Owner-reported complaints naming the powertrain system, filed with NHTSA
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Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1998 Ford Contour submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 24 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
WAS DRIVING DOWN ROUTE 322 ON DAY AND HAD TO HIT THE BREAK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THEY WENT TO THE FLOOR. I PULLED OVER AND CHECKED MY BREAK FLUID RESIVOUR AND IT WAS EMPTY. I THINK THE PASSENGER SIDE DRUM BREAK IS LEAKING FLUID.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REVERSE GEAR FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 98V233000 (POWER TRAIN). HOWEVER, THE VIN WAS NOT LISTED UNDER THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
WE HAVE A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON. IT FIRST CAME ON IN OCT 01 WE TOOK IT TO THE FORD GARAGE IN DELHI. THEY SAID IT NEEDED A CAM SENSOR/ SOLENOID SPROCKETS ETC. SINCE THAT WAS A LOT OF MONEY WE DECIDED TO TAKE IT TO CANADIAN TIRE TO SEE WHAT THEY THOUGHT. THEY THOUGHT IT WAS A CAM SENSOR. WE HAD THEM PUT THAT IN. $58. MILEAGE 111346. IT WORKED FINE FOR A COUPLE WEEKS. WE COMPLAINED TO FORD AND FOUND OUT ABOUT THE AWA.. AFTER WARRANTY ADJUSTMENT. THIS HAD NOT BEEN MENTIONED EARLIER. SO WE A NEW SOLENOID SPROCKET ETC. PUT IN BY FORD,, (JAN /02) . HOW IT CAME TO THAT MILEAGE WHEN CTC HAD IT BACK IN NOV/ 01 AND THEN IT WAS* 11134*???? THEY ALSO HAD IT IN DEC AND THE MILEAGE WAS 112279.) THAT BAFFLES ME. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS TO SURFACE AGAIN. MY DAUGHTER HAD THE CAR AT SCHOOL SO SHE WAS FINALLY ABLE TO TAKE IT TO OUR GARAGE IN MAY/28/02 AT THAT TIME THE GARAGE CHECKED #3 CYLINDER CAUSE OF OUR CHECK ENGINE CONCERNS.. COST 39.10. NOTHING WAS DONE AT THAT TIME. THE ENGINE LIGHT CONTINUED TO STAY ON. FINALLY WE TOOK IT IN AGAIN ON OCT 24TH AND ANOTHER CAM SENSOR WAS PUT ON. $144.46. MILEAGE 130776. ON NOV,.5TH /02 TOOK IT IN AGAIN AND THEY SAID IT WOULD REQUIRE AN EXHAUST CAMSHAFT AND SOLENOID GASKETS AND SEALS. WE AGAIN ASKED ABOUT THE AWA AND THEY SAID NO IT WAS NO LONGER COVERED. THEY SAID THAT THE LAST SOLENOID WAS ONLY COVERED FOR 20,000 KM. HAD THEY DETECTED THE PROBLEM BACK IN MAY WHEN WE BROUGHT IT IN AND HAD THEY WRITTEN DOWN THE CORRECT MILEAGE THEN IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. SINCE WE DID NOT REALLY FEEL THAT THE SOLENOID ( AND REALLY DIDN'T WANT TO PAY $1000 FOR FIXING IT AND THEN FINDING OUT THAT THERE MIGHT BE ANOTHER PROBLEM) WAS THE PROBLEM, SINCE WE HAD ALREADY HAD THAT REPLACED ONCE WE CONSIDERED TAKING IT TO A GUY THAT USED TO WORK AT FORD. (HIS WIFE DRIVES A CONTOUR) HE CHECKED THE CAR FOR SURGES. SCAN TESTED IT TRIED VARIOUS COMPUTER PARTS RECHECKED VALVE. ETC,, BUT IT ALL PROVED NEGATIVE.
MY 1998 CONTOUR IS AT 128,225 MILES. THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH THE CAR ARE THE FOLLOWING: -THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT OF AIM AND MOISTURE COLLECTS IN THE HEADLAMP AND WHEN THE MOISTURE DRIES IT LEAVES A FILM ON THE INSIDE OF THE LENS. THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE HEADLIGHTS IS TERRIBLE. I CAN BARELY SEE AT NIGHT EVEN WHEN IT IS A CLEAR NIGHT. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES. I ALMOST HIT A MAN ON A BICYCLE THE OTHER NIGHT. HE HAD REFLECTORS ON HIS BIKE BUT I DIDN'T SEE HIM TILL I WAS RIGHT UP BEHIND HIM. I HAVEN'T HAD THIS FIXED BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD TO PAY TWO FOUR HUNDRED DOLLARS FOR A NEW PAIR OF HEADLAMPS. I HAVE BEEN ACTUALLY LOOKING IN SALVAGE YARDS. -ANOTHER THING IS THE TRANSMISSION. IT SHIFTS OUT HARD BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND GEARS. NOW IT JERKS WHEN I GO UP HILLS OR WHEN I LET OFF OF THE GAS PEDAL. I FIGURE IF I TAKE IT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP THEY WILL TELL ME THAT I HAVE TO REPLACE IT. -THE NEXT THING IS THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE SEAT TRACK ITSELF HAS RUST ON SOME OF THE PARTS. THE DRIVER SEAT IS THE ONLY ONE WITH THE RUST PROBLEM. WHEN YOU SIT IN THE SEAT IT ROCKS SIDE TO SIDE (FROM DOOR TO CENTER CONSOLE). THIS SCARES ME BECAUSE I READ SOMEONE ELSE'S COMPLAINT AND HE SAID HE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND THE SEAT AND THE TRACK ITSELF BROKE ON HIM.
MY 1998 FORD CONTOUR SE 2.0 (AUTOMATIC TANSMISSION) HAS 80,000+ MILES. IT HAD SUDDEN POWERTRAIN MALFUNCTION. IT SHIFTED IRRADICALLY NEARLY CAUSING ME TO TO REAR-END THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. OF COURSE, MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND I HAVE BEEN FORCED TAKE MY VEHICLE TO COTTMANS TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE I HAVE BEEN TOLD THEY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THIS PROBLEM HAVING WORKED ON FOUR CASES, WITH THE FORD CONTOUR, SIMILAR TO MINE IN THE LAST MONTH. REPAIRS, INVOLVING A COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF THE TRANSMISSIN, HAVE BEEN ESTIMATED BETWEEN $1700-$2300. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE NEW OFF THE LOT IN 1998. CAUSES FOR THIS MALFUNCTION HAVE BEEN EXPLAINED TO ME IN LAYMEN TERMS AS "TRANSMISSION COMPUTER" FAILURE THAT THEN CAUSES A MECHANICAL MALFUNCTION WITH IN THE POWERTRAIN. IM NOT SURE THAT THIS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR. PLEASE ADVISE
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE POPPED OUT OF GEAR AND WENT INTO NEUTRAL WHILE MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN, CONSUMER ALSO STATES THAT THERE ARE INTERMITTENT PROBLEMS WITH GETTING VEHICLE INTO GEAR, VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SHIFT AND CLUTCH PROBLEMS. *SLC
WHILE MAKING A TURN, HEARD A LOUD NOISE DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE FRONT AXLE. HAD REPAIRED BUT PROBLEM STILL EXIST. DEALER CONTACTED. NLM *TT
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.*AK
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. *SLC
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 *JB
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. *AK
I AM VERY DISPLEASED WITH THE FORD CONTOUR. ABOUT 2 MONTH AFTER I PURCHASED MY CAR I HAD TO HAVE THE BRAKE PADS REPLACED, THEN REPLACED AGAIN AFTER THAT. I'VE HAD SEVERAL RECALLS ON THE CAR, NOT TO MENTION ALL THE OTHER HEADACHES I'VE DEALT WITH. I'M REALLY CONSIDERING NOT TO EVER BUY ANOTHER FORD CAR, THIS HAS BEEN THE WORST CAR I'VE EVER OWNED
SPEEDOMETER/ODMETER AND FUEL GAUGE ARE NOT WORKING. VEHICLE GAVE NO PRIOR WARNINGS, AND SHUTDOWN WHILE IN MOTION. DEALERSHIP'S REMEDY FOR FUEL GAUGE AND SPEEDOMETER ARE FOR THEM TO BE REPLACED. DEFECT MAY HAVE CAUSED CONSUMER INTO AN AUTOMOBILE ACCIDENT.*AK SOMETIMES, ALL OF THEM DO WORK, BUT MAY FAIL WHILE TRAVELING. *YH
THE SPEEDOMETER, ODOMETER, TRIP ODOMETER AND GAS GAUGE STOP WORKING ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. GENERALLY THEY RESUME WORKING ON THEIR OWN, AT WHICH TIME THE LOW FUEL WARNING LIGHT COMES ON FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN GOES OUT. I RETURNED THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE ON 10 APRIL 00. THEY COULD NOT VERIFY THE INTERMITTENT PROBLEM AND DID NOTHING. I HIT THE TOP OF THE DASH SMARTLY, WHICH FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR ABOUT SIX WEEKS, BUT NOW IT HAS RETURNED. LACK OF KNOWLEDGE ABOUT SPEED AND FUEL IS MOST ANNOYING AND DANGEROUS AS WELL.*AK
COIL SPRING ON THE RIGHT FRONT OF CAR BROKE. REPLACEMENT OF THE FOLLOWING WAS NECESSARY: SHOCK ABSORBER, CB SPRING, D BOOT, BEARING ASSEMNBLY, AA SEAT, MOUNTING ASSY, HALFSHAFT ASSEMBLY, CV JOINT ASSEMBLY, BRAKE SHOES, DISC BRAKE ROTOR, TIRES.*AK
MACPHERSON STRUT AND TRANS AXLE BROKE WITHIN 45000 MILES.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
HEADLIGHT'S ARE NOT WORKING, AND THE DOOR LIGHT ABOVE FLOOR LIGHTS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DON'T WORK. ALSO, SPEEDOMETER ISN'T WORKING PROPERLY. *AK
THUMP IN FRONT END AFTER COASTING AND THEN RESUMEING SPEED.
PROBLEMS WITH RECALL REPAIR WORK ON THE SHIFT IGNITION (99S19) 99V-194. MJS
SPEEDOMETER FAILED. YH
SPEEDOMETER MALFUNCTIONED. *YC
ENGINE STALLING CONTINUALLY, HISSING AND STEAMING WHEN TURNED OFF.
VEHICLE HAS SEVERE VIBRATION FROM FRONT DRIVE TRAIN AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 60-70 MPH.
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES A HARD SHIFTING PROBLEM.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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