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1995 Ford Contour transmission problems

126 complaints (14% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 89,000. 1 crash reported.

owner complaints
126
of this car's complaints
14%
typical mileage
89,000
crashes
1
recalls
1

Which part fails

  • Automatic transmission
    63
  • Automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shift
    15
  • Automatic transmission: gear position indication (PRNDL)
    10
  • Manual transmission
    6
  • Axle assembly
    6
  • Automatic transmission: park/neutral start interlock switch
    4
  • Automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
    4
  • Driveline: constant velocity joint
    3

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Ford Contour transmission problems in other years

199319941995199619971998199920002001

Specific symptoms reported on the 1995 Ford Contour transmission

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Jerking 15Transmission failure 10Slipping 5

Related recalls

Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: floor shiftReported September 18, 1998 · 175,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The floor shift automatic transmission control can be damaged if subjected to certain interior cleaning products. The gear position indicator can deteriorate and not correctly indicate the actual gear position.
Risk
This condition can result in incorrect gear selection.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the automatic transmission floor shift control.

Recall number 98V233000 · Recall details

Related investigations

Incorrect gear indicationOpened February 26, 2002, closed September 12, 2002

There is no summary currently available

RQ02006

What 1995 Ford Contour owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Jul 20, 2015 · Transmission · 84,000 miles · WV

Tl* the contact owns a 1995 ford contour. While driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The vehicle was restarted after fifteen minutes and driven to the contact's residence. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who stated that a new transmission sensor was needed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 84,000. Ma 10/2 updated 11/28/2017

Filed Sep 8, 2008 · Transmission · 36,500 miles · TX

My automatic transmission shift position indicator mounted on my floor console has disintegrated over time, and no longer exists. This failure has been recognized previously, and is due to defective, poor quality, plastic material that the shift indicator is made of. The consequence of this failure is that one cannot determine which gear the transmission is operating in, and can cause overheating of the transmission and/or engine, and possibly cause an auto accident, or fire. This has been a recognized defect failure and was reported as a safety recall as early as 1998. However upon contact with the ford dealership and also the ford motor company representatives, they deny that my 1995 contour is included in the safety recall. There are numerous 1995 contour vehicle owner complaints filed with the ford motor company on this denial of safety recall application by other 1995 ford contour owners who have experienced that same lack of support through the ford motor co representatives. This material defect is a generic problem that affects all 1995 contours, however the ford representatives deny that my VIN is included in the safety recall.

Filed Aug 17, 2007 · Transmission · 71,000 miles · KY

I have experienced several incidents with the transmission in my vehicle. After you drive the vehicle long enough for it to warm up good, the transmission will quit pulling. You can be driving down the road and it acts as if it just kicks into neutral. You can pull over and put the car into park and then into drive again and it will go a little farther before it will do it again. The car has only a little over 70,000 miles on it and is now basically junk. I have been told by several mechanics that these cars all have transmission problems and that rebuilding the transmission doesn't usually work for very long.

Filed Aug 7, 2007 · Electrical, Transmission · CA

Tl* - the contact owns a 1995 ford contour. The speedometer works intermittently. She stated that the transmission was contatantly skipping gears, and downshifts when it should change gears. There is a safety recall on both of the components that are failing on her vehicle. Power train:automatic trasmission: lever and linkage:floor shift-98v233000, and vehicle speed control cables-97v225000. The contact did not know the current or failure mileage because the odometer is broken.

Filed Jul 6, 2007 · Electrical, Transmission · 141,720 miles · NJ · fire

Experienced transmission issues, with intermittent rough shifting and intermittent failures to engage in drive or reverse. It mysteriously started to run fine for several days. One morning I drove a short distance for an appointment. Upon returning and starting the car I noticed smoke exiting the left side of the engine compartment. I turned of the vehicle and inspected the engine compartment, and I could still see some smoke coming from the left-rear part of the engine compartment. After this incident, several of the vehicle's electrical functions failed, including park/brake shift interlock, heater fan, backup lights, directional flashers. Following the incident, the transmission issues have resumed. Upon inspection, I noticed several wires had cracking insulation, and some even had bare wire exposed.

Filed Apr 17, 2007 · Electrical, Engine · MO

I have a 1995 ford contour and I paid over $16,000.00 for it. I have had nothing but trouble since I got this car. I have 50,888 miles and the transmission has been replaced 2 times and worked on 4 times. Water pump went out, air went out all wiring covers has crumbled off leaving exposed wires to start a fire and much more. I have been treated like I was a child and didn't know any better with the dealership and ford motor company. I now have a car that I can't drive because it is a fire hazard. I want something done to my satisfaction. I know they quit making the 1995 ford contour because there were so many manufacturer problems. I am now told they can't get parts to fix the car and I can't trade it in on another one. I am a female and I am tired of the treatment I'm receiving from ford. My car has always been serviced at a ford dealership. I have contacted several agencys concerning my problems.

Filed Sep 1, 2006 · Transmission, Wheels · 166,900 miles · SD

Dt*: the contact stated while driving 20 MPH, there was an intermittent groaning and crunching noise coming from the front right tire. The vehicle was taken to a private repair shop, where it was determined that the hub was punching out the sealed bearings. The bearings were replaced. Prior to this incident, the vehicle had also been taken to a service dealer who replaced the axle shaft. Neither the dealer nor the private repair shop was able to repair the problem completely.

Filed Apr 11, 2005 · Transmission · 130,000 miles · NC

The transmission on my 1995 ford contour locked up suddenly one evening recently. Trans shop rebuilt the trans for me. I received a call from them with bad news. The bad news was that the mechanic realized that the failure was due to the transmission wiring harness being damaged. It was damaged in a way that the owner of the shop said it could very well have caught the vehicle on fire, and apparently LED to the failure of the trans (I am not mecahnic, so I can only go with what I gathered from them). Ford had issued program 99m03 which covered engine compartment wiring harness failures. This program was for 10 years/100k miles. Ford refuses to take any action towards paying for this repair because the vehicle (although 10 years old), has exceeded the mileage (it has 130k miles). However, I do not feel this has anything to do with the miles driven, but rather a poorly routed wiring harness. The harness was run under the battery, and the shop says it appears as though it was eaten away by acid over a period of time. Can you help me get through the endless red tape at ford? Ths is a quality and safety issue that I feel requires better "involvement" from ford.

Filed May 24, 2004 · Transmission · CA

While driving at any speed vehicle jerked and changed gears on its own. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that transmission needed to be replaced, and replaced it. However, the problem recurred.

Filed Mar 31, 2004 · Transmission · OH

Consumer complained about transmission shifting problem. When he took the vehicle to dealer, he was shown a recall notice, which he thought covered this vehicle. But when consumer called ford, he was informed that this vehicle was not included in the recall due to VIN.

Questions about the 1995 Ford Contour transmission

Does the 1995 Ford Contour have transmission problems?

Owners have filed 126 complaints about the transmission of the 1995 Ford Contour, 14% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 1995 Ford Contour transmission problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 89,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 1995 Ford Contour transmission?

Yes, 1 recall: 98V233000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Ford Contour have bad transmission?

The Ford Contour model years with the most transmission complaints are 1998 (127 complaints), 1995 (126 complaints) and 1996 (76 complaints).

Other 1995 Ford Contour problems

Engine 225Electrical 180Brakes 85Fuel system 85Suspension 83Steering 76Airbags 45Seat belts 44Visibility 43Acceleration 42Lights 27Body 14Seats 14Locks 13Tires 10Wheels 7

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