Owner-reported complaints naming the fuel system system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Ford Contour submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 72 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 72, in the owner's own words
1998 FORD CONTOUR. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BRAKE LINE CORROSION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES THE FAILED. THE REPAIR SHOP, STATED THERE WAS NO BRAKE FLUID IN THE RESERVOIR. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED THE GAS LINE LEADING TO THE TANK HAD TO BE REPLACED, DUE TO CORROSION. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER REFUELING THE VEHICLE, THERE WAS A STRONG GASOLINE FUEL SMELL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THERE WAS A FUEL VAPOR LEAK IN THE FUEL FILLER GROMMET. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 00V350000 (FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000.
THE ENGINE WIRING HARNESS WHICH CONNECTS TO THE VEHICLE'S MAIN POWER SUPPLY BOX HAS WIRING FOR WHICH THE INSULATION COMES OFF EXPOSING LIVE, BARE WIRES. THIS LEADS TO SHORTS IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WHICH AFFECTS DRIVABILITY (ENGINE RUNS ERRATICALLY AND AFFECTS THE ELECTRIC FUEL PUMPS OPERATION) AND COULD LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE IF THE WIRING SUFFERS CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. IT GOES WITHOUT SAYING THAT IF THE CAR'S FUEL SUPPLY OR ENGINE CONTROL SYSTEMS FAIL, THE DRIVER MAY LOSE CONTROL AND BECOME INVOLVED IN A CRASH OR COLLISION. FORD DOES NOT SALE REPLACEMENT PARTS NOR ARE PARTS AVAILABLE ON THE SECONDARY MARKET. THE PART NUMBER FOR THE WIRING HARNESS ON MY CAR IS F8RZ14289CA. FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO REPLACE THESE DEFECTIVE HARNESSES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN DISPENSING FUEL INTO THE FUEL TANK, THE AUTOMATIC FUEL NOZZLE WOULD SHUT OFF AT ANY FUEL CAPACITY LEVEL. THE FAILURE WAS A CONTINUOUS OCCURRENCE WHEN DISPENSING FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THEY INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FUEL PIPE FLAPPER VALVE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A MANUFACTURERS VOLUNTARY RECALL (MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER: 01M04) YET THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 200.
FUEL SPIT-BACK WHILE REFUELING. TOOK TO FORD DEALERSHIP AND SINCE THE EXTENDED COVERAGE FOR THE FUEL PIPE FLAPPER VALVE EXPIRED 5 MONTHS AGO THEY WILL NOT REPAIR. FORD WANTS $300 TO REPAIR. MY CAR ONLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 88,800 MILES AND I DO NOT HAVE $300 TO REPAIR. I CALLED FORD IN MICHIGAN AND THEY SAID THE SAME THING AND EMPHASIZED THE IMPORTANCE OF TAKING CAR TO FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. I TOOK CAR TO FORD IN MISSISSIPPI IN 2002 AND NO MENTION OF RECALL WAS MADE. FORD, IN MY OPINION, SEEMS TO BE OF THE MIND "DO NOT FIX IT IF IT IS NOT BROKE". WELL IT IS BROKE NOW AND IF COVERAGE EXPIRED 5 MONTHS AGO THAT IS NOT A LONG PERIOD OF TIME AND FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR OF THE FUEL PIPE FLAPPER VALVE AS THEY KNOW IT IS DEFECTIVE. WHEN I GET GAS THE FUEL SPILLS ON THE GROUND CAUSING HARM TO MY FAMILY, PASSENGERS IN THE CAR, THE GENERAL PUBLIC AND MYSELF. *TR
FOR SEVERAL YEARS VEHICLE MADE A BANG WHEN GOING OVER A SPEED BUMP JUST ASSUMED IT WAS BUMPER ON SUSPENSION. TODAY I LOOKED UNDER VEHICLE FOUND THAT THE GAS TANK STRAP HAS COMPLETELY RUSTED AWAY AND FROM THE LOOKS OF IT HAS BEEN GONE FOR A LONG TIME. THE BANG MIGHT HAVE BEEN THE TANK. VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGED WITH 61K. *JB
MY 1998 FORD CONTOUR SE HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUNK LEAKING. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR THE TRUNK LEAKS SLOWLY. I FIND HUGE WET SPOTS IN THE CARPET IN MY TRUNK. ALSO THE VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN YOU DRIVE THE VEHICLE THE TRANSMISSION GETS CAUGHT AND HESITATES TO SHIFT.*AK
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE GAS PEDAL WAS APPLIED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THIS OCCURRED BECAUSE OF AN OBSTRUCTION IN THE FLOW OF FUEL TO THE ENGINE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS SERVICED THE VEHICLE 5 TIMES. THEY HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, THE FILTER AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR. THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO SERVICE THE VEHICLE ANYMORE BECAUSE THEY INDICATED THEY HAVE DONE ALL THEY COULD DO TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *NM THE VEHICLE LEAKED OIL OVER THE ENTIRE ENGINE, THE FUEL PRESSURE DROPPED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN ON MOUNTAINOUS AREAS, A SHORT WAS FOUND, AND WIRES WERE FOUND CHAFFED. *SC *JB
WE HAVE A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON. IT FIRST CAME ON IN OCT 01 WE TOOK IT TO THE FORD GARAGE IN DELHI. THEY SAID IT NEEDED A CAM SENSOR/ SOLENOID SPROCKETS ETC. SINCE THAT WAS A LOT OF MONEY WE DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO CANADIAN TIRE TO SEE WHAT THEY THOUGHT. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A CAM SENSOR. WE HAD THEM PUT THAT IN. $58. MILEAGE 111346. IT WORKED FINE FOR A COUPLE WEEKS. WE COMPLAINED TO FORD AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE AWA.. AFTER WARRANTY ADJUSTMENT. THIS HAD NOT BEEN MENTIONED EARLIER. SO WE A NEW SOLENOID SPROCKET ETC. PUT IN BY FORD,, (JAN /02) . HOW IT CAME TO THAT MILEAGE WHEN CTC HAD IT BACK IN NOV/ 01 AND THEN IT WAS* 11134*???? THEY ALSO HAD IT IN DEC AND THE MILEAGE WAS 112279.) THAT BAFFLES ME. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS TO SURFACE AGAIN. MY DAUGHTER HAD THE CAR AT SCHOOL SO SHE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO TAKE IT TO OUR GARAGE IN MAY/28/02 AT THAT TIME THE GARAGE CHECKED #3 CYLINDER CAUSE OF OUR CHECK ENGINE CONCERNS.. COST 39.10. NOTHING WAS DONE AT THAT TIME. THE ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON. FINALLY WE TOOK IT IN AGAIN ON OCT 24TH AND ANOTHER CAM SENSOR WAS PUT ON. $144.46. MILEAGE 130776. ON NOV,.5TH /02 TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND THEY SAID IT WOULD REQUIRE AN EXHAUST CAMSHAFT AND SOLENOID GASKETS AND SEALS. WE AGAIN ASKED ABOUT THE AWA AND THEY SAID NO IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED. THEY SAID THAT THE LAST SOLENOID WAS ONLY COVERED FOR 20,000 KM. HAD THEY DETECTED THE PROBLEM BACK IN MAY WHEN WE BROUGHT IT IN AND HAD THEY WRITTEN DOWN THE CORRECT MILEAGE THEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE WE DID NOT REALLY FEEL THAT THE SOLENOID ( AND REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO PAY $1000 FOR FIXING IT AND THEN FINDING OUT THAT THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER PROBLEM) WAS THE PROBLEM, SINCE WE HAD ALREADY HAD THAT REPLACED ONCE WE CONSIDERED TAKING IT TO A GUY THAT USED TO WORK AT FORD. (HIS WIFE DRIVES A CONTOUR) HE CHECKED THE CAR FOR SURGES. SCAN TESTED IT TRIED VARIOUS COMPUTER PARTS RECHECKED VALVE. ETC,, BUT IT ALL PROVED NEGATIVE.
WHEN FILLING GAS TANK, THE GASOLINE SHUTS OFF AFTER ONLY A FEW CENTS. IT TAKES 10 MINUTES TO GET 3 GALLONS OF FUEL. I NOTICED AN AIR LINE THAT EXITS TO THE RIGHT OF THE GAS FILLER TUBE. I SPRAYED PRESSURIZED AIR AND IT WORKED ENOUGH TO GET ME HOME, BUT AFTER 3-4 FILL UPS LATER, IT STARTED AGAIN. THE PRESSURIZED AIR DOES NOT HELP ANYMORE. *JB
CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. ALTERNATOR, FUEL TANK, GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR, COMPUTER SENSOR'S (VARIABLE CAM TIMING OVER RETARDED), AUTOMATIC SHIFT LABORED AND FAILS, COOLING FAN MOTOR, ETC. THIS VEHICLE IS IN SOME FORM OF REPAIR SHOP ON A REGULAR BASIS. HAVE I DRIVEN A FORD LATELY? YES, AND SORRY I CHOSE TO DO SO. *AK
AFTER GOING THROUGH TWO FUEL PUMPS, FIRST PUMP WENT AT 32000 MILES AND THE SECOND AROUND 62000, I HAVE HAD EXTREME PROBLEMS WITH THE FUEL PUMP. NOW, MY CAR DOESN'T START ON ITS OWN VERY OFTEN. I HAVE TO WIGGLE THE FUEL PUMP UNDER THE BACKSEAT IN ORDER TO START THE CAR. I HAVE, ON OCCASION, HAD THE ENGINE DIE WHILE TRAVELING DOWN THE FREEWAY OR IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. ONCE THE FUEL PUMP WAS WIGGLED, THE CAR STARTED AGAIN AND I WAS ON MY WAY. I TOOK MY CAR TO A WELL TRUSTED MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME THAT FORD DOESN'T HAVE ANY PARTS TO FIX THE VERY LOOSE PIPE THAT RUNS INTO THE FUEL PUMP. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND FEEL THAT MY CAR MAY STALL AND CAUSE MYSELF AND OTHERS GREAT DANGER. PLEASE HELP.*AK
FUEL LEAKING FROM TANK BECAUSE THE NECK WARPED. FORD MOTOR CO. SAYS IT WILL NOT COMPENSATE BECAUSE IT IS OUT OF WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE.*AK
RE: YOUR #00V350000 I HAVE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM WITH ME FORD CONTOUR FOR 2 YEARS FORD REFUSES TO FIX BECAUSE THEY ONLY COVER THE PROBLEM UP TO 100,000 MILES. IT TAKES ME UP TO 25 MINUTES TO FILL MY GAS TANK BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD ONE GAS STATION ATTENDANT ASK ME NOT TO FUEL AT HIS STATION UNTIL I GET IT FIXED. I DON'T HAVE THE EXTRA MONEY TO FIX. $300.00 PLUS. IT IS A FAULTY PART WHY IS IT NOT FIXED? *NLM
CAR IS 5.5 YEARS OLD, AND THE FUEL TANK NEEDED REPLACING. THE TANK WAS LITERALLY FALLING APART AT THE SEAMS, LEADING TO GAS LEAKING FROM THE GAR AND GASOLINE FUMES THROUGHOUT THE HOUSE. IN ADDITION, NO REPLACEMENT PART WAS AVAILABLE DUE TO A NATIONWIDE SHORTAGE. *JB
VEHICLE OPERATOR NOTICED ODOR OF NATURAL GAS IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE BROUGHT TO FRAMINGHAM FORD VIA FLAT BED DETERMINATION FUEL TANK LEAKING. NOT UNDER WARRANTY. HAS EXTENDED WARRANTY, EXPIRES MAY 2003. FORD DENIES COVERAGE. THIS CONSTITUTES A SAFETY HAZARD.----- DIMS 11 IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT-OVER TO ARTEMIS-----------------769739. *AK
CONSUMER STATED FULE WAS LEAKING FROM THE FILLER NECK AREA. MR THE DEALER INSTALLED A NEW FILL TUBE AND SEAL AND PLACED A NEW GASKET ON THE EXHAUST.*JB
CONSUMER STATES STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORM ON THE VEHICLE. RECALL#01F104000 FUEL PIPE. COTTAM WALKER FORD 505-751-3200 PLEASE PROVIDE THE ADDRESS TS
WHEN REFUELING VEHICLE PUMP WILL CUT OFF NUMEROUS TIMES AND FUEL WILL SPILL. THIS HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AT 96000 MILES, CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF EXTENTION OF WARRANTY ON FUEL PIPE. PART WAS ON BACKORDER UNTIL VEHICLE WAS OVER 100000 MILES. NOW FORD REFUSES TO HONOR WARRANTY.*AK
FUEL WAS LEAKING ON THE GROUND DUE TO A CRACK IN SEAMS OF GAS TANK. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT A FIRE CAN START. *AK DEALER FOUND LEAK AT FUEL TANK AND REPLACED. CONSUMER FEELS FUEL TANK IS DEFECTIVE. *TT
WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON DASHBOARD. MINUTES LATER, LIGHT WENT OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED; HOWEVER, MECHANIC CAN NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.*AK CONSUMER ADDS WITH FULL TANK OF GAS, FUEL LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED. *TT
CONSUMER STATES THAT SOMETHING IS LEAKING FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER LOOKED UNDER CAR AND NOTICE GAS LEAKING FROM A PIPE CONNECTED TO THE GAS TANK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM
FUEL PUMP WENT OUT AND CONSUMER FOUND OUT BY TRYING TO START VEHICLE. HOWEVER, VEHICLE WOULD NOT START UP. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED ON DASH,AND BRAKE FLUID WAS LEAKING. DEALER HAS REPLACED REAR BRAKE PRESSURE CONTROL VALVE. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE BREAKS WERE FINE NOW SINCE REPLACING THE DEFECTIVE BRAKE VALVE. THE BLOWER MOTOR HAD NO 3RD SPEED DUE TO BLOWER MOTOR SWITCH FAILURE. IT WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE TAKES FUEL VERY SLOW DUE TO FUEL PIPE FLAPPER VALVE FAILURE. *YH
AFTER GETTER THE RECALL PART REPLACED FOR THE FUEL SYSTEM, NOTICED THAT WHEN THE TANK IS FILLED THE CAR WOULD LEAK FUEL FROM AROUND THE FUEL PUMP. VEHICLE IS LEAKING WATER IN TRUNK AREA DURING RAIN, FAILED SEAL, REPLACE REAR BACK GLASS SEAL AND RESEAL BACK GLASS. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, WEAK, REPLACE CANNISTER PURGE AND VAPOR CANISTER.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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