1998 Ford CONTOUR problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
627 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
85,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 161 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs is the most frequently named component, appearing in 72 of 627 complaints (11.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 65 | 10.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 57 | 9.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 56 | 8.9% |
| Engine operation | 34 | 5.4% |
| Steering behavior | 31 | 4.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 25 | 4.0% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs | 72 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 55 |
| Electrical System | 39 |
| Air Bags | 33 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 27 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 24 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 24 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 23 |
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs: 72; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 55; Electrical System: 39; Air Bags: 33; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 27; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 24; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 24; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 23
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 22 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 35 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 51 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 38 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 22; 50,000 to 74,999: 35; 75,000 to 99,999: 51; 100,000 to 149,999: 38; 150,000 and above: 10
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (51). 466 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 144 |
| 2001 | 143 |
| 2002 | 102 |
| 2003 | 65 |
| 2004 | 52 |
| 2005 | 38 |
| 2006 | 23 |
| 2007 | 16 |
| 2008 | 10 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 9 |
| 2011 | 6 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2000: 144; 2001: 143; 2002: 102; 2003: 65; 2004: 52; 2005: 38; 2006: 23; 2007: 16; 2008: 10; 2009: 8; 2010: 9; 2011: 6; 2012: 1; 2013: 2; 2014: 2; 2015: 3; 2018: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Suspension:Front:Springs:Coil Springs leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 65 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 57 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 56 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10010322 · 2003-03-11 (March 11, 2003)
MY COMPLIANT IS THAT I WAS BACKING MY CAR UP AND THE FRONT BRAKES LOCKED UP SPECIFICALLY THE RIGHT FRONT. THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. YOU COULD SMELL BURNING AND SEE SMOKE FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. I HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. AFTER EXTENSIVE WORK ON THE CAR WE FOUND OUT THAT THE BRAKE CALIPER PISTON WOULD NOT RETRACT INTO THE CALIPER, AFTER THE MECHANIC REASSEMBLED THE CAR, HE FOUND OUT THE RIGHT CALIPER WOULD NOT BLEED OUT, AFTER EXTENSIVE TESTING THE CONCLUSION WAS REACHED NO FLUID WOULD COME OUT OF THE PORT ON THE HYDRAULIC …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010322 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010467 · 2003-03-14 (March 14, 2003)
MY 1998 FORD CONTOUR 4-DOOR SEDAN RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A DEVASTATING FAILURE. WHILE MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT AT LOW SPEED, A SUB-FRAME ASSEMBLY UNDER THE DASH FELL DOWN ON HER FEET. THE ASSEMBLY IS HELD IN PLACE WITH TWO BOLTS WHICH HAD COME LOOSE. AS A RESULT OF THIS, THE STEERING LINKAGE WAS ALLOWED TO DISCONNECT, PERMITTING THE STEERING WHEEL TO SPIN FREELY. HAD THIS HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY SHE WOULD HAVE COMPLETELY LOSS CONTROL, AND BECAUSE THE FRAME FELL ON HER FEET, SHE PROBABLY COULDN'T HAVE APPLIED THE BRAKE. N…
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010467 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008508 · 2003-03-06 (March 6, 2003)
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED PREMATURE TRANSMISSION FAILURE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10008508 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10016619 · 2003-04-28 (April 28, 2003)
VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY JERKS WHEN SHIFTING, SOMETIME VERY VIOLENTLY. VEHICLE HAS ALSO STALLED WHEN NEGOTIATING A TURN IN AN INTERSECTION. VIBRATES OFTEN AT LOW SPEEDS (30 MPH), AS THOUGH IT'S IN TOO HIGH OF A GEAR FOR THE TERRAIN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON INTERMITTENTLY, USUALLY FOR SEVERAL DAYS THEN GOES OFF FOR A FEW DAYS BEFORE COMING BACK ON AGAIN. I'VE GOTTEN TWO ESTIMATES FOR THE REPAIR, BOTH IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $2,500 FOR A REBUILD OF MY TRANSMISSION OR INSTALLATION OF A RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE COOLANT SEN…
Owner-reported narrative. 54,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10016619 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040822 · 2003-09-27 (September 27, 2003)
MY CAR STOPPED RUNNING WHILE I WAS IN MOTION AT AROUND 45 MPH. FORTUNATELY, TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT AND I WAS ABLE TO MOVE MY DISABLED VEHICLE TO A SAFE LOCATION OFF THE ROADWAY. THE COMPUTER WAS DETERMINED TO BE THE PROBLEM AND WAS REPLACED. AFTER PICKING UP THE CAR FROM THE DEALER, I DROVE AROUND THIRTY MILES AND NOTICED THAT THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT WAS ON. RETURNING TO THE DEALER, I WAS INFORMED IT WAS A FAULTY SENSOR. I REPLACED THAT, AND ABOUT 4 MILES LATER, THE CAR DIED AGAIN, WHILE I WAS ON THE ROAD, IN MOTION. THE DEALER MECHANIC SAI…
Owner-reported narrative. 107,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040822 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10060726 · 2004-03-08 (March 8, 2004)
I HAVE A 1998 FORD CONTOUR SVT SITTING MY DRIVEWAY WITH 74,000 MILES ON IT WHICH WILL NOT RUN BECAUSE IT HAS A DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS. I AM AWARE THAT THE 1995 THOURGH 1997 MODELS HAD A FACTORY RECALL BECAUSE THE WIRING HARNESS INSULATION FAILED. THIS CAR IS A 1998 MODEL THAT WAS BUILT IN MAY OF 1997 AND THE INSULATION IS FALLING OFF THE WIRING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE CAR WILL NOT RUN AT THIS TIME DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS WIRING HAS CAUSED A PROBLEM SHORTING OUT. IT IS ALSO HAS MAJOR PROTENTIAL TO BE A LIFE THREATENING FIRE HAZZARD. *…
Owner-reported narrative. 74,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10060726 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009293 · 2003-02-25 (February 25, 2003)
THE VEHICLE STALLED, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.*JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10009670 · 2003-03-03 (March 3, 2003)
THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME STUCK IN ONE DIRECTION. CONSUMER HAD TO USE EXCESSIVE FORCE TO GET STEERING BACK TO THE CENTER. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10009670 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008554 · 2002-11-15 (November 15, 2002)
VEHICLE OPERATOR NOTICED ODOR OF NATURAL GAS IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE BROUGHT TO FRAMINGHAM FORD VIA FLAT BED DETERMINATION FUEL TANK LEAKING. NOT UNDER WARRANTY. HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY, EXPIRES MAY 2003. FORD DENIES COVERAGE. THIS CONSTITUTES A SAFETY HAZARD.----- DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS-----------------769739. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 41,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008554 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10014283 · 2003-04-11 (April 11, 2003)
CAR IS 5.5 YEARS OLD, AND THE FUEL TANK NEEDED REPLACING. THE TANK WAS LITERALLY FALLING APART AT THE SEAMS, LEADING TO GAS LEAKING FROM THE GAR AND GASOLINE FUMES THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE. IN ADDITION, NO REPLACEMENT PART WAS AVAILABLE DUE TO A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10014283 at NHTSA ↗