Ford Thunderbird Complaints

2,355 consumer complaints on file.

#724669June 28, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THIS VEHICLE FIRST HAD A HEAD GASKET FAILURE IN 1997 W/ONLY 85002 MILES ON IT. IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY (75000 MI), SO FORD MADE ME PAY (TOTAL: $1135.36). IN JANUARY 2000 AFTER 50,000 ADDITIONAL MILES THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO FIX THE VEHICLE, NOR WILL FORD. I HAVE SEEN ON YOUR SITE THAT A CLASS ACTION SUIT IS PENDING FOR THIS SPECIFIC PROBLEM ALTHOUGH MY VEHICLE WAS NOT MENTIONED. HOW DO I GO ABOUT GETTING MY MONEY BACK AND HAVE FORD FIX MY VEHICLE? I AM ANGRY, FRUSTRATED, AND TIRED OF WALKING TO WORK. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#864162June 23, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AND CONSUMER WAS NOT ABLE TO SEE. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT IS WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#724379June 22, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
REPLACED BRAKES 5 TIMES, ROTORS 3 TIMES, MANUFACTURER DEFECT IN ENGINEERING, UNSAFE AND NO DEALER SATISFACTION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#724401June 22, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#863831June 20, 2000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT PUSHED THE DIMMER SWITCH TO PUT ON BRIGHT LIGHTS, AND HEADLIGHTS WENT TOTALLY OFF. CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE ANY LIGHT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#863842June 20, 2000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE CONNECTOR THAT THE BULBS PLUG INTO FOR THE THRID BRAKE LIGHT ON THE BACK DASH IS ALL MELTED AND BROWN ON BOTH SIDES. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#724232June 19, 2000
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
NO SUMMARY LISTED FRO ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#724165June 18, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
NEWER VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR ENGINES HAVE HAD WARRANTY EXTENSIONS TO COVER THIS REPAIR. WHY IS THIS MAKE/MODEL WITH SAME ENGINE NOT BEING COVERED? *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#724092June 16, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#724080June 15, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE SAFETY CONCERN AT STAKE IS WHEN YOU HYDRO-LOCK A MOTOR AT 50 M.P.H. ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, AND THE MASSIVELY THICK PLUME OF WHITE SMOKE THAT SUCCEEDS THE BLOWN HEADGASKET. MY VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE TO PREVENT THIS SHY OF REPLACING THE CHEAP PAPER GASKET THAT THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED WITH A QUALITY FELPRO GASKET OR THE LIKE AT THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS WHY AM I FINDING HUNDREDS INTO THE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT FORD 3.8L ENGINES IN THE RANGE OF 1995 FOR EVERY MODEL OF VEHICLE, BUT YET FORD ONLY ACKNOWLEDGES A FEW CHOICE MODELS FOR A RECALL. (ALL MUSTANGS, THUNDERBIRDS, COUGARS, AEROSTARS, ETC. HAD IDENTICAL 3.8 L ENGINES.) I CAN PROVIDE A LIST OF WITNESSES TO THE EVENT, ALONG WITH A LIST OF MECHANICS WHO I HAVE INTERVIEWED CONCERNING 3.8 L HEAD GASKET DEFECTS. THEY ALL AGREE.... IT'S SPREAD OUT AMONG ALL MODELS... NOT JUST THE FEW THAT FORD SPECIFIES. WHY DOES PROPERTY DAMAGE OR LOSS OF LIFE HAVE TO OCCUR TO PRODUCE A JUSTIFIED RECALL? ESPECIALLY WHEN THE MANUFACTURER SEMI-CONFESSES TO A HEADGASKET PROBLEM WITH A PARTICULAR MOTOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME... MY ENGINE ISN'T THE ONLY THING THAT IS STEAMED! *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#863642June 15, 2000
SEAT BELTS
MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS STOPPED WORKING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#724025June 14, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEADGASKET BLEW, CAUSING VISIBILILTY PROBLEM.FORD REFUSES TO INCLUDE THUNDERBIRDS IN ITS HEADGASKET RECALL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#863578June 14, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN VEHICLE WARMS UP IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL SPONTANEOUSLY AND WITHOUT BEING TOUCHED AT ALL. ALSO, VEHICLE LURCHES TO 1000RPMS, AND THEN GOES BACK TO NORMAL*AK.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#863477June 13, 2000
SEAT BELTS
AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE WAS STUCK IN OPEN POSITION. PROBLEM WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#863496June 13, 2000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
RECALL 99V275/ HEADLIGHT SWITCH. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE UNDER RECALL AND REMEDY HAS FAILED. THE DEALER HAS REINSPECTED VEHICLE, AND WILL REPAIR IT AGAIN AT THE OWNER'S EXPENSE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#863513June 13, 2000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 99V275000/ HEADLIGHTS, AND FOUND OUT FROM DEALER THAT PART NEEDED TO BE REPLACED WASN'T COVERED UNDER RECALL. CONSUMER HAS REPAIRED THE PROBLEM ONCE BEFORE OUT OF HIS OWN POCKET. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#723927June 12, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR BY ITSELF. IT HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS SPORADICALLY. WHEN IT SLIPS THE CAR SLOWS DOWN,WHICH HAS CAUSED A COUPLE OF DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. MORE DANGEROUS STILL IS THAT WHEN IT SLIPS THE R.P.M.'S JUMP HIGHER AND SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION THEN GRABS AND THE CAR LURCHES SUDDENLY FORWARD.THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED US TO CRASH TWICE;ONCE ON THE FREEWAY AND ONCE ON A SHARP TURN.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#723939June 12, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE IN THIS VEHICLE HAS PERFORMED WITHOUT FLAW. I LEARNED FROM MY DEALER THAT A LETTER WAS ISSUED TO OWNERS WITH INFORMATION ON PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON THE 3.8 L ENGINE. I DID NOT RECEIVE THIS LETTER DUE TO DEALER ERROR. THE DEALER DID NOT PROPERLY REGISTER ME HAS THE ONWER OF THE VEHICLE WITH FORD MOTER COMPANY. THEREFOR I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY PENDING PROBLEMS. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ERROR AND NO SUPPORT FOR REPAIR WOULD BE GIVEN. HAD I BEEN AWARE OF SUCH PROBLEM, CORRECTIVE MEASURE COULD HAVE BEEN PERFORMED WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SUPPORT THE CALL TAKER WAS VERY RUDE AND OFFERED NO SUPPORT WHAT SO EVER. ALSO, COMMENTS WERE MADE TO THE AFFECT THAT I SHOULD CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY THAT THE CAR LASTED AS LONG AS IT DID. I HAVE MAINTAINED MY CAR AS PRESCRIBED BY FORD SINCE IT HAS BEEN IN MY POSSESSION. I FEEL THIS MAY BE AN ATTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE EXTRA MILEAGE BEFORE FAILURE. HOWEVER, BASED ON MY CARE OF THE CARE, I AM EXPECTED TO COVER THE CAOST OF A KNOWN FLAW IN THE HEAD GASKET. I AM REQUESTING ASSISTANCE FOR THE REPAIR OF MY VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#863423June 12, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR, RPMS RUN HIGH, AND THEN IT GOES BACK INTO GEAR, AND JUMPS FORWARD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#723887June 11, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
THE STOP LIGHT MODULE IN REAR WINDOW HAS MELTED BECAUSE OF HEAT CAUSED BY THE LIGHT BULBS. THE MELTING HAS CRUSHED ON BULB AND CANNOT REPLACE THE BULB. FEAR OF HIGH HEAT MAY CAUSE A FIRE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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