Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 1998 Ford Contour
NHTSA data on file today
The 1998 Ford Contour has 12 NHTSA recall campaigns on file as of . try.vin has no NHTSA owner complaints on file for the 1998 Ford Contour. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #08E033000 AFTERMARKET BALL JOINT ASSEMBLIES NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E022000 BRAKE HYDRAULIC MASTER CYLINDER NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01I013000 FORD/FRONT COIL SPRINGS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01V255000 FORD/FRONT COIL SPRING CORROSION NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #01V230000 FORD/HEATER BLOWER RESISTOR NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V350000 FORD/FUEL TANK FILLER PIPE GROMMET NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #00V075000 FORD/REAR BRAKE VALVE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V243000 FORD/AIR BAG SENSOR ASSEMBLY NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V194000 FORD/THROTTLE CABLE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #99V103000 FORD/HEADLIGHT SWITCH/WIRING HARNESS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V233000 FORD/SHIFT LEVER DAMAGE NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #98V028000 FORD/FMVSS 108 NHTSA notice
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,000–$9,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 1998 Ford Contour has no owner complaints on record, but it has a significant number of recall campaigns (12), suggesting reliability issues. The recalls highlight problems with suspension, brakes, electrical system, and more, indicating potential vulnerability to component failures.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suspension system | Unknown | $500–$1,500 | occasional |
| Brake system | Unknown | $300–$900 | occasional |
| Electrical system | Unknown | $200–$800 | occasional |
| Fuel system | Unknown | $400–$1,000 | rare |
| Airbag system | Unknown | $300–$700 | rare |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Brake fluid replacement
- Coolant system service
- Transmission fluid check
- Suspension inspection
- Brake pad replacement
- Air filter changes
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Suspension noise or instability
- Brake pedal softness
- Electrical system malfunctions
- Fuel smell or leakage
- Airbag warning light
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 1998 Ford Contour at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.