Ford Thunderbird Complaints

2,355 consumer complaints on file.

#723829June 9, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
3.8L ENGINE FAILURE, FORD WILL NOT COMPENSATE DUE TO MY VEHICLE BEING A 1993, EVEN THOUGH THIS IS AN ACKNOWLEDGED DESIGIN DEFECT IN THE 3.8L ENGINES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#723831June 9, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BLOWN HEAD GASKETS TWO TIMES. 1ST TIME AT 57K - 2ND TIME AT 105K. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#863328June 9, 2000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NHTSA RECALL 96V071000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 95S28/ IGNITION SYSTEM FAILURE. HAD RECALL DONE ON MAY 26,1999, AND REMEDY FAILED. OWNER REPLACED THE PART HIMSELF, IGNITION SWITCH WAS FOUND SEPARATED FROM THE MOUNTING HARWARE. CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY SHOWED NO CONCERN. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#723766June 8, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STOPPED RUNNING. VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. SHOP MANGER SAID THERE WAS COOLANT IN THE OIL AND THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS REPAIRED THERE WAS STILL A PROBLEM WITH COOLANT IN THE OIL. THEY REMOVED THE VALVE TIMING CHAIN COVER TO FIND THAT ONE OF THE FREEZE PLUGS HAS RUSTED THRU CAUSING THE COOLANT TO BECOME MIXED WITH THE OIL. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE RUSTED THRU FREEZE PLUG AND THREE OTHERS IN THE AREA. AFTER ALL THESE REPAIRS THE CAR STILL DOES NOT RUN CORRECTLY AND EMITTS A LOUD RATTLING SOUND FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE.WE HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR NAMELY THE TRANSMISSION AND THE AIR CONDITIONING.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#9001231June 8, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
COLD START, LOUD BANGING NOISE, SMOKE COMING FROM TAILPIPE, ANTIFREEZE LEAKING, DUE TO BAD HEAD GASKET.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#552525June 7, 2000
SEATS
THE DESIGN OF THE SEATS DO NOT CONTAIN A LOCKING FEATURE, THIS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY DURING REAR END COLLISION, POOR DESIGN. *MJS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#723659June 6, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
TSB 97M91, REPLACED ALREADY 11/14/98, LEFT MYSELF AND DAUGHTER STRANDED IN MIDDLE OF DESERT. MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO COVER COSTS OF LOSS. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#723528June 3, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
SAME 3.8 ENGINE IN OTHER YEAR AND MODEL OF VEHICLE HAS BEEN COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY BY FORD. POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT FOR 1993 FORD THUNDERBIRD ?? *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#723497June 2, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET - REQUIRING MULTIPLE COMPONET REPLACEMENT & PRESSURE TESTING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#862951June 2, 2000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
HEADLIGHTS FLICKER AT NIGHT, MAKING IT VERY HARD TO SEE. CONSUMER IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AS DISCUSSED IN A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL CONCERNING HEADLAMP SWITCH. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. *AK THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH HAD BEEN REPLACED TWICE. THE CONSUMER HAD ENCOUNTERED CLOSE CALLS DUE TO HEAD LIGHT FAILURES AND INDICATED THE CONDITON TO BE DANGEROUS. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#723466June 1, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
ROUGH 3-4 UPSHIFT WITH INCREASE IN RPMS, WHEN DRIVING AT 55-60MPH RPMS WILL SUDDENLY GO UP AND DOWN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#723393May 31, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON 3.8L FORD ENGINE. REPAIR COST $917. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ON A PREVIOUSLY OWNED 1988 THUNDERBIRD WITH THE SAME ENGINE AND APPROXIMATELY THE SAME MILEAGE. A YEAR AGO MY SON HAD THE SAME FAILURE ON HIS 1995 FORD MUSTANG AND HAS SINCE RECEIVED NOTICE THAT FORD HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL AND THAT THE COST OF REPAIRS WILL BE REIMBURSED. IF FORD ADMITS TO THE PROBLEM IN THE 1994 MODEL YEARS AND YOUNGER, WHY WOULDN'T THE SAME BE TRUE OF EARLIER MODELS WITH THE SAME ENGINE? I WAS INFORMED BY MY MECHANIC THAT REPAIRED ENGINES ON BOTH MY THUNDERBIRDS THAT HE HAD REPAIRED A NUMBER OF OTHER OUT-OF-WARRANTY FORDS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT FORD IS OFFERING IS 7 YRS. OR 100,000 MILES. MY 1993 WOULD HAVE FALLEN IN THIS CATEGORY IF FORD HAD ADMITTED THE PROBLEM BACK IN APRIL OF 1998 WHEN IT WAS REPAIRED. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD STAND BEHIND ALL 3.8L COMPLAINTS. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#862720May 30, 2000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL:SWITCH
VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH FOG LIGHTS. ALSO, HEADLIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO FLICKER ON AND OFF, AFFECTING DRIVER'S VISIBILITY AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 99V275000 ALTHOUGH IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#723269May 28, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
3.8 LITER V6 FORD ENGINE HEAD GASKET DEFECT 1997. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#723279May 28, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL FROM ANY GEAR UNEXPECTEDLY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#723226May 26, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE 3.8-V6 ENGINE; WHILE DRIVING NOTICED OVERHEATING AND SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE DUE TO BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER PROCEEDED TO REPLACE GASKETS WITH ESTIMATE OF $1,800 FOR REPAIRS. AFTER ASSEMBLY AND TEST DEALER ADVISED THAT THE PISTON SHAFT BEARINGS NEEDED REPLACING AND THOSE REPAIRS WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL $1,100 FOR A TOTAL ESTIMATE OF $2,900.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#552397May 24, 2000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 99V-275, CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#723158May 24, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I, AS WELL AS MY FAMILY HAVE DEALT WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, HOWEVER I MUST SAY THIS OCCURENCE IS AN OUTRAGE! I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR RECENTLY. I HAVE A 94 FORD T BIRD THAT I BOUGHT LAST YEAR AND HAVE JUST BEEN CONTACTED BY LETTER THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 94 T BIRD FOR THE HEADS. THIS THROUGHLY EXPLAINS TO ME WHY THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP THREE TIMES OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. MY MECHANIC HAS CHECKED FOR A RADIATOR LEAK BECAUSE THE COOLENT LIGHT IS ON AND I'M CONTINUOUSLY LEAKING COOLENT. I HAVE HAD A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST LOOK AT MY CAR FOR POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE CAR IS DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED TO TRY A FIX THIS MOST INCONVENIENT PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP ANOTHER TIME FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THREE BILLS HAVE BEEN PAID SPECIFICALLHY BECAUSE OF LEAKING COOLANT. SINCE I DON'T RELIGIOUSLY KEEP RECEIPTS I ONLY HAVE ONE, WHICH ONLY PUTS ME OUT ABOUT 650.00 BECAUSE OF A RECALL FROM FORD MOTOR CO THAT SAYS THE COOLENT IS LEAKING OUT THROUGH THE HEADS BASICALLY DESTROYING MY CAR ENGINE. THIS DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE NUMBER OF TIMES I HAVE HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND LET MY CAR COOL DOWN BECAUSE OF OVERHEATING. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN TWO OPTIONS BY THE COMPANY. THE WILL REPAIR THE HEADS WITH MANUFACTURED HEADS AND GIVE ME A 12 MONTH WARRANTY OR IF I WAIT MORE THAN 5 DAYS FOR THE SERVICES THEY WILL GIVE ME A 3000.00 DOLLAR GIFT CERTIFICATE TO BUT A NEW CAR THAT I CAN'T AFFORD AND POSSIBLY THE BOOK VALUE OF MY CAR. THE LOVELY 3000.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE TO THE CAR I CAN'T AFFORD OR THE REPAIRS ARE THE ONLY REALISTIC OPTIONS I SEE HERE. WHAT THIS MEANS IS MY CAR IS ONLY GOOD TOR 12 MORE MONTHS UNDER WARRANTY AFTER REPAIRS TO AN ERROR ON THEIR END. I THOUGHT FORDS WERE SUPOSSED TO LAST LONGER THAN THAT, BESIDES I WON'T EVEN HAVE THE CAR PAID FOR IN 12 MONTHS. I HAVE NO OPTIONS HERE BUT TO REJECT THEIR PROPOSAL AND THEY HAVE LOST A VERY VALUABLE FAMILY OF CUSTOMERS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#862366May 23, 2000
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
PULLED UP TO A GAS STATION PUMP AND ALMOST CAMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. REAR WHEELS WERE SPINNING WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. IN ORDER TO STOP VEHICLE FROM REVVING, CONSUMER PUT TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND PUMPED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. CONTACTEDTHE DEALER, AND DEALER COULDN'T FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#723013May 22, 2000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
HEADLIGHT FAILURE HAPPENED IN '96, '97, & '99 (CHARGED FOR 2 REPAIRS). *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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