1997 Ford Contour Transmission Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT GEARS, THE GEAR INDICATOR DISPLAYED AN INACCURATE READING. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 98V233000 (POWERTRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT). THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 78,000. UPDATED 01/29/08 *BF UPDATED 01/29/08 *TR

NHTSA ID

10213063

Incident

Jun 22, 2005

Mileage

60,000 mi

SHIFT LEVER DOES NOT ENGAGE DRIVE WHEN SHIFTED TO D POSITION; WILL ONLY ENGAGE WHEN SHIFTED TO 2 POSITION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10079087

Incident

Jun 28, 2004

Mileage

165,000 mi

TRASMISSION FAILURE AT 48000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 101000 MILES BOTH REQUIRING COMPLETE REBUILD. BOTH FAILURES WERE SUDDEN ONSET AND THE SECOND OCCURED AT HIGHWAY SPEED WITCH NEARLY CAUSED A SERIOUS ACCIDENT (THANK GOD FOR THE QUICK THINKING DRIVER BEHIND ME) TOOK TO 5 DIFFERENT SHOPS FOR DIAGNOSES. ALL SAID THAT THE CD4E TRANSIMISSION WAS A NOTORIOUSLY BAD TRANSMISSION ON BOTH FORDS AND MAZDAS

NHTSA ID

10060791

Incident

Dec 15, 2003

Mileage

101,000 mi

I BELIEVE ALL 1997 FORD CONTOURS SHOULD BE RECALLED, OVER THE PAST 3 YEARS I HAVE REPLACED THE CLUTCH, WATERPUMP, BLOWER MOTOR, BOTH LOWER CONTROL ARMS, BUSHINGS, SWAY BARS, WHEEL BEARINGS, FRONT & REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS(BOTH TWICE!!!!), AXLE, 2 OXYGEN SENSORS, CATALYTIC CONVERTER, EGR VALVE, COIL SPRINGS, BATTERY, BALLJOINTS, DOOR LATCH, ALMOST ALL OF THE FULL FRONT SUSPENSION!!!! THERE ARE MORE PARTS THAT I HAD REPLACED BUT I CAN'T REMEMBER ALL THE NAMES OF THE PARTS THERE ARE TOO MANY!! MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF, SEAT BELT LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF, SHORT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER WINDOW, THE ENGINE WILL (REV) UP BY ITSELF WHEN IT'S IN GEAR AND WHEN IT'S NOT, SHORT IN THE DRIVERS SIDE POWER SEATS, WATER LEAKAGE IN THE TRUNK, A/C LEAKS ONTO THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR, ALL DOORS SQUEAK NO MATTER WHAT YOU DO, CARPET IS FALLING OUT, HORN WILL NOT WORK MOST OF THE TIME, SAME FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL, WINDSHIELD WIPER SPRAYER DOES NOT WORK, KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE, ENDED UP IN VERY BAD DEBT BECAUSE OF THIS AND NO ONE WILL TAKE IT, I STILL OWE MONEY ON THE PIECE OF CRAP. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR AT ONE TIME REGARDING ALL THE PARTS I REPLACED AFTER THE FIRST YEAR I HAD IT, THEY SAY IT'S NOT THERE PROBLEM. DEALERSHIP WHO SOLD IT TO ME SAYS IT WAS JUST FINE, BULL CRAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I BELIEVE THAT THOSE ARE TOO MANY ITEMS FOR A 1997 TO GO WRONG ON. *AK

NHTSA ID

10049024

Incident

Oct 1, 2000

CD4E TRANSMISSION IN 1998 FORD CONTOUR GL (SAME COMPLAINT AS THE C4DE IN THE MAZDA 626). TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REBUILT DUE TO THE TSS SENSOR BREAKING AND FALLING INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION - WHICH STOPPED THE PUMP AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THE SENSOR IS IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE FENDERWELL, WHERE IT IS EXPOSED TO ROAD HAZARDS AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS. NOT A GOOD DESIGN. FURTHERMORE, THE REPAIR COSTS $3000 FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION AND ALL THIS HAPPENED BECAUSE FORD PUT THE SENSOR IN A POSITION WHERE IT CAN BREAK AND CAUSE SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE. IT'S A LOUSY DESIGN. THE SENSOR SHOULD BE SOMEWHERE UNDER THE HOOD - NOT IN THE FENDERWELL. *LA

NHTSA ID

10042928

Incident

Sep 15, 2003

Mileage

97,000 mi

DRIVER HAS PROBLEMS SHIFTING FROM 2ND TO 3RD GEAR. TRANSMISSION WILL POP OUT OF GEAR, RENDERING VEHICLE'S OPERATION. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

8018500

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

767012

Incident

Sep 6, 2002

CONSOLE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR FAILED, CAUSING SHIFTER TO BE STUCK IN GEAR.*AK

NHTSA ID

766905

Incident

Jun 1, 2002

BOUGHT CAR 4MONTHS AGO, AND TRANSMISSION WENT OUT ALREADY. REQUESTED TEST REPORTS FROM DEALER AND THEY HAVE NOT RETURNED MY PHONE CALL. TRANSMISSION CAN NOT BE SAVE AND IT DIED WITHOUT WARNING, WELL COST 2600.00 TO GET NEW ONE. *AK

NHTSA ID

757225

Incident

Jan 20, 2002

DEFROSTER WILL NOT WORK, WILL BLOCK THE VIEW AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. *AK ALSO THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, COOLANT LEAKING, ENGINE OVERHEATING, TRANSMISSION WAS INOPERATIVE, AND THE WATER PUMP WAS LEAKING.*SLC

NHTSA ID

8001306

Incident

Jul 3, 2001

THERE SEEMED TO BE NO WARNING REGARDING THIS PROBLEM, OTHER THAN A SLIGHT HIGH PITCHED WHINING NOISE IN THE AM., MUCH LIKE THE SOUND OF A SERPENTINE BELT.THE TRANSMISSION FLUID LEVEL WAS APPROPRIATE WHEN CHECKED. THE COMPUTER READING HAS STATED SEVERAL PROBLEMS, INCLUDING A BAD CLUTCH.IT WILL COST $2000.00 FOR A REBUILT TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ID

755989

Incident

Dec 6, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

754113

Incident

Sep 1, 2000

WHILE PULLING VEHICLE OUT OF A STOP TRANSMISSION STARTED TO SLIP. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

897767

Incident

Oct 9, 2001

TRANSMISSION FLOOR SHIFT LEVER BUTTON WOULD STICK MAKING IT VERY HARD TO GET OUT OF PARK INTO GEAR REPAIR DONE BY FORD REPLACED SHIFT ACTUATOR & SOLENOID. TURN SIGNAL MAKES CLICKING NOISE WHEN SIGNAL NOT IS USE. SIGNALS DO WORK.

NHTSA ID

752911

Incident

Jan 31, 2001

RECALL 98 V 233 000/SHIFT LEVEL DAMAGE: REPORTING DIFFICULTY WITH SHIFTING OUT OF GEAR FROM PARK POSITION AND/OR INDICATOR NOT CORRECTLY INDICATD ACTUAL GEAR POSITION. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDER THAT RECALL. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ID

891934

Incident

Aug 1, 1999

OVERDRIVE LIGHTS CONTINUALLY COMES ON AND WOULD NOT GO OFF. TRANSMISSION WILL NOT ENGAGE, AND ALLOW CONSUMER TO DRIVE VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. TOLD CONSUMER THAT TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS BURNED OUT, AND TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, GEAR SHIFT HAD TO BE FORCED INTO PLACE IN ORDER TO OPERATE VEHICLE. CONSUMER TOLD VEHICLE WAS NOT PART OF ANY RECALL LISTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

885939

Incident

Mar 15, 2001

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL JUMP OUT OF GEAR. ALSO, WHEN IN PARK VEHICLE IS HARD TO SHIFT INTO GEAR. *AK

NHTSA ID

885834

WE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 3 YRS AND DURING THOSE YEARS WE HAVE COME ACROSS A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH IT.AFTER THE FIRST FEW MONTHS OF PURCHASE THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO THE PROPER GEAR, IT WOULD GET STUCK ON PARK AND WE WERE UNABLE A DRIVE IT A NUMBER OF TIMES.WE THEN PROBLEMS WITH THE TIRES IN WHICH ONE OF THE FRONT TIRE SPLIT , WE THEN REPLACE ALL FOUR. WE THEN HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE HEATER AND FRONT LIGHTS. AFTER SEEING ALL THE NEGATIVE REPORTS OTHERS HAVE GIVEN ON THIS PARTICURLAR VEHICLE ONLINE WE FEEL THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE VEHICLE TO DRIVE.WE HAVE MAJOR CONCERNS AS TO WHETHER WE SHOULD EVEN PUT THIS VEHICLE ON THE ROAD WITHOUT HAVING AN INVESTIGATION DONE.WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND WE COULDN'T BELIEVE THEIR ATTITUDE, THEY SHOWED NO CONCERN TO OUR PROBLEM AND PROCEEDED TO GIVE US A QUOTE FOR 2200. TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION. WHEN WE ASKED IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE THEY STATED NO. WE THEN SAW A RECALL ON THE TRANSMISSION ONLINE, SO WE CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SVC IN WHICH THEY THEN SAID THAT OUR VIN NUMBER WASN'T INCLUDED ON THIS RECALL. WE EXPLAINED THAT WE WERE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS THIS RECALL STATED. THEY IN TURN CALLED THE MANAGER AT CROWELL'S WHO STATED THAT HE DIDN'T OFFER ANY DISCOUNT BECAUSE OF OUR ATTITUDES.HE THEN OFFER TO CHARGE 495.FOR A NEW TRANSMISSION PLUS 200.FOR ANY SERVICE CHARGE, ALSO A 28. PER DAY RENTAL. WHEN WE ASKED WHY HE LOWERED HIS PRICE SO DRASTICALLY THEY STATED THAT IF THE WORK WAS OVER 2200. THAT WAS THE AMOUNT OF THE DISCOUNT(1500.) HOWEVER, SHE ALSO STATED THAT IF OUR VEHICLE WAS OVER 75,000 MILES IT DID NOT APPLY TO US. SO WE ARE LEFT WITH NO VEHICLE TO DRIVE NO WAY OF PAYING THIS AMOUNT OF MONEY AND TO OUR SURPRISE A VEHICLE WITH SO MANY RECALLS IT SHOULDN'T TO BE ALLOW ON THE ROAD.I FEEL WE SHOULD GET OUR MONEY BACK BEING THAT THIS VEHICLE IS TOO UNSAFE FOR MY FAMILY TO BE IN.*AK

NHTSA ID

743978

Incident

Mar 15, 2001

TRANSMISSION GEARS HAVE DETERIORATED. DEALER IS REPAIRING VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID

881349

IN COLD WEATHER IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE. CONSUMER HAS TO RESORT TO A SREW DRIVER TO HELP SHIFT, VEHICLE AT DEALER SINCE DECEMBMBER 28, 2000 TO REMEDY PROBLEM. *AK AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS BUT KNOB ROTATES AND SHIFT BINDS STILL. *SLC

NHTSA ID

878295

Incident

Nov 1, 1998

TRANSMISSION FAILED THREE TIMES WITHIN FOUR MONTHS. MAY 1ST, JUNE 26TH AND AUGUST 17TH/2000. EACH TIME TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REBUILT. *CJ

NHTSA ID

556946

Incident

May 1, 2000

CONSUMER STATES AUTOMOBILE WOULD NOT COME OUT OF GEAR. CAR WAS STUCK IN PARK. *AK

NHTSA ID

860462

Incident

Dec 12, 1999

ONGOING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. VEHICLE HAS HAD ITS 3RD TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

860215

Incident

Jun 15, 1998

WHEN SHIFTING GEARS THE INDICATOR DOES NOT MOVE. *AK

NHTSA ID

858935

Incident

Mar 7, 2000

TRANSMISSION DESIGN ALLOWS VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARDS WHEN FOOT IS REMOVED FROM BRAKE PEDAL WHILE IN DRIVE GEAR.

NHTSA ID

525851