Common problems for the SVT Contour:
Water pump will fail (typically around 60K)
Wheel bearings will fail (around 90K)
Rear suspension will creak (there's a fix for this)
Blower motor switch will fail (recall)
Audio head unit will quit loading CDs
Power antenna will quit retracting
Catalytic converter will fail (around 80K)
Fuel pump will fail
Water will accumulate in trunk because of plugged drain channels around the tail lights
Rear bumper will sag slightly creating an unsightly gap
99 dashboards will warp (recall)
Things that will last:
Front brake pads last a long time
Clutch will last a long time
Leather interior is pretty robust
Motor is fairly strong
It's still a very fun car to drive, even though there are more advanced (and quicker) sports sedans on the market today. To your advantage, depreciation is horrific on this car, so you can pick up one fairly cheaply. Expect lots of little things to go wrong, with nothing major except for being stranded in a remote place when the water pump fails.
