Eight problems related to automatic transmission have been reported for the 1999 Ford Contour. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
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.
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.
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.
Transmission shifts from drive to neutral and into any gear while driving at any speed. Vehicle has not been inspected by dealer.
Vehicle is making clunking noise that was coming from underneath hood. Back lights were not working. O dealership was aware of problem.
Consumer was able to rotate the ignition key to the lock position and remove it without the shift lever and transmission being in park.
Problems started at 119miles, dealers either don't confirm problem or say it's normal for this car. Multiple repair attempts at 4 dealers. Severe vibration and pull at highway speeds are the tires (confired with my winter tires-no problem), klunking from front end when going over bumps, all dash warning lights come on during winter at idle-go out after restart or engine acceleration, front seats wobble side to side-dealer says normal for car-wan't present when new, pulsing front end shimmy on highway-not tire related-possible cv shaft issue-dealers stated npf, engine spark knocks under light loads-no change with different gas grades or brands-dealers says npf, headlamps go dim at idle-dealers says normal-not present when new, poor low beam visibility from headlamps, aluminum wheels are too porous-lose abnormal air amounts-dealer says npf. Most of these have been since new or started within 1st year of new- no dealers has yet "confirmed" problems when they are readily apparent to others. In shop for over 3 months total since new. (tiresize: p205/60r15)( dot number: tire size: p205/60r15 ).
In addition to the other defects I have listed on the questionaire, my vehicle occasionally does not go into forward gear, and then violently jerks into gear.