Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1998 record →
THE CONSUMER HAS RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR SHIFT LEVER DAMAGE. SINCE THE CONSUMER RECEIVED THE LETTER, THE PARTS HAVE BEEN UNAVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE AIR BAG LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON, AND THE THE HORN DOESN'T WORK. ALSO, THE HORN IS VERY HARD WHEN TRYING TO PRESS IT. DEALER REPAIRED THE HORN, AND THE PROBLEM IS BACK, AND THEY CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK
THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF. CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM IN JUNE OF 98, BUT THE LIGHT STOPPED FLASHING WITHOUT BEING SERVICED. THE VEHICLE WILL BE CHECKED BY THE DEALERSHIP. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE VIBRATES AND THE VEHICLE CUTS OFF WITHOUT GIVING ANY PRIOR WARNING. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES THEY ARE HARD AND FOOT GOES ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIRS THREE TIMES, AND THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACED THE AIR BAG DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIERE WASN'T ANY AIR IN THE AIR BAG. *AK
THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL LETTER FOR AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER INDICATOR, RECALL NUMBER 98S26. AFTER A DELAY IN OBTAINING PARTS, THE RECALL REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED, NO PROBLEM SINCE. *AK *ML
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE #98V233000 FOR THE SHIFT LEVER, BUT THE DEALER DOESN'T HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX THE VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER, CONTACTED DEALER. NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. RECALL NUMBER 98V233000. DEC.15,1998 AT 8;00 AM THE SERVICE WAS DONE. *AK.ET.
IGNITION ALLOWED DRIVER TO PULL KEY OUT OF IGNITION WHILE AUTOMOBILE WAS STILL IN DRIVE-. THE AUTOMOBILE ROLLED BACKWARD WHEN DRIVEN EVEN IF THE KEY WAS OUT OF IGNITION. *AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING DOWN STREET WHEN BOTH AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, DRIVER WAS INJURED, BURNED. RESULTED IN ACCIDENT. *AK *ML
WHEN DRIVING AT 45 MPH THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF.CONSUMER IS ALSO HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW AND THE BACK WINDOW WOULDN'T ROLL DOWN. THE DEALER HAD TO REPLACE THE RELAY PART OF THE WINDOW. *AK
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE. ENGINE IS VERY LOUD. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED. THE MANUFACTURER HAS YET TO BE CONTACTED. *AK
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.
WHILE DRIVING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS/TAIL LIGHTS/INTERIOR LIGHTS TO GO OUT, WHICH ALMOST CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. CURRENTLY AT DEALER AWAITING PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE JUMPS INTO GEAR ON ITS OWN. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE IS VERY LOUD. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THERE ISN'T ANY LIGHT IN THE INSIDE FOR THE CONSUMER TO BE ABLE TO USE THE SUN ROOF, AND THE CONSUMER STATES THAT IS A SAFETY DEFECT. *AK
VIOLENT DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAG RESULTED IN BURNS TO PASSENGERS FACE.
CONSUMER WAS SITTING AT STOP LIGHT WHEN SHE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WAS INJURED. *AK
FUEL LEAKS FROM FUEL TANK. OCCURS WHILE DRIVING OR PARKED. HAS HAPPENED AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT TIMES. *AK
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE PARKED AND THE IGNITION OFF THE VEHICLE WILL SLIP OUT OF GEAR WITHOUT ANY WARNING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
CRUISE CONTROL NOT ATTACHED TO THROTTLE RESULTING IN SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND LOSS OF CONTROL.
GAS TANK FAILED SINCE OWNERSHIP, GAS LEAKING WITH FUMES ENTERING VEHICLE.
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILS TO CLEAN WINDOW PROPERLY. WIPER REPLACED, PROBLEM STILL PERSIST.
CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF UNPLEASANT ODOR COMING FROM VENT WHENEVER A/C OR HEATER ARE TURNED ON. VEHICLE BEEN IN/OUT DEALER SHOP, AND CONDITION STILL UNRESOLVED. *AK
VEHICLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE REMOTE KEY ENTRY AND DOES NOT START. OWNER BELIEVES A DEFECT EXISTS IN THE FACTORY INSTALLED ALARM SYSTEM.
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL BROKE OFF FROM THE AXLE, CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH, A VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO BE REARENDED FROM BEHIND. THE CONSUMER'S SEAT BROKE IN HALF, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTACT WIHT THE PEDAL. VEHICLE ENDED UP HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE IN FRONT. CONSUMER RECEIVED MINOR INJURIES. CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK
WHILE DRIVING IN HEAVY TRAFFIC VEHICLE IDLES ROUGH, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO DEALER, AND PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DUPLICATED. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK
WAS DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 40MPH IT STALLED OUT FOR NO REASON. HAD CHECKED UNDERHOOD, THE TIMING BELT BROKE. ALSO, THE WATER PUMP & HEAD GASKET FAILED. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER.*AK
SEAT BELT ON THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE IS NOT SAFE FOR ADULTS BECAUSE OF THE MODIFICATION FOR CHILD SEATS. THE SEAT BELT LOCKS UP WHICH DOES NOT ALLOW THE PASSENGER ANY NORMAL MOVEMENT. *AK
ENGINE STALLING CONTINUALLY, HISSING AND STEAMING WHEN TURNED OFF.
WHENEVER THE BUILT-IN CHILD SAFETY SEAT STRAP CLIP IS PULLED OR TUGGED ON, IT BECOMES UNLATCHED. THIS HAPPENS AFTER IT'S LOCKED IN (CLICKED SOUND) & THE DOT TURNS FROM RED TO GREEN TO SAY SEAT IS LATCHED IN PROPERLY. *AK
WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT THERE IS A REFLECTION ON THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE AT NIGHT. DEALER DETERMINED THE PROBLEM DUE TO THE PLASTIC COVERING ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH HAS DUST UNDERNEATH. DEALER HAS YET TO REPLACE ANY PARTS. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTING IN COLLISION.
A LARGE PORTION OF BACK SPLIT 40/60 FOLD DOWN SEATIS VERY DIFFICULT TO LATCH INTO UPRIGHT POSITION. IT TAKE SNUMEROUS ATTRMPTS AT SLAMMING THE SEATBACK, USING A LOT OF FORCE BEFORE THE LATCH WILL CATCH.
VEHICLE HAS SEVERE VIBRATION FROM FRONT DRIVE TRAIN AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60-70 MPH.
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A HARD SHIFTING PROBLEM.
UNSPECIFIED.
REAR DISC BRAKES DRAGGING. THE REAR BRAKE PADS REMAIN IN CONTACT WITH THE ROTORS EVEN WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE AND SERVICE BRAKE ARE RELEASED. SYMPTOMS REAR WHEELS WILL NOT TURN FREELY, REAR ROTORS APPEAR SCORED FROM CONTINUOUS PAD-CONTACT, EXCEPTIONALLY POOR FUEL ECONOMY (17-18 MPG HIGHWAY VS. 29 MPG EPA/DOE RATING). DEALER AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSE TO ADMIT EXISTENCE OF A PROBLEM ALTHOUGH THE REAR BRAKES CLEARLY FAIL THE DIAGNOSTIC 'PINPOINT TESTS' SPECIFIELD IN FORD'S 1998 CONTOUR/MYSTIQUE WORKSHOP MANUAL. THE CAUSE OF PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED, BUT IT MAY BE RELATED TO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS TSB 97-5-2 AND/OR TSB 96-25-6.
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 60 MPH THE HEADLIGHTS DID NOT WORK WHILE IN USE AT NIGHT. THE MANUFACTURER TOLD CONSUMER THIS WAS NOT SAFETY PROBLEM. *AK
THE SHOULDER BELT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAS PULLED AWAY FROM THE FRAME. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *AK
THE INTERLOCK SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE INTERLOCK SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL AND COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK
DAS TANK DEFORMED, RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER/STALLING. IN ADDITION. IN ADDITION, STUTTERING OF ENGINE DUE TO FALSE GAS GAUGE READINGS. *AK
AIR BAG: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30MPH ANOTHER CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT, HIT THE BRAKES AND CAR DID NOT STOP IN TIME, RAN INTO THE PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE OTHER CAR, AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. LIGHT HAD BEEN FLASHING PREVIOUSLY, AND DEALER LOOKED AT IT AND SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. *AK
TWO DAYS AFTER PURCHASE RADIATOR CRACKED ON THE SEAMS RESULTING IN LEAKAGE.
DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND ALL THE LIGHTS ON THE VEHICLE WILL GO OFF; WILL STAY OFF FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES AND THEN COME BACK ON. BRAKE LIGHTS KEEP BURNING ALL THE TIME EVEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. *AK
PARKING BRAKE FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1998 Ford Contour → · Every Contour year → · How the figures are calculated →