1998 Ford Contour vs 1998 Lexus ES300
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 Ford Contour | 1998 Lexus ES300 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 846 | 52 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 253 | 50 |
| Investigations | 7 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 50 | 13 |
| Fire reports | 20 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–25 | 20 |
| Median reported mileage | 85,000 mi | 78,565 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Contour | Lexus ES300 |
|---|---|---|
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 132 | 5 |
| Electrical System | 130 | 4 |
| Power Train | 128 | 1 |
| Air Bags | 99 | 9 |
| Suspension | 102 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 83 | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 62 | 3 |
| Exterior Lighting | 43 | 1 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 64 | 0 |
| Airbag warning light | 41 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 35 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 22 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 21 | 0 |
| Overheating | 17 | 0 |
| Shifting problems | 14 | 0 |
| Rust / corrosion | 12 | 0 |
1998 Ford Contour
1998 Lexus ES300
Compare all Ford Contour vs Lexus ES300 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.