Recalls

CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - LEVER AND LINKAGE - FLOOR SHIFT
98V233000FORD MOTOR COMPANYfrom 07/18/1994 to 01/12/1998V (Vehicle)17500011/20/1998ODIFORD MOTOR COMPANY09/18/199809/25/1998
Defect SummaryVehicle description: passenger vehicles. the floor shift automatic transmission control can be damaged if subjected to certain interior cleaning products. the gear position indicator can deteriorate and not correctly indicate the actual gear position.
Consequence SummaryThis condition can result in incorrect gear selection.
Corrective SummaryDealers will replace the automatic transmission floor shift control.
NotesOwner notification began november 20, 1998.owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

Bulletins

BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
POWER TRAIN
9510305/01/199542088The speedometer needle may waver or the speedometer may be noisy due to improper connection of the speedometer cable. *tw11/01/1995
957404/01/199541006The speedometer needle may waver or the speedometer may be noisy on some vehicles. *tw11/01/1995
953702/01/199539220Speedometer inoperative. *tw03/30/1995
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
1589405/01/2002637775Subject regarding automatic shifter assembly or the indicator housing replacement. *tt12/06/2002
9915207/26/1999608431Information on the new flush and fill tool available through rotunda. *tt01/05/2001
001501/10/2000612203Information regarding the new transmission cooler flusher- service tip. *mjs06/06/2000
1317809/01/19996090534Information regarding clunk/rattle on tip-in or transmission gear engagement. *mjs03/21/2000
9924911/29/19996090198This bulletin addresses an issue with the automatic transmission fluid seeping from the vent, resulting in fluid collecting on the main control assembly. *tt03/10/2000
97600707/01/1997605790Concerns with transmission range (tr) sensor intermittently going from overdrive to neutral and reverse while cruising at 42 mph. *tt07/26/1999
988804/27/1998601238Information on a new transmission fluid usage chart. *yc07/10/1998
9751103/03/199751945Fluid- transmission fluid usage charts. *jd07/17/1997
BC320497021402/14/199751804Harsh shifts and/or harsh engagement accompanied by dtc's 628 or p0741. *tw07/17/1997
BC004497020101/02/199751018Intermittent surging, bucking or shudder concern, intermediate erratic speddometer and/or possibly dtc452. *jd06/27/1997
96261412/16/199650999Transaxle - cd4e - harsh shift and/or engagement - diagnostic trouble code 628 or p0741. *tw06/17/1997
BC018696010212/01/199546445Engineering is investigating a concern on the cd4e transaxle where transmission fluid mists from the transaxle vent tube. this concern causes transmission fluid to puddle on top of the transaxle & can be perceived as a pan gasket or seal l04/25/1996
BC891695040104/01/19953012500Unknown11/01/1995
BC226295060106/01/199542074Unknown11/01/1995
9561103/01/199539907Turbine shaft speed sensor (tss) - mounting surface on pump bodies incorrect. *tw11/01/1995
9422810/01/199437750Fluid leak from pump body of transaxle. *tw01/06/1995
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)
BC353195030103/01/199539199Vehicles with traction control may exhibit no engine rpm increase on start-up in cold ambient conditions. *tw03/30/1995
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - COOLING UNIT AND LINES
0314807/21/200310003748New transmission cooler flusher - service tips. 2003 escort and super duty f series included. *tt10/29/2003
975903/03/199751943Leak- automatic transmission fluid- cd4e transaxle in fluid collection on main control assembly. *jd07/17/1997
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
98S26S112/07/1998615128Safety recall involving certain vehicles with automatic transaxle shift indicator (prndl) bezel. *tt12/29/2000
98S26S212/07/1998615129Safety recall involving certain vehicles with automatic transaxle shift indicator (prndl) bezel - part availability). *tt12/29/2000
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - PARK/NEUTRAL START SWITCH
0118109/17/2001625715Brake shift interlock.*jb11/30/2001
BC254295050305/01/199540076Inoperative shift interlock. *tw11/01/1995
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - TORQUE CONVERTER
96261212/16/199650997Transaxle - torque converter replacement guidelines and torque converter/transaxle cooling system cleaning procedures - service tip. *tw06/17/1997
9624911/18/199650908Torque converter - leak test procedure - service tip. *tw06/17/1997
POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY
022402/04/2002630631Some vehicles equipped with the cd4e transaxle may exhibit harsh and delayed 1-2/2-3 upshifts after transaxle or turbine shaft speed sensor replacement, possible diagnostic trouble codes 628, 642, 645, 646, 647, 648, p0731, p0732, p0734, p004/19/2002
0018209/01/2000618586Some vehicles may exhibit no forward gear ranges due to the misalignment of the forward / coast clutch cylinder snap ring with respect to the legs of the forward clutch piston. *jb04/17/2001
967903/25/1996613331A condition may exist where the transaxle fluid may leak at the transaxle oil cooler lines where they connect to the radiator. *tt06/21/2000
001901/10/2000612301Information regarding several internal changes that have been implemented on the mrx-75 transaxle to improve shift efforts. *mjs06/07/2000
9920110/04/19996089639Concerns with a harsh shift felt at large throttle openings (or at heavy acceleration rate) on some vehicles. *tt02/10/2000
98231111/23/1998603725Minimal clearance of the cd4e transaxle to subframe makes transaxle installation and removal more difficult. *yc03/03/1999
BC078496101410/14/199650410Weld connection concern w/ the forward/direct/coast clutch cylinder & hub assy. *tt04/24/1997
9515807/01/199545938Transaxle-cd4e-no forward engagement and/or no 3rd gear-transaxles built from 9/28/94 through 10/30/94 (serial #421-0000 through 4303-9999). *sd04/25/1996
POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
1376101/01/2000612789Some vehicles equipped with 2.0l engines may exhibit symptoms of clutch slippage or no clutch engagement after performinb repairs to the clutch system. *mjs06/12/2000
792301/01/20007923612410Clutch will not engage after service.06/08/2000
POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY - PEDAL/LINKAGE
BC102669723001/23/199751641Vehicles exhibiting harsh shifts and/or harsh engagement accompanied by dtcs 628 or p0741. *jd06/27/1997
POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE
734911/01/1999610783Some vehicles equipped with 2.5l engine and cd4e transmission may exhibit a driveline rattle or clunking type noise during tip-in or transmission gear engagement. *tt05/15/2000
1331610/01/1999609611Exhibiting a driveline rattle or clunking type noise during tip-in or transmission gear engagement. *tt04/04/2000
BC004497230101/23/199751396Intermittent surging, bucking or shudder concern, intermediate erratic speedometer and/or possibly dtc 452- inspect the vss and speedo gear. *jd06/27/1997
POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
1337910/01/19996092178Some vehicles equipped with 2.5l engine and cd4e transmission may exhibit a driveline rattle or clunking type noise during tip-in or transmission gear engagement. *tt11/27/2000
699409/01/19996090305Concerns with vehicles exhibiting a driveline rattle or clunking type noise during tip-in or transmission gear engagement. *tt03/14/2000
BC316297021802/18/199751762Clicking noise caused by differential lube tube contacting differential case. *tw07/17/1997
POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION
99604105/01/1999606956Vehicles may exhibit a hard to shift condition in cold weather. *tt09/08/1999
9624811/18/199650907Noise - grinding or clashing heard when shifting into 3rd gear - vehicles with mtx-75 transaxle - vehicles built through 9/1/96. *tw06/17/1997
BC270495050305/01/199540089Manual transaxle equipped vehicles may exhibit neutral gear roll over noise which occurs only at idle. *tw11/01/1995

Investigations

NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
POWER TRAIN
RQ02006FORD MOTOR COMPANY02/26/200209/12/2002INCORRECT GEAR INDICATION98V233000
 Shift indicator may deteriorate and not correctly indicate the actual gear position

Consumer Complaints

Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
POWER TRAIN
08/15/200384000
 This problem is not fixed. the transmission goes out of gear at about 60 miles an hour (od transmission) and the vehicle "bangs and spudders". additional, the temperture gauge has always run hot and yet the vehicle seems to be find- makes it difficult to know if the vehicle is overheating. the transmission problem is going to become more costly. concerning the transmission- i do live in maryland and am required to have a vehicle emissions inspection that has the vehicle put on a device that takes the vehicle to high speeds!
02/15/20010
 I'm a hearing impaired driver/owner of ford '95 contour gl (low-incomer, average $21,000 a year). i've bought this car in 1997 from a minneapolis-area ford dealership (quality auto dealership in bloomington, minnesota). at the time, i had less than $10,000 to pay for a recent used car(one that is within 2-3 years after it came on the market). i tried out few cars and the white 1995 ford contour gl. the dealer insisted that '95 ford contour gl was a good buy at an affordable price. i was willing to trade up my old car to reduce the price but it was still too high for me since it didn't included other fees like the title and registration license. after a short, persuasive negotiation, i got the dealer to agree to mark down to $9995 and i accepted that. so i bought the car. after a few days, i was experiencing a problem with it, so i had it towed back to the dealership and later told me that the whole engine was bad and need to be replaced. i was stunned but they were willing to do the repair for free. it took me a week to get my car back. everything went fairly fine for the next couple years. in 1999, the air-conditioner in my car stopped working and it was too expensive to repair at the time. i moved to columbus, oh in jan. 2000. for the last 3 years, that car has become a trouble for me. one repair after the next. the biggest repair cost i've paid out was $2060.43 to replace a flywheel. i have tried to take good care of my car by taking it to jiffy lube for oil/check-ups every 3-6 months faithfully and i'm still having trouble with my car. right now, it is at another ford service because there may be defected wiring coils in my car (a dealer recall that i'm not aware of). i have kept all the service maintenance papers in file for all the repairs and services on my car. i wanted a new car and i'm not very happy. i'm tired of paying for the repairs. thank you, rob
05/12/20031423101
 The vehicles shift indicator was not visible. dealer notified. *nlm
08/18/200295400007/25/1997
 The engine mount on the bell housing is weakly made, possibly fractures can occur in the aluminum. it will break under normal driving conditions. the bell housing in my personal vehicle broke and caused a domino effect of other problems.
03/22/20011
 Speedometer is erratic. *slc
12/30/2001307/25/1995
 Consumer was traveling about 50mph on highway and noticed a smoke smell coming through the vents. he pulled over to the shoulder and vehicle was on fire. dealership was aware of problem.*ak prior to recall 00v367, engine was overheating and burning excess oil from overheated piston rings, after recall repairs, there was an internal antifreeze leak that was going into motor oil, engine cooling fans were operating intermittently when engine was hot, dealer found upper radiator hose at water pump had a pinhole leak, engine cooling fan wiring overheated and burned out at fan relay and fan connectors, then consumer received recall 01i009 and had these repairs completed on vehicle, after recall repairs, engine and in-dash wiring overheated and burned, dealer installed recall parts for blower motor again, consumer later informed a new motor was needed due to no compression due to overheating damage. this took place prior to vehicle fire. headlight and taillight lenses replaced. overdrive light was inoperative, shift lever internal sliding bezel had a stress crack, at times it was hard to get out of park when temperature was cold. a/c did not blow cold air and was noisy. fuel door would not open at times. speedometer cable was replaced due to a ticking noise. *jb
03/22/20011
 Speedometer is erratic. *slc
08/28/200103/01/1995
 Speedometer needle fluctuated wildly, then it registered zero. ten seconds later the car's driveablity went down due to the on-board computer receiving zero speed input: limited accelleration, no cruise control, etc. end result: both speed cable and speed control sensor broken; connection pin from transmission to sensor stuck or snapped --> will need to drop transmission and tear it open just to get at a $25 part!*ak
 Speedometer has failed prematurely at only 80,000 miles, causing incorrect reading of speed. it is not registering the miles.*ak
2
 Speedometer cable broke, emergency brake froze up. mjs
5
 When traveling speedometer reading is incorrect,vehicle could be going as fast as 60 mph, and speedometer reading states zero. consumer has contacted the dealer, dealer has replaced the speed sensor five times. please provide any further details.*ak
12/01/1998109/01/1997
 This vehicle was subject of recall for throttle link cable. ignition/plug cables also failed and had to be replaced. the speedometer/odometer cable that failed failed because of a link. this leads to a question about the overall fitness of cables that ford is using on this vehicle. i've never before heard of a non-traumatic failure of a speedometer/odometer cable at under 100,000 miles. i am not sure of dates or mileage as submitted. this happened a while ago, and i only saw notification of your website on a public bus this evening (8 feb). please investigate and let me know if this is a common problem. i've long since replaced the speedometer/odometer cable and have learned my lesson. never again will i buy a ford motor company product. *ak
09/01/1997312/01/1994
 Speed control sensor failed 3 times. also transmission slipped improperly due to speed sensor failure. inaddition, speedometer/odometer failed. *ak
02/28/1996202/01/1995
 Speedometer failed twice.
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
09/05/2008365001
 My automatic transmission shift position indicator mounted on my floor console has disintegrated over time, and no longer exists. this failure has been recognized previously, and is due to defective, poor quality, plastic material that the shift indicator is made of. the consequence of this failure is that one cannot determine which gear the transmission is operating in, and can cause overheating of the transmission and/or engine, and possibly cause an auto accident, or fire. this has been a recognized defect failure and was reported as a safety recall as early as 1998. however upon contact with the ford dealership and also the ford motor company representatives, they deny that my 1995 contour is included in the safety recall. there are numerous 1995 contour vehicle owner complaints filed with the ford motor company on this denial of safety recall application by other 1995 ford contour owners who have experienced that same lack of support through the ford motor co representatives. this material defect is a generic problem that affects all 1995 contours, however the ford representatives deny that my vin is included in the safety recall. *tr
08/04/200771000108/04/2003
 I have experienced several incidents with the transmission in my vehicle. after you drive the vehicle long enough for it to warm up good, the transmission will quit pulling. you can be driving down the road and it acts as if it just kicks into neutral. you can pull over and put the car into park and then into drive again and it will go a little farther before it will do it again. the car has only a little over 70,000 miles on it and is now basically junk. i have been told by several mechanics that these cars all have transmission problems and that rebuilding the transmission doesn't usually work for very long. *tr
07/23/20071003/17/2007
 Tl* - the contact owns a 1995 ford contour. the speedometer works intermittently. she stated that the transmission was contatantly skipping gears, and downshifts when it should change gears. there is a safety recall on both of the components that are failing on her vehicle. power train:automatic trasmission: lever and linkage:floor shift-98v233000, and vehicle speed control cables-97v225000. the contact did not know the current or failure mileage because the odometer is broken.
07/06/2007141720512/12/1994
 Experienced transmission issues, with intermittent rough shifting and intermittent failures to engage in drive or reverse. it mysteriously started to run fine for several days. one morning i drove a short distance for an appointment. upon returning and starting the car i noticed smoke exiting the left side of the engine compartment. i turned of the vehicle and inspected the engine compartment, and i could still see some smoke coming from the left-rear part of the engine compartment. after this incident, several of the vehicle's electrical functions failed, including park/brake shift interlock, heater fan, backup lights, directional flashers. following the incident, the transmission issues have resumed. upon inspection, i noticed several wires had cracking insulation, and some even had bare wire exposed. *tr
06/15/1997907/15/1995
 I have a 1995 ford contour and i paid over $16,000.00 for it. i have had nothing but trouble since i got this car. i have 50,888 miles and the transmission has been replaced 2 times and worked on 4 times. water pump went out, air went out all wiring covers has crumbled off leaving exposed wires to start a fire and much more. i have been treated like i was a child and didn't know any better with the dealership and ford motor company. i now have a car that i can't drive because it is a fire hazard. i want something done to my satisfaction. i know they quit making the 1995 ford contour because there were so many manufacturer problems. i am now told they can't get parts to fix the car and i can't trade it in on another one. i am a female and i am tired of the treatment i'm receiving from ford. my car has always been serviced at a ford dealership. i have contacted several agencys concerning my problems. *jb
02/23/2005130000108/20/1996
 The transmission on my 1995 ford contour locked up suddenly one evening recently. trans shop rebuilt the trans for me. i received a call from them with bad news. the bad news was that the mechanic realized that the failure was due to the transmission wiring harness being damaged. it was damaged in a way that the owner of the shop said it could very well have caught the vehicle on fire, and apparently led to the failure of the trans (i am not mecahnic, so i can only go with what i gathered from them). ford had issued program 99m03 which covered engine compartment wiring harness failures. this program was for 10 years/100k miles. ford refuses to take any action towards paying for this repair because the vehicle (although 10 years old), has exceeded the mileage (it has 130k miles). however, i do not feel this has anything to do with the miles driven, but rather a poorly routed wiring harness. the harness was run under the battery, and the shop says it appears as though it was eaten away by acid over a period of time. can you help me get through the endless red tape at ford? ths is a quality and safety issue that i feel requires better involvement from ford. *ak
3
 While driving at any speed vehicle jerked and changed gears on its own. vehicle was taken to the dealer for inspection, and mechanic determined that transmission needed to be replaced, and replaced it. however, the problem recurred. *ak
10/06/2003430001
 My 1995 contour gl v-6 sedan's automatic transmission failed after only 43,000 miles. an internal pump was found to be defective requiring the replacement of the entire transmission. ford apologized by offered no compensation.*ak
03/28/2003
 Transmissions freezes and stops the car immediately. *nlm
03/15/20031
 When the gear was shifted into drive, the vehicle went into reverse. *jb
11/01/200089000104/01/1997
 Automatic transmission will not engage second gear or overdrive. vehicle has only 89000 miles.
09/01/1998108/01/2098
 Gear and indicator do not match. indicator says reverse when really drive. especially problematic when others drive the car! dealer and manufacturer informed vin not covered under previous recall 98v-233. seems to be an awful lot of vin not covered, but with problem.*ak
111/01/1999
 The vehicle is in need of a new transmission. consumer had the transmission replaced and problems are still occuring. *jg
05/22/200205/01/2095
 For the past five years, i have made excuses, stuck by my choice in buying the 1995 ford contour, but in the past two years i have spent over 6,000 dollars on repairs, most of which could have been avoided if the wiring harness had been replaced at the time of the original recall (oct.99) or the motor mounts had not failed. i believe that the transmission and electronic problems are directly attributable to the motor moving around when hitting potholes or stopping suddenly. the car has a pattern of shutting down without a problem showing on the computer analysis. i have had numerous problems with sensors, even before it was out of warranty. i think that ford should reimburse me for the last two years of repair bills.*ak
05/28/2002106/01/2001
 The egr valve, egr gas regulator valve went bad. the shifting sensor went bad causing it to feel like the transmission was slipping. the transmission and engine mount broke causing the engine to vibrate very badly. the a/c compressor locked up causing the belt to brake and stranding my wife and 8 month old daughter.
08/28/200103/01/1995
 Speedometer needle fluctuated wildly, then it registered zero. ten seconds later the car's driveablity went down due to the on-board computer receiving zero speed input: limited accelleration, no cruise control, etc. end result: both speed cable and speed control sensor broken; connection pin from transmission to sensor stuck or snapped --> will need to drop transmission and tear it open just to get at a $25 part!*ak
07/24/200108/01/1997
 Transmission gear selection became difficult to determine. lever would indicate drive and would actually be in 1st or 2nd gear. lever became stiff and difficult to operate. contacted ford about nhtsa recall for problem and was told that vehicle was not covered by recall. don't understand. problem is exactly as described and covers the manufacturering period indicated in nhsta 98v233000. *ak
05/15/2000101/01/1997
 First the a/c started flooding the passenger compartment. result the condenser was replaced by plantation ford, who told me this was a common problem with these vehicles. then the transmission started lurching in reverse. result $2000, and again ford told me this was a common problem with the contour. finally the engine quit on the highway, and the head gasket was blown. much later ford issue a recall for the cooling fan fuse, aand the wiring harness. both of which i was not informed about, but had to learn from a mechanic. and when i did take the car to plantation forn they told me they could not tell if the head gaasket was blown because of the cooling fan fuse, and that the engine wiring harness recall had expired at 100,000 making my vehicle ineligible since it had 106,000. i have e:mailed you pictures of the harness, which are so brittle, and corroded i would be scared to start any motor with it for fear of a fire.
12/28/2000512/01/2000
 A numerous amount of times my car would get stuck in park and after about 5 minutes of hitting and trying to press the button in on the gear shaft, i was able to move it into park. i got the problem fixed and it cost $345.00, which luckily was covered in my 30 day warranty. but i still worry that the problem will happen again. another problem is that the steering wheel and part of the dashboard vibrate extremely hard when i have my foot on the brake and the car in drive, like when i'm at a stop light.*ak
11/26/2000
 While driving 55 mph rear differential blew out. also axle toppled out. mechanic told consumer there had been trouble with cd4e transmissions. *ak
01/01/20000
 Consumer experienced the same problem as mentioned in recall 98v233000. when shifting in foward it actually is in reverse.*ak
07/07/2000008/01/1998
 At time of acceleration transmission will switch gears and will jump. ford does not want to take responsibility for this problem. *ak *ml
06/07/200006/01/1998
 I heard a thumping noise that i thought was a tire or brake caliper.drove car for a week.went to dealer and when i pulled in fluid was leaking from the car. power steering line was replaced ($600), car released to me. drove home. heard metallic sound and returned car the next day. dealer said problem was sheared bolts on the rear mount. they speculated that corrosion started because the transmission housing is aluminum and the bolt are steel.this will cost me another $600 to repair. about a moth ago the serpentine belt was replace. don't know if any connection to the later problems.
02/06/2000110/29/1997
 Transmission blew out for no reason on freeway. *ak *ml
10/01/1995
 Had to replaced brakes. headlights dim when brake is pressed,interior lights stay on when left tail light goes out (replaced 4 times since 1996) steering wheel bounces up and down when sitting with car running and in gear must put car in neutral at stop lights or sitting in gear, so as to not get vibrated to death, mech-not able to fix problem, just the way car is built.
09/25/1999105/01/1995
 Ford has a recall on this, but the rep that responded to my email, claimed my vin no. disqualifies my car. i disagree, they have a recall for this problem & i have the problem. three times i have accidently put it in reverse when i wanted to go forward. you cannot tell what gear you have selected. *ak
07/18/199904/01/1998
 No summary listed for abov evehicle. *ak
01/05/2000111/01/1999
 Because the axle was put in wrong, many problems occured, including transmission and electrical problems. i do not know all the detailed problems, but i have a receipt from my mechanic with everything listed. he said that because the axle was not installed properly, the transmission fluid leaked through it at an odd angle. i also have a fax from ford that was sent to my mechanic regarding warnings of the axle being incorrectly installed on my particular vehicle. you may contact my mechanic for any information you may need. his name is ken fowler, the owner of a-1 transmissions in lubbock, tx. his phone number is 806-792-4319.
10/20/1998105/01/1997
 At about the time indicated previously, the plastic strip that indicates which gear the automatic transmission has separated. the basic warranty was up, so i had repairs attempted by my service and inspection station. they did not work. occasionally the pieces bind somewhat and make shifting difficult. i cannot use this strip to judge which gear i am in, since it does not read correctly. ford says that my vehicle is not included in your campaign number 98v233000. i feel that this is a safety defect worthy of a recall. i need to count gears to know which one i am in. if anyone else were to drive the vehicle, they might damage the car or themselves by selecting a wrong gear because the defective strip gave the wrong information. ford denies any responsibility in this matter ( with all kinds of gee, we're really sorry, but ...). i have not abused the vehicle in any way. it has been consistently and properly maintained while in my possession. i am 61 years old and long past any desire to abuse my vehicles. *ak
08/27/1999202/01/1996
 The bezel first failed on 12/20/95 at about 31,000 miles. the bezel was replaced on 01/05/96 at about 33,460 miles. the replaced bezel failed at about 85,000 miles. i found out that there is a safety recall ( 98s26 ) that involves 1994-998 model year contour/mystique ( see attached recall notice from ford. i did not get this notice. i check with the dealer , they told me that my car was not involved in the recall and they can't do anything about it. i called the ford customer assistance center and explain my problem. they said that since my vehicle was not in the list of recalls they will not do anything to correct the fault. my vehicle exhibited the same sysmpton as the safety recall 98s26 (which involves about 210,500 vehicles from 1995 to 1998). this problem was not detected by ford till late 1998. from ford's recall letter it indicated that parts manufacture prior to 08/14/98 will most likely to have the problem. the part in my car was replaced on 01/05/96. this is definitely a safety hazard because one cannot tell which gear the transmission is in. there is another problem with the gear shifter- it needs a lot of effort to shift from one position to another. i am including the service work orders and the recall documents from ford. *ak
08/01/1999205/01/1994
 Neighbor has same car with identical mileage transmission failure.*ak
08/09/1996404/01/1995
 Has had several problems w/ transmission went completely out at 120,000
12/01/1998
 No summary listed for above vehicle. *ak
08/27/1999
 While attempting to put the car into different gears the gear box is reading a different a status of what the car is supppose to be in. gear indicator does not correctly indicate the actual gear. *ak
2
 Dealer has replaced transmission twice, and transmission still will not shift into gear. manufacturer has been notified. *ak
05/02/1999206/01/1996
 Since i purchased the 95 ford contour i have had about one good year of use. last year i had to replace the main censor and now the gears are slipping from first to second along with transmission problems. because this car is used i am no longer under warranty. i feel this car is a safety risk because i have to manually shift it and if i let it shift on it's own it hesitates which could cause a possible car collision. it unexpectedly bursts into traffic and drags at times. i have probably had this car layed up as long as i've been able to drive it. i can get help from noone because i'm a second owner and over the warranty limit even though 22,000 miles of the warrantywas put on by the original owner. i may have no recourse but i thought i would report the problem. i have had great hardship because of the defects of this car.
07/08/1999
 Transmission went out while driving down the road. stopped at the traffic light and when the light turned green was not able to move. metal is in the transmission fluid.contacted dealer and manufacturer. *ak
07/11/1999102/01/1995
 The transmission started to shift really hard, and i noticed that the transmission fluid was low. i added fluid and the problem lessened, but was still there. also there was a strange high pitched sound coming from the transmission. as it turned out, we had a brake system failure as well. so i took the car to the dealership. after fixing the brakes (apx $600) they informed me that the transmission had to be replaced. i wanted a second opinion, so i paid for the brakes and left. a few days later while my wife was driving the car the transmission locked and destroyed itself. i had the car towed to the closest place which was aamco resulting in a $2,500 bill and a car that is still in the shop. *ak
05/15/199908/01/1996
 While driving along at approx. 50 mph. the car slipped in and out of drive. this resulted in a rapid decelleration, nearly causing an accident with the vehicle immediatly behind me. the dealership was unable to take the car in that day as there regular transmission person was off. i continued driving the car and much to my amazement the car seemed to skip far less if i activated the cruise control. the shift changing would only happen at high speeds,ie 50 mph. my concern is i was not offered a clear explanation as to the cause, just charged an unbelievable amount to overhaul the entire transmission! please advise.
04/18/1999
 Intermitent/ongoing problem with transmission surging and bucking during highway speed within 10-45 seconds. vehicle unable to maintain speed which could lead to an accident. dealer notified and unable to duplicate the problem. *ak
05/09/199907/01/1998
 Vehicle slams into gear and jerks slightly at a constant speed. *ak
11/17/19983
 Brakes: when turning or stopping & brakes are in use,they would make scrubbing noises. have taken to mechanic for repairs. problem still exists. also, transmission would jerk when changing gears. gear placement makes no difference when it happens. had rebuilt transmission replaced. problem still exists. vehicle runs hot. radiator makes clicking noise when turned on. *ak
03/06/1999103/01/1996
 I have had a problem with vibration in my car from when i picked it up. i have to put it in neutral while stopped in order to keep the steering wheel from shaking terribly. after having it in the service department several times, i was told that it was a problem with contours and did not pursue it any further. i have now been told that i need to replace the head gasket along with a rebuilt engine. i can't help but wonder if all the vibration in the car weakened the seal causing leaking from the head gasket. this car is only 4 years old and has 65,000 miles, is maintained properly and has normal wear and tear. i've contacted the dealership, ford motors, the attorney general's office for auto complaints, wbz call for action, and the center for auto safety in washington, dc on this matter. the only recourse i have short of hiring an attorney, is to file complaint forms, which i have done. i'm beginning to see a pattern by ford to make an inferior product and then not stand behind their defects. i don't feel this is fair to the customer. this little repair is going to cost me $3000 (of which i don't have) to get my car back in working order. is there any help out there for customers like me or is it too bad. you're stuck with it?
02/08/199904/01/1995
 Transmission failed at 27,800 and 46 months. neither ford or bob ridings will stand behind their product. i will have to pay full $1,925 for new transmission and all ford or dealer has to say about it is sorry about that.
02/01/1996
 While applying the brakes, there is a noise and extended stopping distance which may cause an accident. dealer replaced brakes 5 times. cause unknown. also problems with transmission, and the passenger rear seatbelt buckle is broken which wont protect the occupant in event of an accident. please provide further details. david randolph called on behalf of his sister mary hatzell. please direct any questions to him. *ak
11/25/1998103/01/1996
 Car has had multiple recalls. everytime i went in complaining about the cars complete shutdown when wet, i was treated as if i were imagining things. eventually, a recall was initiated and that problem was fixed - several times. now, at 62000 miles, one day i have a transmission and the next day i don't. when i contacted the dealership, was commiserated with, reassured that repairs were covered as i had purchased a 60000 mile extended warranty which they told me was added on to the 6000+ miles on the car, when i purchased it. yet, when i research your database i am overwhelmed by the number of recalls issued on this car, some of which i knew nothing about, as well as the vast number of entries in the defects inv. database concerning transmissions, as well as the vast number of transmission entries in your other databases. additionally, when i called the dealership about this problem, initially very helpful, had car towed...made appointment, covered under extended warranty, now they refuse to honor their word, state car out of warranty and it's my problem. seems awful convenient to me. please help. i am 100% disabled with left anterior frontal lobe brain damage from an auto accident in 1995. when i purchased this car(1st auto purchase ever-in 1996)the salesman(who was let go approx.3 weeks later)walked me through the paperwork,told me where to sign & told me of huge selling bonus for him. i am the victim of a faulty transmission, false & misleading sales tactics as well as the victim of bait & switch tactics when my car was towed to their dealership, first being told that it was warranty covered, then being called & told that it was not. they knew the mileage on the car. before the young man assured me that it was 60000 miles on top of original miles, he required that i find the vin number so that he could find it in the computer and confirm its coverage. i expect them to honor their word. otherwise, i feel that i have been the victim of fraudulent practices.
10/08/1998404/19/1995
 While driving and pressing on the accelerator the vehicle didn't feel as though it was engaging, transmission failed. consumer paid $650 for repairs. *ak
10/31/1998104/01/1995
 After taking car to transmission mechanic we were told of a sevice bulletin pretaining to this paticular failed part. in breif the buliten stated that the forward gear drum had a faulty weld. when i contacted the dealer about this problem i was told there was no service bulletins on this particular vehicle.
10/30/199802/24/1995
 Transmission slipping/failing to engage in overdrive. also, loss of power steering when it rains.
09/16/1997205/01/1997
 Tansmission has failed on two occasions.
07/30/1998103/01/1998
 Transmission failed.
04/26/199702/12/1995
 Automatic transmission failure.
09/01/1997312/01/1994
 Speed control sensor failed 3 times. also transmission slipped improperly due to speed sensor failure. inaddition, speedometer/odometer failed. *ak
01/13/1998310/31/1994
 Automatic transmission falls out of gear as if the vehicle has been put in neutral while being driven at various speeds. this occurs only after the vehicle has been driven for more than 45 minutes at one time.
06/01/1995105/29/1995
 Overdrive light appears upon driving in water, difficult to steer when light appears.
09/11/1996102/01/1995
 Transmission replaced.
10/12/1996
 Three-year old child shifted gear selector from park into reverse on an incline, resulting in an accident. owners manual and lable states transmission should not disengage unless pressure is applied on brake pedal. *ak
07/13/19953
 Transmission shifts hard. *sd
04/22/1996
 When at a stop the vehicle will lurch foreward and kick the car out of gear. please describe. *ak
04/01/1996
 While driving on the highway vehicle shifted from overdrive to a lower gear. please describe. *ak
04/01/19951
 Transmission failure. *ak
04/29/1995
 While driving transmission blew up. tt
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - CONTROL MODULE (TCM, PCM)
04/16/20011
 Consumer took vehicle for manufacturer's recall 99mo3. vehicle was experiencing poor traction control, and abs lights were on constantly. dealer said wiring harness could cause it not to work. dealer won't do recall because title was branded. dealer was wood house ford in blair ne. phone no. 402-926-4126. *ak *slc
09/30/1999007/04/1995
 Traction control and abs brake warning light came on. took to dealer. they said consumer needed a new computer , totalling $1200. consumer paid to have it fixed, and there is still no traction control or abs brakes. currently, dealer indicated that consumer needed wiring harness that connects to computer. a mechanic said it was a problem with these particular cars that water gets in the wiring harness and shorts out the computer. also,consumer said if braking in skid car would keep going. *ak
02/01/1999211/01/1994
 Traction control warning light illuminated during normal operations. car taken to dealer. dealer reported that rear wheel abs sensors and traction control switch on dash needed to be replaced. components were replaced by dealer. upon return of car to owner traction control inoperative light came on and abs inoperative light came on. dealer examined car and said that hcu unit had to be replaced. car returned to customer while parts were on order. traction control and abs lights subsequently went out during normal operation. similar occurrences have previousley been reported to nhtsa on this year make and model
 Abs brakes and traction control system failed.
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
03/31/20041
 Consumer complained about transmission shifting problem. when he took the vehicle to dealer, he was shown a recall notice, which he thought covered this vehicle. but when consumer called ford, he was informed that this vehicle was not included in the recall due to vin. *ak
07/01/2000107/23/2001
 Consumer stated that the gear shift went out. *yh
12/30/2001307/25/1995
 Consumer was traveling about 50mph on highway and noticed a smoke smell coming through the vents. he pulled over to the shoulder and vehicle was on fire. dealership was aware of problem.*ak prior to recall 00v367, engine was overheating and burning excess oil from overheated piston rings, after recall repairs, there was an internal antifreeze leak that was going into motor oil, engine cooling fans were operating intermittently when engine was hot, dealer found upper radiator hose at water pump had a pinhole leak, engine cooling fan wiring overheated and burned out at fan relay and fan connectors, then consumer received recall 01i009 and had these repairs completed on vehicle, after recall repairs, engine and in-dash wiring overheated and burned, dealer installed recall parts for blower motor again, consumer later informed a new motor was needed due to no compression due to overheating damage. this took place prior to vehicle fire. headlight and taillight lenses replaced. overdrive light was inoperative, shift lever internal sliding bezel had a stress crack, at times it was hard to get out of park when temperature was cold. a/c did not blow cold air and was noisy. fuel door would not open at times. speedometer cable was replaced due to a ticking noise. *jb
08/01/1997
 When i first purchased this 1995 ford contour lx in 1997, it was an almost new car. then it rolled over the 36,000 mi. mark and things started to break. the gear selector was first. then the check engine light comes on and stays on. i have been to fix it at an authorised ford shop an it is if they turn it off for a few days to pasify me. it comes on a couple of days later. i received a notice in the mail with about 4 different recalls and were taken care of, then i look in you guys web page and find othewr recalls. can you guys send me a list of all the recalls on these types of ford cars so i can get all of this taken care of??*ak
07/31/1999108/21/1995
 Vehicle does not indicate the correct gear, it shows one gear less than actually is.*ak
10/15/1999107/13/1995
 Gear indicator broke. yh
09/14/1999
 Front shift indicator on automatic transmission control is damaged. the gear position indicator has deteriorated, and does not correctly indicate the actual gear position. this can cause the gears to jump back into reverse from drive. *ak
01/13/1999
 Recall 98v233000.gear shift lever does not register which gear vehicle was in. dealer contacted, and vehcile does not comply to recall. problem still exists. repairwork to be done at owner's expense. provide further information. *ak
10/15/1998109/13/1995
 Consumer was trying to get the vehicle out of park and the gear won't go into drive. had to put the vehicle into neutral and push the vehicle back so that he could drive the vehicle. dealer said the gear had failed and damaged the transmission. transmission replaced at owner's expense. *ak *ml
04/18/19958
 Console gear shift lever does not lock in drive position, causing lever to accidentally get pushed out of gear. *skd
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - LEVER AND LINKAGE - COLUMN SHIFT
08/25/1999
 Had received recall notice #98v233000 & contacted dealer. took vehicle in on date. after arriving, the mechanic failed to look at or repair vehicle. was informed to take vehicle back. owner upset. *ak
04/15/1997110/01/1994
 The automatic shift lever broke off from column, cause unknown.*ak
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - LEVER AND LINKAGE - FLOOR SHIFT
02/15/200491000502/15/2004
 Transmission floor shifter control was damaged, and did correspond with the gear that vehicle was in. recall 98v233000 was issued for this make, model, and year. but, this vehicle was not included due to vin. *ak
55800104/01/1996
 Advised by dealer this componet, though subject to manufacturer's recall for identical failure was not on my vin. i maintain it was a design defect that should be repaired/replaced by the manufacturer. without the indicator it is impossible to know which position you are in. in addition, there is a hazard in the mode of the failure causing binding in the shift lever, preventing some positions from being engaged. *ak *jb *dimsii ivoq entry posted after 12/12/02 cut over to artemis*765858
03/11/20031
 The vehicle experienced the same problem as stated in recall #98v23300 power train, however the vehicle identification number was not included in the recall. *jb
01/24/200304/21/2000
 Make : ford model : contour year : 1995 nhtsa campaign id number : 00v367000 recall date : nov 03, 2000 component: engine and engine cooling potential number of units affected : 262559 terre haute ford dealer(in) says they don't know about this, and will not perform this recall.
07/08/2002
 Intermittently unable to shift out of park after starting. dealer notified, and unable to duplicate the problem. feel free to provide any further information.*ak
06/01/2002
 When shifting gears consumer can no longer tell what gear vehicle is in. there is a recall 98v232000, but this vehicle is not affected. *ak
01/24/2002103/04/1996
 When shifting to drive, indicator shows gear to be in neutral. same problem as mentioned in recall 98v233000. yet, this vehicle not in recall. *ak *jg
05/01/2001
 Recall 98v23300; shift lever indicator shows vehicle being in park while it is actually in drive. dealership informed consumer this vehicle was not covered under recall due to vin. please provide any additional information / attachments.*ak
02/02/2001
 Orange lettering for floor shift lever can no longer be read, and does not show gear that vehicle is in. dealership informed consumer that this vehicle was not included in recall 98v233000. please provide any additional information / attachments.*ak
1
 Recall #98v233000/manufacturer's recall 98s26. consumer called dealer about recall notice, and dealer stated there was no recall. consumer called ford customer service, and they also stated there was no such recall, told consumer to call nhtsa to be corrected about recall.*ak *slc
06/01/1999
 Recall 98v233000/transmission. even though consumer is suffering the same problem this vehicle does not fall under recall due to vin. *ak
11/19/19991
 Transmission plastic floor shift gear indicator cracked. consumer was not able to tell what gear it was in. *ak
01/01/1999
 Automatic transmission floor shift indicator has disintegrated. the problem was reported to the dealership. the vehicle has not been repaired. vehicle not involved in recall #98v233000 due to vin #. *ak
01/08/1999
 Recall 98v233000/98s26. automatic transmission floor shift lever lever will shift, but driver cannot notice in what gear vehicle is in. vehicle defect is identical to the one identified in the recall. vehicle does not comply to recall. manufacturer contacted, and cannot remedy the problem. problem still exists. *ak
03/01/19951
 Shift lever comes off when attempting to change gear; also, would not easily shift into park. tt
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - PARK/NEUTRAL START SWITCH
08/14/2000103/01/1999
 Dealer stated that the transmission wasn't right and that he thought the problem was with the transmission range switch, however after this was replaced, the vehicle would not go into overdrive, the rpm's surged into the 3500's, and vehicle felt sluggish when first applying the gas, dealer found that the range sensor was broken and the cruise control had never been reconnected when the vehicle was repaired the first time. *slc
12/22/19952
 Transmission lock switch failed, preventing vehicle from shifting. *skd
09/17/1995
 Connection blew and brake pedal and gear selector went to the floor. due to defective brake shift interlock mechanism. tt
03/14/1995
 Removed key while vehicle in drive and car rolled away while in drive. tt
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - TORQUE CONVERTER
08/01/2000110/07/1997
 Consumer had to replace engine due to engine cooling fan malfunctioning, causing engineto melt. and was replaced. presently, consumer had received manufacturer's recall 00s44 for engine cooling fan.*ak received recall regarding wiring harness and had repairs, however problem still exists. dealer replaced engin due to overheating vehicle soon experienced a bad miss and poor mileage, dealer then found defective heads, however miss in engine was still present. dealer stated cause was a cracked flywheel with broken sensors. consumer feels dealer broke flywheel during engine installation. miss in engine still not corrected. dealer finally found cause to be torque converter not sealing causing damage to adjusting sensor. *yh
POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY
11/26/2000
 While driving 55 mph rear differential blew out. also axle toppled out. mechanic told consumer there had been trouble with cd4e transmissions. *ak
08/01/1999603/01/1996
 Since an initial visit to the ford dealer for what seemed to be an out of balance tire problem the vehicle has had 6 new ford factory replacement axles in the front passanger side and 2 on the drivers side. vehicle is unsafe at highway speeds and around town because axles will let go without warning. the ford dealer service department has been working on this vehicle since last year and has come up with no cause for the repeated failures. the transmission has also had to be repaired due to work done by the dealers service department which ruined the lockup torque converter. i purchased the extended service plan warrantee through ford when i purchased the vehicle and they are still working on the problem as of may 15th 2000. no resolution is in site that i can see. this is an extremely dangerous situation and needs to be looked at by someone other than a ford dealer. *ak
02/23/2000
 While driving out of driveway less then 5 mph, front axle broke. vehicle was being repaired at an independent repair shop. manufacturer notified. *ak
01/05/2000111/01/1999
 Because the axle was put in wrong, many problems occured, including transmission and electrical problems. i do not know all the detailed problems, but i have a receipt from my mechanic with everything listed. he said that because the axle was not installed properly, the transmission fluid leaked through it at an odd angle. i also have a fax from ford that was sent to my mechanic regarding warnings of the axle being incorrectly installed on my particular vehicle. you may contact my mechanic for any information you may need. his name is ken fowler, the owner of a-1 transmissions in lubbock, tx. his phone number is 806-792-4319.
1
 Rear sway bar squeaking, front left spring broke and axle broken.
 When the traction control engaged itself at 25 mph and if you press on the brake with traction control engaged the car jerks to a stop . tt
POWER TRAIN - AXLE ASSEMBLY - AXLE SHAFT
08/25/20061669001
 Dt*: the contact stated while driving 20 mph, there was an intermittent groaning and crunching noise coming from the front right tire. the vehicle was taken to a private repair shop, where it was determined that the hub was punching out the sealed bearings. the bearings were replaced. prior to this incident, the vehicle had also been taken to a service dealer who replaced the axle shaft. neither the dealer nor the private repair shop was able to repair the problem completely.
POWER TRAIN - CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
02/18/1997107/15/1996
 Complete clutch assemble failure.
POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE
03/22/20011
 Vehicle experienced a transmission leak, driveline is erratic. *slc
POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - CONSTANT VELOCITY JOINT
101/05/1998
 Power steering line was worn through due to the cv joint rubbing it. *slc
10/19/199708/01/1997
 Cv retaining bracket broke. cause: cv bounces up/down and vehicle vibrates and oil leakage developed. end result: potential fire. also, rendered engine inoperative.
03/23/19970
 Driving vehicle, going about 70-75 mph; oil light was on; pulled over & had no power; had noticed bracket holding cv joint arm had broken in two, ruined the engine. *ak
POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
11/26/2000
 While driving 55 mph rear differential blew out. also axle toppled out. mechanic told consumer there had been trouble with cd4e transmissions. *ak
POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DRIVESHAFT
10/17/19991
 While driving, three mounts on the trans mount axle rusted and sheared off, causing the intake manifold to cut the brake lines, consumer went through a red light, luckily there was not an accident, consumer states the sheared mounts caused other damages as well but did not elaborate, consumer received recall 00s03 after the accident and has contacted ford, however they will not respond back, consumer no longer owns this vehicle. *slc
08/13/1999111/01/1995
 I was driving my 1995 ford contour when i lost my power steering. i pulled to the side of the highway to check my power steering fluid. the fluid container was empty. i brought the car to firestone service to check the problem. i received a call from the mechanic asking if i had transmission work done on the car. i indicated i did in 9/97 when the ford dealer, rittenhouse-kerr, replaced the original trans under ford warranty. i asked him why he was asking about the trans when it was the power steering that was inoperative. he informed me three bolts that hold the trans to the motor mount where missing and that caused the trans to damage the axle which caused the power steering line to be cut resulting in the loss of power steering. he suggested i bring the car back to the ford dealer for repair. rittenhouse-kerr acknowledged the bolts where missing but could not give a reasonable explanation why. i suggested they were defective or not put in properly. the dealer would not take responsibilty for the failure of the bolts. i then called ford on several occassions and though courteous, they essentially told me to take it up with the dealer. i then brought the car to another mechanic to get repaired. i had the power steering line and axle replaced but could not get the trans attached to the engine mount. the mechanic explained there are three bolts (ford part number w500034-s303) that hold the trans to the engine mount. in two of the three openings where the bolts thread into the trans, there were parts of broken bolts in them and the third had stripped threads preventing the bolt from holding. i contacted the dealer and ford again. neither would acknowlegde responsibility. if useful, i have pictures i can provide. your assistance in looking into this unsafe situation is appreciated. also, did ford have a recall on trans bolts for the 1993 taurus model?
POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION
03/22/20011
 Vehicle experienced a transmission leak, driveline is erratic. *slc
03/01/200106/01/1996
 Problem started at 59000 miles and has worsened. has been to dealer on 3 different occasions and told that this is normal for mileage. difficulty engaging gears 2,3,4 especially on down shift. can not enter 4th gear at 50-55 mph. cannot enter 3rd at 40-45mph. *ak
01/01/2001
 Manual transmission failed to operate when it reached approximately 50,000 miles, and had to be replaced. please provide any additional information/attachments.*ak
07/20/1998211/01/1997
 This vehicle was a total loss. i had to replace with a new vehicle in june 2000. no safety defect listed in summary. *ak
202/15/1999
 Vehicle is making noise under the hood, makes noises in gear and was leaking transmission fluid, dealer claimed they repaired the problems but soon after repair the problem reoccured. nlm
08/15/1996205/01/1996
 Sensor has gone out twice and car still does not run properly, was informed by some mechanics that there's a problem with exhaust, or maybe transmission, because there's a delay in changing speed if i accelerate or decrease speed
POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION - SHIFT PATTERN INDICATOR
05/01/1998112/01/1995
 Indicator on transmission is missing because of a defect, and consumer can not tell which gear vehicle is in. there is recall 98v23300. *ak front passenger side seat belt locks as soon a passenger moves, consumer has been trying to get it fixed, however dealer states that ther is no problem. *slc

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