Looking at a Specific 1998 FORD CONTOUR SE?
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Safety and Reliability Ratings > 1998 > Ford > CONTOUR

1998 FORD CONTOUR SE
Sedan 4 DR
Front wheel drive


CARFAX has collected the industry's leading used car safety and reliability ratings into one, convenient report. With this report, you'll know the safety and reliability of your next used car. All information presented in this report is specific to the 1998 FORD CONTOUR SE. Please view the CARFAX Vehicle History Report for the detailed history of a specific used FORD.

 

CARFAX Safety Section One  Safety:

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NHTSA Crash Test Results National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration
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Frontal Crash: Rating:   NHTSA Five Star Legend
Driver Rating 5 of 5  
Passenger Rating 4 of 5  
Side Crash: Rating:  
Front Seat Rating 3 of 5  
Rear Seat Rating 4 of 5  
Rollover Resistance: Rating:  
Rollover Resistance Not Tested  

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) provides 3 different ratings - full-width frontal crash test , side impact crash test , and rollover resistance . The frontal crash test indicates how well the safety features and restraints will protect an occupant in a head-on collision. The side-impact test conveys the chance of a severe chest injury, while the rollover resistance rating estimates the risk of rolling over in a single vehicle crash. Go to NHTSA to learn more about these results.


IIHS Crash Test Results Highway Loss Data Institute
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IIHS Crash Test Results for the 1998 FORD CONTOUR SE are not available in CARFAX Safety & Reliability Ratings.




Low-Speed Damage Repair Highway Loss Data Institute
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Front Crash Description: Front Crash Cost:
Front into flat barrier   Not tested by IIHS
Front into angle barrier   Not tested by IIHS
Rear Crash Description: Rear Crash Cost:
Rear into flat barrier   Not tested by IIHS
Rear into pole   Not tested by IIHS
Average Damage Per Test   Not tested by IIHS

Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) conducts four 5 mph crash tests to assess bumper performance. These results convey how well this 1998 FORD CONTOUR SE bumpers will protect the car body from damage in low-speed collisions. Low-speed damage repair costs are obtained from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute.


Injury, Collision, & Theft Indicators Highway Loss Data Institute
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Index: Score: Rating:
Injury Index 111 Average
Collision Index 87 Average
Theft Index 53 Better than average


These scores are stated in relative terms, with 100 being the average for all cars in each category. Scores greater than 100 represent higher risk in each category. For example, an injury indicator score of 122 means that a passenger in this model is 22% more likely to be injured in an accident. The injury, collision, and theft indicators for this 1998 FORD CONTOUR SE are provided by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Loss Data Institute. Learn more about these results.



Safety Recalls
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NHTSA Safety Recalls:
Important: The following recalls were issued for the 1998 FORD CONTOUR SE by the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA). To find out if a specific 1998 FORD CONTOUR SE still has open recalls that require repair, CARFAX recommends contacting an authorized dealership for more information.

Recall date: 11-20-2000
Units potentially affected: 3,750
NHTSA campaign number: 00V350000
Defective part or component: FUEL:CNG:TANKS
Description: 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. 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.
Recall date: Not reported
Units potentially affected: 203,426
NHTSA campaign number: 01I013000
Defective part or component: SUSPENSION:I-BEAM:SOLID:FRONT SPRING:COIL
Description: This is not a safety recall in accordance with the Safety Act. However, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. Vehicle Description: 1998 Ford Contour/Mercury Mystique passenger vehicles built at the Kansas City Assembly Plant. The front coil springs could potentially fracture due to corrosion. Some tires have deflated due to contact with a broken spring. Ford is extending the warranty for front coil spring replacement for the front coil springs for 10 years from original date of sale of a vehicle or 150,000 miles, whichever comes first.
Recall date: Not reported
Units potentially affected: 342,962
NHTSA campaign number: 01V230000
Defective part or component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Description: Vehicle Description: Passenger vehicles. 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 subsequent terminal relaxation, result in an open circuit condition. The open circuit could lead to electrical arcing that could melt the connector housing material creasing the potential for a fire. 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.
Recall date: 08-20-2001
Units potentially affected: 108,000
NHTSA campaign number: 01V255000
Defective part or component: SUSPENSION:I-BEAM:SOLID:FRONT SPRING:COIL
Description: Vehicle Description: Passenger vehicles built at the Kansas City Assembly Plant and 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 may fracture as a result of corrosion in high corrosion environments. Depending on the location of the fracture, a broken spring could move past the spring seat and contact a front tire. Some tires have deflated due to contact with a broken spring. 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.
Recall date: Not reported
Units potentially affected: 571,800
NHTSA campaign number: 98V028000
Defective part or component: LIGHTING:LAMP OR SOCKET:HEAD LIGHTS
Description: 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."" 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. Owner guides containing revised aiming instructions will be mailed to owners of these vehicles.
Recall date: Not reported
Units potentially affected: 175,000
NHTSA campaign number: 98V233000
Defective part or component: POWER TRAIN:TRANSMISSION:AUTOMATIC:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
Description: 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. This condition can result in incorrect gear selection. Dealers will replace the automatic transmission floor shift control.
Recall date: Not reported
Units potentially affected: 605,581
NHTSA campaign number: 99V103000
Defective part or component: LIGHTING:SWITCH:BUTTON:RING:HEAD LIGHTS
Description: Vehicle Description: Passenger vehicles. The terminals at the headlight switch and wiring harness connector can experience heat damage as a result of overheating. The damage could result in distortion of the terminal causing an open circuit in the instrument panel illumination, parking lamp, and tail lamp circuits. Dealers will install a headlamp switch wiring connector containing bronze terminals and an inspection, and replacement if necessary, of the headlamp switch.
Recall date: 08-10-1999
Units potentially affected: 159,565
NHTSA campaign number: 99V194000
Defective part or component: FUEL:THROTTLE LINKAGES AND CONTROL
Description: 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. This condition can result in the throttle sticking, binding, or causing high engine RPM. Dealers will install a revised accelerator cable that has a flared conduit sleeve end and molded on end fitting.
Recall date: Not reported
Units potentially affected: 280,481
NHTSA campaign number: 99V243000
Defective part or component: INTERIOR SYSTEMS:PASSIVE RESTRAINT:AIR BAG IMPACT SENSOR
Description: 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. In some cases, the air bag warning light can illuminate and the air bag supplemental restraint system disabled. 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.


This 1998 FORD CONTOUR SE safety recall information was provided by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Highway Data Loss Institute and is derived from the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration list of safety recalls. Please call the National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration Auto Safety Hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236) to report safety defects or to obtain information on cars, trucks, child seats, and highway or traffic safety. CARFAX does not review, validate or edit the information and statements provided by the National Highway Traffic and Saftey Administration, which do not represent the opinion of CARFAX.



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J.D. Power Ratings
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Ownership: Rating:
Initial Ratings (up to 1 year)  
Overall Quality No data from source
  Mechanical Quality Rating 3 of 5
  Feature and Accessory Quality Rating 3 of 5
  Body and Interior Quality Rating 3 of 5
Overall Appeal No data from source
  Performance Rating 2 of 5
  Comfort Rating 2 of 5
  Feature and Instrument Panel No data from source
  Style Rating 3 of 5
Midterm Ratings (1-3 Years)  
  Mechanical Reliability No data from source
  Feature and Accessory Reliability No data from source
  Body and Interior Reliability No data from source
Long Term Ratings (3-5 Years)  
Overall Dependability No data from source
  Mechanical Dependability No data from source
  Feature and Accessory Dependability No data from source
  Body and Interior Dependability No data from source

J.D. Power and Associates uses selected highlights from the firm's quality and customer satisfaction syndicated studies to create the Power Ratings at the model-level. These ratings and awards are based on model rankings within each vehicle segment, whereas Power Circle Ratings compare all models across segments.

All information provided by J.D. Power and Associates is proprietary information owned by J.D. Power and Associates and is protected by U.S. and international copyright law and conventions. Reproduction of this information, in whole or in part, by any means is prohibited without the express written consent of J.D. Power and Associates, other than printing copies of the JDPA content by site visitors for their personal use. J.D. Power and Associates® is a registered trademark of J.D. Power and Associates.



Identifix Reliability Ratings
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Category: Comments: Rating:
Engine No data from source
Transmission & Driveline No data from source
Steering & Suspension No data from source
Brakes No data from source
Heating & Air Conditioning No data from source
Starting & Charging No data from source
Accessories No data from source
Identifix Legend


This 1998 FORD CONTOUR reliability information was provided by Identifix. Identifix is the nation's largest technical support service for the aftermarket auto repair industry. CARFAX does not review, validate or edit the information and statements provided by Identifix, which do not represent the opinion of CARFAX.



Original Manufacturer Warranty
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Coverage: Years/Mileage:
Basic 3 years or 36,000 miles  
Drivetrain 3 years or 36,000 miles  
Emissions 2 years or 24,000 miles  
Corrosion 5 years with Unlimited mileage  
Transferable Transferable: no cost, unlimited owners covered.  
Roadside Assistance Roadside assistance is covered for 3 years or 36,000 miles.  
Safety Belt & Inflatable Restraint Safety belt and inflatable restraint system are covered for 5 years or 50,000 miles.  
Specific Components 8 years or 80,000 miles  
Notes: Manufacturer covers emissions components under basic warranty. Emissions coverage may vary by state. Refer to owners manual for specific details. Transferable: no cost, unlimited owners covered. Roadside assistance is covered during basic warranty. Safety belt and inflatable restraint systems are covered for 5 years or 50,000 miles. Alignment and wheel balance covered for 1 year 12,000 miles  

This 1998 FORD CONTOUR SE warranty information has been provided by J&L Warranty Pros.


Awards
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View awardees recognized by Kelley Blue Book, Edmunds.com, Polk Automotive, and J.D. Power and Associates.



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