1998 FORD CONTOUR

1189 complaints filed with NHTSA.

1189
Complaints
56
Crashes
23
Fires
63
Injuries
4
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION74
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS73
AIR BAGS50
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM45
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE42
UNKNOWN OR OTHER34
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE34
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP31
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM31
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS28
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL27
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE24
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY23
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS22
SEATS21

Recent Complaints

20110711CrashPOWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

WAS ON I65 WAS DRIVING FINE HIRD A LOUD EXPLOSION ENGINE STARTED TO REV UP A PIECE OF THE TRANSMISSION CASING WENT INTO MY TIRE CAUSING A BLOW OUT, CAR BECAME OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT GAURDRAIL. *TT

Mileage: 115,000

20100728FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WIRING CONNECTOR THAT FEEDS THE HVAC SYSTEM BURNED AND MELTED THE CONNECTOR PLUG AND MAIN FUSE BLOCK AT THE POINT OF THE CONNECTOR. THIS WIRE WAS A SIZE 10 AWG AND IS OVERSIZED FOR THE CONNECTOR THAT IT IS USED FOR. THIS CAUSED A FIRE AT THE CONNECTOR. I HAVE PICTURE IS YOU WOULD LIKE A COPY. *TR

Mileage: 195,000

20070918FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE AND FLAMES RISING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DESTROYED THE VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. AS OF SEPTEMBER 18, 2007, THE DEALER HAD NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 75,237.

Mileage: 75,237

20070915CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

I WAS DRIVING A 1997 FORD CONTOUR. THIS WAS THE CAR I DROVE TO AND FROM WORK. I WAS DRIVING TO LONGVIEW COMMUNITY COLLEGE(LVCC) FOR A REHEARSAL AND LESSON ON THE BRUCE WATKINS DRIVE (HIGHWAY 71) SOUTH. THE TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AS THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT AT THE GRANDVIEW TRIANGLE. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE LANE JUST AT THE 87TH STREET EXIT. A VEHICLE CUT IN FRONT OF ME TO EXIT AT THIS TURN OFF. I WAS SLOWED TO ABOUT 35 MPH AND WAS DRIVING ACROSS A BRIDGE. AT THE END OF THAT BRIDGE WAS A HUGE BUMP. A

Mileage: 187,000

20070628FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. OPEN ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS AND MELTED HOUSING MATERIALS WERE FOUND UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED FORD WHO STATED THAT HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL # 01V230000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). FORD STATED THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE REPAIR WAS NEVER PREVIOUSLY PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,000.

Mileage: 115,000

20050509SEATS

BACK OF DRIVER'S SEAT ON MY 1998 FORD CONTOUR VIN [XXX] BROKE OFF EVENING OF 05/05/05 AS I WAS GETTING OUT OF CAR. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I FEEL THIS IS A RESULT OF DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND/OR MATERIALS, AND THAT FORD SHOULD REPLACE FREE. HOWEVER, WHEN I CONTACTED THEIR CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER THE REPRESENTATIVE SAID FORD WOULD NOT. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Mileage: 85,000

20050417ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DEALER TOLD ME ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD A SHORT. O2 SENSOR & COMPUTER IN CAR. THE CAR HAS HAD TO HAVE THE O2 SENSOR REPLACED 3 TIMES ($1200.00 CHARGED BY TO ME BY DEALER EACH TIME) AND THE COMPUTER RESET. *AK MY COMPLAINT IS THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE ELECTRICAL FIXED AND THE O2 CENSOR REPLACED AGAIN (4 TIME!!)... THE TURN SIGNALS WORK AND THAN DO NOT .. I HAVE BEEN TOLD A SHORT IS IN THE CAR BUT FORD WILL NOT FIND FOR FREE.. I AM TIRED OF FIXING THIS CAR PLEASE PLEASE HELP

Mileage: 32,000

20050417ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

DEALER TOLD ME ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD A SHORT. O2 SENSOR & COMPUTER IN CAR. THE CAR HAS HAD TO HAVE THE O2 SENSOR REPLACED 3 TIMES ($1200.00 CHARGED BY TO ME BY DEALER EACH TIME) AND THE COMPUTER RESET. *AK MY COMPLAINT IS THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE THE ELECTRICAL FIXED AND THE O2 CENSOR REPLACED AGAIN (4 TIME!!)... THE TURN SIGNALS WORK AND THAN DO NOT .. I HAVE BEEN TOLD A SHORT IS IN THE CAR BUT FORD WILL NOT FIND FOR FREE.. I AM TIRED OF FIXING THIS CAR PLEASE PLEASE HELP

Mileage: 32,000

20050314FireVISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

RECALL CAMPAIGN 01V230000 CONCERNING HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IDLING IN THE DRIVEWAY. BOTH TIMES CONSUMER EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, AND VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP. THE MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE HEATER BLOWER WAS THE CAUSE OF BOTH FIRES. CONSUMER CONTRACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. BOTH CONFIRMED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Mileage: 79,000

20041202CrashELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

1.ABS BRAKE FUSE AND BLOWER MOTOR FUSE ARE ONE AND THE SAME, DARN COLD IN MINNESOTA, AND HARD TO GET TOO TO REPLACE. MUST PULL OUT BATTERY FIRST. TO REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC PUMP FOR ABS BRAKES TO FIX PROBLEM...$3000.00, MORE THAN THE CAR IS WORTH FOR TRADE IN OR RESALE VALUE. I FOUND THIS OUT AFTER HITTING A DEER ON NOV. 26 2004. AND DOES NOT INCLUDE COSMETIC DAMAGE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY EITHER. 2.FRONT AND BACK WINDOW MOLDING IS SHRINKING AND FORCING WINDOWS OUT, VERY DRAFTY. 3.SHIFT MODULE

Mileage: 75,000

20040922FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SMOKE THEN FLAMES CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF PARKING IN THE GARAGE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, AND INDICATED THAT THE FIRE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE.*AK

Mileage: 72,000

20040922FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

SMOKE THEN FLAMES CAME FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND WITHIN 5 MINUTES OF PARKING IN THE GARAGE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, AND INDICATED THAT THE FIRE OCCURRED BECAUSE OF AN ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE.*AK

Mileage: 72,000

20040706CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGH AND ANOTHER VEHICLE REAR-ENDED IT, CAUSING CONSUMER'S VEHICLE TO REAR END ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

20040422CrashAIR BAGS

I WAS REAR ENDED INTO ANOTHER CAR ON OCT.29 2002 AND NIETHER THE AIR BAG WORKED AS WELL AS THE SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK. I HAD HEAD, NECK, AND BACK INJURIES AT THAT TIME. I DID'T QUESTION THESE THINGS NOT WORKING BECAUSE I WAS NOT HIT HARD. OCT. 27,2003 I WAS INVOLVED IN THE EXACT SAME TYPE OF ACCIDENT ONLY THIS TIME I WAS HIT HARD FROM BEHIND AND HIT THE CAR INFRONT OF ME HARD. AGAIN NOTHING WORKED AND THIS TIME THE POLICE EVEN QUESTIONED THE AIR BAG. AGAIN I HAVE INJURIES TO MY FACE, HEAD, NECK,

Mileage: 95,463

20040422CrashSEAT BELTS

I WAS REAR ENDED INTO ANOTHER CAR ON OCT.29 2002 AND NIETHER THE AIR BAG WORKED AS WELL AS THE SEATBELT DID NOT LOCK. I HAD HEAD, NECK, AND BACK INJURIES AT THAT TIME. I DID'T QUESTION THESE THINGS NOT WORKING BECAUSE I WAS NOT HIT HARD. OCT. 27,2003 I WAS INVOLVED IN THE EXACT SAME TYPE OF ACCIDENT ONLY THIS TIME I WAS HIT HARD FROM BEHIND AND HIT THE CAR INFRONT OF ME HARD. AGAIN NOTHING WORKED AND THIS TIME THE POLICE EVEN QUESTIONED THE AIR BAG. AGAIN I HAVE INJURIES TO MY FACE, HEAD, NECK,

Mileage: 95,463

20040404FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

FORD REFUSED TO HONOR RECALL CAMPAIGN #01V230000 MANUFACTURER'S CAMPAIGN #01S22 CLAIMING "WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED". *NM

20040205FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

THE VEHICLE'S BLOWER SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE AROUND THE STEERING COLUMN. *NM

Mileage: 80,500

20031203CrashFatalSEAT BELTS:FRONT

1998 FORD CONTOUR SEAT BELT JAMMED WHEN VEHICLE LANDED UPSIDE DOWN IN A CREEK RESULTING IN A FATALITY.*MR THE CONSUMER'S TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER DROWNED BECAUSE THE DRIVER WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE SEAT BELT. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE RECEIVED TWO LACERATIONS. *JB *NM

20031116CrashFatalSEAT BELTS

CAR TURNED OVER UPSIDE DOWN IN SMALL CREEK. SAFETY BELT OF DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER FAILED TO RELEASE AFTER MULTIPLE ATTEMPTS BY DRIVER. THE REAR PASSENGER WAS MY TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND SHE DIED, BECAUSE THE SAFETY BELTS FAILED TO RELEASE AND JAMMED. SHE DROWNED AND MY SISTER IN LAW WAS THE DRIVER AND ALMOST DIED DUE TO THE SAFETY BELTS JAMMING AND NOT RELEASING, SO SHE WAS UNABLE TO GET TO MY DAUGHTER. THE FIRST PEOPLE ON THE SCENE HAD TO CUT THE SAFETY BELTS FOR THEM TO GET THEM BOTH O

20031021CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE

ON SEPTEMBER 29, 2000 THIS VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN THREE CAR CRASH. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *AK THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED FULLY AND REMAINED INFLATED ALTHOUGH THE DRIVER WAS THE ONLY OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR INFLATED 50% THE DEFLATED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES TO HER CHEST/RIBS. THE DEALER REPLACED THE AIR BAG SENSOR. *NLM

Mileage: 108,000