Ford Thunderbird Complaints

2,355 consumer complaints on file.

#10355909September 16, 2010
WHEELS:RIM
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FACTORY RIMS ON THE VEHICLE ARE BEGINNING TO CRACK ON THE INSIDE AND CAUSING THE BRAKE LINES AND CALIPERS ON THE VEHICLE TO LEAK. THE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS A SINGULAR ISSUE AND SINCE THE RIMS WERE OUT OF WARRANTY AND NOT UNDER RECALL, THE CONTACT WOULD HAVE TO REPLACE THE RIMS AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE WHEN THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE OF THE FAILURE OR CURRENT MILEAGE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10355763September 15, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
1992 FORD THUNDERBIRD RECALLED FOR REPLACEMENT OF IGNITION SWITCH A FEW YEARS BACK (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA95002). DEFECTIVE SWITCH WAS REPLACED WITH EXACT SAME PART THAT WAS RECALLED AND FAILED AGAIN WITHIN ONE YEAR WITH TWO HALVES OF UNIT AGAIN COMING APART. I HAVE JUST REPLACED FOR THE FIFTH TIME WITH EXACT SAME DEFECTIVE UNIT, THIS BEING THE ONLY THING AVAILABLE FROM FORD AND FROM AFTERMARKET SUPPLIERS. HOW DOES REPLACING DEFECTIVE PART WITH EXACTLY SAME PART ELIMINATE FIRE HAZARD ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PART WHICH PROMPTED RECALL IN THE FIRST PLACE??? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352686August 30, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD THUNDERBIRD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL HE COASTED ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. UPON EXAMINATION, HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO RUBBER COATING OVER THE STEEL BRAKE LINES WHICH LED TO SEVERE RUSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 197,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352615August 29, 2010
SUSPENSION, SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURE,, FRONT COIL SPRINGS ARE BOTH BROKEN NEAR BASE OF SPRING. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10352611August 29, 2010
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1994 FORD THUNDERBIRD, COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. ALL BRAKE LINES RUSTED AND LEAKING, AREA NEXT TO BRAKE LINES ARE NOT RUSTED. BRAKE LINES PRONE TO RUST. ALL BRAKE LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10350609August 19, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
MULTIPLE ENGINE IGNITION COIL FAILURES IN MY 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. IN SPITE OF A DEALER ACKNOWLEDGED COMMON PROBLEM WITH FREQUENT COIL FAILURES BY 50,000 TO 60,000 MILES, FORD REFUSES TO WARRANTY THESE VEHICLES. THEY DO WARRANTY THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE 2003, 2004, 2005 THUNDERBIRDS. WHAT'S GOING ON? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10349732August 16, 2010
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
MY 2005 FORD THUNDERBIRD FOR NO APPARENT REASON JUST LOOSES POWER AND THE WRENCH ICON COME ON. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AND THIS HAPPENED AND I BARELY MADE IT TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THIS HAPPENED TO ME IN 2007 AND I TOOK IT IN TO A FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN AND I ALMOST GOT IN TO A SERIOUS ACCIDENT AT HIGH SPEED. I DID A SEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS HAS HAPPENED ENOUGH THAT FORD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THE COIL ON PLUG. WHEN I CALLED MY DEALERSHIP AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM THEY TOLD ME THAT THE COP IS NOT THE PROBLEM BUT TO BRING IT IN. IN MY SEARCH I FOUND THAT SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM WERE TOLD THAT THE COP WAS NOT THE PROBLEM ONLY TO SPEND OVER $1500 ON AN ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL AND THAT DID NOT FIX IT. WHEN THEY WENT BACK THE PROBLEM WAS THEN DISCOVERED TO BE THE COP. THIS IS DANGEROUS AND SHOULD BE A RECALL. AT THE VERY LEAST THE SERVICE PEOPLE AT FORD SHOULD BE AWARE OF THIS POTENTIAL LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM. FROM WHAT I HAVE FOUND IT HAS BEEN A PROBLEM SINCE THE 2002 THUNDERBIRD. MY FORD DEALER SHOULD HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THIS WHEN I BROUGHT THE CAR IN UNDER FULL WARRANTY IN 2007 BEFORE I HAD ANOTHER INCIDENT THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THIS WAS VERY SCARY AND IT ALARMS ME THAT IT IS NOT BEING TAKEN SERIOUSLY ENOUGH. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10340282June 27, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE PAST 8 MONTHS, MY CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. ON A 50 MILE AN HOUR ROAD, MY CAR SUDDENLY DROPPED TO 20 MPH. I IMMEDIATELY ACTIVATED MY HAZARD LIGHTS, BUT CAME VERY CLOSE TO GETTING REAR ENDED. THE THROTTLE BODIES ON THESE CARS EVIDENTLY GO OUT AN ALARMING RATE. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME I HAVE NARROWLY AVOIDED BEING IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAD THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED ONCE ALREADY, AND NOW IT IS HAPPENING ALL OVER AGAIN. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10329148May 6, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 35 MPH, THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. THE CONTACT PROCEEDED TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED ACCORDINGLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 10,000. UPDATED 08/03/10. *LJ UPDATED 08/04/10.*JB
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10327553April 26, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
FORD RECALLED THE COP'S (COIL ON PLUG) FOR LEAKAGE AND FAILURE. FORD SO SAY REPAIRED THE PROBLEM, HOWEVER, WITHIN THREE MONTHS OF THEIR REPAIR. THE EXACT SAME ISSUE OCCURRED. APPARENTLY, THEIR ARE A NUMBER OF ISSUES WITH THE 3.9 LITER ENGINE AND IT'S COIL PACKS. ONE ONLY HAS TO DO RESEARCH ON LINE TO FIND THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE COP SYSTEM. HOWEVER, FORD HAS REFUSED TO OWN UP TO IT'S RESPONSIBILITY. THE ENGINE MISSES AND IS A CAUSE OF POSSIBLE FAILURE WHILE IN OPERATION. SILSBEE FORD IN SILSBEE, TX HAS REFUSED TO RE REPAIR THE PROBLEM AND FORD HAS REFUSED TO HONOR IT'S QUALITY COMMITMENT. RESEARCH THE FORD THUNDERBIRD AND MERCURY LS MODELS FROM 2000 TO 2005 ON LINE FOR FURTHER COMPLAINTS. SOME ARE REPLACING THE COP'S THEMSELVES EVERY FEW MONTHS TO KEEP THE VEHICLE OPERATIONAL. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10327593April 26, 2010
VISIBILITY, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
THIS IS THE RECALL. MY CAR DID EXACTLY THIS. MY CAR IS A 93 THUNDERBIRD SUPER COUPE WITH FACTORY FOG LIGHTS AND THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR IS BURNT AND NEEDS REPLACED. HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AFTER FLICKERING. RECALLS FOR THE 1993 FORD THUNDERBIRD ELECTRICAL & LIGHTS: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V275000 DATES MANUFACTURED: 06/1991 TO 09/1993 NUMBER OF VEHICLES AFFECTED: 164,731 MODEL YEARS AFFECTED: 1992, 1993 DATE OWNER NOTIFIED: 11/1999 DEFECT SUMMARY: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOG LIGHTS, IN WHICH THE HEADLIGHTS MAY GO OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS AND WHICH MAY BE PRECEDED BY FLICKERING OR BLINKING AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. CONSEQUENCE SUMMARY: DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. CORRECTIVE SUMMARY: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH INCORPORATES A CIRCUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN, AND INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, IF NEEDED. RECALL NOTES: FORD RECALL NO. 99S30.OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 15, 1999. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236). *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10325013April 12, 2010
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
THE CAR DE-POWERS AND WILL NOT GO ABOVE 20-25 MPH. THE ANTI LOCK BRAKE LIGHTS COME ON. THEY WILL STAY ON FOR AWHILE AND GO OFF AND ON BY THEMSELVES. THIS HAPPENS IN TRAFFIC AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. MY DAUGHTER NEARLY GOT PLOWED OVER TRYING TO GET OFF THE ROAD. SHE CALLED MY SCARED TO DEATH. THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY. NO WET OR SLICK PAVEMENT, ON A DRY SUNNY DAY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10319593March 14, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2003 THUNDERBIRD GOES INTO "LIMP MODE" AND THE CAR SUDDENLY WILL NOT GO ABOVE 25MPH.... I AM TOLD IT IS A SAFETY FEATURE... BUT THIS IS NOT SAFE IF YOU ARE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE! I AM TOLD THIS TIME IT IS A THROTTLE BODY... WHICH I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR OVER 30 DAYS. FORD DOES NOT HAVE PARTS FOR THEIR CARS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10314167February 25, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ON NOV 24,2009, THE THROTTLE BODY MOTOR FAILED AND CAUSED MY 2005 FORD THUNDERBIRD TO CUT OFF IN TRAFFIC. I TOOK THE CAR TO METRO FORD FOR REPAIR. THEY SAID THE PART WOULD TAKE SEVERAL WEEKS. METRO SAID I COULD DRIVE MY CAR UNTIL THEY REPAIR MY CAR BECAUSE FORD COULD NOT PROVIDE ME WITH A LOANER. I LATER FOUND OUT THAT THERE ARE OTHERS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM SINCE JULY 2009. AFTER SEVERAL PROMISES TO NO AVAIL, I DECIDED TO WRITE SEVERAL EXECUTIVES. I HAVE NOT HEARD FROM ANYONE YET. TWO DAYS AGO, I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED WHEN THE CAR OFF IN TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE THROTTLE BODY AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 04/16/10
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10305193February 4, 2010
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THE OIL AND GAS ARE MIXING IN THE VALVE. THE RINGS WERE REPLACED BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE FORD MANUFACTURER AND WAS TOLD THERE IS NO RECALL OR WARRANTY ON THIS PROBLEM AND THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REPAIR THE PROBLEM THEMSELVES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,436.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10303035January 28, 2010
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR INTERMITTENTLY GOES INTO SHUT DOWN MODE(DECELERATES, WILL NOT TAKE GAS) DURING DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE TRYING TO MERGE ONTO A HIGHWAY AND ALMOST RESULTED IN ME BEING REAR NEEDED BY AN TRACTOR TRAILER. THIS IS HAPPENING DURING THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND HAS PLACED ME IN SEVER SAFETY SITUATIONS. I AM TOLD BY FORD THIS IS A THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY THIS IS WIDE SPREAD FOR NUMEROUS FORD AUTOMOBILES (ESCAPE, THUNDERBIRD,MUSTANG, LINCOLN, THUNDERBIRD...) OF THE YEARS 2002-2005. FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD TO TASK FOR THIS REPAIR! THIS IS DANGEROUS!!*CW
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10299839January 15, 2010
WHEELS
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED APPROXIMATELY JULY 2006 WITH THE ORIGINAL WHEELS. THE LEFT REAR WHEEL HAS CRACKS AND CORROSION WHICH ALSO MADE AN INDENTATION IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AND CAUSED IT TO LEAK. THE MECHANIC HAD TO SAND THE RIM IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE CORROSION AT COST TO THE OWNER. THEY ALSO HAD TO REPOSITION THE TIRE TO OFFSET THE PART OF THE TIRE THAT HAD THE INDENTATION IN IT. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $42 FOR THE REPAIR. THEY ALSO ADDED SOME FORM OF GLUE WHICH IS A SAFETY RISK. THE TIRE MECHANIC DID NOT PROVIDE A WARRANTY. THE OTHER TIRES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED FOR RUST CORROSION WHICH THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,840.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10287146October 12, 2009
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10284904September 22, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
MY TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAS RISEN TO HOT THREE TIMES WHILE DRIVING WITH NO PRIOR WARNING. THE FIRST WAS 12/29/2008. THEY REPLACED THE MOTOR RADIATOR COOLING FAN. MY MILEAGE AT THE TIME WAS 35673.THE 2ND TIME WAS 3/17/2009 AND THEY REPLACED THE TANK ASSY-RADIATOR, SEAL, CAP ASY RADIATOR, THERMOSTAT ASY - SPO. MY MILEAGE THIS TIME WAS 38000.THE 3RD TIME WAS 9/21/2009, THIS TIME THEY REPLACED THE HEATER CONTROL VALVE ASSY. MY MILEAGE THIS TIME WAS 42921. EACH TIME THIS OCCURRED, IT WAS SHORTLY AFTER I HAD MY CAR IN FOR ITS USUAL MAINTENANCE. OF COURSE THE DEALER DENIES THIS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH MY TEMP GAUGE RISING TO HOT WITHIN WEEKS AFTER THEY SERVICE THE CAR AND THE CAR SHUTTING DOWN.*TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10279466August 5, 2009
AIR BAGS, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STEERING, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
THE MOST RECENT PROBLEM STARTED IN JUNE 2009 WHEN THE AIRBAG INDICATOR LIGHT CAME ON FOR NO REASON AND WOULDN'T GO OFF (IS IT WORKING OR NOT? SAFETY ISSUE?) THEN WITHIN A MATTER OF WEEKS EVERYTHING ON THE STEERING COLUMN CONTROLS QUIT WORKING OR WENT BERSERK. THE CRUISE CONTROLS SUDDENLY WENT HAYWIRE ACCELERATING WHEN ANY BUTTON WAS PUSHED NOW THEY DON'T WORK AT ALL (SAFETY ISSUE). A CAR PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF ME, I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES AND LAID ON THE HORN AND NOTHING!!! A TERRIBLE CRASH WAS MISSED BY LITERALLY INCHES( SAFETY ISSUE)...30 MINUTES LATER THE HORN WORKED. THE NEXT DAY I TRIED ABOUT 30 TIMES AND I GOT IT TO BEEP TWICE. THE RADIO/CD CONTROLS SOMETIMES WORK AND SOMETIMES DON'T. CHANGE FROM RADIO TO CD AND SUDDENLY THE VOLUME IS BLASTING (SHOCKED ENOUGH FOR IT TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE). I WAS TOLD OVER THE PHONE IT IS A CLOCK SPRING ISSUE AND THE ESTIMATE WAS $450!!!!! IN ADDITION MY 2002 THUNDERBIRD WAS PURCHASED JAN 2,2003. IT WAS ONE OF THE LAST CARS OFF OF THE LINE BEFORE THE 2002 MODEL SWITCH TO 2003. I HAVE HAD THE SAME COIL ON PLUG ISSUES THAT WERE RECALLED ON 2003'S, YET DEALER WOULD DO NOTHING FOR ME.IT STARTED ONLY 2,000 MLS OUT OF INITIAL WARRANTY. I HAVE REPLACED 3 OF THE COILS/GASKET COVER AND NOW THE 4TH COIL IS BAD WITH GASKET LEAKING. THE DESIGN IS UNCHANGED FROM 2002 TO 2003, WHY NOT FIX MINE? TWICE I HAVE LOST POWER WHEN ACCELERATING AND THE CAR HESITATED OR STALLED IN MIDDLE OF DRIVING. IF YOU DON'T CONSIDER THAT A SAFETY ISSUE THEN TRY PULLING OUT IN ATLANTA TRAFFIC AND SEE WHAT YOU THINK. IN ADDITION NOW THE PASSENGER SIDE AUTO DOOR LATCH WON'T WORK. THIS IS BY FAR THE WORST CAR I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY LIFE. I HAD PURCHASED THREE PRIOR FORD VEHICLES AT THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND THEY WOULD DO NOTHING FOR ME. I NEVER HAD THE FIRST COMPLAINT ON ANY OTHER FORD VEHICLES.... NOW THE DEALER HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS...... PLEASE I AM BEGGING YOU SEE IF YOU CAN GET THESE ISSUES FIXED I HAVE POURED ENOUGH MONEY INTO THIS CAR AND IT ISN'T FAIR! *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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