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.
Automatic transmission slipped badly nearly causing accident as car behind me did not anticipate my car not being able to accelarate as I turned onto a busy road. Second time tranmisson has failed in the vehicle - first at approx 25000 miles. Leaking trans fluid also damge seals to power steering "rack" causing seals to fail competely in less than 300 miles.
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.
I know a couple of people who have had experienced the same problems with their Contour 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.
- Sun Valley, CA, USA
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Automatic transmission failed without warning or symptoms while merging onto a busy freeway.vehicle could have been hit by passing traffic because of a narrow shoulder at point of failure.
Consumer was traveling on highway, and without prior warning water pump shut down, and transmission vibrated when applying brakes. Dealership was aware of problem.
While driving vehicle jerked forward very hard almost losing control of vehicle. Upon stopping and restarting vehicle gear went from park to reverse. Took to dealer. Transmission was replaced. Vehicle continues to do the same thing, jerking.
Transmission is gone. Vehicle will not go into gear. When put vehicle into first or second gear it makes a noise. Vehicle will not pull. Contacted dealer, and dealer stated transmission needed to be replaced.
Transmission breakdown, car would work in reverse only, not in forward gears. Car taken to dealer who informed owner that a component part broke down and damaged other parts. Dealer recommends replacing with a remanufactured transmission at significant cost.
Rack and pinion steering unit started to leak some fluid. Steering wheel would make alot of noise when trying to make turns. Contacted dealer, and dealer was not willing to do anything. *akhe rack and pinion unit was replaced with a rebuit unit, the automatic transmission has begun to have problems.
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?
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.
Transmission has a defect, there is a slip when you applying gears. Also, brake pedal goes all the way down to the floor, and grabs a little bit. Dealership is aware of problem. Brakes have failed, on one occasion consumer almost hit a child, brake pedal slips from under foot. Emergency brake is only effective 50 percent of the time. Transmission intermittently changes gears roughly, at times jarring occupants in the vehicle. Possible electrical problem: Light of the clock has burned out twice, consumer states there are shorts in the dashboard, causing the heater or A/C to only have one speed working, dome lights work intermittently, light under dash works intermittently, warning bell does not chime all the times it should, consumer states a sensor causes heater to act as the ac and vice versa. Hinges not made properly, causing door movement while opening/closing, does not stop when it should. Seat blet retarction does not have enough elast, causing it not to retract properly, has gotten caught in the door jam. Alarm system has failed. Wheel cover cracked when a tire was being changed and another one fell off, consumer was not aware of the time or place it fell off.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Dekalb, MO, USA