Ford Thunderbird Complaints

2,355 consumer complaints on file.

#10692070March 4, 2015
ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE NUMBER 8 COIL AND SPARK PLUG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10672401January 14, 2015
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DRASTICALLY REDUCED SPEED AND HESITATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN TWO MANUFACTURER RECALLS THAT EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10651393October 30, 2014
WHEELS
CORROSION OF THE ALUMINUM WHEELS CAUSING SEPARATION OF THE CHROME PLATING ON THE WHEEL INNER BEAD AND RESULTING IN AIR LEAKS FROM AROUND THE WHEEL AT THE BEAD OF THE TIRES. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10650991October 29, 2014
ENGINE
CAR SPUTTERED AND MISFIRED CAUSING PARTIAL POWER LOSS AND SPEED LOSS. PROBLEM IS IGNITION COILS. HAVE NOW HAD TO REPLACE A TOTAL OF THREE DURING TWO SIMILAR EVENTS. TWO DEALERS FAILED TO INFORM ME OF EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10650850October 28, 2014
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AS I WAS PARKING MY CAR, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I WAS PARKING BY A WOODED AREA, AND WAS PROPELLED ABOUT 2 CAR LENGTHS INTO THE BUSHES IN THE WOODS (BARELY MISSING A TREE) BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. NOT CERTAIN IF THE CAR STOPPED BECAUSE OF MY BRAKING, OR BECAUSE THE THICK BUSHES WOULD NOT PERMIT THE CAR TO TRAVEL ANY FURTHER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, BUT THE SERVICE DEPT. HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I AM ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THIS WAS NOT A "DRIVER ERROR" SITUATION AND AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE SHOULD THIS OCCUR AGAIN AND I HIT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING LESS FORGIVING THAN THE BUSHES IN THE WOODS. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10640755October 2, 2014
STRUCTURE:BODY, SUSPENSION
ONE OF THE 4 BOLTS THAT HOLD THE REAR SUSPENSION TO THE VEHICLE FELL OUT OF THE CAR. THE BOLT FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND POSSIBLY OVER TORQUING AT THE FACTORY. SEVERE CORROSION INSIDE THE POCKET THAT HOUSES THIS BOLT. FORD DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT COVERED AND IS AT LEAST 10 HOURS LABOR AND IS CONCERNED THE REMAINING 3 BOLTS MAY BE CORRODED AS WELL. THEY ARE ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE FRAME RAIL ON THE BODY MAY BE AFFECTED. THIS HAS BEEN A SOUTH FLORIDA CAR ITS ENTIRE LIFE AND HAS BEEN GARAGED ITS WHOLE LIFE. IT HAS NEVER BEEN EXPOSED TO ROAD SALT OR SNOW AND HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN IN RAIN ON LIMITED OCCASIONS. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE REAR SUSPENSION COULD FALL OUT OF THE CAR. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10639514September 27, 2014
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES UNINTENDED ENGINE ACCELERATION WHEN STOPPING FOR A RED LIGHT OR PLACING THE CAR IN PARK. MOTOR HIT OVER 3500 RPM WHILE PARKING BEFORE I COULD SHUT DOWN THE IGNITION. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10637483September 19, 2014
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED INTERMITTENTLY THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE TRANSMISSION POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,162.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10632883September 12, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION COILS WERE MISFIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,200.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10631480September 8, 2014
ENGINE
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED AND MISFIRED, AND A WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,200.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10610942July 16, 2014
ENGINE
RE:2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD AT 43,237 MILES THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH AND MISFIRING.THE PASSENGER AREA IMMEDIATELY BEGAN TO FILL WITH EXHAUST FUMES. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED BUT DID NOT FLASH TO INDICATE A SERIOUS PROBLEM. UPON LETTING THE TOP DOWN THE VEHICLE WAS SLOWLY DRIVEN TO A NEARBY FORD DEALERSHIP. THE CYLINDER EIGHT COIL AND SPARK PLUG WERE REPLACED WHICH SEEMED TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. AT 45,280 MILES THE SAME SITUATION OCCURRED AND THE CYLINDER SIX COIL AND SPARK PLUG WERE REPLACED. AT 47,459 MILES THE SAME THING OCCURRED YET AGAIN AND CYLINDER COILS TWO AND THREE WERE REPLACED AS WELL AS FOUR SPARK PLUGS. DESPITE THE COST INVOLVED IN THE NECESSARY REPAIR WORK AND THE FACT THAT ALL OF THE ABOVE INCIDENTS OCCURRED WELL WITHIN THE MILEAGE OF AN EXTENDED WARRANTY I MAINTAINED THROUGH FORD MOTOR COMPANY, THE COMPANY ADVISED THAT THE TIME LIMIT ON MY EXTENDED WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND THE COMPANY IS NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THE REMAINING CYLINDER COILS AND SPARK PLUGS. I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE HAVE BEEN CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING AS A RESULT OF THE PASSENGER AREA FILLING WITH EXHAUST FUMES WHEN THE ENGINE BEGINS RUNNING ROUGH. I DO KNOW HOWEVER THAT WHEN AN ENGINE BEGINS MISFIRING, RAW GASOLINE POURS INTO THE COMBUSTION SYSTEM AND COULD CAUSE A FIRE, I ALSO KNOW THAT CARBON MONOXIDE IF NOT DETECTED QUICKLY CAN BE FATAL TO HUMAN BEINGS. I DO NOT BELIEVE THE ABOVE INCIDENTS ARE NECESSARILY A WARRANTY ISSUE. THEY ARE HOWEVER A HEALTH AND SAFETY ISSUE. THIS PROBLEM APPEARS TO BE SYSTEMIC IN NATURE AND RELATED TO DESIGN PROBLEMS OF THE 3.9L V8 ENGINE UTILIZED IN THE 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. I RECOMMEND THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECALL THE 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD AND REPLACE ALL COILS AND SPARK PLUGS WITH RELIABLE PARTS AS I HAVE BEEN ADVISED BY A FORD SERVICE EMPLOYEE THAT THE REPLACEMENT COILS SOMETIMES FAIL AND MUST BE REPLACED A SECOND TIME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598417June 15, 2014
ENGINE, FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I WAS ACCELERATING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY AT FULL THROTTLE AND THE ENGINE SHUT ITSELF OFF. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND CONTINUED TO MY DESTINATION. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND IT IS ONLY GETTING WORSE AND MORE FREQUENT. SOMETIMES THE LIMP HOME LIGHT (WRENCH) COMES ON. I MUST TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON TO MAKE THE CAR WORK. I HAVE HAD ALL 8 COILS REPLACED AND THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND IT STILL OCCURS TODAY. I CHECKED THE CODES AND IT DID SAY IT WAS A FORCED SHUT DOWN. I UNFORTUNATELY DO NOT REMEMBER THE CODE NUMBER. *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10598278June 14, 2014
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
[XXX] NEED YOUR HELP HER CAR WAS STOLEN AND NOT RETURNED WITNESS [XXX][XXX] AND WITNESS ABS ORDER[XXX] LOCATION CAMPUS POLICE FSU SBA BUILDING 1(910)672-1726 MORE INFORMATION ROBERT HASSELL CAMPUS POLICE CAR WAS PARKED AND LOCKED STUDENT[XXX] CAR WAS TAKEN NOT RETURNED ASKING FOR CAR RECALL [XXX] [XXX] TO START PROCESS VICTIM[XXX] IS WAITING FOR SETTLEMENT AT [XXX] OR [XXX] THANKS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10596855June 7, 2014
POWER TRAIN, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
COMING OFF I-5 FREEWAY IN WEST WASHINTONG STATE. STOPPED FOR RED LIGHT AND THEN MOVED INTO LEFT TURN LANE BUT CAR KEPT PICKING UP SPEED, APPLIED BRAKES (HARD) SLOWING DOWN BUT AUTO NOT WANTING TO STOP. APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKE, CAR SLOWED DOWN MORE, COULD HEAR ENGINE RACING AND FEEL IT STILL WANTING TO GO. SLIPPED CAR INTO NEUTRAL ON THE AUTO TRANSMISION, NOW FORWARD PROGRESS SLOWING DOWN GREATLY BUT STILL HIT REAR OF CAR IN FRONT OF ME. FORD IN BODY REPAIR SHOP SO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE TO FORD TO EXAM FOR ANY DEFECT(S). I ONLY USE MY RIGHT FOOT TO ACCELRATE AND BRAKE SO I KNOW I WAS NOT STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL & OTHER FOOT USING BRAKE AT SAME TIME. CAR HAD BEEN ON CRUISE CONTROL PRIOR TO ACCIDENT SET AT 60 MPH FOR I-5 DRIVING. *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10594453May 28, 2014
ENGINE
DRIVING 45 TO 50 MPH, ENGINE STARTS CUTTING OUT, RUNNING ROUGH. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTS FLASHING WHICH REQUIRED THE COIL PACK TO BE REPLACED BY FORD. THIS IS A CONSTANT ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL AND YEAR FORD THUNDERBIRD. IT IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR AND YET FORD HAS NOT REDESIGNED THE COIL PACK FOR THIS CAR AND THE COIL PACK CONTINUES TO FAIL TIME AND TIME AGAIN. I'M JUST GRATEFUL THAT I WAS NOT ON SOME REMOTE HIGHWAY STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WHEN THIS HAPPENED OR TRYING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE. I CONSIDER THIS A SAFETY ISSUE. WHY THE 2002 THUNDERBIRD COIL, SPARK PLUGS AND CONNECTORS WERE NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL OF THE 2003-5 IS BEYOND ME. FORD DID AN INJUSTICE TO 2002 OWNERS OF THE THUNDERBIRD BY NOT ACCEPTING THAT THEY HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE CAR AND I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THIS ISSUE REMEDIATED. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10575444March 28, 2014
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
WHILE MAKING A U-TURN IN A CULD-E-SAC AT 5 MPH, THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. I CAN ONLY REACH A SPEED OF 40 MPH NOW. I AM AFRAID TO TURN THE CAR OFF UNTIL I GET HOME. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10556362December 17, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE WAITING AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE IN ENGINE RPMS AS THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE BUT FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,533.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10550111October 30, 2013
STRUCTURE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
I SMELL GAS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED OF 60 AND ABOVE ON FREEWAY MOSTLY. ONCE IN A WHILE I CAN SMELL IT WHEN DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS OF 25 -30MPH. I USED TO THINK THAT I HAD SPILLED GAS ON THE OUTSIDE OF CAR WHEN IT FIRST STARTED HAPPENING, BUT NOW A YEAR LATER, I STILL SMELL GAS AND I DO SMOKE IN MY CAR, BUT WHEN I SMELL THE GAS, I WILL PUT THE CIGARETTE OUT. IS THERE SOME KIND OF RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, THAT CAN REPAIR IT. I HAVE PUT $4000.00 INTO RESTORING THE CAR AND I AND PUTTING ANOTHER $800.00 INTO IT NEXT WEEK, NOVEMBER 2013, TO REPLACE ALL OF THE BELTS AROUND THE ENGINE. I HAVE ALREADY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION FOR $1800.00 AT AAMCO, AND PUT A $2200.00 PAINT JOB ON IT, BEFORE I KNEW OF THE GAS SMELL. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. AM I FIGHTING A LOSING BATTLE WITH THIS CAR? *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10549141October 21, 2013
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, ENGINE
LETTER FROM CONSTITUENT REGARDING AN ONGOING THROTTLE PROBLEM WITH HIS 2005 FORD THUNDERBIRD; INFORMATION PROVIDED TO NHTSA THAT MAY BE THE BASES OF A RECALL OF THE THUNDERBIRD. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED IN EARLY AUGUST OF THIS YEAR, A YELLOW MECHANIC WRENCH LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AT THE TIME OF START UP. THE CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE VEHICLE, AND MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE DEALER. AFTER A COMPLETE CHECK-UP, THE VEHICLE WAS RELEASED TO THE CONSUMER AFTER THE COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM FAILED TO REVEAL ANYTHING WRONG. THE NEXT DAY, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE FREEWAY WHILE PASSING A SLOW MOVING TRUCK, THE WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WENT INTO DRIVE SAFE MODE AND IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN TO 45 MPH. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO MANEUVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. ONCE THE CONSUMER MADE IT TO THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE WAS LEFT RUNNING, SO THE MECHANIC COULD DO A COMPUTER DIAGNOSTIC CHECK. IT WAS DETERMINED AFTER TESTING, THE THROTTLE BODY AND MOTOR ASSEMBLY WERE DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED AT A COST OF $964.27. UPDATED 03/31/14
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10543072September 11, 2013
ENGINE
THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON 6/12/12 WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING AND MISSING AND THEN WENT INTO A "LIMP MODE" AND WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE NO MORE THAN 15 MPH. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE SHOP THEY DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION COIL ON CYLINDER #8 WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT FOR $270. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED 9/7/13 AND LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND OUT THAT FORD HAD ISSUED A 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR ALL 2003, 2004, AND 2005 THUNDERBIRDS TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS. FORD HAS RECOGNIZED THAT THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE AND IS A SAFETY PROBLEM, BUT SINCE IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED, AND I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, THEY ARE CHARGING ME $1,200 DOLLARS TO REPLACE 7 IGNITION COILS. LOOKING AT THE FORD THUNDERBIRD FORUMS ON THE INTERNET REVEALS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED SO OWNERS CAN HAVE THEM REPLACED, SINCE FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A DEFECT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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