Ford Thunderbird Complaints

2,355 consumer complaints on file.

#722428May 9, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON FORD 3.8L V-6 ENGINE, RESULTING IN OVERHEATING AND CRACKED CYLINDER HEAD. ESTIMATED REPAIR COST $1,500 TO $2,000. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE COVERING MANY YEARS AND DIFFERENT FORD MODEL CARS. FORD HAS EXTENDED EXISTING WARRANTIES FOR SOME MODELS BUT ONLY BACK TO YEAR 1994. PROBLEM IS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT HEAD GASKET THICKNESS AND CYLINDER HEAD BOLT TENSION. ALUMINUM HEADS EVENTUALLY WARP, AND ENGINE COOLANT IS DRAWN INTO ONE OR MORE CYLINDERS CAUSING MISFIRING, POTENTIAL BEARING DAMAGE, EXHAUST SYSTEM CONTAMINATION, OVERHEATING, CRACKED CYLINDER HEADS, CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK. CARS AFFECTED INCLUDE WINDSTAR, MERCURY SABLE, MUSTANG, THUNDERBIRD, LINCOLN, TAURUS, FROM 1988 TO 1997. CENTER FOR AUTO SAFETY, WASH D.C., HAS WRITTEN TO FORD CEO AND CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD, DEMANDING THAT FORD COVER ALL SUCH FAILURES FOR THE PREVOUSLY STATED PERIOD. FORD HAS REFUSED TO DO SO. IN ADDITION TO ENGINE/EXHAUST DAMAGE, SUDDEN ENGINE FAILURE WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED CAN RESULT IN A REAR END COLLISION BY VEHICLES FOLLOWING, ESPECIALLY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, AND/OR LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. FORD REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS PROBLEM IS DUE TO A DESIGN DEFECT, BUT REDESIGNED THE GASKET AND HEAD BOLTS, AND ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN SPECIFYING THE USE OF THE NEW PARTS WHENEVER HEAD GASKET REPAIRS ARE MADE BY A FORD DEALER.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#722438May 9, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
TALKING WITH OTHER FORD OWNERS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTOR, YET FORD DOES NOT ACKNOWLEGDE OR ASSIST IN ANYWAY WITH THE THUNDERBIRD MODELS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#722386May 8, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#722249May 3, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE CAR WOULDN'T HEAT UP AND IT WOULD DIE ON ME WHEN I WOULD GIVE IT GAS TO ACELERATE OR TAKE OFF FROM A STOP LIGHT. I ALMOST GOT HIT TWICE. THERE ALSO WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#722251May 3, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3.8 V6 HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. LOSING WATER. FORD IS HAVING MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS. I AM TOLD BY DEALER FORD WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT HELP WITH REPAIR COST. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#722254May 3, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET BLEW ON MY 3.8L FORD THUNDERBIRD. CAR ONLY HAD 83,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD READ THAT OTHER FORD 3.8L ENGINES HAVE HAD THIS PROBLELM AND THAT FORD MAY BE EXTENDING WARRENTIES TO COVER THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE INFORM ME OF ANY EXTENSIONS ON WARRENTIES OR IF FORD HAS A PROGRAM TO REIMBURSE OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#861355May 3, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER HAD TOWING COMPANY START VEHICLE. VEHCILE WAS BLOWING OUT WHITE SMOKE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & FOUND THAT HEAD GASKETS WERE BLOWN. CONSUMER WAS RESPONSIBILE FOR REPAIR COSTS & NO RECALL WAS REGISTERED FOR PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#722215May 2, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
WE WERE ORIGANLLY TOLD OUR CAR NEEDED A NEW COMPUTER CHIP,WE NOW BELIEVE IT WAS A BLOWN HEADGASKET THE ENTIRE TIME. THE CAR RAN "ALRIGHT" FOR A MONTH OR SO,BUT NEVER QUITE THE SAME,AFTER WE GOT THE CHIP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS REMAINED ON,THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO RE-START THE COMPUTER,AND ADDTIONAL $200.00. WE DROVE IT FOR ANOTHER MONTH,UNTIL IT FINALLY JUST QUIT. AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT MECHANIC'S THEY ALL INFORMED US IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD-GASKET ALL ALONG. SEVERAL OTHER T-BIRD OWNERS HAVE TOLD US THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO THEM,AT APPROX. THE SAME MILAGE. HAS THERE OR WILL THERE BE A RECALL ON THE HEAD-GASKETS? OW MANY COMPLAINTS DO THEY NEED TO RECIEVE,BEFORE THEY WILL RE-CALL A VEHICLE?*AK( DOT NUMBER: )
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#722152May 1, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I CONTACTED YOU BACK IN MARCH BECAUSE OF MY THUNDERBIRD'S EARLY ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE,AND MY MANY LETTER'S AND PHONE CALLS TO FORD WHICH WENT UNANSWERED . I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY SATISFACTION IN MY COMPLAINTS. IN FORD'S FIRST RECALL OF THEIR 3.8L HEAD GASKET FAILURE MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED THE REASON BEING THAT IT IS A REAR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE, THE CARS BEING RECALLED WERE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES. I ARGUED THAT IT WAS THE SAME ENGINE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHY COVER ONLY CERTAIN MODEL'S. NOW I HAVE READ THAT FORD IS AGAIN GOING TO EXTEND WARRANTIES AND COVER REPAIR BILLS FOR THIS PROBLEM IN THUNDERBIRDS AND COUGARS WHICH WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE FIRST PROGRAM. THEY STATE THAT DUE TO MANY COMPLAINTS THEY WILL NOW COVER THIS ENGINE IN REAR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES. I AGAIN PHONED CUSTOMER SERVICE AT FORD ONLY TO BE TOLD AGAIN THAT IT DID NOT INCLUDE MY THUNDERBIRD BECAUSE IT IS A 93. I ASKED WHEN MY CAR WAS ACTUALLY PUT IN SERVICE, AND WAS TOLD APRIL4,1993, WHEN MY HEAD GASKET FAILED IT WAS NOT EVEN SEVEN YEARS OLD WHICH IS THE AMOUNT OF YEARS THAT THEY ARE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE MILEAGE ON MY CAR WAS ALSO WAY BELOW THE AVERAGE MILES ON OTHER CARS THAT THIS HAPPENED TO. THE AVERAGE BEING 65,000. MY ORIGINAL QUESTION IS STILL THE SAME ISN'T THE PROBLEM A DEFECTIVE ENGINE, AND IT SHOULD'NT MATTER WHETHER IT'S A 93 OR 94. FORD IS STATING THAT THE ENGINE IS A PROBLEM, BUT WON'T STAND BEHIND IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME WITH THIS .*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#722091April 29, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#722073April 28, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
FORD SAYS, REAR WHEEL DRIVE ARE NOT COVERED. WHY IT'S THE SAME 3.8L IN THE OTHERS!
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#722074April 28, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I HAD A BAD HEAD GASKET, PROBLEMATIC OF MOST 3.8 LITRE REAR WHEEL DRIVE FORD PASSENGER CARS FROM 1988 TO 1996. FORD HAS RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM WITH THE '94 THROUGH '96 3.8 LITRES, BUT THESE ARE THE SAME 3.8 LITRES IN THE EARLIER MODELS. I OWN A '93 THUNDERBIRD THAT JUST NEEDED THE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED FOR $1000.00 . I SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS ADMITTED HAVING. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF THE REPAIR, DUE TO THE FACT THAT FORD IS AND WAS AWARE OF THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721937April 26, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 70,000 MILES / FORD FAILS TO RECALL VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#860775April 24, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OVERHEATING AND WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM TAIL PIPE. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ANY FRONT WHEEL VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721830April 23, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH HAS FAILED AND FALLS A FEW MONTHS OUTSIDE OF RECALL. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721836April 23, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD PAY THE ENTIRE REPAIR BILL DUE TO THE KNOWN 3.8L HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. I ALSO HAD TO RENT A CAR WHILE THE REAPIR WAS DONE, FOR A WEEK IN THE AMOUNT OF $277.00 THANK YOU PATRICIA PATTERSON EMAIL ADDRESS: [email protected]. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721804April 22, 2000
SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING
THE BUSHING KEEPS BREAKING ABOUT EVERY 9 MONTHS. WHEN IT DOES WITH OUT WARNING YOU DON'T HAVE A CLUTCH. IF YOU HAVE THE CLUTCH PUSHED IN AND CAR IN GEAR THE ROD CAN POP OUT ENGAGING CLUTCH AND MOVING CAR. IF YOU DON'T BRAKE QUICK ENOUGH AND PUT TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL FAST ENOUGH IT WILL CAUSE A WRECK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#860720April 21, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NOTICED LOSS OF ANTI-FREEZE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. TEMPERATURE GAUGE DIDN'T GET HOT. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON TO LET CONSUMER KNOW THAT ANTI-FREEZE WAS LOW. DROVE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT ONE MILE AND SMOKED STARTED COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE, SMELLED LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE. EVEN AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF EXHAUST. HAD CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC. HE SAID THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#721735April 20, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BLOWN HEAD GASKETS-TWICE. ONCE AT ABOUT 65000 MILES AND AGAIN AT ABOUT 120000 MILES. I BELIEVE IT'S DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT--IRON BLOCK/ALUMINUM HEADS--AND INCORRECT ASSEMBLY. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. IF NHTSA WOULD CHECK SERVICE RECORDS ON A NATIONAL BASIS THEN I THINK YOU'D FIND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF IDENTICAL FAILURES. MECHANICS AND SERVICE MANAGERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY LOVE TO SEE US COMING. OTHER T-BIRD OWNERS (AND OTHER FORD MOTOR CO. AUTOMOBILE OWNERS) HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY HASN'T SOMETHING BEEN DONE?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#860627April 19, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, TIRES:TREAD/BELT
VEHICLE IS A LEMON. ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL AND MAKING NOISE. DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE CRANKSHAFT INSIDE HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO THE TIRES HAD TO BE CHANGED EVERY THREE MONTHS BECAUSE TREADS ON TIRES WORE OUT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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