1996 Dodge Avenger vs 1996 Ford Contour
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1996 Dodge Avenger | 1996 Ford Contour |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 157 | 563 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 71 | 223 |
| Investigations | 1 | 5 |
| Crash reports | 19 | 35 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 24 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–23 | 21–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | 91,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Dodge Avenger | Ford Contour |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 24 | 123 |
| Electrical System | 13 | 119 |
| Power Train | 21 | 77 |
| Suspension | 59 | 38 |
| Exterior Lighting | 8 | 64 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 22 | 44 |
| Visibility | 6 | 41 |
| Equipment | 1 | 41 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 11 | 14 |
| Stalling | 7 | 44 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 35 |
| Overheating | 0 | 24 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 10 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 10 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 8 |
| Rust / corrosion | 0 | 8 |
1996 Dodge Avenger
1996 Ford Contour
Compare all Dodge Avenger vs Ford Contour years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.