1997 Ford Contour: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 314 complaints
314
Total Complaints
93,000mi
Median Mileage
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Top Issue
14
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

87,000 25th Percentile
93,000 Median Mileage
123,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
16
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
12
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
12
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
9
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
9
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
9
TIRES
8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
8
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
7
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
7

Severity Assessment

14
Crashes
11
Fires
13
Injuries
0
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON/OFF. *AK"
"CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON/OFF. *AK"
"LIGHT THAT INDICATES OVERFLOW OF COOLANT TANK FAILED TO GO OFF. SENSOR WAS REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP AND A SERVICE BULLETIN #10159 WAS PERFORMED. THIS DIDN'T CHANGE THE LIGHTING FAILURE. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28