FaultScore

1998 Ford Contour other reported problems

34 of the 1,189 complaints about the 1998 Ford Contour are about the other systems — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 190,000 miles.

A

34

Complaints

0

Crashes

2

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Unknown OR Other 34 100.0%

Other & Unspecified across every Ford Contour year

1995 21 13.5%
1996 28 17.9%
1998 34 21.8%
1999 47 30.1%
2000 26 16.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Ellenwood, GA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TAKATA RECALL I AND OTHER CONSUMERS HAVE CONTACTED FORD REGARDING THE 1998 FORD CONTOUR AND IT'S DEFECTIVE PARTS INCLUDING THE ENGINE WIRE HARNESS YET THEY ARE REFUSING TO ACKNOWLEDGE NOR ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM STATING IT'S NOT UNDER RECALL T*JBREATING EACH PERSON WHO HAS CONTACTED THEM AS IF THEY ARE AN ISLAND AND THIS IS A ISOLATED EVENT MY WATER PUMP,FLASHERS,BRAKE LIGHTS,HAVE BEEN ALL AFFECTED BY THIS ALSO MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON MAKING ME UNABLE TO REGISTER MY CAR AND GET UPDATED TAGS PLEASE CONTACT T ME REGARDING THIS MATTER AS I AND OTHER CONSUMERS NEED HELP WITH THIS .[XXX] VIA EMAIL ALSO [XXX]. VIN INVALID INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA complaint #10808252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Richmond, VA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I AM THE OWNER OF A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. I BOUGHT IT USED, AND WITHIN A 1 YEAR REMAINDER OF A 3 YEAR WARRANTY. I WAS NEVER OFFICIALLY NOTIFIED OF SEVERAL DEFECTS AND NHTSA RECALLS THAT ARE STILL IN EFFECT FOR THIS CAR MODEL YEAR. ONE OF THE REPAIRS FOR THE BLOWER RESISTOR WAS PERFORMED TWICE, HOWEVER IT WAS NEVER DONE TO MY SATISFACTION AND IT DID NOT MEET THE STANDARDS OF QUALITY AS EXPECTED FOR THE RECALL. THERE ARE SEVERAL SAFETY ISSUES WITH THIS CAR, AND I AM NOW AFRAID TO KEEP DRIVING IT AFTER WHAT I HAVE READ. THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS VERY NEGLIGENT IN FOLLOWING UP WITH CONSUMERS ON THESE ISSUES, AND THEY KEEP AN OUTDATED DATABASE OF FORMER OWNERS WHICH THEY FAIL TO UPDATE WITH THE CURRENT OWNERS IN CASES WHERE THE CAR OWNERSHIP HAS CHANGED HANDS. I AM KIND OF CLOSE TO HIRING A LAWYER TO SUE THEM OVER THESE RECALL ISSUES. WHAT SHOULD I DO? ARE THEY STILL OBLIGATED TO FIX THE RECALL ISSUES AT THEIR EXPENSE? I AM CERTAINLY NOT ABOUT TO PUT ONE DIME OF MY OWN MONEY INTO THAT CAR TO FIX ISSUES COVERED BY RECALLS. AGAIN, I DO NOT WISH TO FIGHT OR WRANGLE WITH A COMPANY THAT IS SO AWFUL WHO PUTS OUT A TERRIBLE AND CHEAP PRODUCT LIKE THE FORD CONTOUR, THEN WON'T STAND BEHIND THEIR CAR. HOWEVER, IF THERE ARE FORMAL RESPONSIBILITIES WHICH THEY ARE LEGALLY BOUND TO, I WILL RESERVE MY RIGHT TO PURSUE THIS UNDER THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW. PLEASE ADVISE. SINCERELY, MR. MCDONOUGH

NHTSA complaint #10209371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST Peters, MO

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY 1998 FORD CONTOUR'S PAINT IS PEELING AND STARTING TO RUST ON THE ROOF.

NHTSA complaint #10164147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Charles Town, WV

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY DASH ON MY 98 CONTOUR HAS BEEN WARPING / CURLING , EVEN WHILE IT KEPT IN MY GARAGE , IN A COOL CLIMATE . ALSO MY REAR BUMPER IS SAGGING FOR NO APPARENT REASON .

NHTSA complaint #10142920 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 190,000 miles Center Barnstead, NH

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

RECALL NO.#99S23, AIRBAG SENSOR MODULE: RECALL NO.#01F22, HEATER BLOWER RESISTER: WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RUNNING THE AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON AT ALL TIMES. ALSO INTERMITTENTLY THE HEATER WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN THE SYSTEM IS ENGAGED. THE HEATER WILL ALSO BLOW OUT A FOUL ODOR SIMILAR TO SULFUR. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE BUT, THE CONSUMER'S IS NOT A PART OF THE RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10082112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Spottsville, KY

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

MY 1998 CONTOUR IS AT 128,225 MILES. THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THE CAR ARE THE FOLLOWING: -THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT OF AIM AND MOISTURE COLLECTS IN THE HEADLAMP AND WHEN THE MOISTURE DRIES IT LEAVES A FILM ON THE INSIDE OF THE LENS. THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS IS TERRIBLE. I CAN BARELY SEE AT NIGHT EVEN WHEN IT IS A CLEAR NIGHT. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES. I ALMOST HIT A MAN ON A BICYCLE THE OTHER NIGHT. HE HAD REFLECTORS ON HIS BIKE BUT I DIDN'T SEE HIM TILL I WAS RIGHT UP BEHIND HIM. I HAVEN'T HAD THIS FIXED BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY TWO FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR A NEW PAIR OF HEADLAMPS. I HAVE BEEN ACTUALLY LOOKING IN SALVAGE YARDS. -ANOTHER THING IS THE TRANSMISSION. IT SHIFTS OUT HARD BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. NOW IT JERKS WHEN I GO UP HILLS OR WHEN I LET OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL. I FIGURE IF I TAKE IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP THEY WILL TELL ME THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE IT. -THE NEXT THING IS THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE SEAT TRACK ITSELF HAS RUST ON SOME OF THE PARTS. THE DRIVER SEAT IS THE ONLY ONE WITH THE RUST PROBLEM. WHEN YOU SIT IN THE SEAT IT ROCKS SIDE TO SIDE (FROM DOOR TO CENTER CONSOLE). THIS SCARES ME BECAUSE I READ SOMEONE ELSE'S COMPLAINT AND HE SAID HE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND THE SEAT AND THE TRACK ITSELF BROKE ON HIM.

NHTSA complaint #10069777 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST Louis, MO Fire

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE HAS RESULTED IN CONSUMER PAYING FOR MOST OF THE RECALL REPAIRS. *MR THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SEVERAL MECHANICAL PROBLEMS. THE VEHICLE ALSO CAUGHT ON FIRE ONCE. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10042147 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gayes, NC

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ENGINE CHECK LIGT COMES ON FOR NO REASON. HAS BEEN LOOKED AT 5 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. I RECENTLY PAID $526.00 BECAUSE THE FORD REPAIR SHOP SAID THE SENSOR WAS BAD. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STILL COMES ON FOR NO REASON. NEED HELP IN DETERMINING IF THERE IS A SILET RECALL OR ANY TYPE OF RECALL MAKING THIS SITUATION OCCUR.

NHTSA complaint #763146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Gayes, NC

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ENGINE CHECK LIGT COMES ON FOR NO REASON. HAS BEEN LOOKED AT 5 TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. I RECENTLY PAID $526.00 BECAUSE THE FORD REPAIR SHOP SAID THE SENSOR WAS BAD. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STILL COMES ON FOR NO REASON. NEED HELP IN DETERMINING IF THERE IS A SILET RECALL OR ANY TYPE OF RECALL MAKING THIS SITUATION OCCUR.

NHTSA complaint #763146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Allenton, WI

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND TRANSMISSION SLIPPED WHEN CHANGING GEARS WHICH WAS CAUSED BY TRANSMISSION FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #8010314 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

South Charlston, OH

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON DASH,AND BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING. DEALER HAS REPLACED REAR BRAKE PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BREAKS WERE FINE NOW SINCE REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE BRAKE VALVE. THE BLOWER MOTOR HAD NO 3RD SPEED DUE TO BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH FAILURE. IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE TAKES FUEL VERY SLOW DUE TO FUEL PIPE FLAPPER VALVE FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #8001657 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Harrell, AK

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ENGINE LIGHT AND AIR BAG LIGHT HAVE ILLUMINATED ON INSTRUMENT PANEL. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED FOR CAMPAIGN 99V243000 PREVIOUSLY, CONSUMER DID NOT KNOW DATE. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE OF PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.

NHTSA complaint #898923 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chattahoochee, FL

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY REPLACED FUEL PUMP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #898627 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wallops Island, VA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE DASH IS DISTORTED SO THAT THE DEFROSTER WILL NOT WORK PROPERLY. NLM

NHTSA complaint #785526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baltimore, MD

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

VEHICLE STALLS OUT WHILE DRIVING. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS FIXED SO CONSUMER WOULD SEE THE WARNING SIGN. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT CURRENTLY AN ONGOING ISSUE. ENGINE NEEDS A VCT SOLENOID REPLACED AT THE CONSUMER'S COST.

NHTSA complaint #894952 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Baton Rouge, LA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

I KNOW A LOT OF OTHER OWNER OF THE SAME CAR ENCOUNTERED THE EXACTLY SAME VCT PROBLEM (CODE P1381), AND IT COST THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO BE FIXED. IF ANYONE TAKE TIME READ THE CONTOUR OWNER'S PROBLEM FORUM LOCATED ON THE WEB (WWW.CONTOUR.ORG), HE FINDS TONS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT PROBLEM OF THIS CAR. IT'S DEFINITELY OUTRAGOUS IN THE SENSE OF STATISTICS. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT OF THIS CAR IS WAY ABOVE THE WILDEST IMAGINE ON THE FREQUENCY THAT IT COULD EVER HAPPED TO ANY EXISTING MODEL OF CAR. THIS IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, AT LEAST IN THE SENSE OF A NATIONAL RECALL. CEL, THE BIGGEST NIGHTMARE OF FORD CONTOUR! ANYONE WHO MADE THIS CAR SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO GET AWAY WITH IT.

NHTSA complaint #745965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ontario, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CAR SHUTS OFF WITHOUT WARNING,WHILE IN GEAR.

NHTSA complaint #736012 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Willow Grove, PA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHILE UNDER WARRANTY THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. HAD IT REPLACED. WHILE UNDER WARRANTY HAD THE REAR MAIN SEAL REPLACED. JUST THREE WEEKS AFTER THAT REPAIR THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. I CHECKED THE OIL LEVEL AND FOUND THAT IT WAS AT THE PROPER LEVEL.I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER WHO SAID I NEEDED A NEW ENGINE. NOW I HAVE APPEALED TO FORD MOTER CO. TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT THEIR COST. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE FAILURE BEGAN UNDER WARRANTY BUT ONLY MANIFESTED ITSELF 3 WEEKS AFTER THE WARRANTY PERIOD.

NHTSA complaint #732821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Watkinsvil, GA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WATER PUMPS FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #553284 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST. Louis, MO

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON.

NHTSA complaint #868467 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lumberton, NC

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYED ON THE DASHBOARD CONSTANTLY. VEHICLE WILL NOT MOVE BEYOND 30 MPH IN FIRST GEAR. THEN WHEN VEHICLE IS IN SECOND GEAR IT GOES UP TO 70MPH.

NHTSA complaint #867621 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mount Plea, SC

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CHECK THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON REPEATDLY AFTER BEING FIXED. YH

NHTSA complaint #553095 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pine Hill, NJ

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE PAINT ON THE 1998 CONTOR IS CRACKING ON THE HOOD, ROOF AND TRUNK OF THE VEHICAL AND IS CASING THE PAINT TO BEGIN PEELING. NO SAFETY DEFECT.

NHTSA complaint #719293 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lake Charles, LA Fire

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE OIL LIGHT CAME ON. ENGINE STALLED OUT. NOTICED A REFLECTION OF FLAMES ON THE GROUND. LIFTED HOOD OF VEHICLE & NOTICED THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. DRIVER PUT FLAMES OUT. THE ALTERNATOR WAS JUST REPLACED, TWICE, PRIOR TO FIRE. WAS NO WARNING.

NHTSA complaint #854796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lewisville, TX

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CONSUMER IS HAVING SCHEDULING PROBLEMS IN RECEIVING RECALL REPAIRS (99V-103) (99V-194). MJS

NHTSA complaint #549214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hendersonville, NC

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD LFICKER ON AND OFF BUT NOW STAYS ON WHILE DRIVING. HAVE HAD IT CHECKED OUT NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM. AIR BAG LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING MOSTLY WHEN YOU APPLY BRAKE. HEATER FAN STOPED WORKING REPLACED IT WASN'T THE PROBLEM, THE PIGTAIL CONNECTING TO A REGULATOR BOX HAD SHORTED OUT AND MELTED. FORD PLACE SAID THE WHOLE PIGTAIL WIRING HAD TO BE REPLACED COST ABOUT $400.00 TO REPLACE DIDN'T HAVE IT DONE.

NHTSA complaint #714896 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

BUBBLING OF PAINT UNDER CLEARCOAT (DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT FENDER, PASSENGER'S SIDE REAR DOOR)

NHTSA complaint #713772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Placentia, CA

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. YH

NHTSA complaint #607567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lunberton, NC

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ENGINE CHCEK LIGHT IS ON, AND THERE IS SOME TYPE OF GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #846112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hertford, NC

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #708675 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1998 Ford Contour problems

← Full 1998 Ford Contour report