1998 Ford Contour vs 1998 Mercedes-Benz C230
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 Mercedes-Benz C230 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 846 | 39 |
| Recall campaigns | 4 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 253 | 13 |
| Investigations | 7 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 50 | 1 |
| Fire reports | 20 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21–25 | 23 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 85,000 mi | 122,748 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Contour | Mercedes-Benz C230 |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 130 | 7 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 132 | 2 |
| Power Train | 128 | 5 |
| Suspension | 102 | 9 |
| Air Bags | 99 | 0 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 83 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 62 | 1 |
| Visibility | 43 | 5 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 64 | 6 |
| 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 | 6 |
1998 Ford Contour
1998 Mercedes-Benz C230
Compare all Ford Contour vs Mercedes-Benz C230 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.