Front Seat Recliner problems of the 1998 Ford Contour

14 problems related to front seat recliner have been reported for the 1998 Ford Contour. The most recently reported issues are listed below.

1 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 08/31/2006

: the contact stated while traveling 5 mph, the driver's side seat reclined on its own. The vehicle has not been inspected by a mechanic.

2 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 12/23/2003

Driver seat left side snapped ( not the hinge ) while entering my car. Causing it to fall back, making it unsafe to drive without replacing seat.

3 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 02/10/2002

Seat was repaired because of squeaks and broken stabilizer bar under the seat base. Seat was stabile after repair with no more squeaks. I got into the car today, and as I turned to grab my seatbelt, the seat back suddenly gave way. I can no longer use the back of the seat to support myself while driving. The Contour is being taken to smith-cairns Ford on 2/11/2002 for repairs. I am not going to pay for the repairs becasue I think that Ford shoud consider this a safety defect. I have never had a car, only 4 years old with 76,000 miles and have a problem like this with the seats.

4 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 05/11/2000

Coil spring on the right front of car broke. Replacement of the following was necessary: shock absorber, cb spring, d boot, bearing assemnbly, aa seat, mounting assy, halfshaft assembly, cv joint assembly, brake shoes, disc brake rotor, tires.

5 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 02/10/2000

In a crash driver's seatback broke, causing injuries to occupant.

6 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 01/20/2000

While driving driver's seatback broke, causing the seat to fall back, and the driver lost control of vehicle. Also engine cut off system malfunctioned, engine did not shut off at the time of the crash. Please provide further information.

7 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 12/26/1999

While traveling driver's seatback surport broke ,causing consumer to lay down whiel, vehicle was still traveling. Please provide further informaton.

8 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 10/28/1999

Consumer had rear end collision, and both front seats collapsed backward. Consumer injured his back.

9 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 01/23/1999

The driver's seatback collapsed into the rear seat upon a rear-end collision when I standing still in traffic. The other driver rear-ended my car at approximately 30mph. Significant back and neck injuries resulted.

10 Front Seat Recliner problem

Failure Date: 06/14/1998

A large portion of back split 40/60 fold down seatis very difficult to latch into upright position. It take snumerous attrmpts at slamming the seatback, using a lot of force before the latch will catch.

11 Front Seat Recliner problem

Drivers seat back collapses while driving. Nlm.

12 Front Seat Recliner problem

While seating in driver seat the back support callapsed, consumer fell backwards.

13 Front Seat Recliner problem

Seatback collapsed due to a rear end collision from another vehicle while sitting still. Speed from other vehicle was 55 mph. Trunk crumbled, and vehicle had been totaled from the extent of the damage. Driver did sustain a severe head injury.

14 Front Seat Recliner problem

When making sudden stops driver seat slides forward. It also moves from side to side. Dealer has seen vehicle several times, and could not duplicate problem.


Other Seats related problems of the 1998 Ford Contour


Fuel Economy of Contour Vehicles
Contour Service Bulletins
Contour Safety Recalls
Contour Defect Investigations