2000 Ford Contour Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often report the padded dashboard cover warping, peeling and lifting near the windshield, which blocks the defroster vents and can obstruct the view forward. A second common theme is fuel-system trouble, with intermittent stalling or hesitation as the tank drops below about half, often attributed to the fuel pump or tank. Reports of these dashboard and fuel complaints come in from a few thousand miles up past 100,000.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Dashboard cover warping and blocking the defroster

   • 92 complaints (46%)
   • median 49,500 mi at 4.4 yrs old (46 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,000 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2002–2020

   Owners describe the top of the dashboard curling upward and pulling away from the frame near the windshield, in some cases by an inch or more. The lifted section sits over the defroster vents, so the windshield clears poorly in rain, snow or cold, and several owners say their view out is partly blocked. Dealers and the manufacturer are reported to have called it cosmetic, to have offered partial goodwill coverage, or to have told owners that the repair program had already expired. Reported from about 1,200 miles up to roughly 100,000, often appearing within the first few years and worsening over time, and heat and sun are frequently mentioned.

   What to check: With the engine cold, run the defroster and check that air reaches the windshield, and look along the leading edge of the dash for lifting, gaps or curling. Ask whether the dashboard has been replaced or a repair program was ever applied to the car.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I,too, have the dashboard peeling issue. I did receive a letter, but at the time there was no problem. 2 months after the expiration date, my dashboard was warping. I contacted Ford and they said it was too late.the car is a 2000 and this defect was occurring 2 years later. I certainly believe Ford should fix this.”

   NHTSA complaint #10043624, filed 2003-10, 40,000 miles

   “Dashboard began slowly warping over a year. It got to the point where visibility ahead was compromised, and the defroster vents were no longer functioning. Dealer would not cover a replacement, so I had the work done at a local body shop at my full cost. So far, the replacement dash is ok.”

   NHTSA complaint #10224388, filed 2008-04, 55,000 miles
2. 2
   Fuel system

   Stalling or hesitation at low fuel level

   • 22 complaints (11%)
   • median 57,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $534 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2001–2013

   Complaints describe the engine hesitating, sputtering or dying once the tank drops below roughly half, and running normally again after refueling. Owners say dealers or mechanics pointed to the fuel pump, the sender assembly or a warped fuel tank, with repair estimates around a few hundred dollars for parts. Some say the problem returned after a repair. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 90,000 miles, and several owners note it happening during acceleration or merging into traffic.

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel pump or tank has been replaced and keep records of it. On a test drive, note how the car behaves with a partly empty tank rather than a full one.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “For the past year I have not been able to drive my 2000 Ford Contour se when the gas tank gets below 1/2 tank. I t begins sputtering and stalling below that. It dies out entire.ly at 1/4 tank. I thought it was water in the fuel at first. And kept my tank filled and utilized a heet type product. It begame appearant during the spring and summer that the issue was not water icing up in the fuel.”

   NHTSA complaint #10083105, filed 2004-08, 57,000 miles

   “When vehicle gets to about 1/4 tank of gas it starts hesitating usually when I am on the on ramp to the interstate... Not good merging into traffic going 80mph and your only going 40. I am told I need to replace fuel pump however this fuel pump alone from Ford is $314 for part only.”

   NHTSA complaint #10067864, filed 2004-04, 91,000 miles
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel smell and leaks at the tank filler area

   • 9 complaints (5%)
   • median 60,160 mi at 6.8 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2001–2011

   Owners report a strong fuel smell after refueling, fuel spilling or dripping near the tank, and a leaking filler pipe grommet or tank. Some found out about a fuel-tank filler pipe grommet recall only through an independent shop, and were told by the dealer that their vehicle was not covered by it. One owner reported a detached fuel tank strap. Filed from about 44,000 to 173,000 miles, and the smell is usually noticed right after filling the tank.

   Recall 00V350000

   What to check: Ask whether the filler pipe grommet recall was performed for this particular vehicle, and check around the filler neck and under the rear of the car for staining or a fuel smell after a fill-up.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2000 Ford Contour. The contact stated that when putting fuel in the vehicle, the fuel would spill onto the ground. The dealer stated that the fuel filter grommet failed. The contact called the manufacturer who stated that the vehicle was not included in recall 00v350000 (fuel system, other: storage: tank assembly). The current and failure mileages were 67,400.”

   NHTSA complaint #10367138, filed 2010-11, 67,400 miles

   “The contact stated that the vehicle's gas tank strap detached on 07/01/06. A strap was observed hanging from under the vehicle while parked. The vehicle was taken to an independent repair shop who determined that the right hand fuel tank assembly strap had become detached. The independent repair shop contacted the dealer who contacted the manufacturer to order fuel tank assembly strap. The manufacturer determined that the fuel tank assembly strap was on back order and that there was not a specific date when the part would arrive.”

   NHTSA complaint #10162590, filed 2006-07, 60,160 miles
4. 4
   Body and structure

   Airbag concerns around the warped dash and no-deployment

   • 19 complaints (10%)
   • median 64,200 mi at 5.0 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2020

   Several owners worry that the distorted dashboard puts tension on the airbag area or could throw trim pieces, and a few describe collisions where the airbags did not deploy or deployed without an impact. These accounts usually accompany the dashboard warping complaint rather than a separate diagnosis, and dealers are described as not resolving them. Scattered across the sample from roughly 20,000 to 170,000 miles, with no clear mileage pattern.

   What to check: Ask whether the airbag system has been inspected and whether any warning light has come on, and have any loose dash or vent trim checked before driving.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Molded dashboard was shrinking and lifting off of the frame . Consumer was afraid that air bags would deploy prematurely if the shrinking persisted. Manufacturer had not been notified.”

   NHTSA complaint #10040285, filed 2003-09, 102,000 miles

   “While driving at 50 MPH, the consumer lost control of the vehicle and hit a concrete barrier. None of the airbags deployed which resulted in the driver being critically injured.”

   NHTSA complaint #10011982, filed 2003-03, 24,000 miles
5. 5
   Electrical system

   Electrical faults and stalling from wiring

   • 34 complaints (17%)
   • median 70,500 mi at 5.2 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2000–2013

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out in traffic, accessories such as the radio, air conditioning, speedometer and windows dropping out, and difficulty restarting until the car sits for a while. In one case the manufacturer attributed a stall to a wiring harness fault; another owner reports a voltage drain that repeatedly blew fuses. Reported from about 41,000 to 100,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check that all warning lights come on with the key in the start position, and ask whether any stalling or electrical diagnosis has been done and what was replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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.”

   NHTSA complaint #10080802, filed 2004-07, 90,000 miles

   “I had just got on interstate when my car started cutting out. I immediately put my flashers on & tried to get in the left lane so I could get on shoulder of interstate but cars would not allow me to get over. My car died in middle of interstate. I called asap (a service in alabama for help on the interstate) & told them where I was & I needed them to bring me some gas. Then a car came flying up behind me but was able to stop & did not hit me. Then the car behind him had stopped but a truck behind her was not able to stop. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10482382, filed 2012-10, 167,000 miles

Buying note. Inspect the dashboard and defroster function first, since that is the most frequently reported problem and repairs are often expensive. Then confirm the fuel-system recall status and how the car runs on a partly empty tank before committing.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.