Problems · by component

1999 Ford Contour suspension problems

37 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Ford Contour cite suspension, 8% of all 444 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
37
8% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the suspension

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I HAVE A 1999 FORD WINDSTAR AND IT HAS ABOUT 155,000 MILES ON IT. MY WIFE WAS COMING HOME WITH FIVE OF MY SIX KIDS AND TURNED OFF OF THE 4-LANE HIGHWAY ONTO OUR EXIT FOR OUR HOUSE AND THE REAR AXLE BROKE..IF SHE HAD STAYED ON THE 4-LANE AT 65 M.P.H. WE COULD'VE HAD MULTIPLE INJURIES OR EVEN DEATHS !! I HAVE REVIEWED ALL KINDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE SAME PROBLEM...WHY HAVEN'T THERE BEEN ANY RECALLS. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 10, 2010SuspensionODI 10335736
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 14, 2009Steering, Suspension, Structure, Vehicle speed control, Tires, Unknown or other, Traction control systemCrash reportedODI 10287331
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD CONTOUR. SHE STATED THAT THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT COIL SPRING. THEY STATED THAT THE ROAD SALT COULD BE A POSSIBLE CAUSE OF THE CRACK. THE MECHANIC MADE THE REPLACEMENT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 85,000. THE VIN AND ENGINE SIZE WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 20, 2007SuspensionODI 10200098
“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”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 14, 2007Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline, Electrical system, StructureODI 10199517
“THE 1999 CONTOUR HAS 67,000 MILES. AT 36,000 MILES HAD THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING REPLACED. SINCE THEN, I HAD THE FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS REPLACED 3 MORE TIMES. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 17, 2007SuspensionODI 10196634
“TOOK CAR TO DEALER BECAUSE THE BRAKES WERE ACTING UP . FOUND THAT BOTH TONE RINGS IN THE ABS SYSTEM BROKE. THE DASHBOARD HAD BEEN WARPING FOR THE LAST FOUR YEARS, WAS TOLD AT THE SHOP THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL ON THE DASHBOARD, AND I MUST HAVE GOTTEN A LETTER, BUT IT EXPIRED AND WILL COST $1164.60 TO REPLACE IT. THE DURING THE INSPECTION THEY TOLD ME THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE. THEY COULD GET AWAY WITH THE DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD BECAUSE THEY COULD BLAME THE CONSUMER, FOR DRIVING WITHOUT CLEAR VISION?, BUT THE RINGS THAT CONTROL THE BRAKING ACTION,AND THE COIL SPRING BEING MADE OF BAD MATERIALS WAS A ABSOLUTELY A SAFETY PROBLEM, THAT SHOULD BRING ABOUT AN IMMEDIATE RECALL. WHEN ONE OF THESE COMPONENTS FAILED WHILE DRIVING A BUS FULL OF CHILDREN OF A CLIFF WHOSE FAULT WILL IT BE THEN. NOT MINE FOR NOT REPORTING IT, MAYBE THAT OF NHTSA FOR NOT RECALLING IT, MAYBE FORDS FOR NOT FIXING IT, OR MAYBE SHARED BLAME. *AK”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 12, 2007SuspensionODI 10196223

Showing 6 of 37 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Suspension

Free remedy

FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.

SuspensionReported Apr 14, 2008NHTSA 08E033000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 7, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.