1996 Ford Contour Transmission Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE GEARS ON THE FLOOR SHIFT, THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED INCORRECT GEAR SELECTION. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND A TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THEY DID NOT REPAIR VEHICLES AFTER TEN YEARS. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V233000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT); THEREFORE, THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COSTS. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 86,000.

NHTSA ID

10235998

Incident

Jul 23, 2008

Mileage

86,000 mi

I JUST GOT THE CAR FROM USED CAR DEALER ON 02/07/08 DROVE FINE WENT HOME AND IN THE MORNING I WENT OUT GOT KIDS IN CAR AND WENT TO BACK UP AND HAD NO REVERSE..THE SHOP I TOOK IT TO SAID THE TRANSMISSION IS OUT. THE CAR ONLY HAS 81000 MILES ON IT....AND THERE HAS BEEN ALOT OF COMPLAINTS MADE ABOUT THIS TRANSMISSION IN 1996 FORD CONTOURS... I THINK SOME THING NEEDS TO BE DONE ... *TR

NHTSA ID

10217555

Incident

Feb 8, 2008

Mileage

81,124 mi

AT FIRST VEHICLE WOULD INDICATE WRONG GEAR AND THEN IT BINDED UP THE GEAR SHIFT SO EVENTUALLY HAD TO REMOVE SOME PLASTIC FROM GEAR SHIFT JUST TO SHIFT THE GEAR THEN THE AUTOMATIC GEAR SHIFT INDICATION WILL NOT INDICATE WHAT GEAR THE CAR IS IN AT ALL. POSSIBLY CAUSING WRONG GEAR SELECTION COULD CAUSE COLLISION IN PARKING LOT.*JB

NHTSA ID

10154464

Incident

May 30, 2005

Mileage

130,315 mi

I BOUGHT A 1996 FORD CONTOUR FROM AND INDIVIDUAL IN JULY OF THIS YEAR. IT RAN WELL, FOR A FEW DAYS, AND THEN THE OD LIGHT KEPT COMING ON, AND IT FELT LIKE IT WAS SHIFTING INTO LOW. I KEPT MASHING THE BUTTON ON THE SHIFT ARM AND THE LIGHT WOULD GO OUT AND THEN COME BACK ON THIS WOULD GO ON FOR SEVERAL DAYS, THEN IT WOULD BE OK FOR SEVERAL DAYS, JUST TO START UP ALL OVER AGAIN. THEN I HAD THE OLD CHANGED IN NOVEMBER AND THE WOULD NOT STAY CRANKED FOR ME TO GET HOME. THE WIRES UNDER THE HOOD ARE ALL FLAKING OF THERE PLASTIC COVERING. I ASSUME THIS IS WHY IT WILL NOT STAYED CRANKED. I CAN NOT DRIVE IT IN THIS CONDITION. *NM

NHTSA ID

10146260

Incident

Jul 25, 2005

CONSUMER HAS HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH THE 1996 FORD CONTOUR.*MR THERE HAS BEEN SO MANY RECALLS ON CONSUMER'S VEHICLE THAT SHE WASN'T AWARE OF BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER NEVER SENT NOTICES. SINCE THEN CONSUMER HAS BEEN PAYING FOR ENTIRE FULL PRICE AND IS ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT. HOWEVER, THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE IS THE GAS FUMES WHICH IS LEAKING THEREFORE LEAVING POISONOUS CARBON MONOXIDE FUMES COMING IN THROUGH THE HEATER VENTS. THESE HARSH CHEMICALS ARE DAMAGING TO THE LUNGS, BRAIN, RESPIRATORY SYSTEM AND ITS MAKING CONSUMER VERY TIRED AMONG OTHER SYMPTOMS. *TT

NHTSA ID

10134493

Incident

Oct 9, 1999

PRNDL INDICATOR IS BROKEN, SIMILAR COMPLAINT TO NHTSA # 98V233000, FOUND FORD RECALL # 98S26, DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WILL NOT COVER VEHICLE UNDER THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN.

NHTSA ID

10129287

Incident

Jul 18, 2004

Mileage

68,110 mi

I HOPE YOU CAN HELP ME. I HAVE A COMPLAINT I'D LIKE TO REGISTER WITH YOU ABOUT THE SAFETY OF A CAR MADE BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE VIN (VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER) IS [XXX]. I AM THE OWNER OF A 1996 FORD CONTOUR LX AND RECENTLY I BECAME AWARE (ON MY OWN ACCORD) THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS THE FOLLOWING TWO SAFETY RECALLS ON MY VEHICLE 1. RECALL 99S14 - HEAD LIGHT SWITCH AND WIRE ASSEMBLY 2. RECALL 98S26 - AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE SHIFT INDICATOR (PRNDL) BEZEL. UPON ACQUIRING THIS INFORMATION I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S LOCAL DEALER KINGSTON INDUSTRIAL GARAGE IN ORDER TO ASCERTAIN WHETHER MY VEHICLE QUALIFIES FOR THESE RECALLS. I WAS SUBSEQUENTLY ADVISED BY THEM THAT WHILE MY VEHICLE QUALIFIED FOR RECALL 99S14-HEAD LAMP SWITCH AND WIRE ASSEMBLY, HOWEVER IT DOES QUALIFY FOR RECALL 98S26 - AUTOMATIC TRANSAXLE SHIFT INDICATOR (PRNDL) BEZEL. THIS IS OCCURRING DESPITE THE FACT THAT MY VEHICLE MEETS ONE OF THE REQUIREMENTS AS STATED IN A LETTER ISSUED TO DEALERS AND CUSTOMERS BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY'S MR. A. R. KADUK-MANAGER OF VEHICLE SERVICE AND PROGRAMS DATED OCTOBER, 1998 WHICH READS "CERTAIN 1995-1998 MODEL YEAR CONTOUR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BUILT FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 1994 THROUGH JANUARY 8, 1998 AT THE KANSAS CITY ASSEMBLY PLANT, USA" AND IT IS THIS STATEMENT THAT MAKES MY VEHICLE ELIGIBLE FOR THIS RECALL, AND HOW CAN THEY JUSTIFY HONORING ONE SAFETY RECALL AND NOT ANOTHER. AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THEIR REFUSAL TO HONOR THIS SAFETY RECALL I AM PRESENTLY FORCED TO DRIVE AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE VEHICLE DUE TO THE FACT THAT I AM UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE SELECTION OF GEARS AS A RESULT OF THE DEFECTIVE AUTOMATIC SHIFT INDICATOR (PRNDL) BEZEL WHICH IF NOT ADDRESSED WITH DISPATCH WILL SOONER OR LATER RESULT IN SEVERE DAMAGE TO MYSELF AND OTHERS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR PROMPT ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. I LOOK FORWARD TO HEARING FROM YOU SOON. *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

10121371

Incident

Jan 15, 2004

Mileage

90,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD DOWN SHIFT ON ITS OWN. THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HESITATE THEN SHIFT. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR DETERIORATED AND FANS OUT THEREFORE CAN NOT INDICATE WHAT GEAR THE TRANSMISSION IS IN. *TC

NHTSA ID

10096682

Incident

Oct 12, 2004

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) DETAILS: AUTOMATIC SHIFT LEVER MAY NOT INDICATE CORRECT GEAR (P, D, R) LEVER HANGS UP WHEN SWITCHING BETWEEN P, D, R. PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR APPX THREE YEARS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10078310

Incident

Jun 16, 2004

Mileage

65,000 mi

QUESTION REGARDING HOW A SIMILAR MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR VEHICLE WITH THE IDENTICAL PROBLEM IS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL.*MR THE CONSUMER WAS REFERRING TO RECALL #98V233000. *JB

NHTSA ID

10079905

Incident

Jun 14, 2004

AUTOMATIC SHIFT LEVER MAY NOT INDICATE CORRECT GEAR (P, D, R) LEVER HANGS UP WHEN SWITCHING BETWEEN P, D, R. PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR APPX THREE YEARS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10074596

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

Mileage

40,000 mi

THE VEHICLE'S AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED (1996 FORD CONTOUR). *PH *NM

NHTSA ID

10060985

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED REPEATEDLY EVEN AFTER COMPLETE REBUILD. HAVE ALSO HAD TREAD SEPARATION IN TIRES ON 5 SEPARATE OCCASIONS

NHTSA ID

10000682

Incident

Oct 16, 2002

Mileage

128,000 mi

THE FRONT PART OF THE VEHICLE MAKES A DRAGGING SOUND WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER INDICATED THERE WAS AN INTERNAL TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. *YH THE SERPENTINE BELT WAS REPLACED. UPDATED *JB

NHTSA ID

566233

Incident

Mar 6, 2002

TORQUE CONVERTER FAILED IN JANUARY, 2001, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WHICH REQUIRED REPLACEMENT AT A COST OF $2,600. FIVE MONTHS LATER, THE TORQUE CONVERTER AGAIN REQUIRED REPLACEMENT. REPLACED WITH FORD PARTS. NOW IN APRIL, 2002, THE TRANSMISSION AGAIN CAUSED PROBLEMS WITH STALLING IN TRAFFIC, OVERDIRVE LIGHT FLASHING, VERY ROUGH SHIFTING. DIAGNOSTICS INDICATE THE TORQUE CONVERTER CAME APART AND DAMAGED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AGAIN. REPLACEMENT COST WILL BE $2,400.*AK

NHTSA ID

761815

Incident

Apr 15, 2002

SHIFT LEVER DAMAGE, NO LONGER ABLE TO TELL WHAT GEAR IS SHIFTED TO, THERE IS A RECALL BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED DUE TO VIN. *AK

NHTSA ID

8006148

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

I CAN'T EVEN REMEMBER HOW MANY TIME I HAVE HAD TO COME TO THIS SITE ABOUT THIS CAR. WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT AND NOW STILL OWING MONEY ON THIS CAR I AM LOOKING AT $2000.00 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION.*AK

NHTSA ID

757305

Incident

Jan 20, 2002

STALLING IN TRAFFIC WITH HIGH OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE, OVERDRIVE OFF LIGHT FLASHES, VERY ROUGH SHIFTING, DIAGNOSTICS INDICATE TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH SLIPPING, TRANSMISSION BEING REPLACED.

NHTSA ID

754525

RECALL 98 V 233 000/SHIFT LEVEL DAMAGE: SHIFT LEVEL IS NOT CORRECTLY INDICATING ACTUAL GEAR, CONSUMER CONTACTED DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *YD

NHTSA ID

896776

Incident

Feb 13, 2001

SHIFT LEVER DOES NOT SHOW THE PROPER GEAR THAT THE CAR IS IN. DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT RECALL 98V233000 DOES NOT AFFECT THIS VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

896010

Incident

Sep 1, 2000

MY 1996 CONTOUR HAS LITERALLY BROKEN DOWN. I HAVE 99,000 MILES AND HAVE COMPLETELY REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION, THE FRONT SUSPENSION SYSTEM, AND THE CAR STILL IS NOT DEPENDABLE, AND THE SAME PROBLEMS RE-OCCUR. I HPAY MORE IN REPAIRS THAN I DO FOR MY MONTHLY PAYMENT.

NHTSA ID

750846

SHIFT LEVER INDICATOR IS WORN. CAN NO LONGER SEE WHAT GEAR IS BEING USED. THERE IS RECALL 98V233000, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT AFFECTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

894391

Incident

Mar 1, 2001

ASKED DEALERSHIP TO PERFORM RECALL 00V-367000 AND THEY SAID FORD HAS NO SUCH RECALL.*AK

NHTSA ID

750336

Incident

Feb 1, 2001

THE VEHICLES OVERDRIVE FAILED RESULTING IN TRANSMISSION FAILURE, THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. NLM

NHTSA ID

562288

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO REVERSE WHILE SHIFTER WAS STILL IN DRIVE. OVERDRIVE LIGHT WAS BLINKING. *AK

NHTSA ID

748527

Incident

Jun 12, 2001