Ford Thunderbird Complaints

2,355 consumer complaints on file.

#10201345August 31, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
TL*THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS A 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING. HER DAUGHTER NOTICED A CRACK ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH SHE BELIEVED MAY BE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. AS OF AUGUST 31, 2007, THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10201124August 29, 2007
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD WAS LEFT RUNNING PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS. WE THOUGHT THE VEHICLE WAS JUST ROLLING. DID NOT REALIZE DURING THAT SPLIT SECOND THAT THE CAR HAD ENGAGED IN REVERSE ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE DOOR HIT A PERSON STANDING BEHIND THE OPEN DOOR KNOCKING HIM TO THE GROUND. VEHICLE CONTINUED IN REVERSE WITH DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN, STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY BEFORE DRIVING INTO A RETAINING WALL. THE FIRST TRANSMISSION ON THE CAR WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED AT ABOUT 2000 MILES. THERE IS ONLY 4200 MILES ON THE CAR NOW AND THE SECOND TRANSMISSION IS DANGEROUSLY BAD. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10200645August 24, 2007
SEAT BELTS:FRONT
PASSIVE RESTRAIN SHOULDER HARNESS, DRIVERS SIDE. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198452August 3, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD. FORD REPLACED ONCE, FREE OF CHARGE @ 48,523 MILES. CRACKED AGAIN @ APPX. 95,700 MILES. FORD REFUSED TO REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE. REPLACED ONE DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD WITH ONE THAT WAS JUST AS DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT ON THIS MANIFOLD, IT WAS SO BAD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197920July 31, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AND THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT A COIL AND A SPARK PLUG WERE DEFECTIVE AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT A COIL AND A SPARK PLUG WERE DEFECTIVE AND THEY MADE THE REPAIR ONCE AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,705 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS 8 COILS, ONE FOR EACH CYLINDER/SPARK PLUG TWO OF THE COILS HAVE FAILED. UPDATED 09/05/07. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10197465July 25, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITHIN MINUTES OF BEING STARTED. HE NOTICED THICK, WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE AND THE "LOW COOLANT" WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10196345July 14, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
INTAKE (PLASTIC) CRACKS ;LEAVING FAMILY AND I STRANDED ON 30 MILE STRETCH OF HIGHWAY WITH NO HOUSES OR BUSINESS. TOWED TO STATION AND FIXED RECALLED INTAKE. TAXI COST HOME AND BACK 2 DAYS LATER TO RETRIEVE CAR SOON STARTED HAVING HEATER COIL LEAKS AND OVERHEATING;ANTIFREEZE CAUSING HEADACHES. ALMOST $1000.00 TO REPLACE 30 DOLLAR PART(DASH BOARD AND CONSOLE REMOVED AND AIR CONDITION UNIT DISCONNECTED AND RECHARGED) DEALER TOOK COST OF NEXT 2 REPLACEMENT HEATER COILS AND IT STILL NEEDS 4TH;NO HEAT;STILL LEAKS ANTIFREEZE INSIDE CAR. INTAKE MANIFOLD(PLASTIC) CRACKED AGAIN;OVERHEATED AND BURNT ME THIS TIME ALSO CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO CAR;VERY COSTLY WHICH I GUESS WE THE CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO BEAR. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10193156June 13, 2007
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL
WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON AND VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10184549March 8, 2007
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE SET THE CRUISE CONTROL IT WOULD NOT STAY ENGAGED. ALSO, THE CONTACT HAD PROBLEMS TURNING THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE CRUISE BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH BEING INOPERATIVE. A NEW SWITCH WAS INSTALLED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKS PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR INVOICE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10181431February 2, 2007
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 55-60 MPH ON A HIGHWAY WITH DRY ROAD CONDITIONS AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG, WHICH WAS LOCATED IN THE SEAT, DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER, AND AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE ,THE FORD DEALER CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS COLLISION DAMAGE TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FORD DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, AND WERE TOLD THEY NEEDED TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS HOME. THE FORD DEALER AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOOK PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#10180717January 25, 2007
STEERING:RACK AND PINION
TL* - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT HEARD A LOUD NOISE WHEN STEERING OR TURNING THE VEHICLE TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CONTACT HAD THE RACK AND PINION REPLACED ,AND HAS THE REPAIR ORDER. THE CONTACT PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN OCTOBER 2006, AND THE FAILURE BEGAN IN DECEMBER 2006. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10176938December 26, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
TL* - THE CONTACT WANTED TO HAVE REPAIR DONE TO 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD, HOWEVER SERVICE BULLETIN #97M91, DATED JAN 19, 1998 (NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 605621) EXPIRED AND FORD CHARGED FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE WAS 80000. THE CONTACT SAID THAT THE SERVICE BULLETIN WAS FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE CONTACT WROTE TO FORD. THE REFUSED TO HONOR THE SERVICE BULLETIN. *AK UPDATED 2/6/2007 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10173327November 13, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE WAS A NOISE AS THOUGH THE WHEEL WAS GOING TO COME OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THE DRIVER SIDE REAR CALIPER, BRAKE SHOE AND ROTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/12/2006 - *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10172453November 2, 2006
SUSPENSION
MY MECHANIC HAS INFORMED ME OF A DANGEROUS SITUATION WITH MY AUTOMOBILE THAT COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. ALL THE BALL JOINTS IN THE FRONT END ARE WORN EXCESSIVELY. HE SAYS THE EXCESSIVE WEAR IS A RESULT OF THE DUST SEALS DISINTEGRATING ALLOWING DIRT AND WATER TO ENTER THE BALL JOINTS. HE INDICATED THAT THIS IS PROBABLY A RESULT OF THE USE OF INAPPROPRIATE OR DEFECTIVE MATERIALS FOR THE SEALS. I AM GOING TO HAVE THE BALL JOINTS REPLACED. I WILL ASK THE MECHANIC TO KEEP THE OLD PARTS FOR ME. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170951October 16, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH ON DRY FLAT ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND KEPT THE VEHICLE FROM FURTHER ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE PULLED OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CONTACT LET THE VEHICLE COOL DOWN FOR AN HOUR, AND THEN DROVE TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A NHTSA RECALL#96V071000 REGARDING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT MANY FUSES HAVE BLOWN OUT DUE TO THIS IGNITION PROBLEM, AND SOMETIMES A CLICKING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN MAKING TURNS TO EITHER SIDE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10170731October 13, 2006
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:UPPER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT, SUSPENSION:FRONT:STABILIZER BAR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE PERFORMING GENERAL MAINTENANCE ON THE VEHICLE, IT WAS DETERMINED THE PLASTIC SEALS ON ALL FOUR UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS AS WELL AS THE SEALS ON THE STABILIZER BAR WERE FRACTURED AND DETERIORATING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10169378September 27, 2006
AIR BAGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON A DRY, SMOOTH INTERSTATE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT A COLLISION OR IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS NO APPARENT REASON FOR THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IN FLORIDA DETERMINED A COUPLE OF HAIRLINE RUSTED PLACES LOCATED ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WERE TO BLAME FOR THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF AN IMPACT. THERE WERE NO AIR BAG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168862September 21, 2006
AIR BAGS
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2006 WHILE TRAVELING ON AN 8-LANE HIGHWAY AT A SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG ON MY 2005 FORD THUNDERBIRD DEPLOYED WITH A VERY LOUD NOISE AND CONSIDERABLE FORCE. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR ACCIDENT INVOLVED WITH THIS INCIDENT. THE AIR BAG SIMPLY DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. FORTUNATELY, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE CONTROLLED AND PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY SAFELY. THE CAR WAS THEN TAKEN TO DARLING FORD IN BANGOR MAINE ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2005 WHERE IT WAS INSPECTED AND FOUND TO HAVE NO SIGNS OF ANY RECENT IMPACT EITHER ON THE EXTERIOR OR THE UNDERBODY. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW ON FEBRUARY 14TH 2005 AND HAS GONE APPROXIMATELY 16,000 MILES. THIS IS WELL WITHIN THE WARRANTY PERIOD FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER TOLD US THE CAR WOULD LIKELY HAVE TO BE INSPECTED BY FORD PERSONNEL TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE AND TO AUTHORIZE ANY REPAIRS. THE DEALER LATER CONTACTED US ON SEPTEMBER 18TH WHO TOLD HIM THAT FORD HAD DECIDED NOT TO COVER ANY COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THIS INCIDENT EVEN THOUGH THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF ANY IMPACT. THIS DECISION WAS MADE WITHOUT ANY FURTHER INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE. THIS INCIDENT WAS CLEARLY A FAULT OF THE AIRBAG SYSTEM, AND SINCE WE CANNOT FIND ANY EXCLUSION OF THE FORD WARRANTY REGARDING THE AIRBAG SYSTEM WE ARE SEEKING AUTHORIZATION FOR REPAIRS TO THIS VEHICLE. IT IS VERY FORTUNATE NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED DUE TO THE FAULTY OPERATION OF THIS DEVICE. FURTHER, THE DEALER TELLS US THAT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE SIDE AIR BAG NOW DISABLES ALL OF THE AIR BAGS LEAVING THE DRIVER AND ANY PASSENGERS IN A VERY VULNERABLE SITUATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10168114September 13, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CAR ONLY HAS 84,450 MILES ON IT! COST WAS $1002.02 TO REPAIR. WHY IS THE CONSUMER BEING CHARGED FOR THIS COSTLY REPAIR WHEN THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART FROM THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY?*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10164742July 25, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.
2003 FORD THUNDERBIRD HAD SPARK PLUGS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO 5 MPH WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED, AND NUMEROUS ENGINE PROBLEMS. *KB WATER LEAKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER FOUND CRACKS AND A TEAR AROUND THE WEATHER STRIP AND SEAL. THE A/C CONTROL HEAD ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE RADIO HAD TO BE SENT OUT FOR REPAIRS. THE ALARM WOULD SOUND ON ITS OWN. THE LIGHT LOCATED ON THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WOULD NOT GO OUT. THE IGNITION COILS WERE REPLACED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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