1998 Ford Contour

The coil spring and airbag wiring recalls are the same underlying defects filed across multiple jurisdictions/campaigns — I'll group those accordingly.

The 1998 Ford Contour has 5 recalls, the most serious being corroded front coil springs that can fracture and puncture a tire, and deteriorating airbag sensor wiring that can disable the airbag system entirely.

The coil spring issue affects vehicles built at the Kansas City Assembly Plant, particularly those registered in rust-belt states where road salt accelerates corrosion. When a spring breaks, a fragment can contact the tire directly and cause a blowout. On the safety restraint side, the wiring that connects the airbag sensor runs close to the radiator, where heat and trapped moisture cause the insulation to crack over time. Once the insulation fails, the airbag warning light comes on and the front airbags stop functioning, leaving occupants without that protection in a crash. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue, which is why separate campaigns exist for this wiring defect. There is also a minor compliance matter involving the windshield: certain windshields were produced without the required "AS1" safety marking, though the glass itself meets all applicable strength and optical standards.