1998 Ford Contour

Complaint history

When NHTSA received these reports. Changes in reporting alone do not establish a change in failure rates.

Problems owners report

Listed groups have at least 3 complaints. The page includes the 20 largest groups plus any additional flagged groups; some complaints are not assigned to a group.

AI groups complaints by meaning; the groups are approximate. Share ratio compares the problem’s share of this vehicle’s complaints with its share on other vehicles over the last 24 months (shown from 3 recent complaints). A 2× ratio means twice the complaint share, not twice the failure risk. Flags mark unusual shares or recent surges after an AI review of the complaint content. “First signal” does not mean the pattern has persisted continuously.How recall estimates are calculated.

Recalls

• NHTSA recall #01V255000August 8, 2001108,000 vehicles affected

  suspension: front: springs: coil springs

  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.

  Some tires have deflated due to contact with a broken spring.

  Remedy

  Dealers will install spring catcher brackets. Owner notification began october 23, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332.

• NHTSA recall #01V230000July 9, 2001342,962 vehicles affected

  electrical system

  On certain my 1996-1998 passenger vehicles built at the kansas city, cuautitlan assembly plants or on my 1999 passenger vehcles built at the automotive alliance international assembly plants, the rough surface of the heater blower resistor's stainless steel blades Can damage the copper surface of the wiring harness connector. The damage could, over time, cause increased resistance in the connector and, due to subsequent terminal relaxation, result in an open circuit condition.

  The open circuit could lead to electrical arcing that could melt the connector housing material creasing the potential for a fire.

  Remedy

  Dealers will install a new heater blower resistor and a new wire jumper harness. Owner notification began august 29, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.

• NHTSA recall #00V350000October 30, 20003,750 vehicles affected

  fuel system, other: storage: tank assembly

  Vehicle description: bi-fuel vehicles. These vehicles may have a fuel tank filler pipe grommet that could have been damaged during the installation of the bi-fuel system. If the grommet is damaged, fuel could leak. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire. Dealers will replace the fuel tank filler pipe grommet.

  If the grommet is damaged, fuel could leak. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire.

  Remedy

  Dealers will replace the fuel tank filler pipe grommet.

• NHTSA recall #00V075000March 9, 2000436,200 vehicles affected

  service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components

  Vehicle description: passenger vehicles not equipped with the anti-lock braking system (ABS). A pressure conscious reducing valve (pcrv) in the rear brakes may be subject to corrosion and result in malfunction, when operated in areas that use salt compounds on the roadway for de-icing or dust control.

  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.

  Remedy

  Dealers will install improved pcrv's in the rear brake system. This recall was expanded in september 2000 to include 1999 and 2000 Ford Contour, mercury mystique and cougar vehicles.

• NHTSA recall #99V243000September 8, 1999280,481 vehicles affected

  air bags: frontal: sensor/control module-inactive

  Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The air bag sensor wiring pigtail insulation Can become brittle and crack over time due to accumulation of water in the pigtail protective convolute in combination with high underhood temperatures related to the routing of the wiring pigtail near the radiator. This Can result in environmental stress cracking of the insulation.

  In some cases, the air bag warning light Can illuminate and the air bag supplemental restraint system disabled.

  Remedy

  Dealers will install air bag sensors with revised wiring insulation. In addition, vehicles which have the air bag warning light illuminated will have a new air bag diagnostic monitor installed.

• NHTSA recall #99V194000July 20, 1999159,565 vehicles affected

  vehicle speed control

  Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The accelerator cable may have been manufactured with a burr on or near the end of the cable sleeve interior. This burr could fray the core wire resulting in the accelerator not returning to idle when the accelerator is released.

  This condition Can result in the throttle sticking, binding, or causing high engine rpm.

  Remedy

  Dealers will install a revised accelerator cable that has a flared conduit sleeve end and molded on end fitting.

• NHTSA recall #99V103000May 5, 1999605,581 vehicles affected

  exterior lighting: headlights: switch

  Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The terminals at the headlight switch and wiring harness connector Can experience heat damage as a result of overheating.

  The damage could result in distortion of the terminal causing an open circuit in the instrument panel illumination, parking lamp, and tail lamp circuits.

  Remedy

  Dealers will install a headlamp switch wiring connector containing bronze terminals and an inspection, and replacement if necessary, of the headlamp switch.

• NHTSA recall #98V233000September 18, 1998175,000 vehicles affected

  power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift

  Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The floor shift automatic transmission control Can be damaged if subjected to certain interior cleaning products. The gear position indicator Can deteriorate and not correctly indicate the actual gear position.

  This condition Can result in incorrect gear selection.

  Remedy

  Dealers will replace the automatic transmission floor shift control.

• NHTSA recall #98V028000February 10, 1998571,800 vehicles affected

  exterior lighting: headlights

  Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The text and/or graphics for the vehicle headlamp aiming instructions provided in the owner guides are not sufficiently clear. This does not meet the requirements of FMVSS no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."

  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.

  Remedy

  Owner guides containing revised aiming instructions will be mailed to owners of these vehicles.

Other model years

• 1995 891
• 1996 563
• 1997 218
• 1998
• 1999 419
• 2000 199