CarModelProblems.com

1998 Ford Contour Problems & Recalls

Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026

Typical complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Power Train:automatic Transmission — is about in line with the fleet median for that category across the 2391 model-years tracked on this site.
846Complaints
12Recalls
50Crashes
20Fires
54Injured
4Deaths

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

Is this problem acknowledged?

The most-reported problem — Power Train:automatic Transmission (8.7% of complaints) — is covered by 1 NHTSA recall campaign.

4 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 2 rest on owner reports alone.

Complaint categoryReportsOfficial statusReference
Power Train:automatic Transmission74 · 8.7%RecalledRecall 98V233000
Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs73 · 8.6%RecalledRecall 08E033000 · Recall 01I013000 · Recall 01V255000
Air Bags50 · 5.9%RecalledRecall 99V243000
Electrical System45 · 5.3%RecalledRecall 01V230000
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline42 · 5%No official action
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine34 · 4%No official action

Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS50 · 5.9%
Unspecified / other34 · 4%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE34 · 4%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP31 · 3.7%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM31 · 3.7%
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS28 · 3.3%

Percentages are the share of the 846 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.

Recalls — 12 campaigns

Suspension

NHTSA campaign 08E033000 · 2008 · reported 04/14/2008

THE NUTS INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGING FOR THESE BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES ARE MISSING THE INTENDED PREVAILING TORQUE (SELF-LOCKING) FEATURE. IF THE INCORRECT NUT WAS TO BECOME LOOSE, THE JOINING MEMBERS MAY LOOSEN LEADING TO A SEPARATION OF THE BALL JOINT.… Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

NHTSA campaign 06E022000 · 2006 · reported 03/13/2006

LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID CAN LEAD TO A DECREASE IN BRAKE LINE PRESSURE AND AN INCREASE IN STOPPING DISTANCE, WHICH CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components

NHTSA campaign 00V075000 · 2000 · reported 03/09/2000

IF BOTH PCRV'S MALFUNCTION, VEHICLE HANDLING COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED DURING BRAKING AS A RESULT OF THE REAR WHEELS LOCKING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

NHTSA campaign 01I013000 · 2001 · reported 08/08/2001

SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Suspension:front:springs:coil Springs

NHTSA campaign 01V255000 · 2001 · reported 08/08/2001

SOME TIRES HAVE DEFLATED DUE TO CONTACT WITH A BROKEN SPRING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Fuel System, Other:storage:tank Assembly

NHTSA campaign 00V350000 · 2000 · reported 10/30/2000

IF THE GROMMET IS DAMAGED, FUEL COULD LEAK. FUEL LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Air Bags:frontal:sensor/control Module-inactive

NHTSA campaign 99V243000 · 1999 · reported 09/08/1999

IN SOME CASES, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT CAN ILLUMINATE AND THE AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM DISABLED. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Electrical System

NHTSA campaign 01V230000 · 2001 · reported 07/09/2001

THE OPEN CIRCUIT COULD LEAD TO ELECTRICAL ARCING THAT COULD MELT THE CONNECTOR HOUSING MATERIAL CREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Vehicle Speed Control

NHTSA campaign 99V194000 · 1999 · reported 07/20/1999

THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE THROTTLE STICKING, BINDING, OR CAUSING HIGH ENGINE RPM. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting:headlights

NHTSA campaign 98V028000 · 1998 · reported 02/10/1998

IF THE HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES ARE REPLACED, CUSTOMERS MAY BE CONFUSED BY THE AIMING INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN THE OWNER GUIDES CAUSING THE HEADLAMPS TO BE IMPROPERLY AIMED. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Power Train:automatic Transmission:lever And Linkage:floor Shift

NHTSA campaign 98V233000 · 1998 · reported 09/18/1998

THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INCORRECT GEAR SELECTION. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

NHTSA campaign 99V103000 · 1999 · reported 05/05/1999

THE DAMAGE COULD RESULT IN DISTORTION OF THE TERMINAL CAUSING AN OPEN CIRCUIT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATION, PARKING LAMP, AND TAIL LAMP CIRCUITS. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

PARK-IT: NO  · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO  ·  OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO

Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What owners report

“THERE WAS NO NOTIFICATION OF RECALL CONCERNING TRANSMISSION FAILURE.”NHTSA complaint 845222 — filed 08/17/1999 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
“THIS IS THE SECOND CD4E TRANSMISSION WE HAVE HAD THAT FAILED AT APPROXIMATELY THE SAME MILEAGE. THE FIRST WAS A 1995 MAZDA 626, SERIAL# 11YVGE22C6S5374843…”NHTSA complaint 710084 — filed 08/17/1999 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
“WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, TOOK OFF GOING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN, AND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. COASTED VEHICLE TO THE SIDE.CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER…”NHTSA complaint 844702 — filed 08/09/1999 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Complaint trend by year filed

82200368462005262020071192009992011132013352015412024

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 1998 Ford Contour?

Power train:automatic transmission issues are the most-reported category, cited in 74 of 846 NHTSA complaints (8.7%), followed by suspension:front:springs:coil springs (73), air bags (50), electrical system (45). Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How many complaints does the 1998 Ford Contour have?

846 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 50 involved a crash, 20 involved a fire, and 54 reported injuries. 4 deaths were reported.

Does the 1998 Ford Contour have any recalls?

Yes — 12 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 08E033000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Has NHTSA acted on the 1998 Ford Contour's reported problems?

4 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.

Is a complaint proof of a defect?

No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.