Problems · NHTSA complaints
1998 Ford Contour problems
Owners filed 861 complaints about the 1998 Ford Contour with NHTSA between Aug 1997 and Feb 2024. The most-cited component is electrical system (127).
Complaints
861
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
51
Reported by owners
Fires
26
Reported by owners
Injuries
55
People reported injured
Deaths
4
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 6, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
4
52
168
145
143
103
65
53
43
24
17
10
8
9
6
1
2
2
3
0
0
2
0
0
0
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 4 |
| 1998 | 52 |
| 1999 | 168 |
| 2000 | 145 |
| 2001 | 143 |
| 2002 | 103 |
| 2003 | 65 |
| 2004 | 53 |
| 2005 | 43 |
| 2006 | 24 |
| 2007 | 17 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 0 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 0 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 0 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2024 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Electrical system
127 reports2 crashes14 fires1 related recall
“WAS DRIVING DOWN ROUTE 322 ON DAY AND HAD TO HIT THE BREAK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED MY BREAK FLUID RESIVOUR AND IT WAS EMPTY. I THINK THE PASSENGER SIDE DRUM BREAK IS LEAKING FLUID.”
Engine and engine cooling
127 reports1 crash7 fires
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOLTS WERE MISSING FROM THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. HE DID NOT KNOW THE BOLTS WERE MISSING AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS AVAILABLE, BUT WOULD HAVE THEM ORDERED. THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WOULD ARRIVE BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT HAVE THEM IN STOCK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”
Power train
123 reports3 crashes1 related recall
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REVERSE GEAR FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V233000 (POWER TRAIN). HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT LISTED UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.”
Suspension
103 reports3 related recalls
“Vehicle won't pass inspection due to a Broken or cracked coil spring front passenger side. It was in a recall that we never received notification. And I don't feel like we should be out over $200 to get it licensed.”
Air bags
98 reports25 crashes1 related recall
“MY 1998 FORD CONTOUR HAS THREE SAFETY RECALLS. HOWEVER, I'M HAVING A TERRIBLE TIME GETTING FORD TO PROVIDE THE PARTS NEEDED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE. THE RECALLS ARE: (A) 01S22 - HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR AND CONNECTOR, (B) 99S14 - HEADLIGHT SWITCH CONNECTOR, AND (C) 99S23 - FRONT CRASH SENSORS. PRESENTLY MY AIRBAGS ARE OFFLINE AND OFFER NO CRASH PROTECTION. IT'S BEEN A LITTLE OVER A MONTH SINCE I BEGAN TRYING TO GET THIS RESOLVED (BASICALLY WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR - THE SELLER DIDN'T DISCLOSE THE RECALLS WERE NOT FIXED TO ME). THE BLOWER STOPPED WORKING A FEW DAYS AGO AND IT SMELLED LIKE ELECTRICAL WIRES WERE PERHAPS BURNING. SO NOW I DON'T HAVE DEFROST/DEFOG CAPABILITY. THE DEALER IS TRYING TO GET THE PARTS, BUT FORD HASN'T SHIPPED THEM. *TR”
Service brakes, hydraulic
78 reports4 crashes2 related recalls
“1998 FORD CONTOUR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE LINE CORROSION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES THE FAILED. THE REPAIR SHOP, STATED THERE WAS NO BRAKE FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE GAS LINE LEADING TO THE TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED, DUE TO CORROSION. *JB”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 6, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.