Equal-exposure complaint evidence and changes in the reported problem mix

1998 vs 1999 FORD CONTOUR

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Share shifts show how a vehicle's problem mix changed. They do not measure reliability, and complaint counts are not normalized for sales volume.

First 335 months on market for each model year

Exposure window calculated through Aug 22, 2026

Age-matched reports

▼ 51.7% fewer reports in the equal exposure window

1998 836 complaints 1999 404 complaints

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Component share shift

Bars start at the neutral midpoint. Left means a smaller share; right means a larger share.

View component share data as a table
Component 1998 share 1999 share Share change
STRUCTURE 1.1% 19.6% ▲ 18.5 pts larger share
POWER TRAIN 12.6% 4.0% ▼ 8.6 pts smaller share
SUSPENSION 10.8% 5.0% ▼ 5.8 pts smaller share
AIR BAGS 9.8% 4.7% ▼ 5.1 pts smaller share
SEAT BELTS 1.3% 5.0% ▲ 3.6 pts larger share
ENGINE 12.2% 9.4% ▼ 2.8 pts smaller share
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4.1% 1.7% ▼ 2.3 pts smaller share
TIRES 1.1% 3.0% ▲ 1.9 pts larger share
VISIBILITY 3.6% 5.5% ▲ 1.9 pts larger share
STEERING 3.0% 1.5% ▼ 1.5 pts smaller share
FUEL SYSTEM 6.5% 5.2% ▼ 1.3 pts smaller share
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12.1% 10.9% ▼ 1.2 pts smaller share
WHEELS 1.6% 1.0% ▼ 0.6 pts smaller share
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 2.8% 2.5% ▼ 0.3 pts smaller share
SERVICE BRAKES 7.3% 7.4% ▲ 0.1 pts larger share
PARKING BRAKE 0.2% 0.3% ▲ 0.0 pts larger share
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 80.5% 66.8% ▼ 13.7 pts smaller share

NHTSA Safety Recalls recalls · snapshot 2026-08-22

Recall campaigns

1998 12

Campaign components: AIR BAGS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, POWER TRAIN, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC, and SUSPENSION

1999 5

Campaign components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER, and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

NHTSA Consumer Complaints complaints · snapshot 2026-08-21

Safety signals

◆ Fires
20 → 10
◆ Injuries
50 → 27