Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
POWER TRAIN
9671403/25/1996613335Subject regarding a new transmission case and main control released for service on aode / 4r70w transmissions. *tt06/21/2000
994303/08/1999604751Information regarding reprogramming powertrain control modules (pcms). *tt05/11/1999
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
0326101/05/200310008279New service part - number 5 needle bearing and race kit - 4r70w transmission - service tip. *tt07/26/2004
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
999605/17/1999606428Experiencing a delayed or no 2-3 upshift, primarily when the transmission is cold on vehicles with ford qality remanufactured (fqr) 4r70w transmission exchange units with julian build between 062-97 and 040-99. *tt08/20/1999
988804/27/1998601238Information on a new transmission fluid usage chart. *yc07/10/1998
9751103/03/199751945Fluid- transmission fluid usage charts. *jd07/17/1997
958304/01/199541026A delayed/soft/slow concern may occur during the 1-2 upshift and a hesitation or sag during 3-4 upshift. *tw11/01/1995
BC889995040104/01/19953030300Unknown11/01/1995
9551503/01/199539887There may be an intermittent loss of torque during or just after the 3-4 upshift or in 4th gear on some vehicles. *tw11/01/1995
954702/01/199539238A delayed/soft/slow concern may occur during the 1-2 upshift. *tw03/31/1995
9531302/01/199539224Possible water intrusion in the mlp/tr sensor causing shift concern. *tw03/31/1995
9426912/01/199438062Delayed or no forward engagement of transmission. *tw02/07/1995
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
00231011/13/2000616522Subject regarding contamination from prior transmission concerns or excess wear may be trapped in the transmission fluid cooling system. *tt03/05/2001
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - PARK/NEUTRAL START SWITCH
0118109/17/2001625715Brake shift interlock.*jb11/30/2001
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - TORQUE CONVERTER
988704/27/1998601237Experiencing a torque converter clutch shudder or vibration. *yc07/10/1998
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
96251712/02/199650973Transmission - aode - 4r70w - shudder or vibration under light to moderate acceleration above 56 km/h (35 mph) while in 3rd or 4th gear. *tw06/17/1997
BC081096101110/11/199650412Vehicles equipped w/ an aode or 4r70w trans has a concern of shudder from the transmission torque converter clutch in 3rd or 4th gear or during 3-4 shift. *tt04/24/1997
BC889995040104/01/19953030300Unknown11/01/1995
BC285095040104/01/199539837Torque converter clutch shudder/vibration. *tw11/01/1995
POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION
BC067896102510/25/199650356Information on aode/4r7w transmission main control & case replacement. *tt04/24/1997

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
POWER TRAIN
11/18/19941
 Speedometer failed.
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
09/07/200469000304/10/2002
 Transmission failure, numerous times. *jb
06/15/199968500207/20/1997
 I bought a 1994 mercury cougar vin# 1melm6246rh630882. i was the second owner and it had only 29k on it back in july 1997. well my transmission went out before 68k and the cougar is rattling apart. i heard later that there was a recall on the 3.8 motor for the blower by which i'm having now but being over 100k they said it had to be by a certain date and under 100k but i was never told or notified. found out from a mechanic friend. don't know what i can do about it. i had to replace the transmission completely because the low end shift plate was faulty on those models too. engine keeps getting hot and burning off radiator fluid. *jb
12/10/20031200009910/15/1997
 The transmission on my vehicle was rebuilt in october 2001 @ 120000 miles because it jumped out of gear during acceleration and would not engage. since the rebuild, the car has continued to have transmission problems such as self-acceleration when curse control is engaged, slipping out of gear and not reengaging, or downshifting during acceleration. the car has been taken into three different transmission shops each being unable to duplicate or correct the problem. the car has not been to a ford dealership but, has been well maintained. i would like to keep the car as a work vehicle, now @ 137k miles, but refuse to continue to deal with the transmission slippage.*ak
11/14/1996403/16/1995
 Automatic transmission repaired three times & needs to be repaired again. help p.s no one takes better care of a car then me. *ak
04/03/20031100001012/28/2002
 When the car is cold, the transmission does not respond to moderate to extreme accelerator pedal depression. it does not matter if i am in first or 4th gear or the speed. the engine is slow to respond in rpms when i ask for it, then goes to 2,000, then to 3,000, but with no change in vehicle velocity. the car responds relatively well with light, increasing depression to the pedal, but not to anything that would cause a down shift. the problem goes away after 8 miles or so of city driving. *jb
05/14/1999
 Transmission can jump out of gear whenever consumer slows down or is going at speeds above 50 mph. contacted dealer, and dealer said there was nothing wrong. but when taken vehicle to a independent mechanic, he noted that transmission needed to be rebuilt.*ak
05/15/1996
 Reporting vehicle would intermittently slip out of gear and re-engage. dealer/manufacturer were not contacted at this time. please feel free to provide any further details. *ak
08/15/1998104/01/1997
 No summary listed for abovevehicle. *ak
01/30/1997401/01/1996
 The cars engine has been replaced(so they said) on july 1997 and now the engine is gone again. the speed control does not work. we have had to replace the brakes 4 times already. the door on the drivers side the window sometimes does not work the windows are power and will not go up or down.also the transmission has been replaced also the car has tire vibration thank you this car is now broke down again and we still are making payments i called the dealer on 4-5-2000 and they said there was nothing they could do thank you again for looking at our car problems. *ak
09/11/1999209/01/1999
 Dealer replaced the transmission in 1996 with a little over 20,000 miles on the car. at less than 60,000 miles, i began having transmission failure. the car shudders very violently when driving at any speed. i do not feel that this is very good workmanship on the part of the ford motor company. i have always owned ford vehicles and never had a pblem such as this. i am very unhappy. there is no way under normal driving conditions should this car be on its second transmission, let alone to be having problems again. i do not feel that i am safe driving this vehicle when at any time, the transmission could completely go out. i have all of the paperwork from stivers lincoln mercury concerning the first replacement.
10/01/1996
 When driving, transmission has a hard shift from 1st to 2nd gear and shudders.
03/21/1999
 While driving car will intermittently jump to a lower gear . this happens at any given time. *ak
09/02/1998112/01/1995
 Intermitent check engine light. when sacn is hooked to car, it shows no code in memory. unable to resolve. in memory
07/23/1996303/17/1994
 Intermittently when vehicle is in overdrive, it will jump out of overdrive to neutral. the dealer has inspected the vehicle several times and could not duplicate the problem. *yc dealer has replaced the mlp sensor, turbine speed sensor, 1-2 accumulator piston and spring, solenoid valve, main control valve body, sollenoid assembly, switch assembly, and vonverter assembly. serpentine belt was replaced. *slc
08/01/1999
 While traveling on the highway vehicle would not shift into gear, resulting in slow shifting and hesitation. consumer has contacted the dealer, dealer stated transmission needed replacing. *ak
11/01/1998
 Dealer ship sold me this car know it had a problem because i had made them aware of it. unless they agreed to fix the problem of shuddering while accel at 40 mph and again at 80 mph that i would purchase the car. a we owe form was made out and approved by manager. the car dealership had fixed everyting but the most important part and agreed to do so. to this day i am told they can not find a problem with the trany and will not put anymore money into the car. had to return car several times for the same problem. i am taking a letter to the dealer on july 24, 1999 in reguards to situation. i f car dealers are not going to back up their word to insure our safety and agreements then who do we trust to sell us a car. i will get a attorney involved if they do not wish to proceed to replace the transmission that is faulty and was made aware of it before and at time of purchase. i have witness and copy of we owe and all work orders that were processed on the car in case of needing for court documation. please do not drive a car off a lot until you are totaly satisfied with your large investment. i am a single mother wanting reliable safe transportation for my family. is this the way ford lincoln mercury wants dealers to treat their products and customers ? if you have any comments for me on this you may contact me at iwilb4me@aol.com. thank you for hearing me out.
07/15/19992508/01/1996
 The cougar at all times refuses to upshift from 1st gear to the next higher gear unless you release the gas pedal at 3,000 rpm, and then reapply gas that seems to allow the gears to change. this also occurs when i am trying to use the passing gear, the cars transmission winds up useless i again release trhe gas and then re-aply it. that is not a very safe situation. *ak
04/19/199908/01/1994
 Vehicle at 50 mph goes into neutral, engine revs far beyond normal range, but vehicle does not pick up speed. this happens erratically. at 20k miles (when problem first developed) dealer had us replace transmission fluid, this did nothing for the problem. now dealer says we need a new transmission because transmission is no longer under warranty. *ak
308/01/1994
 I have had to have the transmission fluid changed numerous times because the transmission studders. that does not seem to fix the problem. but no else can tell me what i should do.
09/01/1998805/23/1996
 Transmission failure. also front brake rotors/pads and calipers failed. in addition, dealer replaced rear drums/shoes and rear cylinders.
03/01/1995110/01/1994
 Transmission began to fail in the fall of 1996. it would shudder shifting into overdrive and once in overdrive it shifted out of gear on it's own. january 1997 the dealership said the problem was the torque convertor and that they would replace as it was still under warranty. 6 months later the transmission started having the same problem again. sept 1997 i took it back to the dealership again. they could not find any problem with the transmission. now jan 1999, the car is unsafe to drive and is conveniently past the 12 month/12000 mile warranty period on the replacement part. on the interstate last week, my wife was going 70 mph and the car shifted into neutral and would not go back into overdrive. a semi almost ran into the rearend of the car. both the dealership and ford refuse to acknowledge the problem, even though i brought the car in for service sept 1997 while it was still under warranty. in 1997 the dealership told me ford was aware of the problem with the 1994 transmissions. looking at the number of complaints on your website, i'm not the only one with this problem. now i'm stuck with an $1800 repair bill.
11/03/1998111/01/1994
 Torque converter failed causing the car to shudder when shifting from 2 to 3rd, and 3rd to 4th. problem repaired, but other transmission problems occurred later. *ml
11/03/1998111/01/1994
 Torque converter was slipping causing a vibration when shifting gears. was told by service manager there were two other cars coming in for this same problem the next day. was also told by service tech that this problem was fixed in the 1995 model. this is a known defect that should be fixed by the manufacter
01/01/1997
 Transmission system malfunctions while driving the vehicle will slow down unexpectedly which may cause an accident. replaced parts of the transmission, but problem still occurring. dealer cannot determine problem. please provide details. *ak
05/01/19971012/20/1994
 Transmission is shuddering and shifting rough during the 3-4 shift.
05/01/199712/20/1994
 Transmission shudders and vibrates during shifting from 3rd to 4th gears. *ak
05/01/1997412/01/1993
 Automatic transmission tends to slip and then engage into the gear roughly when shifting. this is most noticeable during acceleration, such as in passing situations. also air bypass valve malfunctioned. abs brakes failed to operate properly during moderate braking. in addition, machined warped rotors and replaced pads. *ak
01/20/1997
 On the beltway went to accelerate and the steering wheel started to vibrate and then lost power. this consumer had to let up and take foot off of the gas pedal and tried it again and the vehicle picked up again. please give more details. *ak
03/18/1996
 Automatic transmission failure, erratic operation of the vehicle. *ak
09/07/19941
 Transmission fails to shift from 2nd to 3rd gear, resulting in complete failure. *ak
 Auto transmission failure. tt
05/16/19941
 Transmission failure. *ak
10/01/19941
 Transmission failed, causing vehicle to smoke.
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - COOLING UNIT AND LINES
05/17/20022008/01/2094
 At 23922 mi. (10/28/1997) dealer replaced transmission fluid to fix rumble strip effect when accelerating at 35-40 mph (1.5-2 rpm). fluid again changed at 53591 (02/13/2001) to try to fix same problem. transmission fluid changed again at 63677 (2/27/2002). a small leak was mentioned by mechanic. the rumble sound has now been replaced with the transmission not engaging...the engine revs, but no acceleration between 40-50 mph. the problem is intermitent. this could lead to a rear-end collison. cannot rely on car!*ak
POWER TRAIN - AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION - TORQUE CONVERTER
11/01/1998107/24/1998
 Transmission torque converter failed.
02/01/1997202/01/1995
 Torque converter was replaced and failed again causing the vehicle to loose power to the drive train. nlm
04/08/1998208/04/1995
 Transmission/torque converter failed.
10/09/19959
 Transmission torque converter failed, causing vehicle to shudder. *dsh
POWER TRAIN - MANUAL TRANSMISSION
407/01/1994
 I have searched the list of complaints and find that there are many complaints related to both the brake and transmission problems which i have experienced. please remit this complaint to the manufacturer and advise whether or not you have any information on whether or not the manufacturer is doing anything to resolve these cutomer complaints. power windows replace four times. brakes had to be replaced within 6 months of ownership. transmission slipping from day one but the dealer told me repeatedly ther was nothing wrong with it. transmission completely rebuilt.