Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. 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. 102 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 102, in the owner's own words
Vehicle won't pass inspection due to a Broken or cracked coil spring front passenger side. It was in a recall that we never received notification. And I don't feel like we should be out over $200 to get it licensed.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE PARKED HIS VEHICLE OVERNIGHT AND THE NEXT MORNING HIS FRONT LEFT SPRING HAD SNAPPED IN HALF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS TIRE WAS PUNCTURED AS WELL. HE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO DO ANYTHING FOR HIM. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 89,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRINGS CAME OUT OF THE SPRING CATCHER BRACKET WHILE CHANGING THE TIRES. IF A TIRE WERE THERE, IT WOULD HAVE BURST. THE VIN WAS EXCLUDED FROM NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V255000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT WILLING TO ASSIST OR ASSUME ANY LIABILITY FOR THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE LESS THAN 127,000. UPDATED 07/28/09 *BF UPDATED 07/30/09.*JB
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING 25MPH THE FRONT COIL SPRING ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE BROKE AND DISABLED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. SHE STATES THAT SHE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, WHERE THEY STATED THAT HER VEHICLE VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED. THE TOTAL COST ON REPAIRS WAS $950.00. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER IS: 01V255000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 47,020.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR REGULARLY SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE COIL SPRING FAILED. IN 2001, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 01V255000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS). THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AT THAT TIME AND STATED THAT NO REPAIR WAS NEEDED. HOWEVER, NOW THAT THE FAILURE HAS OCCURRED, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS NO LONGER VALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 81,000. UPDATED 01/09/08. *LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE COILS SPRINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED REPLACED HEADLIGHT SWITCH AND CABLE IN ENGINE. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR UPDATED 06/04/08. *LJ
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A FRACTURED COIL SPRING DURING A ROUTINE INSPECTION. THERE IS A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE SUSPENSION: FRONT: SPRINGS: COIL SPRINGS (NHTSA CAMPAIGN #01I013000) HOWEVER HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 124,000.
THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LEFT FRONT SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE WHILE THE CAR WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, WHO FOUND RECALL NOTICE AND REPLACED LEFT SPRING AND LEFT TIRE AT NO CHARGE. LESS THAN A YEAR LATER THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE RIGHT SPRING AND TIRE. CAR WAS AGAIN TOWED TO DEALER, WHO AGAIN REPLACED THE SPRING AND TIRE AT NO CHARGE AS THIS WAS A RECALL PROBLEM. DEALER COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE RIGHT SPRING HAD BROKEN BECAUSE HE CLAIMED THAT THE RIGHT SPRING HAD BEEN AUTOMATICALLY CHANGED WHEN THE LEFT ONE FAILED AS PART OF THE RECALL SPRING REPLACEMENT INSTRUCTIONS. THAT MEANT THAT THE RIGHT SPRING FAILED AFTER BEING ON THE CAR ONLY 10 MONTHS. CAR IS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR LX. MILEAGE 75,000. THE CAR HAS PERFORMED FINE OTHER THAN THIS SPRING PROBLEM. *AK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT SPRINGS FAILED ON THE VEHICLE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE WAS FLAT. ONCE THE TIRE WAS REMOVED IT WAS EVIDENT THAT THE FRONT COIL SPRING HAD PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 85,000.*AK
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE WAS FLAT. IN THE PROCESS OF FIXING THE TIRE THE CONTACT REALIZED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT COIL SPRING DETACHED AND PUNCTURED THE TIRE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED REGARDING THE COIL SPRING. THERE WAS RECALL # 01I013000. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 81,320.AK
AS OF TODAY MY CAR HAS 100250 MILES. THE PROBLEM IS THAT I TOOK MY CAR TO THE MECHANIC FOR ROUTINE CHECKUP AND HE FOUND THAT THE FRONT AND BACK COIL SPRING ARE DEFECTIVE AND MUST BE REPLACED ASAP. I WENT TO THE WEB SITE (NHTSA) AND I FOUND THAT THESE CARS DON'T HAVE A SAFETY RECALL HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY REPLACEMENT FOR THE DEFECTIVE PART AT NOT COST TO THE OWNER. I NEED FORD TO CONTACT ME VIA E-MAIL OR BY MAIL TO WHERE I CAN TAKE MY CAR (A SERVICE CENTER AUTHORIZED NEAR TO MY HOUSE) TO REPAIR MY CAR AT NOT CHARGE. I USE MY CAR PRIMARILY AS A FAMILY CAR AND I NEED MY CAR IN GOOD CONDITION FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. *JB
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT COMPLAINED ABOUT A REAR COIL SPRING PROBLEM. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE HAVING THE TIRES REPLACED THE MECHANIC INFORMED HER THAT THE LEFT REAR COIL SPRING BROKE. THE MECHANIC RECOMMENDED THAT BOTH COIL SPRINGS BE REPLACED. A RECALL ON THE FRONT COIL SPRING WAS ISSUED, BUT NOT ON THE REAR. THE DEALERSHIP STATED THEY COULD NOT OFFER ANY TYPE OF SERVICE UNDER A RECALL, AND THAT THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER CONFIRMED THIS DECISION BY THE DEALERSHIP.*AK
DT: THE CALLER FOUND A RECALL ON THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS, BUT THE MANUFACTURER SAYS IT WAS AN OWNER NOTIFICATION AND NOT A RECALL. THE CALLER HAS NOT HAD THE FAILURE YET THE VEHICLE WAS MAKING A NOISE. THE DEALER SAID THERE WAS SOME CORROSION ON THE COIL N SPRINGS. MANUFACTURER SAID THEY COULD NOT REPLACE THE COIL SPRINGS UNTIL THEY FRACTURED.*AK
JAN, 2004: 1998 FORD CONTOUR RECALL PERFORMED (BRACKETS FOR FRONT SPRINGS). AUG, 2005: REPLACED TIRES ON 1998 FORD CONTOUR SE USING P205/60R15 TIRES SUGGESTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THE TIRES MADE CONTACT WITH THE BRACKET BOLTS INSTALLED DURING THE RECALL, CAUSING TIRE TO BE GOUGED (TRIED 3 BRANDS, ALL HAD SAME CONTACT PROBLEM). FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRACKET. I ENDED UP USING A DIFFERENT TIRE SIZE: P195/65R15, WHICH BARELY CLEARS THE BRACKED BOLTS. I BELIEVE THERE IS A PROBLEM ON THE 1998 FORD CONTOUR SE BRACK RECALL / TIRE COMBINATION.
THE FRONT COIL SPRING BROKE AND PUNCTURED THE FRONT LEFT TIRE, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE SUSPENSION SYSTEM BROKE DOWN AND THE ROD IN THE SYSTEM HIT THE TIRE AND FLATTENED IT. *JB...*AK THE CONSUMER HEARD OF A RECALL ON THIS PART AND REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *NM
DT: VEHICLE STARTED MAKING LOUD NOISES AND THE BRAKES FAILED. CALLER WAS DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AND HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CALLER SAID BRAKES DID NOT WORK VERY WELL WHEN SHE TRIED TO GET THE CAR HOME. DEALER SAID THE FRONT LEFT ROTOR BROKE ,AND REAR WHEEL BEARING WORE OUT . MANUFACTURER WILL NOT OFFER ANY HELP.*AK
THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN IN FOR INSPECTION ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND NOW THE COIL SPRING HAS BROKEN AND DAMAGED THE BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. FORD HAS RECALLED SOME OF THIS YEAR MODEL BUT NOT THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE VIN. CUSTOMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE COIL SPRING, BRAKE HOSE AND CV JOINT BOOT. *TT
I WENT IN TO GET NEW TIRES PUT ON AND DURING THE INSPECTION THE FRONT COIL SPRINGS ARE BORKEN. THE COIL SPRING ON THE RIGHT IS BROKEN IN TWO PLACES. I LOOKED FOR A WARRANTY AND THERE DOES EXISIT ONE FOR THE CONTOUR BUT BASED ON MY VIN IT DOES NOT COVER IT.
1998 FORD CONTOUR FRONT SPRING BROKE WHEN ENTERING THE GARAGE. *MR RECALL CAMPAIGN#'S: 01I013000 AND 01V255000. ON ANOTHER OCCASION THE DEALER FOUND BOTH BACK SPRINGS BROKEN AND REPLACED THEM ON APRIL 27, 2005. *SC *JB
DURING ROUTINE INSPECTION THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT FRONT DRIVER COIL SPRING BROKE. THE PROBLEM WAS NOT REPAIRED, AND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DETERMINED. *AK *SC
WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH FRONT COIL SPRING PUNCTURED THE FRONT DRIVER'S TIRE. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER, AND HAD THE TIRE CHANGED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AN ALIGNMENT AND DISCOVERED THE FRONT COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN. DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT THE SPECIAL EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS PARTICULAR PART AND PAID FOR THE REPAIRS MYSELF. FORD ADMITS THERE IS A PROBLEM BUT WON'T REIMBURSE ME BECAUSE WORK WAS DONE BY A NON-FORD AUTHORIZED REPAIR SHOP AFTER THE LETTER NOTIFYING ME OF THE EXTENDED WARRANTY WAS SENT OUT. EVEN THOUGH THE LETTER WAS SENT OUT TWO YEARS BEFORE THE PART ACTUALLY FAILED. EVEN IF FORD DOESN'T WANT TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE LABOR DONE BY THE NON-FORD SHOP, THEY SHOULD AT LEAST REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COIL SPRINGS BECAUSE THEY HAD TO BE ORDERED DIRECTLY FROM FORD!! *AK
FRONT COIL SPRING ON MY 1998 SVT CONTOUR BROKE. APPARENTLY FORD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON THE COIL SPRINGS ON THE BASE CONTOUR BUT NOT ON THE SVT CONTOUR WHICH IS APPARENTLY ABLE TO HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A POPPING NOISE WAS PRODUCED FROM THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE. WHEN DRIVER LOOKED OUT SHE DIDN'T SEE ANYTHING SO SHE CONTINUED TO DRIVE. SUDDENLY DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE TIRE. SHE PULLED OVER. AS A RESULT THE COIL SPRING BROKE, PUNCTURING THE TIRE. NO IMPACT REPORTED. TWO WEEKS LATER THE PASSENGER'S SIDE COIL SPRINGS FAILED, PUNCTURING THE SECOND TIRE. *AK *TS
THE CONSUMER'S HUSBAND SUSPECTED THAT ONE OF THE COIL SPRINGS WAS BROKEN. BUT WHEN HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE MECHANIC, HE WAS TOLD THAT ALL FOUR COIL SPRINGS WERE BROKEN. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HER HUSBAND KEPT HEARING A THUMPING NOISE WHILE DRIVING. *AK SHORTLY AFTER, TWO TIRES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. RECAL#'S 01I013000 AND 01V255000. *SC *JB
I OWN A 1998 FORD CONTOUR COVERED BY RECALLS 01S23-01M08 PERTAINING TO FRONT SPRING FRACTURE AND EXTENDING WARRANTY TO COVER 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE FALLS UNDER THE TIME AND MILEAGE REQUIREMENTS. I TOOK THE CAR TO FRED MARTIN FORD FOR NOISE IN FRONT END AND THEY TOLD ME THE PROBLEM WAS A BROKEN SPRING. THEY FAILED TO TELL ME THAT THE PARTS WERE COVERED UNDER THE FORD RECALL AND INSTEAD TOLD ME THE REPAIR WOULD COST ME OVER $500.00. AFTER WAITING A WEEK AND BEING TOLD THERE WERE NO SPRINGS AVAILABLE FOR MY MODEL ANYWHERE IN THE COUNTRY, I STARTED TO INVESTIGATE ON MY OWN AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RECALL AND ALSO THAT THERE ARE OVER 460 VEHICLES WAITING FOR THESE PARTS IN THE UNITED STATES. I WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD BE OVER A MONTH BEFORE THE SPRINGS ARE AVAILABLE. APPARENTLY, THERE IS A DISPUTE BETWEEN FORD AND ITS SPRING SUPPLIER. FORD CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE WAS NO HELP AND I AM STILL WAITING FOR THE FORD ZONE MANAGER TO GET BACK TO ME. THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT SUPPLY A LOANER OR RENTAL VEHICLE WHILE I AM WAITING FOR THE PARTS. I HAVE SINCE PULLED THE VEHICLE OUT OF FRED MARTIN FORD, 4701 MAHONING AVE. YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO 44515, AND TAKEN IT TO ANOTHER DEALER. I FEEL THAT FORD IS NOT LIVING UP TO THE TERMS OF RECALL 01S23-01M08 AND NOT REPAIRING MY VEHICLE PROMPTLY AND FREE OF CHARGE. *JB
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
Data on this page last refreshed .