Ford Thunderbird Complaints

2,355 consumer complaints on file.

#747781July 4, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION OF THIS VEHICLE HAS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND MANY MILES WILL WITHOUT WARNING EITHER DOWNSHIFT FROM OD WITHOUT ANY ALTERATION IN ACCELERATOR PRESSURE OR WILL JUMP INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE RPM WILL RAPIDLY INCREASE AND THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL PULLING POWER. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN CLIMING A HILL ON AN INTERSTATE OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATES WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO TRAFFIC TO THE REAR. REPAIR ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN FILTER AND FLUID CHANGE, FLUID LEVEL CHECKS ON A REGULAR BASIS, LINKAGE LUBRICATION, AND ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF THE VEHICLE IN GENERAL. I AM WONDERING IF THERE ARE INHERENT ISSUES WITH THIS STYLE OD TRANSMISSION. THE OTHER MAJOR FAILURES WERE LEFT SIDE HEAD GASKET AND SEVERE FRONT BRAKE PULSATION. THE DEALER FINALLY REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTORS WITH WHAT SEEMED A BETTER UNIT, AND I CONDUCTED THE REPAIRS ON BOTH SIDE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF ANY KNOWN ISSUES REGARDING THIS TRANSMISSION AND WHAT, IF ANY, RECOURSE FOR REPAIR I MIGHT EMPLOY. I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. GKW. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#891941July 3, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER WENT TO PRESS ON BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE.CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED HOSE WAS OFF BRAKES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747710July 3, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
SHIFT INTERLOCK ENGAGED - TOTAL LOSS OF USE. SHIFT INTERLOCK REQUIRES BYPASS BY TURNING IGNITION TO JUST BEFORE ACC COMES ON, SHIFTING TO NETRUAL, AND STARTING CAR. IF YOU SHIFT TO PARK REQUIRES YOU START PROCESS AGAIN. LOSS OF HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LAMP AND BOTH TAIL LIGHTS. HIGH MOUNT BULBS REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE TAIL LAMP LIGHTS, TO NO AVAIL.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#891743June 29, 2001
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. LIGHTS ARE VERY DIM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#891536June 28, 2001
SEAT BELTS, SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT DOES NOT RETRACT. ALSO, NONE OF SEATBACKS STAY IN A LOCKED POSITION. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE WAY TO DRIVE A VEHICLE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747553June 28, 2001
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
THIS AUTO WAS A LATE BUILD THUNDERBIRD 5-91 IT HAS SOME 92 THUNDERBIRD SYSTEMS INCLUDING RECALLED FUEL LINES OF THE 1992 THUNDERBIRD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747554June 28, 2001
SUSPENSION:REAR
IT LOOKS LIKE DUE TO THE WEIGHT OF THE INDEPENDANT REAR SUSPENSION THE REAR WHEELWELL WELDS AND FLOOR PAN APPEAR TO BE TEARING AWAY FROM THE CAR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747473June 27, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FORD KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM, AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS AND/OR 100,000 MILES. THEY "CLAIM" THEY SENT ME A NOTICE IN APRIL OF 2,000, AND I KNOW I NEVER RECEIVED IT! NOW, THEY ARE SAYING THAT IT'S OUTSIDE COVERAGE, AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. REQUESTING YOU INVESTIGATE OTHER CLAIMS ON THIS AND SINCE IT'S WIDESPREAD WITH THIS VEHICLE TYPE, CONSIDER RECALLING THE T-BIRD FOR THE FAULTY HEAD GASKET. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#891284June 26, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHILE PULLING INTO A PARKING SPACE AT A SIGHT INCLINE POSTION, ABS MOTOR ENGAGED, CAUSING FRONT BRAKESTO GRABS AND NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. CONSUMER DROVE VEHICLE HOME, AND THE ABS MOTOR REMAINED ON AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED,AND UNWILLING TO ASSIST, BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ITS WARRANTY, AND NOT COVERWD UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747384June 26, 2001
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BACK UP LIGHTS
WAS REPLACING HIGH-MOUNTED STOP LAMP BULBS AND NOTICED THAT THE PLASTIC CASING IN WHICH THE BULB IS PLACED HAD MELTED. PLASTIC WAS "BUBBLING" DUE TO HEAT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#747332June 24, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET FAILURE,HAD TO REPACE TWICE. IS STARTING TO OVERHEAT AGAIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#561726June 21, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY
THE HEAD GASKET FAILED RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE LOOSING COOLANT, THE LEAK IN THE LOWER PART OF THE RADIATOR CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT AND COOLANT ODOR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746965June 18, 2001
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:FOG LIGHTS
WHEN FOG LIGHTS ARE ON THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AND WON'T COME BACK ON IMMEDIATELY. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT THIS PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. FORD SAYS THE RECALL TIME HAS EXPIRED AND THEY ARE NO LONGER OBLIGATED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. RECALL WAS DATED 1999 AND ONLY THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED. I PAYED FOR THE REPAIR BEFORE THE RECALL AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM HAD ALREADY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. I AM AFRAID OF CRASHING CAUSING INJURY BECAUSE OF THIS, BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN HEAD LIGHT FAILURE WILL OCCUR. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746940June 17, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A CONTINUING PROBLEM FOR THUNDERBIRDS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746954June 17, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
FAILED HEADGASKETS WHILE VEHICLE WAS STRAPPED TO CHASSIS DYNOMOMETER. FAILURE HAPPENED AT 3000RPMS. HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSED THE TOP PLASTIC RADIATOR TANK TO EXPLODE WITH MANY WITNESSES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746921June 16, 2001
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
MASTER CYLINDER "BRAKE FLUID RESERVIOR" DEVELOPED LEAK DUE TO CONTACT (RUBBING) AGAINST WIRING HARNESS FOR ENGINE COMPARTMENT LIGHT. FORD SHOULD BE NOTIFIED TO INSPECT ALL BRAKE FLUID RESERVIORS FOR SIGNS OF WEAR THROUGH DUE TO CONTACT WITH ENGINE COMPARTMENT HOOD LIGHT. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746897June 15, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
REAR DECK LIGHT ASSY BULBS ARE OVERHEATING/FAILING. SOCKETS ARE MELTING DOWN AS IS THE MODULE THAT HOLDS THE SOCKETS. THE TRUNK LIGHT IS ALSO OUT. THIS CAR ALSO HAD THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS FAIL. FORD SHOULD BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURES, NOT JUST 94 AND LATER. IS THERE DATA ON THE OVERHEATING/MELTING OF THE REAR DECK HARNESS ASSY AND IS FORD CORRECTING THE PROBLEM OR THE DOES THE OWNER TAKE IT ALL?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#890422June 14, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT WITH ANY WARNING OR PRIOR PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAS LOW MILEAGE, BUT MANUFACTURER IS NOT COVERING COST. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#746800June 13, 2001
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
AIR CONDITIONER GETS A COOLANT-TYPE SMELL AND THEN BEGINS TO BLOW HOT AIR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT, THE FIRST TIME BEING IN 1996. MOST OF THE TIME THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SOMETIMES, THEY REPLACE "O" RINGS, GASKETS, FREON, ETC. BUT IT STILL DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#890264June 13, 2001
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
HEADLIGHTS GOE OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS WHICH MAY BE PRECEDED BY FLICKERING OR BLINKING AS A RESULT OF CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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