My ford contour (1996) airbag light is flashing and the car was donated to me so I do not really know if it has ever been in an accident, but I have not. I turned the car off and then back on again, and the problem still persist. What could be going on with it? I would hate to be driving and then all of a sudden the airbag deploys.

Covered in the FAQs on contour.org

http://www.contour.org/FAQ/FAQ.php?s=probs&displayid=29

and then it stopped out of nowhere. It flashed four times in sequence and then just yesterday, because this problem had been going on for about three days, it just stopped doing it

count the flashes. there will be a series of numbers and a space. Sort of like
flash--flash--------flash-flash-flash. that would be a code 23. Post back with code number and we can help you.

count the flashes. there will be a series of numbers and a space. Sort of like
flash--flash--------flash-flash-flash. that would be a code 23. Post back with code number and we can help you.

The link I posted above explains this. :)