Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

1999 vs 2000 FORD CONTOUR

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 323 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 51.0% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

1999 404 complaints 2000 198 complaints

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 1999 share 2000 share Share change
STRUCTURE 19.6% 33.8% ▲ 14.3 pts larger share
FUEL SYSTEM 5.2% 17.7% ▲ 12.5 pts larger share
SERVICE BRAKES 7.4% 3.0% ▼ 4.4 pts smaller share
ENGINE 9.4% 5.1% ▼ 4.4 pts smaller share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10.9% 6.6% ▼ 4.3 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION 5.0% 1.0% ▼ 3.9 pts smaller share
SEAT BELTS 5.0% 1.0% ▼ 3.9 pts smaller share
VISIBILITY 5.5% 9.1% ▲ 3.6 pts larger share
TIRES 3.0% not reported ▼ 3.0 pts smaller share
POWER TRAIN 4.0% 2.0% ▼ 1.9 pts smaller share
AIR BAGS 4.7% 3.0% ▼ 1.7 pts smaller share
STEERING 1.5% 0.5% ▼ 1.0 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2.5% 1.5% ▼ 1.0 pts smaller share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 1.7% 1.0% ▼ 0.7 pts smaller share
PARKING BRAKE 0.3% 0.5% ▲ 0.3 pts larger share
WHEELS 1.0% 1.0% ▲ 0.0 pts larger share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 66.8% 60.1% ▼ 6.7 pts smaller share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

1999 5

Campaign components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

2000 7

Campaign components: EQUIPMENT, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
10 → 1
◆ Injuries
27 → 8