Ford Thunderbird Complaints

2,355 consumer complaints on file.

#10141336October 31, 2005
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS
DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCES BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE FOUND TO BE BROKEN. BOTH SPRINGS WERE BROKEN IN THE SAME MANNER AND LOCATION. THE CAR ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT! *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10140599October 24, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ON AUGUST 19, 2004 I WAS PARKING MY 2004 T-BIRD IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. AS I EASED IN, I REALIZED I WANTED TO EDGE FORWARD AN INCH OR TWO SO I SLOWLY BEGAN TO RELEASE MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD HITTING THE CURB AND FLEW FORWARD 4-5 FEET WHILE I WAS PUTTING EXTREME PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT FINALLY STOPPED AS THE CAR ACTUALLY HIT THE COMPANY SIGNAGE. THE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED TO THE TUNE OF ------. NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW IT HAPPENED, I CHALKED IT UP TO HUMAN ERROR, ALTHOUGH I KNEW I HAD NOT TOUCHED THE GAS PEDAL. OCTOBER 5, 2005. I AM SLOWLY PULLING INTO MY GARAGE IN THE SAME 2004 T-BIRD. AS I APPROACH THE CURB AND A 5 FOOT DEEP CEMENT STOOP, I NEED TO EDGE IN ANOTHER 1 TO 2 INCHES TO CLEAR THE GARAGE DOOR. AS I GINGERLY BEGIN TO RELEASE THE PRESSURE ON MY BRAKE, THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD HITTING THE CURB AND FLYING FORWARD INTO AN UPRIGHT FREEZER IN THE GARAGE ON THE STOOP- 5 FEET FROM WHERE THE CAR USUALLY IS PARKED. THE FORCE IS SO GREAT THAT THE FREEZER IS T-BONED AND PUSHED INTO THE FINISHED WALL OF THE GARAGE, WHICH IN TURN REARRANGES THE CABINET IN THE POWDER ROOM IN THE LIVING QUARTERS OF MY HOME. THE COUNTER TOP/SINK COMBO IS SHATTERED. THE EVENT WAS MOST DISTURBING AND FRIGHTENING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. OF WILLOWBROOK FORD IN WILLOWBROOK, IL. AFTER EXAMINATION AND FINDING NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS IT WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE BODY SHOP WHERE I WAS INFORMED OVER THE PHONE THAT NOTHING WAS FOUND MECHANICALLY WRONG AND THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE INCIDENT. THE INSURANCE HAD APPROVED PAYMENT FOR BODY REPAIRS AND SO IT WAS FIXED. THE CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO ME COMPLETELY REPAIRED, BUT I AM NEVER GOING TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. A T-BIRD ENTHUSIAST WEBSITE WWW.THUNDERBIRDNEST.COM ALSO RELATES SIMILAR STORIES OF HORROR. PERHAPS FORD WILL DO SOMETHING ONCE SOMEONE IS MAIMED OR KILLED. *JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139735October 14, 2005
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
THE VEHICLES REAREND (DIFFERENTIAL) DEVELOPS A HOWLING NOISE, NOTICABLE AT 40+ MPH. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE REAREND ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCASSIONS. THE NOISE IS STARTING TO OCCUR AGAIN, IF REPLACED THIS WOULD BE THE FOURTH REAREND.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139547October 13, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK OUT. FORD WILL NOT REPAIR UNLESS I PAY FOR IT. CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT PENDING. FORD AGREED TO REPLACE ON VEHICLES 7 YEARS OLD OR LESS. MY VEH IS 8 YEARS OLD WITH 26000 MILES. BAD DESIGN FOR INTAKE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139300October 11, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
DT: 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD LX V8 4.6 LITERS. 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD LX HAD A COOLANT LEAK. THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD OVERHEATED. COULD SMELL ANTIFREEZE WHEN GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE. THE ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING IN THREE PLACES. VEHICLE HAD THE ORIGINAL PARTS. THE CONSUMER WAS THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. HAD NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. DID HAVE SOMEONE LOOK AT VEHICLE , WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS PLASTIC AND VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE, AND THAT THE O RINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS WAS SENT OUT ON FEBRUARY 2, 2002 DISCUSSING THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS UNAWARE OF THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139060October 7, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT: 1995 FORD THUNDERBIRD 3.8. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ENGINE PROBLEM ON OCTOBER 3, 2005. TOOK VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, THEY WANTED $4600 TO PUT IN A NEW ENGINE. IN DECEMBER 2003 VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE FROM TIMING CHAIN GASKET. HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY. VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT NOR HAVE THERE BEEN ANY PROPERTY DAMAGE. POLICE HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 32,000 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE STILL HAS THE ORIGINAL ENGINE . THE CONSUMER CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AND THEY SAID THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10138329October 3, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. THIS PART WAS MADE OUT OF NYLON AND IS A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE STATING THAT THERE WAS A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ACTION IN 1996. SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A KNOWN DEFECTIVEPART I THINK IT SHOULD BE COVERED FOR LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. LATER FORD REDISIGNED THE PART USING ALUMINUM INSTEAD OF NYLON. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136339September 13, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: THIS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE THREE TIMES. IT WAS CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. CONTACTED FORD, THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONSUMER PUT TWO OF THE FIRES OUT, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT ONE OF THE FIRES OUT. ALL FIRES STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THIS HAPPENED ON JUNE 1, 1996. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF ALL THREE TIMES AND PARKED AND THAT WAS WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE REPAIR SHOP REBUILT THE WIRING ALL THREE TIMES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10136342September 13, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
DT: THIS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. IT CAUGHT FIRE ON OCTOBER 1, 2000. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. HAD MECHANIC LOOK AT VEHICLE TO REPAIR IT, AND THEY SAID IT WAS TO FAR GONE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10137736September 9, 2005
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
COMPLAINT REGARDING TWO STOLEN VEHICLES 1987 BMW AND A 1993 FORD THUNDERBIRD.*MR *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135684September 7, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1997 4.6 L THUNDERBIRD CRACKED AND BLEW ALL THE COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I HAD TO PAY FORD TO REPLACE THE UPPER INTAKE AND THE PLUGS THAT WERE FOULED OUT. THEY REFUSED ANY RESPONSIBILITY EVEN WITH A FORMAL WRITTEN COMPLAINT TO THEIR HOME OFFICE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF THEIR 4.6 L ENGINES IN A VARIETY OF VEHICLES.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10135141September 2, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHT LENSES ON 1997 THUNDERBIRD CLOUD OVER DUE TO WEATHERING AND LIMIT AMOUNT OF LIGHT EMITTED. NIGHT VISION AND OBJECT ILLUMINATION IS SERIOUSLY COMPROMISED. VIGOROUS POLISHING TEMPORARILY REMOVES HAZE, BUT IT HAS BEEN MY EXPERIENCE THAT THE CONDITION RETURNS MORE QUICKLY. I RECENTLY HAD TO SWERVE INTO A LARGE POT HOLE TO AVOID A CITY RECYCLE CAN THAT HAD OVERTURNED AND, BEING DARK GREEN, IMPOSSIBLE TO SEE AT NIGHT. I DAMAGED MY LEFT FRONT WHEEL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130105August 26, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
DT: WHILE DRIVING AT 55-60 MPH THE ENGINE STARTED TO BOG DOWN AND SLOWLY DIED. HAD BEEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM AND A TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAD BEEN CHECKED DIAGNOSTICIANS, AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. DEALER HAD NEVER INDICATED WHAT WAS WRONG. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE OTHER THAN A REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN FIRST PURCHASED. PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE DYING WAS INTERMITTENT. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10132882August 15, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED THERE WAS ODOMETER FRAUD. WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IT SHOWED 91,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE HE GOT A CARFAX REPORT WHICH SHOWED THAT IN 9-20-99 IT SHOWED 118,090 WHEN TAKEN TO THE TN DMV. ALSO, THE REPORT SHOWED ON 4-20-00 THAT THERE WAS 125,035 MILES ON A SERVICE RECORD. ANOTHER RECORD INDICATED THAT IT HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE TN DMV BUT THE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THE HIGH MILEAGE . THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM AN INDEPENDENT PERSON ON E-BAY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131454August 3, 2005
TIRES:SIDEWALL
DT: CONSUMER BOUGHT TIRES FROM A LOCAL DEALER ON JUNE 15, 2005. WHILE DRIVING ON I 85 BETWEEN NEWNAN AND FAYETVILLE ONE OF THE PASSENGER REAR TIRES BLEW OUT. THE TIRE RIPPED APART, THE SIDE WALL CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE TIRE. THIS HAPPENED ON JULY 30, 2005. THEN, HE CHANGED THE TIRE IN THE RAIN AND CONTINUED ON THE TRIP. CONSUMER HAD TO BUY A NEW RIM DUE TO THE RIM ON THE TIRE BEING BENT OUT OF SHAPE. HE PULLED CAR OVER AS SOON AS BLOW OUT HAPPENED. CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER WHO SOLD HIM THE TIRES, AND DEALER REFUSED TO PRODUCE A COPY OF THE WARRANTY, AND TOLD HIM THAT TIRE WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY BECAUSE HE DID NOT BUY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. ALSO, DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE TIRE. FUTURA GLS SUPER SPORT. P215/65/R15. DOT U9VFXBH1505.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10131043August 2, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: THE CONSUMER STATED A YEAR AGO WA SINVOLVED IN 2 REAR END COLLISIONS WHILE DRIVING 3 MPH. THIS HAPPENED WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE IN BUMPER TO BUMPER TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP, BUT IT WAS NOT LOOKED AT, THEY INSTEAD TRIED TO SELL CONSUMER ANOTHER VEHICLE. PLANNED TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED AT CONSUMER'S OWN EXPENSE AT ANOTHER MECHANIC. DEALERSHIP STATED THEY KNEW THAT THE PROBLEM EXISTED. . THE MANUFACTURER TOLD HE WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE PROBLEM DIAGNOSED, BUT THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT LOOK AT THE VEHICLE. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS FIRST PURCHASED,IT WOULD DRAG BETWEEN GEARS. IN THE LAST YEAR, NOTICED SURGING. HAD TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO STOP, AND ANOTHER TIMEHAD TO PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKEON. THERE WERE NO POLICE REPORTS TAKEN, THERE WASNO DAMAGE OR INJURIES.*AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#896923August 1, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STRUCK. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL THE BRAKE PEDAL AND EMERGENCY BRAKE WERE APPLIED. *AK *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130641July 30, 2005
SUSPENSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN! MY 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD IS NOT LISTED WHY? I HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE SMOG STUFF EVERY YEAR I PAY A LOT OF MONEY. WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE HOT OUTSIDE OVER 90 THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND SAYS SERVICE ENGINE, OR WHEN I GO UP A LONG HILL AND MY CAR OVERHEATS THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND SAYS SERVICE ENGINE AND IT IS ALWAYS ABOUT AN OXYGEN SENSOR OR OTHER SMOG RELATED ITEMS THAT ALWAYS COST $300 TO $650 I AM GOING B BROKE BEING ON A FIXED INCOME. FORD CAN'T FIX MY FRONT END VIBRATION I HAD ALL ALIGNMENTS DONE WHEEL BALANCING 4 TIMES NOTHING HELPS. MY STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES ALSO. PLEASE HELP! MANFRED GAUER . *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10130144July 26, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
3.8 CYLINDER HEAD FAILURE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10128841July 15, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
THIS COMPLAINT IS REGUARDING A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. I AM THE ORIGIANL OWNER, AND HAVE HAD THE CAR IN A FORD REPAIR SHOP 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ENGINE THROTTLE STICKS, USUALLY WHEN THE THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE LAST INCIDENT RESULTED IN THE CAR RUNNING THROUGH THE KITCHEN OF MY HOUSE. FORD CAN NOT FIND ANY REASON FOR THIS REOCCURING PROBLEM
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0

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