Transmission began slipping and soon failed entirely under normal city driving conditions; transmission has been rebuilt and car is still in service.
1998 Ford Contour transmission complaints
Page 3 of 5: complaints 41 to 70 of 127, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Consumer was traveling on highway, and without prior warning water pump shut down, and transmission vibrated when applying brakes. Dealership was aware of problem.
While driving transmission gears stick. Please provide any further information.
I believe this is a premature failure of a major component of the vehicle. No safety defect listed.
While driving vehicle jerked forward very hard almost losing control of vehicle. Upon stopping and restarting vehicle gear went from park to reverse. Took to dealer. Transmission was replaced. Vehicle continues to do the same thing, jerking. Please provide any further information.
Transmission is gone. Vehicle will not go into gear. When put vehicle into first or second gear it makes a noise. Vehicle will not pull. Contacted dealer, and dealer stated transmission needed to be replaced.
The brake/shift interlock works intermittently. Seems to stop working when it rains. Won't let the car be taken out of park. Could leave someone stranded.
Clutch hydraulic cable has burst three times within 23000 miles.
Rack and pinion steering unit started to leak some fluid. Steering wheel would make alot of noise when trying to make turns. Contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything. *akhe rack and pinion unit was replaced with a rebuit unit, the automatic transmission has begun to have problems.
Transmission breakdown, car would work in reverse only, not in forward gears. Car taken to dealer who informed owner that a component part broke down and damaged other parts. Dealer recommends replacing with a remanufactured transmission at significant cost.
During normal operation of vehicle traction control light on instrument panel illuminates and will not go off. Dealership has yet to examine vehicle for this problem. Please provide any additional information / documentation.
Consumer received recall notification 98v233000. Previous dealership informed consumer parts were not available, and would be contacted when service could be performed. Since that time, dealership closed its operation; marksville ford, marksvill louisiana. Current dealership indicated computer showed service was performed for this recall. Please provide any additional information / attachments.
The vehicle was impossible to place in either first gear or reverse due to worn out clutch.
Would be driving at various speeds and noticed that speedometer would indicate a different speed; either higher or lower than actually traveling. Had taken vehicle to dealer, and mechanic test drove vehicle. Had speedometer repaired under warranty. Problem has since reappeared.
This vehicle has been a "lemon" since purchased new in august, 1997 from sam galloway ford in fort myers, florida. From the beginning, the car drove "rough" not smooth. The vehicle constantly was vibrating, and simply got worse over time. The vibrations would occur at speeds as low as about 40 miles per hour, increasing the faster you drove. You could actually feel and see your body shake. The ride was the total opposite of a smooth one. Rough and bumpy, even on smooth, florida roads. The vehicle felt like you were "pushing" or "forcing" it to drive. The gear shift has always been difficult to manuver, generally sticking while trying to change gears. A couple of times, this nearly caused an accident, due to the inability to change gears. When reported to ford, the only response that that "per the manual, the transmission needed some type of overhaul, at a cost of about $500. Also, several times, there was smoke and a burning rubber type smell emitting from the air vents. This was brought into ford several times, and not fixed. The final time, the entire car filled with smoke--I called the service manager, marlon hanson, from the vehicle on my cell phone, because I was scared that the car may burst into flames. His remarks made it sound like "no big deal" just bring in the car. Meanwhile, I had to pull over, I was so scared, not knowing if the vehicle was going to start on fire or even blow up. This vehicle was brought in twice more for this repair, and finally appears to be fixed. We were told that it was some wiring that was burning, or starting on fire. Our only compensation for that was a free rental car, after I pressured the service manager. The cassette portion of the radio broke early on. Never addressed that issue with dealer or ford. Steering column is increasingly difficult to manuever-very hard to turn. Airbag warning light intermittendly comes on, at any speed. Tires have been replaced, but newer tire keeps deflating--per tbs, coil spring problem?*a
While driving at about 5mph and making a right turn right front wheel came off due to loose lugs: nuts. Dealer has seen vehicle. *ak consumer states the vehicle has experienced problems with the following: fuel filter, spark plugs, transmission, cv boot, brakes, air filter, wire, rotors need turning, timing gear, timing belt, and vehicle will not start.
Transmission has a defect, there is a slip when you applying gears. Also, brake pedal goes all the way down to the floor, and grabs a little bit. Dealership is aware of problem. Brakes have failed, on one occasion consumer almost hit a child, brake pedal slips from under foot. Emergency brake is only effective 50 percent of the time. Transmission intermittently changes gears roughly, at times jarring occupants in the vehicle. Possible electrical problem: light of the clock has burned out twice, consumer states there are shorts in the dashboard, causing the heater or A/C to only have one speed working, dome lights work intermittently, light under dash works intermittently, warning bell does not chime all the times it should, consumer states a sensor causes heater to act as the AC and vice versa. Hinges not made properly, causing door movement while opening/closing, does not stop when it should. Seat blet retarction does not have enough elast, causing it not to retract properly, has gotten caught in the door jam. Alarm system has failed. Wheel cover cracked when a tire was being changed and another one fell off, consumer was not aware of the time or place it fell off.
When I put the car in reverse it takes a long time to backup.
Failure of cd4e transmission requiring re-build.
When turning or bearing to left there was a loud grinding noise. Sound got louder, and vehicle started pulling to left. Consumer went to firestone to have vehicle checked out for vibration. Firestone took it for a drive to listen to it. Bearings and seals were shot, and needed replacemet. Also, lubrication had dried up. *ak
I have taken my car into robke ford numerous times to try and find what the grinding noise is when turning my steering wheel after numerous visits they have decided that I need a new axle and axle bearings. I am trying to find if there are any manufacture recalls/defects. I've been told that under normal circumstances a car does not need an axle with the low miles on the car. When turning the car mainly to the right the noise is extremely loud (people stare). I worry about the safety of my child and myself while driving. I've contacted ford customer service more times than I can count to get this problem resolved and I've gotten no where. I've been told the cost of the repair is 670.00, and I feel that ford should be paying for this. Since I don't have an extended warranty (which I don't know if that would pay for this) they won't look into this matter for me. I was told to bring proof into the dealership of all regular oil changes to prove that I have maintained my car correctly. Please help me in what steps I should be taken to get this matter taken care of before someone gets hurt/killed. Thanks for your time, dawn kennedy.
The vehicle is subject to 5 recalls (98s26, 99s14, 99s19, 99s23 and 00s03), the consumer is not happy with fords unwillingness to cover the expense of a rental car while the vehicle is being repaired. Nlm
Gears are not shifting properly, and there is a delay when trying to shift.
First day car was bought engine died, took to dealer, and they gave consumer another contour. Currently, vehcile will shut off in middle of intersection. Dealer replaced transmission, and engine was acting up. *ak consumer states vehicle has been in 3 times for transmission problems, it jerks and vibrates, consumer does not think that dealer replaced transmission like they said. 1 time for engine problems. Consumer has been in 2 accidents due to sudden acceleration. Front sway bar replaced, steering would shimmy and rattle. Blower motor assembly replaced, due to rattling noise in air conditioner, also cycling switch replaced due to air conditioner not cooling. Left front seat belt buckle assembly replaced, belt would not buckle. Starter failed and was replaced. Engine light illuminated, dealer found loose connection at act. Rear struts replaced, noisy.
When shift lever is placed in reverse vehicle hesitates before engaging into gear itself. Dealer has not been contacted.
Transmission failed without warning, the consumer requested reimbursement but was denied because the vehicle was beyond warranty. Nlm
After noticing a whining sound at approximately 30 MPH in second gear and an increase in vibration when the air conditioner was on, the transmission was rebuilt on 10/10/98, on 8/3/2000 the transmission was replaced because of sudden and violent slipping, on 8/28/00 check engine light came on because oxygen sensor had been disconnected while transmission was replaced, sensor reconnected/replaced. Cj
Vehicle was repaired under recall for gear shift indicator. After repairs of vehicle, it would not go into gear. Dealer has attempted to repair vehicle three times since first repaired, and problem has not been corrected. Manufacturer has been notified.*ak
Safety feature on vehicle can be shifted (floor) without pressing brakes or accelerator pedal. Even if vehicle was not started or started can shift into gear. Took vehicle to dealer & was informed by mechanic that solenoid had broken, but not under warranty of safety related issues.
Transmission slips and jerks and can't be driven for long periods of time. Cost is 1,500 to fix it. I don't have the money to fix it. This is obviously a factory related problem. I am very displeased with fords.
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