This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
Was driving down route 322 on day and had to hit the break and all of a sudden they went to the floor. I pulled over and checked my break fluid resivour and it was empty. I think the passenger side drum break is leaking fluid.
The contact owns a 1998 Ford Contour. The contact stated that the reverse gear failed to operate. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 98V233000 (power train). However, the VIN was not listed under the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was unknown.
We have a 1998 Ford Contour. The check engine light goes on. It first came on in Oct 01 we took it to the Ford garage in delhi. They said it needed a cam sensor/ solenoid sprockets etc. Since that was a lot of money we decided to take it to Canadian tire to see what they thought. They thought it was a cam sensor. We had them put that in. $58. Mileage 111346. It worked fine for a couple weeks. We complained to Ford and found out about the awa.. after warranty adjustment. This had not been mentioned earlier. So we a new solenoid sprocket etc. Put in by Ford, , (Jan /02). How it came to that mileage when ctc had it back in Nov/ 01 and then it was* 11134*"??" they also had it in Dec and the mileage was 112279.) that baffles me. The check engine light was to surface again. My daughter had the car at school so she was finally able to take it to our garage in may/28/02 at that time the garage checked #3 cylinder cause of our check engine concerns.. cost $39.10. Nothing was done at that time. The engine light continued to stay on. Finally we took it in again on Oct 24th and another cam sensor was put on. $144.46. Mileage 130776. On Nov, .5th /02 took it in again and they said it would require an exhaust camshaft and solenoid gaskets and seals. We again asked about the awa and they said no it was no longer covered. They said that the last solenoid was only covered for 20,000 km. Had they detected the problem back in may when we brought it in and had they written down the correct mileage then it would have been covered under warranty. Since we did not really feel that the solenoid ( and really didn't want to pay $1000 for fixing it and then finding out that there might be another problem) was the problem, since we had already had that replaced once we considered taking it to a guy that used to work at Ford. (his wife drives a Contour) he checked the car for surges. Scan tested it tried various computer parts rechecked valve. Etc, , but it all proved negative.
My 1998 Contour is at 128,225 miles. The problems that I have experienced with the car are the following: -the headlights go out of aim and moisture collects in the headlamp and when the moisture dries it leaves a film on the inside of the lens. The brightness of the headlights is terrible. I can barely see at night even when it is a clear night. I have had several near misses. I almost hit a man on a bicycle the other night. He had reflectors on his bike but I didn't see him till I was right up behind him. I haven't had this fixed because I can't afford to pay two four hundred dollars for a new pair of headlamps. I have been actually looking in salvage yards. -another thing is the transmission. It shifts out hard between first and second gears. Now it jerks when I go up hills or when I let off of the gas pedal. I figure if I take it to the Ford dealership they will tell me that I have to replace it. -the next thing is the drivers seat. The seat track itself has rust on some of the parts. The driver seat is the only one with the rust problem. When you sit in the seat it rocks side to side (from door to center console). This scares me because I read someone else's complaint and he said he was hit from behind and the seat and the track itself broke on him.
My 1998 Ford Contour SE 2.0 (automatic tansmission) has 80,000+ miles. It had sudden powertrain malfunction. It shifted irradically nearly causing me to to rear-end the vehicle in front of me. Of course, my warranty has expired and I have been forced take my vehicle to cottmans transmission shop where I have been told they are familiar with this problem having worked on four cases, with the Ford Contour, similar to mine in the last month. Repairs, involving a complete overhaul of the transmissin, have been estimated between $1700-$2300. I purchased this vehicle new off the lot in 1998. Causes for this malfunction have been explained to me in laymen terms as "transmission computer" failure that then causes a mechanical malfunction with in the powertrain. Im not sure that this normal wear and tear. Please advise
- Harrisburg, PA, USA
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Consumer states that the vehicle popped out of gear and went into neutral while making a left hand turn, consumer also states that there are intermittent problems with getting vehicle into gear, vehicle experienced shift and clutch problems.
Would be driving at various speeds and noticed that speedometer would indicate a different speed; either higher or lower than actually traveling. Had taken vehicle to dealer, and mechanic test drove vehicle. Had speedometer repaired under warranty. Problem has since reappeared.
Speedometer/odmeter and fuel gauge are not working. Vehicle gave no prior warnings, and shutdown while in motion. Dealership's remedy for fuel gauge and speedometer are for them to be replaced. Defect may have caused consumer into an automobile accident. Sometimes, all of them do work, but may fail while traveling.
The speedometer, odometer, trip odometer and gas gauge stop working on an intermittent basis. Generally they resume working on their own, at which time the low fuel warning light comes on for a few seconds and then goes out. I returned the car to the dealer for service on 10 April 00. They could not verify the intermittent problem and did nothing. I hit the top of the dash smartly, which fixed the problem for about six weeks, but now it has returned. Lack of knowledge about speed and fuel is most annoying and dangerous as well.
Headlight's are not working, and the door light above floor lights on the driver's side and passenger's side don't work. Also, speedometer isn't working properly.
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- Paradise, PA, USA