103 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Ford Contour cite suspension, 12% of all 861 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 3 recalls on this component.
“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.”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PARKED HIS VEHICLE OVERNIGHT AND THE NEXT MORNING HIS FRONT LEFT SPRING HAD SNAPPED IN HALF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS TIRE WAS PUNCTURED AS WELL. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING FOR HIM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89,000.”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRINGS CAME OUT OF THE SPRING CATCHER BRACKET WHILE CHANGING THE TIRES. IF A TIRE WERE THERE, IT WOULD HAVE BURST. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V255000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST OR ASSUME ANY LIABILITY FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 127,000. UPDATED 07/28/09 *BF UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING 25MPH THE FRONT COIL SPRING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BROKE AND DISABLED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. SHE STATES THAT SHE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, WHERE THEY STATED THAT HER VEHICLE VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED. THE TOTAL COST ON REPAIRS WAS $950.00. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER IS: 01V255000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 47,020.”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED. IN 2001, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V255000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS). THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME AND STATED THAT NO REPAIR WAS NEEDED. HOWEVER, NOW THAT THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS NO LONGER VALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 01/09/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE COILS SPRINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED REPLACED HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND CABLE IN ENGINE. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR UPDATED 06/04/08. *LJ”
“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURED COIL SPRING DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE SUSPENSION: FRONT: SPRINGS: COIL SPRINGS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN #01I013000) HOWEVER HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.”
Showing 6 of 103 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
FEDERAL MOGUL IS RECALLING 6,903 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES SHIPPED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 9, 2007 AND MARCH 26, 2008, WHICH MAY HAVE BEEN PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS. THE PART NUMBERS PACKAGED WITH INCORRECT NUTS ARE: K7147, K7329, K8683, AND 104353. THESE PARTS WERE MADE FOR USE ON THE VARIOUS VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE.
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: 1998 FORD CONTOUR/MERCURY MYSTIQUE PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY ASSEMBLY PLANT. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS COULD POTENTIALLY FRACTURE DUE TO CORROSION.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES BUILT AT THE KANSAS CITY ASSEMBLY PLANT AND ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, AND WISCONSIN, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS MAY FRACTURE AS A RESULT OF CORROSION IN HIGH CORROSION ENVIRONMENTS. DEPENDING ON THE LOCATION OF THE FRACTURE, A BROKEN SPRING COULD MOVE PAST THE SPRING SEAT AND CONTACT A FRONT TIRE.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.