPONENT USED OR FOR NO REASON AT ALL. ALSO HAVE HAD PROBLEMS W/ ALARM SYSTEM. DEALER UNABLE TO LOCATE SORCE OF PROBLEM, CHANGED RADIO TWICE, ALARM & FUSE BOX ONCE.

NHTSA ID
718683
Incident
Dec 20, 1999
Steering
Filed Aug 9, 1999

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD STEERING COLUMN JUST LOCKED UP.CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
844652
Incident
Jul 5, 1999
BrakesSteeringSuspension+1 more
Filed Aug 5, 1999

BRAKES WOULD MAKE GRINDING NOISES WHEN APPLIED. THE TIRES ARE GOING BALD. STEERING WHEEL FEELS REAL LOOSE WHN GOING OVER BUMPS OR TURNING. THE FRONT END SUSPENSION WOULD JERK & PULL TO THE LEFT. WILL BE CONTACTING DEALER TO HAVE VEHICLE CHECKED. *AK

NHTSA ID
844471
Incident
Mar 4, 1999

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .