1998 Audi A4 vs 1998 Ford Contour
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1998 Audi A4 | 1998 Ford Contour |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 258 | 846 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 4 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 85 | 253 |
| Investigations | 5 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 6 | 50 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 20 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–23 | 21–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 80,650 mi | 85,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Audi A4 | Ford Contour |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 112 | 83 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 28 | 132 |
| Electrical System | 23 | 130 |
| Power Train | 7 | 128 |
| Suspension | 24 | 102 |
| Air Bags | 16 | 99 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 62 |
| Steering | 23 | 33 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 8 | 64 |
| Brake problems | 7 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 0 | 41 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 35 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 22 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 21 |
| Overheating | 0 | 17 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 14 |
1998 Audi A4
1998 Ford Contour
Compare all Audi A4 vs Ford Contour years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.