Never-ending iPhone contacts problem...

Question

Here's what's happening:
I add a contact on my iPhone, (from a text message from a new number for example)
The contact name will appear at the header of said conversation but does not transfer to the contacts app and subsequently to iCloud
The mac and iCloud are syncing fine and even syncing TO the phone, however, not FROM the phone.
Seems like an internal struggle on the iPhone itself.
I've spoken to Apple Care multiple times without resolve.
Also spoke to a Genius at a store who just recommended starting the phone from afresh and adding all apps etc.
The problem then is I lose 4 years of data from those apps and messages etc. That might be the final solution but I'm putting it to you, good people of the Support Community, to see if there are any other suggestions that might help...
Many thanks,
Ed

Answer 1

Thanks Lawrence.
After some more restarting, resetting, iCloud on/offing etc. They are syncing through the way you suggested although sometimes that hasn't always worked either.
Just seems backward after I used to use MobileMe for the same thing with absolutely no problems...
Do you know any reason why contacts don't add from the local storage?
Cheers