There have been 9 recalls on this car to this point.
The floater in the fuel tank doesn't work properly, meaning it registers full even when the tank is empty and you can't put gas in the car.
The transmission crashed at 77,000 kilometers and the shop I took it to said "everything that could be wrong was wrong" with it.
The rear defroster stopped working.
The tires were bald at 50,000 kilometers.
The steering wheel leather is chipping and flaking off.
Most of the repairs have been inconvenient, but relatively inexpensive.
The main problem with this car is that the transmission gave out completely with only 77,000 kilometers on the car. Supposedly, there are lots of problems with the Contour transmission.
Repairs at 3 different shops were estimated at more than C$4000. The dealership offered no assistance or suggestions at all.
Vehicle VIN 1FALP6535VK132106 Suffered catastrophic transmission failure at 110,000 Miles, Transmission must be replaced as of today 05-09-02.
The transmission crashed. 1998 Ford Contour purchased in 1999 program car with 12, 820 miles. As of last week it 08.14.02 when I delivered to Ken Wilson Ford it has 48, 256 miles on it. I have driven it not quite 36,000 miles since I purchased it in July 1999. I have maintained the car, brought new tires, and kept it serviced. But on Sunday August 11, the battery quit. Monday, August 12, 2002 I purchased a new battery and then the car began creeping along with the petal to the floor. It locked up on me when I put it in reverse so I took it back to the dealership where I bought it. They said it locked up on them in Drive and it developed a leak overnight at the dealership because it had not been leaking before I took it to them. They have recently told me that since they do not have a record of my getting the car serviced at their dealership that they could not do anything for me to help with repair. The car I traded, a 1991 Ford Escort also had transmission problems and brake problems. I spent lots of money on it before I woke up and decided I couldn't poour any more money into it. So I traded and now the same problem again transmission??? I must have still been asleep.
DO NOT BUY A FORD!!!
I also am having problems with my 98 ford contour transmission. It just started slipping in 1st to 2nd gear. had it checked out and it needs new transmission. I really don't understand why everything about this car and the parts, labor has to be so expensive. I will never in my life own another ford. Ohio
1997 Ford Contour Transmission went out at 74500 Miles to the tune of $3200.00.
I have a 1998 Ford Contour and nothing but trouble, the tranny blew in downtown Vancouver B. C rush hour traffic, air conditioning does'nt work and the biggest thing is that the drivers side AIR BAG (srs yeah right!) fell out the middle of the steering wheel when I hit the gas at a green light.
Wow do I feel like an idiot for buying this car. Especially after reading all the other comments. I bought the car with 58,272 miles on it. Within 1 year @ 69,000 miles the transmission was completely gone. Lucky for me I bought the extended warranty too. Unlucky for me it has been 2 months and it still isn't fixed correctly. The place I bought it at sent it to a transmission shop and 1month later I got it back... they had rebuilt the transmission and it now slams when shifting (enough to jerk the car and cause the tires to squeal). I took the car back to them and 3 weeks later I got it back (after a 2nd rebuild), still same problem!! I am really starting to think this is a lemon of sorts. Buyers of America do you really think this is a coincidence, not me.
My 1997 Ford Contour, four cylinder SE has 103,000 miles and is now experiencing the severe automatic transmission problems. It started shifting on its own between the overdrive off and on. When I took it to the dealer, they simply told me that the transmission was shot. They quoted me $3,200 to rebuilt it, and then charged me $50 for the diagnostic evaluation. Talk about adding insult to injury!
My 1998 Contour SE's transmission died at 40,000 miles (I had only driven 23,000 of those myself) ; only 4,000 miles over the warranty. Luckily, after some fighting with Ford, I was able to get a new transmission and extended warranty for _ONLY_ $500. My family has been a Ford family for years, but after this and problems my Father has had with a 2000 Taurus, I will never in my life buy another Ford.
I own 1998 contour se - I bought it brand new - maintained
all service prodecures - bought the 7yrs 75,000mile warranty
i wouldn't you guess it - 75,500miles 5yrs later the
transmission goes - I have reverse, but not drive...
Me thinks the Ford engineers are too smart - I have a 1993 mazda 626es (also ford transmision) that went last year at the tune of $1500.00 - me thinks the PCM is programmed to do this... electronic shift auto transmission - my next frontwheel transaxle car will be a manual shift at least there is a manual to rebuilt it for the at home mechanic.
Down with ford.
98 ford Contour, Tranny replaced at 55k Miles and now out again at 88K Miles. Time to ditch!
I bought a 1998 Ford Contour SE in 2002 for my teenage daughter to drive. It had 33,000 miles on it when I purchased it. 15 months and 20,000 miles later the timing belt has broken, the transmission slips, a rear tire blew out while she was driving and it needs new rotors. She drove a 1985 Honda Accord before I bought this car. I wish I had kept it now. This car is a piece of JUNK.
My daughter has a 98 Contour that she bought new and is now paid for. She has had VERY little trouble with it. I am amazed at all the trouble people are having with theirs.
The ONLY thing that I can think of is that she has been using AMSOIL in the motor, AMSOIL in the trans., AMSOIL is used 100% on this vehicle and NO problems.
She lives in California (hot and cold weather).
All I can say is that I will continue having her use AMSOIL!
We own a 98 ford contour and at 97,000 miles the timing belt went out and within a month the transmission went and in between the blower motor went (which only has one speed!). my husband is a dedicated ford owner and he says we will never own another contour again... there needs to be a recall on these transmissions.
If I had only read these reviews sooner!!
I bought the car in 1999/2000 and all was well until 2003. (Few minor things and of course the recals...).
Then at about 95,000 miles the timing belt went to the tune of $500.00, the day I get it back my oil pan literally falls apart in my hand, to the tune of $300.00. Now as of today, (110,022 miles) catastrophic transmission failure,
still waiting on the price of that.
The transmission place might be keeping the Ford.
John
Central Fall, RI.
Bought a 1995 Ford Contour SE, In October of 2002.
Fly wheel had broken teeth, $1,200
starter went,$400.
New battery,$80.
Fuse for Heater Blower suddenly melted. Replaced twice.
Several tow charges.
Several oil changes and tunes ups and new spark plugs due to the car not starting and car then was flooded. The car does not like the winter and runs poorly in winter. The brakes freeze up and the leather seats froze and cracked.
The car was built in Kansas, I live in Ontario Canada, definitey not built for life in Canada.
Now my transmission is leaking and I have to put fluid in it every time I drive it.
I cannot afford to repair it.
The rubber around the doors freeze in the winter and when you open the door, the rubbers pulls off. the back light on the drivers side leaks and causes the bulbs to burn out. I got the tires balanced, and it goes okay for a while and then the front end starts shaking again.
The rubber scraps the windows and leaves marks.
I took it to my local Ford dealer to have a recall done, and they toasted my fuse panel and did not tell me. The fuse panel was not even related to the recall. They denied they did it and said that Contour's are known for electrical problems and that was probably gonna happen sooner or later! Now I have a lot of things that do not work, like my cruise control.
Thanks to Ford, I have to then replace the Fuse panel and pay for a car rental while I waited for the part to arrive.
The dealer where I bought it from refused to help us in anyway and said the car was in mint condition, and never heard anything bad about Contour's!!
This car has cost us alot in repairs in a very short time.
I will never own another Ford again. The Contour was my first Ford, and my last.
Ontario, Canada.