Ford Thunderbird Complaints

2,355 consumer complaints on file.

#720612March 26, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FORD MOTOR CO. HAS RECALLED MANY 3.8L V6 BECAUSE OF HEAD GASKET. WHEN I CALLED THEM THEY WERE ONLY RECALLING FWD CARS. I CALLED THREE DIFFERENT DEALERS STEVENS FORD, PARK CITY FORD, AND MILLER FORD THEY ALL TOLD ME THEY WOULD USE THE SAME KIT ( BOLTS AND GASKETS) CALLED OUT IN THE RECALL. I THINK THAT FORD SHOULD STAND BEHIND THERE PRODUCT AND RECALL ALL 3.8L V6'S WITH THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE LET ME KNOW? THANKS JOE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#859132March 24, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKETS BLEW, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. FORD HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#859085March 23, 2000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
RECALL # 99V275000 FORD/HEADLIGHTS; DEALER WAS REFUSING TO NONOR RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL. DEALER INSISTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720521March 23, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
COOLANT IS PUT INTO OVERFLOW BOTTLE AND IS NOT PULLED BACK INTO ENGINE IN A TIMELY MANNER. ENGINE DEVELOPS AN AIR BUBBLE AND QUITS RUNNING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720495March 22, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
COULD SMELL ANTIFREEZE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE SHORTLY BEFORE THE HEAED GASKET BLEW AND ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN POORLY AND BLOW WHITE SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE. THIS REPAIR WAS VERY COSTLY AND FORD HAS BEGUN TO COMPENSATE OWNERS OF OTHER FORD MODELS WITH THE EXACT SAME ENGINE, BUT NO THE FORD THUNDERBIRD.T. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#551495March 22, 2000
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT IS DEFECTIVE. YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#551461March 20, 2000
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
HEAD LIGHT SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOITCE 99V-275 CONSUMER WANTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIR. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#858802March 20, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE MADE A POPPING NOISE, THEN SMOKE CAME OUT OF EXHAUST CAUSED BY A BLOWN OUT HAD GASKET. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#858852March 20, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL TRAFFIC THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT UP, CONSUMER HAD TO STOP 10 TIMES FOR WATER. THE HEAD GASKET BLEW SOON AFTER. OTHER FORD MODELS HAVE HAD THEIR ENGINES RECALLED, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINS THAT THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE IS NOT EFFECTIVE, IT DOESN'T GIVE THE OWNER SUFFICIENT INFORMATION REGARDING THE LEVEL OF PRESSURE. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720335March 19, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW BY FATHER IN 1993 AND PURCHASED BY ME (SON) IN 1999. ALL SERVICE TO VEHICLE HAS BEEN COMPLETED BY FORD DEALERS OR NATIONAL OIL CHANGE COMPANIES AT MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS. THIS HEAD GASKET FAILURE IS VERY PREMATURE FOR THIS VEHICLE AND IS INDICITIVE OF A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS ENGINE TYPE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720179March 16, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
OIL IN MY ENGINE POURED OUT AND ENGINE LOCKED UP WOULD NOT KEEP OIL IN IT. HAD TO REPLACE BRAKES TWICE I ONE YEAR BECAUSE OF BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE THEN FINALLY IT GOT SO BAD HAD TO REPLACE THE ROTORS ON FRONT END, MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE FOR THE OUTSIDE JUST HAPPEN TO START GOING CRAZY ONE DAY AS I WAS DRIVING ALONG ON A TRIP TO THE BEACH AND HAS BEEN IN CORRECT EVER SINCE. AND BY THE WAY I AM STILL MAKING PAYMENTS ON THIS VEHICLE. I HAS BEEN MORE TROUBLE THAN A JOY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720190March 16, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720197March 16, 2000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
FIRST PROBLEM WAS A SHUDDER IN THE TRANSMISSION OCCURRING AROUND 40MPH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. KNOWN TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. FORD REPAIRED BY CHANGING ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FLUID TYPE WITH NEW TYPE FLUID. ADDITIONALLY THEY MODIFIED THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT DESIGN BY ADDING A TRANSMISSION COOLER. CONTACTED FORD REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH ZERO RESPONSE. IF THEY KNOW THE WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO ALTER THEIR OWN DESIGN, WHY DO THEY NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR. ONLY TEMPORARY FIX. TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING ONLY 10 MONTHS AFTER FIRST REPAIR RESULTING IN THE NEED TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THIS SHOULD NOT BE ON A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 70,000 MILES. TOTAL COST FOR THESE TWO REPAIRS WAS $1,880.00. FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO SOME DEGREE. TOO MANY CONSUMERS ARE LEFT TO PAY HIGH REPAIR BILLS FOR FORD'S POOR DESIGNS AND ENGINEERING. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720219March 16, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
PLEASE ENCOURAGE FORD TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM ENGINE OR REIMBURSE COST OF REPAIRS!!! NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#858527March 14, 2000
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
ABS CONTROL UNIT WENT OUT. APPLIED THE BRAKES & THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. USED EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO PRIVATE MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED INSIDE CONTROL UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE & COULD NOT BE REBUILT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#720110March 14, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET BLEW 2X 1ST. TIME @ 67,000 MI, AND AGAIN @ 96,000 MI. JUNKED CAR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#858342March 13, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, WITHIN 72000 MILES OF EACH OTHER. CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSEDFOR REPAIRS. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#858440March 13, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE STREET AT 40-45 MPH, VEHICLE OVERHEATED. DROVE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#858443March 13, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SMOKE WAS COMING FROM TAIL PIPE. TOWED VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THAT INFORMED COSUMER OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. *AK *ML
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#719994March 12, 2000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
IN 1998 I STARTED HAVING CAR PROBLEMS, A MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT FLUID WAS GETTING PAST THE HEAD GASKET. IN JANUARY OF 1999 I HAD TO HAVE THE ENGINE REPLACED BY HERITAGE FORD. I RECENTLY READ AN ARTICLE IN THE PAPER THAT SAID THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE 3.8L MOTORS CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. & HERITAGE FORD & WAS TOLD THAT SINCE MY CAR WASN'T ON THEIR LIST THEY CAN'T HELP ME. THEY HAVE ALREADY ANNOUNCED PUBLICLY THERE IS A DEFECT WITH THE SAME MOTOR WE HAD & I FEEL THEY SHOULD REIMBURSE US ALSO,NOT BECAUSE OF THE MODEL OF OUR CAR BUT THE KIND OF MOTOR THEY SOLD US. WE HAVE HAD NUMEROUS PROBLEMS SINCE THEY INSTALLED THE NEW MOTOR, & HAVE HAD TO BRING THE CAR BACK AT LEAST 5 TIMES & OF COURSE PAY A BILL EACH TIME, THE CAR STILL SPITS & SPUTTERS IN HOT WEATHER. CAN YOU HELP US??? *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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