10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
5,588 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Ford Contour miscellaneous problems

miscellaneous problem

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1998 Ford Contour Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #34

Sep 092013

Contour

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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).

- Ellenwood, GA, USA

problem #33

Nov 192007

Contour

  • miles
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 The Ford Motor Company is very negligent in following up with consumers on these issues, and they keep an outdated database of former owners which they fail to update with the current owners in cases where the car ownership has changed hands.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 Wrangler 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

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #32

Mar 212004

Contour

  • miles
My 1998 Ford Contour's paint is peeling and starting to rust on the roof.

- St Peters, MO, USA

problem #31

Nov 152005

Contour 6-cyl

  • Manual transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

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.

- Charles Town, WV, USA

problem #30

Apr 132004

Contour 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 190,000 miles
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.

- Center Barnstead, NH, USA

problem #29

Jul 152003

Contour

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles
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.

- Spottsville, KY, USA

problem #28

Oct 012003

(reported on)

Contour

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Several problems with vehicle has resulted in consumer paying for most of the recall repairs. The vehicle experienced several mechanical problems. The vehicle also caught on fire once.

- St Louis, MO, USA

problem #27

Jun 012000

Contour

  • miles
Engine check ligt comes on for no reason. Has been looked at 5 times in the past year. I recently paid $526 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.

- Gayes, NC, USA

problem #26

Jun 012000

Contour

  • miles
Engine check ligt comes on for no reason. Has been looked at 5 times in the past year. I recently paid $526 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.

- Gayes, NC, USA

problem #25

May 082002

Contour

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
While driving engine light came on and transmission slipped when changing gears which was caused by transmission failure.

- Allenton, WI, USA

problem #24

Jun 212001

Contour

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Engine check light remained illuminated on dash, and brake fluid was leaking. Dealer has replaced rear brake pressure control valve. 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.

- South Charlston, OH, USA

problem #23

Nov 082001

(reported on)

Contour

  • miles
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.

- Harrell, AK, USA

problem #22

Oct 282001

Contour

  • miles
Engine check light came on. Took vehicle to dealer, and they replaced fuel pump.

- Chattahoochee, FL, USA

problem #21

May 232001

Contour

  • miles
The dash is distorted so that the defroster will not work properly. Nlm

- Wallops Island, VA, USA

problem #20

Jul 102001

Contour

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
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.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #19

Oct 232000

Contour

  • miles
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.

- Baton Rouge, LA, USA

problem #18

Oct 122000

Contour

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Car shuts off without warning, while in gear.

- Ontario, CA, USA

problem #17

Sep 012000

Contour

  • miles
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.

- Willow Grove, PA, USA

problem #16

Jul 312000

(reported on)

Contour

  • miles
Water pumps failed.

- Watkinsvil, GA, USA

problem #15

Nov 011997

Contour

  • miles
Engine check light comes on and stays on.

- St. Louis, MO, USA

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