Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (struts, shocks, control arms, ball joints, springs).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1998 Ford Contour owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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.
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. …
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.
Tl 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. 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 updated 06/04/08.
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!!
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.
While driving there was a loud boom and the front left tire was rubbing. Consumer drove the vehicle to the dealership, who indicated that the right front coil spring broke. The spring was replaced. However, within 6,000 miles the failure recurred, the left front spring broke. The dealership was unable to replace the spring because the manufacturer discontinued manufacturing the part. The steering knuckle was removed and replaced due to the wheel bearing race spinning in the knuckles which caused abnormal wear of the knuckle. The knuckle and the bearing were replaced.
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.
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.
Tl 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 updated 07/30/09.
Related recalls
Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil springs
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,…
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…
Suspension complaints in other Contour years
Frequently asked questions
How common are suspension problems on the 1998 Ford Contour?
NHTSA has 102 complaints about the suspension of the 1998 Ford Contour, 12% of the model year's 846 complaints. The component named most often is front › springs › coil springs (73 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1998 Ford Contour suspension problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 01V-255 (coil springs, Aug 8, 2001). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1998 Ford Contour suspension problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 81,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.