Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1996 Ford Contour owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl contact owns a 1996 Ford Contour. While attempting to shift the gears on the floor shift, the contact experienced incorrect gear selection. He took the vehicle to the dealer and a technician stated that they did not repair vehicles after ten years. The manufacturer stated that his VIN was not included NHTSA campaign id number 98V233000 (power train:automatic transmission:lever and linkage:floor shift); therefore, the contact would be responsible for the repair costs. The failure and current mileages were 86,000.
This car has less than 70000 miles on it. We had trouble with the fuel door, front wheel bearings, brakes, door handles, transmission, electric windows, and now as a special treat the engine failed. This car has been the worst investment that my wife and I have ever made. I have have owned several cars and trucks with 200000 plus miles on them and none of them have ever been as problematic as this automobile.
I just got the car from used car dealer on 02/07/08 drove fine went home and in the morning I went out got kids in car and went to back up and had no reverse..the shop I took it to said the transmission is out. The car only has 81000 miles on it....and there has been alot of complaints made about this transmission in 1996 Ford contours... I think some thing needs to be done ...
At first vehicle would indicate wrong gear and then it binded up the gear shift so eventually had to remove some plastic from gear shift just to shift the gear then the automatic gear shift indication will not indicate what gear the car is in at all. Possibly causing wrong gear selection could cause collision in parking lot.
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (PRNDL) details: automatic shift lever May not indicate correct gear (p, d, r) lever hangs up when switching between p, d, r. Problem has been occurring for appx three years.
I hope you can help me. I have a complaint I'd like to register with you about the safety of a car made by Ford motor company. The VIN (vehicle identification number) is [redacted]. I am the owner of a 1996 Ford Contour lx and recently I became aware (on my own accord) that Ford motor company has the following two safety recalls on my vehicle 1. Recall 99s14 - head light switch and wire assembly 2. Recall 98s26 - automatic transaxle shift indicator (PRNDL) bezel. Upon acquiring this information I contacted Ford motor company's local dealer kingston industrial garage in order to ascertain whether my vehicle qualifies for these recalls. I was subsequently advised by them that while my vehicle qualified for recall 99s14-head lamp switch and wire assembly, however it does qualify for recall 98s26 - automatic transaxle shift indicator (PRNDL) bezel. …
Have had numerous problems: interior/brake lights failed to light. Replaced switch twice. Fuel filler door will not open with latch inside. Never worked. Cigarette lighter failed. Power window on driver's side has failed. Car intermittently will not start due to drained battery. Mechanic could find no cause for this related to alternator/charging system of car. Never able to fix this. Trunk leaks water around seal. ABS light keeps coming on . Mechanic could find no problem with ABS. Air conditioner/heater would only blow out defrost setting. Also bad smell comes from ac when on. Rear seat belts keep jamming; not able to use sometimes because they won't come out. Worst problem so far: transmission has failed. Not yet fixed. I loved this car once, now I hate it! The whole thing should be recalled.
Vehicle has a crack in transmission housing. Consumer states while mechanic was performing routine maintenance he observed a crack in the bottome of the transmission housing, since no transmission work has ever been performed under consumer's ownership roughly since 41,000 miles in the mechanic's opinion that either the transmission housing was cracked when installed or another transmission was put in resulting in a cracked housing, he also observed what might be bad front coil springs, they are making a rubbing nosie on an uneven surface or in a sharp turn to the right,consumer has contacted manufacturer they have called her consumer back but they have turned the complaint into a feedback report consumer has also had rotors turned and serviced twice.
I bought a 1996 Ford Contour from and individual in July of this year. It ran well, for a few days, and then the od light kept coming on, and it felt like it was shifting into low. I kept mashing the button on the shift arm and the light would go out and then come back on this would go on for several days, then it would be OK for several days, just to start up all over again. Then I had the old changed in November and the would not stay cranked for me to get home. The wires under the hood are all flaking of there plastic covering. I assume this is why it will not stayed cranked. I can not drive it in this condition.
Problems with 1996 Ford Contour front brakes, transmission, fuse box, heater blower motor, electrical and steering and suspension. For the second time, the vehicle had problems with the brakes making a loud rubbing sound, the stabilizer bar was replaced and needs to be replaced again. The transmission was leaking, water was inside of the headlight seals, which made the lights very dim, the selector mode switch on the heater motor blower did not work properly, which made the heat not work at a 100%. The upper ball joints, rack and pinion and wheel bearing were all defective.
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission › Lever and linkage › Floor shift
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The floor shift automatic transmission control can be damaged if subjected to certain interior cleaning products. The gear position indicator can deteriorate and not correctly indicate the actual gear position.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the automatic transmission floor shift control.
NHTSA investigations
Incorrect gear indication
There is no summary currently available
Transmission complaints in other Contour years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 1996 Ford Contour?
NHTSA has 77 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 1996 Ford Contour, 14% of the model year's 563 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (48 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1996 Ford Contour transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 98V-233 (floor shift, Sep 18, 1998). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 1996 Ford Contour transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 81,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.