1998 Ford Contour Recalls
NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 1998 Ford Contour. A recall applies only to vehicles built within the affected range, so check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Repairs for recalls are free at a franchised dealer.
- Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springsCovers: Ford Contour 1998, Mercury Mystique 1998
Reported issue: 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…
Possible consequence: 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.
- Electrical systemCovers: Ford Contour 1996–1998, Mercury Mystique 1996–1998, Cougar 1999
Reported issue: 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…
Possible consequence: 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.
- Fuel system, other › Storage › Tank assemblyCovers: Ford Contour 1998–2000
Reported issue: 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.
Possible consequence: 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.
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation componentsCovers: Ford Contour 1996–2000, Mercury Mystique 1996–2000, Cougar 1999–2000
Reported issue: 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.
Possible consequence: 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.
- Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactiveCovers: Ford Contour 1998, Mercury Mystique 1998
Reported issue: 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.
Possible consequence: 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.
- Vehicle speed controlCovers: Ford Contour 1998, Mercury Mystique 1998, Cougar 1999
Reported issue: 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.
Possible consequence: 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.
- Exterior lighting › Headlights › SwitchCovers: Ford Contour 1996–1998, Mercury Mystique 1996–1998
Reported issue: Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The terminals at the headlight switch and wiring harness connector can experience heat damage as a result of overheating.
Possible consequence: 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.
- Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shiftCovers: Ford Contour 1995–1998, Mercury Mystique 1995–1998
Reported issue: 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.
Possible consequence: This condition can result in incorrect gear selection.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the automatic transmission floor shift control.
- Exterior lighting › HeadlightsCovers: Ford Contour 1998, Taurus 1997–1998, Mercury Sable 1997–1998 +4 more
Reported issue: 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."
Possible consequence: 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.
NHTSA investigations
- RQ02006Incorrect gear indicationClosed · Feb 26, 2002
- EA01001Blower switch/resistor or wiring harnessClosed · Jan 5, 2001
- EA00025Fuel expulsion during refuelingClosed · Oct 4, 2000
- PE00027Fuel expulsion during refuelingClosed · Jul 10, 2000
- PE00023Blower switch/resistor or wiring harnessClosed · Jun 14, 2000
- RQ99019Various intermittent electrical issuesClosed · Sep 15, 1999
- SQ98002Fuel gauge does not read below 1/4Closed · Jan 27, 1998
← All problems reported for the 1998 Ford Contour
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 30, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.