Automatic Transmission Problems of Ford Contour - part 1

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.

See all problems of the 1998 Ford Contour 🔎.

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.

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.

2 major powertrain failures. Timing belt pulley broke at 68,000 miles. $600 to repair. Automatic transmission broke at 85,000 miles. Both occurred out of the blue. Car has always been treated gently, all fluids have been changed consistently, and all routine maintenance has been completed on time. Transmission must be replaced or rebuilt with a price tag of $2k-$3k.

See all problems of the 1999 Ford Contour 🔎.

I just got the car from used car dealer on 02/07/08 drove fine went home and in the morning I went out got kids in car and went to back up and had no reverse. . The shop I took it to said the transmission is out. The car only has 81000 miles on it. . . . And there has been alot of complaints made about this transmission in 1996 Ford Contours. . . I think some thing needs to be done . . .

See all problems of the 1996 Ford Contour 🔎.

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.

I have a 1999 Ford Contour I bought it and 6 months later the timing belt went out this cost me $800. 00 out of pocket after the warranty paid their part. Drove it another 3 months when it stalled out and started sputtering I replaced the plugs, wires, ignition control box, and fuel filter and found a hose that had a hole in it from being melted after replacing all of that found the transmission to be leaking and no way to get to it easily. Still ran crappy took it to a garage and was told they could not figure it out brought it home and it won't run anymore it still does not run not sure what else to do had to buy another vehicle to get to and from work while still paying on this one and can not use it anymore. This is my second Ford and I will not ever get another one. And with all this going on when the mechanic shut the back passenger the glass shattered and it was shut normally. Also the radio has issues.

I replaced the transmission in my 2001 Ford Contour in August, 2006. It is now June, 2007 and the transmission needs replacing again!!! I have heard from several people with Contours that this is a common problem with that particular make/model. They have all gotten rid of theirs because of this major problem.

See all problems of the 2001 Ford Contour 🔎.

While driving the vehicle on the highway, it lost power and would not respond to the gas pedal. I had to steer it to the shoulder and after a while it responded long enough for me to take it to a service station where it was diagnosed to have a defective fuel pump and flywheel.

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.

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.

I bought a 1996 Ford Contour from and individual in July of this year. It ran well, for a few days, and then the od light kept coming on, and it felt like it was shifting into low. I kept mashing the button on the shift arm and the light would go out and then come back on this would go on for several days, then it would be ok for several days, just to start up all over again. Then I had the old changed in November and the would not stay cranked for me to get home. The wires under the hood are all flaking of there plastic covering. I assume this is why it will not stayed cranked. I can not drive it in this condition.

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.

Automatic transmission hard shift from 1-2.

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.

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.

Trasmission failure at 48000 miles and again at 101000 miles both requiring complete rebuild. Both failures were sudden onset and the second occured at highway speed witch nearly caused a serious accident (thank god for the quick thinking driver behind me) took to 5 different shops for diagnoses. All said that the cd4e transimission was a notoriously bad transmission on both Fords and mazdas.

See all problems of the 1997 Ford Contour 🔎.

Cd4e transmission in 1998 Ford Contour gl (same complaint as the c4de in the Mazda 626). Transmission needed to be rebuilt due to the tss sensor breaking and falling inside the transmission - which stopped the pump and caused vehicle to become inoperable. The sensor is in the driver's side fenderwell, where it is exposed to road hazards and environmental conditions. Not a good design. Furthermore, the repair costs $3000 for a new transmission and all this happened because Ford put the sensor in a position where it can break and cause significant damage. It's a lousy design. The sensor should be somewhere under the hood - not in the fenderwell.

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.

Replaced timing belt and idler pulley 3 months ago and now the gears are sounding like they are going out again. Mr.

No summary listed for above vehicle.

While traveling on highway vehicle was making a loud noise which was coming from underneath the hood. Consumer was able to pull over to the shoulders, and vehicle was in drive. Vehicle started rolling in reverse.

Transmission shifts from drive to neutral and into any gear while driving at any speed. Vehicle has not been inspected by dealer.

The front part of the vehicle makes a dragging sound while driving. The dealer indicated there was an internal transmission problem. The serpentine belt was replaced. Updated.

I know a couple of people who have had experienced the same problems with their Contours as I have. I bought this car through a private party and took out an extended warranty through my credit union. The transmission was covered but the signals and the shifter lever was not costing me hundreds of dollars. How many complaints does it take until the manufacturer is forced to recall the parts. I read the comments on the transmissions and it is amazing that everyone is experiencing the same thing, it goes out without warning.

Bought car 4months ago, and transmission went out already. Requested test reports from dealer and they have not returned my phone call. Transmission can not be save and it died without warning, well cost 2600. 00 to get new one.

I can't even remember how many time I have had to come to this site about this car. Without any warning the transmission went out and now still owing money on this car I am looking at $2000. 00 for a new transmission.

I believe this is a premature failure of a major component of the vehicle. No safety defect listed.

Vehicle is making clunking noise that was coming from underneath hood. Back lights were not working. O dealership was aware of problem.

Defroster will not work, will block the view and could cause an accident. Also the check engine light was on, coolant leaking, engine overheating, transmission was inoperative, and the water pump was leaking.

This vehicle has been a "lemon" since purchased new in August, 1997 from sam galloway Ford in fort myers, florida. From the beginning, the car drove "rough" not smooth. The vehicle constantly was vibrating, and simply got worse over time. The vibrations would occur at speeds as low as about 40 miles per hour, increasing the faster you drove. You could actually feel and see your body shake. The ride was the total opposite of a smooth one. Rough and bumpy, even on smooth, florida roads. The vehicle felt like you were "pushing" or "forcing" it to drive. The gear shift has always been difficult to manuver, generally sticking while trying to change gears. A couple of times, this nearly caused an accident, due to the inability to change gears. When reported to Ford, the only response that that "per the manual, the transmission needed some type of overhaul, at a cost of about $500. Also, several times, there was smoke and a burning rubber type smell emitting from the air vents. This was brought into Ford several times, and not fixed. The final time, the entire car filled with smoke--I called the service manager, marlon hanson, from the vehicle on my cell phone, because I was scared that the car may burst into flames. His remarks made it sound like "no big deal" just bring in the car. Meanwhile, I had to pull over, I was so scared, not knowing if the vehicle was going to start on fire or even blow up. This vehicle was brought in twice more for this repair, and finally appears to be fixed. We were told that it was some wiring that was burning, or starting on fire. Our only compensation for that was a free rental car, after I pressured the service manager. The cassette portion of the radio broke early on. Never addressed that issue with dealer or Ford. Steering column is increasingly difficult to manuever-very hard to turn. Airbag warning light intermittendly comes on, at any speed. Tires have been replaced, but newer tire keeps deflating--per tbs, coil spring problem?*a.

While driving about 25 mph transmission felt like it was shifting into neutral. Vehicle had to be towed. Then, took vehicle to dealer, and found out that piston assambly was in transmission broke.

Transmission went out, and pressing on gas vehicle felt like it was in neutral. Contacted dealer.

While driving at about 5mph and making a right turn right front wheel came off due to loose lugs: nuts. Dealer has seen vehicle. 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.

Failure of cd4e transmission requiring re-build.