Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 107 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.
The 25 most recent of 107, in the owner's own words
WAS ON I65 WAS DRIVING FINE HIRD A LOUD EXPLOSION ENGINE STARTED TO REV UP A PIECE OF THE TRANSMISSION CASING WENT INTO MY TIRE CAUSING A BLOW OUT, CAR BECAME OUT OF CONTROL AND HIT GAURDRAIL. *TT
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHIFTED INTO FIRST GEAR. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 98V233000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT) BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT COULD CAUSE A CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000. UPDATED 06/10/11 *BF UPDATED 2/08/2012 *LN *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE DEFECT ECM/PCM ENGINE CONTROL COMPUTER AND REPLACED AT THE TUNE OF $750 WITH A PART USED PART. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, IT BECAME DIFFICULT TO SHIFT GEARS. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TORQUE CONVERTER WAS CLOGGED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED TO REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER BEFORE IT DAMAGED THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE WARRANTY DOESN'T INCLUDE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THE CONTACT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING THE REPAIR COST AND HE IS UNABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,800.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOLTS WERE MISSING FROM THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION. HE DID NOT KNOW THE BOLTS WERE MISSING AT THE TIME THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY PARTS AVAILABLE, BUT WOULD HAVE THEM ORDERED. THE DEALER DID NOT KNOW WHEN THE PARTS WOULD ARRIVE BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT HAVE THEM IN STOCK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
FORD CONTOUR TRANSMISSION BUCKS AND SURGES UPON INITIAL ACCELERATION. DOES NOT SEEM TO STAY IN GEAR BASED UPON THE BUCKING MOTION. FORD TECHNICIAN INSPECTED IT AND STATED THAT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION HAVE WEAK MOUNTS THAT AFFECT PROPER OPERATION. HE SUGGESTED REPLACEMENT OF THE MOUNTS, ALTHOUGH UPON VISUAL INSPECTION, THE MOUNTS LOOKED NORMAL. *TR
MY HUSBAND AND I PURCHASED A USED 1998 FORD CONTOUR, UPON INSPECTION, WE FOUND THAT THE TRANSMISSION WAS SHOT. SO WE DECIDED TO DO A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THIS VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THERE A RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE FOR TRANSMISSIONS PROBLEM. SAYING THAT THE SHIFT MAY NOT PUT INTO THE CORRECT GEAR WHICH CAN OR WILL CAUSE TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. IN WHICH ARE HAVING. *TR
TL*T HE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD CONTOUR SE. THE FLOOR SHIFT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CONTROL WAS DAMAGED AFTER IT WAS SUBJECTED TO CERTAIN INTERIOR CLEANING PRODUCTS. THE GEAR POSITION INDICATOR DETERIORATED , AND DID NOT CORRECTLY INDICATE THE ACTUAL GEAR POSITION. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH IN 2ND GEAR THE VEHICLE SHIFTED OUT OF GEAR. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE HAD THE SAME FAILURE AS LISTED IN RECALL# 98V233000. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000, AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 106,000. *AK LEFT MESSAGE 10/16/07 *LJ.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC, BUT THE DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER WERE ALERTED. THERE WAS A NHTSA RECALL, # 98V233000, REGARDING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLOOR SHIFT; HOWEVER, IT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
MY DAUGHTER DROVE MY 1998 6 CYL CONTOUR AUTOMATIC ON ROUTE 95 FROM STONEHAM TO WAKEFIELD, MA (ONE HIGHWAY EXIT). THE CAR WAS BEHAVING NORMALLY AND HAD BEHAVED NORMALLY UNTIL THAT POINT. A SERVO COVER FELL OFF OF THE TRANSMISSION. THAT ALLOWED ALL OF THE TRANSMISSION FLUID TO POUR OUT OF THE TRANSMISSION IN SECONDS. THE SERVO COVER, A THREE INCH DIAMETER PIECE OF HEAVY METAL SHAPED LIKE A FRISBEE, NEARLY HIT A MOTOR CYCLIST. THE CAR COASTED TO A STOP NEAR 128 FORD OF WAKEFIELD, MA. THEIR SERVICE WRITER, LUDLOW, TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A RELATIVELY COMMON OCCURRENCE WITH THE FORD CONTOUR. THAT OPINION WAS REINFORCED BY TWO EMPLOYEES OF FNA TRANSMISSION REPAIR OF WAKEFIELD. I CALLED FORD. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY HAVE NO KNOWLEDGE OF THIS EVER HAPPENING TO A CONTOUR. I ASKED THE CUSTOMER SERVICE REP TO FILE A REPORT, AND I TOLD HIM THAT I WOULD AS WELL. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS DEFECT EXISTS AND IS A SERIOUS HAZARD TO MOTORCYCLISTS (I AM ONE.) I AM WORRIED THAT THE RAPID LOSS OF TRANSMISSION FLUID USUALLY LEADS TO SERIOUS TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE STALLED SEVERAL TIMES IMMEDIATELY AFTER BEING STARTED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED CONSTANTLY. THEREFORE THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE BATTERY, ON-BOARD COMPUTER, AND ALTERNATOR WERE REPLACED. A REBUILT TRANSMISSION WAS ALSO INSTALLED. AFTER THE WORK WAS PERFORMED, THE PROBLEMS CONTINUED. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN # 98V233000, REGARDING THE POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: LEVER AND LINKAGE: FLOOR SHIFT RELATED TO THE MAKE AND MODEL OF THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE WATER PUMP AND THERMOSTAT WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 05/03/06. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR BETWEEN 10-50 MPH. THE ENGINE REVVED WHEN THIS OCCURRED. THE GEAR SHIFTER IS MOVED TO A LOWER GEAR THEN BACK TO DRIVE, BUT THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT GO BACK INTO GEAR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN SEEN BY A MECHANIC.
TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO DOWNSHIFT (3->2) HARD RECENTLY, AND I BROUGHT IT TO AN AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST WHO PERFORMED SEVERAL TESTS AND GAVE IT A CLEAN BILL OF HEALTH. ~5,000 MI LATER WHILE GENTLY SLOWING TO TURN LEFT FROM A MAJOR STREET, IT FELT AS THOUGH I HAD RUN OVER SOME WALNUT SHELLS. AS I BEGAN TO EASE OPEN THE THROTTLE TO COMPLETE THE TURN, THE ENGINE BOGGED AND THE CAR LURCHED, MAKING SOME CRUNCHING SOUNDS. I COASTED TO A STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, BUT THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE UNDER ITS OWN POWER OR BY PUSHING BY HAND. LOCAL TRANSMISSION SHOPS HAVE SAID THE CD4E TRANSMISSION IS NOTORIOUS FOR EARLY FAILURE, AND THAT I WAS LUCKY TO GET 102,000 MILES FROM IT BECAUSE MANY FAIL BY 40,000 MILES. THEY HAVE QUOTED ME REPAIR PRICES RANGING FROM $1500 TO $3500. I AM VERY GRATEFUL THIS FAILURE DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE EITHER ON THE FREEWAY OR ON A CURVY ROAD, AS AN AXLE LOCKUP LIKE THIS WOULD BE VERY DANGEROUS. *JB
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION HARD SHIFT FROM 1-2. *NM
MY 1998 FORD CONTOUR SE HAS PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUNK LEAKING. EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR THE TRUNK LEAKS SLOWLY. I FIND HUGE WET SPOTS IN THE CARPET IN MY TRUNK. ALSO THE VEHICLE HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. WHEN YOU DRIVE THE VEHICLE THE TRANSMISSION GETS CAUGHT AND HESITATES TO SHIFT.*AK
I PURCHASED THE CAR ON OCTOBER 1, 2004. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES ON THE FREEWAY I SLOWED DOWN DUE TO TRAFFIC. WHEN I STARTED TO TAKE OFF I FELT A JERK WHEN THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED. MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. WHEN I TURN OFF MY CAR AND RESTART IT, IT DOES NOT JERK WHEN IT SHIFTS, UNLESS I CONTINUE TO DRIVE ABOUT 10 MILES, THEN IT DOES IT AGAIN.*AK
1998 FORD CONTOUR 4 DOOR SEDAN BOUGHT 10/15/99; SINCE THEN MANY INCIDENTS OF CAR CUTTING OFF SUDDENLY - SOMETIMES ONLY ONCE IN MONTHS, SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES IN ONE DAY; MANY CLOSE CALLS; NEARLY REAR-ENDED, ETC. FRIGHTENING TO BE POWERLESS IN TRAFFIC. MANY REPAIRS TRIED, COMPUTER ANALYSIS, ELECTRICAL CHECK UPS ONLY HELP IS TO REPLACE IDLE AIR CONTROL - COMPUTER CHIP WITH WHICH CAN GO NEARLY A YEAR WITHOUT RANDOM SHUT OFF. MANY CONTOUR OWNERS HAVE SAME PROBLEM, WHICH IS POTENTIALLY FATAL. HAVE HAD 4 SHUT DOWNS IN TRAFFIC IN LAST 2 WEEKS AND HAVE ANOTHER IAC - BUT FORD NEEDS TO FIND PERMANENT SOLUTION TO DEADLY ERROR. *AK
TRANSMISSION SLIPS AND JERKS WHEN SHIFTING. *NM
TRANSMISSION IS LEAKING FLUID. *JB
I WAS LEAVING WORK AND DISCOVERED THAT MY CAR NOW ONLY GOES IN REVERSE-I HAVE NOT HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION UP TO THIS POINT WHEN FROM OUT OF NO WHERE IT JUST STOPPED WORKING. THE AUTOMOTIVE SHOP TELLS ME I HAVE TO GO TO A DEALER TO GET A NEW TRANSMISSION PUT IN ALL COSTING MORE THAN THE CAR IS PROBABLY WORTH. FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THIS PART-THEY'RE OBVIOUSLY HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT THAT ARE NOT "RARE" OR "UNUSUAL" FOR THIS TRANSMISSION. *JB
TRANSMISSION STARTING SLIPPING ON MAJOR INTERSTATE DURING RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC...I HAVE READ SO MANY COMPLAINTS ON THIS AND MANY OTHER SITES ABOUT THESE CARS AND I FEEL THAT A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS SHOULD GO INTO EFFECT BEFORE THERE IS A FATALITY... *LA
CONSTANT PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. ALTERNATOR, FUEL TANK, GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR, COMPUTER SENSOR'S (VARIABLE CAM TIMING OVER RETARDED), AUTOMATIC SHIFT LABORED AND FAILS, COOLING FAN MOTOR, ETC. THIS VEHICLE IS IN SOME FORM OF REPAIR SHOP ON A REGULAR BASIS. HAVE I DRIVEN A FORD LATELY? YES, AND SORRY I CHOSE TO DO SO. *AK
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILED IN 2001 (SEE ODI # 759046 SUBMITTED 3/02). TRANSMISSION WAS REBUILT AND REMAINED IN SERVICE UNTIL 2003. IN JUNE 2003, TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING UNDER NORMAL CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS AND WAS TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR INSPECTION AND SERVICE. TRANSMISSION WAS DEEMED "UNREBUILDABLE" AND REPLACED WITH NEW FORD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.*AK
I WENT TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP HERE IN LOUISIANA AND SHOWED THEM THE PAPERS THAT WAS SENT TO ME CONCERNING RECALLS FOR MY YEAR & MAKE OF CAR. I TOLD THEM THAT SOME OF THE RECALLS ON THOSE PAPERS WAS HAPPENING TO MY CAR AND WHY HAVEN'T THEY BEEN REPAIRED WHEN I BROUGHT MY CAR IN AND THEY STATED TO ME THAT IF THE VIN # FOR MY CAR DIDN'T COME UP AS A RECALL AND AS LONG AS THE PROBLEM DIDN'T EXIST THEN THEY COULD NOT REPAIR IT . AND I STATED THAT EVEN THOUGH MY VIN DIDN'T COME UP AND EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS HAVING SOME THESE RECALLS PROBLEMS YALL ARE NOT GOING TO REPAIR THEM BECAUSE MY VIN # DIDN'T COME UP AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT EXISTING RIGHT NOW ALL ARE NOT GOING TO REPAIR OR FIX THESE RECALLS, AND I WAS TOLD YES. WELL, SOME OF THESE RECALLS ARE EXISTING ON MY CAR AND I CAN'T GET THE FORD PLACE TO REPAIR OR FIX THEM WHY IS THAT? I THINK THAT'S VERY UNFAIR TO THE CUSTOMER.*AK
1998 FORD CONTOUR SE 4CYL VIN [XXX] - 4SPEED TRANSMISSION. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK WHEN THE TRANSMISSION MADE SUDDEN, ERRATIC, JERKY SHIFTS ON ITS OWN CAUSING THE CAR TO PULL FROM SIDE TO SIDE AND LOSING CONTROL AND LEAVING THE ROAD AND FINALLY STOPPING IN A FIELD. I HAD TO TOW HER OUT. THE CAR NOW DOES NOT MOVE FORWARD, BUT DOES HAS REVERSE. FURTHER RESEARCH ON THE NET HAS REVEALED OTHER FORD/MAZDA OWNERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME TRANSMISSION FAILURES. I AM SURPRISED THE NHTSA HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING ABOUT THESE TRANSMISSIONS. *AK INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY JERKS WHEN SHIFTING, SOMETIME VERY VIOLENTLY. VEHICLE HAS ALSO STALLED WHEN NEGOTIATING A TURN IN AN INTERSECTION. VIBRATES OFTEN AT LOW SPEEDS (30 MPH), AS THOUGH IT'S IN TOO HIGH OF A GEAR FOR THE TERRAIN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON INTERMITTENTLY, USUALLY FOR SEVERAL DAYS THEN GOES OFF FOR A FEW DAYS BEFORE COMING BACK ON AGAIN. I'VE GOTTEN TWO ESTIMATES FOR THE REPAIR, BOTH IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF $2,500 FOR A REBUILD OF MY TRANSMISSION OR INSTALLATION OF A RE-MANUFACTURED TRANSMISSION. RECENTLY HAD TO HAVE COOLANT SENSOR AND FUEL PRESSURE REGULATOR REPLACED AS A RESULT OF REGULARLY OCCURRING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. *NLM
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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