1997 Ford Contour LX from North America - Comments

List of repairs-

2 trannys, rack and pinnions, water pump, pulleys, alternator, ball joints, tie rods, link bars, brakes.

First transmission replace at 80000, installed brand new by dealer - $1700.

Transmission started slipped as soon as I took it off the lot.

Dealer delayed installing a new second tranny for a full year waiting for the warranty to run out. I demanded a new tranny on the last week before the warranty ran out.

The next year it was rack and pinnion at $1500.

I got tired of extra high dealer cost so I started to do repairs myself; thats when I learn how poor the construction of this car was.

I replaced the water pump and found it all corroded at 120000.

Pulleys were raddling - the bearings were shot. The tensioner shoulder bolt was warped so I called the dealer to get a new one and was quoted $110. I had to get the bolt for the scrap yard.

To remove the alternator is a nightmare. The dealer wanted almost $400 for the part - I got mine for $150, nice dealer markup!!

Ball joints, tie rods and linkage were garbage. The grease inside had hardend and the rubber crack. These parts should have be equipped with grease nipples.

Beware of fords - never goto the dealer for repairs - please trust me.

MAJOR money in repairs. Major inconveniences.

I have to agree. I just had the alternator replaced at the local ford dealer. Cost was as you mention, 400 dollars, plus 400 dollars labour. YIKES.

I got the gold plated alternator of course.

I had to replace the alternator twice on my 1995 Contour GL. I read later on that Ford had poorly designed the wiring in the engine bay and that it would cause the alternator to blow out prematurely.

What a hunk of garbage!

I agree with all your complaints about the Contour. I worked for a while on my friend's contour, it only had 90000 miles on it and you could tell it wasn't going to last much more. Her's was a v6 and everything in the engine is a pain in the butt to get to. The tranny slipped, the engine died whenever it wanted, brakes were awful..

The only thing I can't agree with you is on the suspension. I think this car's front end is pretty solid and it drove pretty stable on the road, sub-frame and control arms seem and felt to be solid. With regards to your comment on the grease nipples, no car in the market today (or 20 years ago) has grease nipples on any moving part. The best is check every now and then, when the rubber covering the ball-joints has broken and replace just the grease and the rubber. If you love grease nipples, buy a tractor or Industrial machinery.