Ford Thunderbird Complaints

2,355 consumer complaints on file.

#10044210October 15, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE SMOKING FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD AND LEAKING COOLANT.*MR CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE, A BILLOW OF WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE LEAKED COOLANT . THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A HEAD GASKET LEAK WHICH ALLOWED COOLANT INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. THE COOLANT CONTAMINATED THE OIL AND WAS LEAKING OUT THE REAR OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE MAY BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE RECALL ONLY COVERED 1994 MODELS NOT 1995. THE CONSUMER LATER LEARNED THE PART WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. FORD WOULDN'T COVER THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WASN'T DIAGNOSED/REPAIRED AT A FORD DEALER. CONSUMER STATED THAT IF THE WOMAN AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP WOULD'VE CONFIRMED THE WARRANTY ON THE PART, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. CONSUMER FELT FORD SHOULD HAVE REIMBURSE THEM THE COST OF THE REPAIRS SINCE THEIR REPRESENTATIVE WAS AT FAULT. *PH *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041768October 14, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
DEFECTIVE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALL CONCERNING DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD. FORD SAYS IT'S NOT COVERED. I PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED AND THEY REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD -- THE LINK BELOW SHOWS OVER 250 OTHER CONSUMERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING. HTTP://WWW.PUBLIC.FOTKI.COM/TRSI/FORD_INTAKE_RECALL/ *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038626October 12, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO A RUPTURED FUEL LINE. *JB IN 1997 THE SAME DEFECT WAS FOUND IN THE CONSUMERS 1992 THUNDERBIRD. *SCC *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041483October 8, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD'S HEAD GASKET BLEW AND TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. IT HAS BEEN USING WATER SINCE WE BOUGHT IT FROM THE DEALER. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10041189October 3, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
PLASTIC FUEL PRESSURE LINE FROM THE FUEL TANK TO THE HARD LINE RUPTURED FROM RUBBING THE FLOOR PAN. ALSO FOUND THE HARD LINE CHAFING ON THE INBOARD SIDE OF THE ROCKER PANEL WHERE IT CHANGES DIRECTION TO THE FUEL TANK. *LA
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10042447October 1, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION OR TORQUE CONVERTER. *PH THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION SHUDDER OR A PROBLEM WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039391September 23, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
HEAD GASKET FAILED IN A CAR WITH 58,000 MILES. FORD IS WELL AWARE OF THE DESIGN DEFECT IN THE 3.8 LITER V6 AND THE INTERNET IS FULL OF SITES DOCUMENTING HORROR STORIES ABOUT THESE ENGINES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10040259September 22, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO MISFIRE AND STALL. INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LEAKED ANTI FREEZE WHICH CAUSED THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER HAD AN OWNER NOTIFICATION ON THIS ISSUE TO REPLACE THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD, BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT COVERED FOR TWO MONTHS DUE TO VIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039165September 19, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE DEVELOPED A COOLANT LEAK DUE TO A SPLIT IN THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. RECALL 97M91 WHICH IS ONLY GOOD FOR 7 YEARS FROM THE START OF THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY WAS UP 2 DAYS PRIOR TO INCIDENT. FOMOCO AND DEALER WOULDN'T COVER, TO BAD FOR ME. RECALL DOESN'T COVER REPLACEMENT UNLESS IT IS LEAKING WITHIN THAT 7 YEARS. DESIGN HAS BEEN CHANGED TO AN ALUMINUM CROSSOVER THAT HOPEFULLY WONT SPLIT AND COSTS APPROX $800 TO FIX. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039096September 18, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I HAVE A 1995 FORD THUNDERBIRD WITH A V8 ENGINE AND AUTO TRANS. IT DOWN SHIFTS RANDOMLY WITH THE OVERDRIVE ON OR OFF. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10039074September 17, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON THE 3.8L V6. ONLY 103,000 MILES ON IT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038992September 16, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MY TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH SHIFTING. LIGHTS FLASHED ON DASHBOARD. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10038509September 9, 2003
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING FUEL LINE PROBLEMS. THE FUEL LINE THAT COMES OUT OF THE GAS TANK AND RUBS AGAINST THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE LEAKS GAS UNDER THE VEHICLE GOING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ENGINE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND FIXED THE PROBLEM BY REMOVING THE WHOLE FUEL LINE SYSTEM AND REPLACING IT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10036977September 1, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING APPROX 40 MPH. SLOWED TO STOP FOR AN ANIMAL IN THE ROAD AND ENGINE FAILED. I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED W/O PROBLEM. HAD THIS OCCURED IN A BUSY INTERSECTION, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR DEATH. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND NOTIFY FORD. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST COMPLAING YOU HAV RECIEVED REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10029810August 29, 2003
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE STREET IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING LOT OF A FOOD STORE. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION PRIOR TO FIRE. *SCC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031076August 8, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
FATIGUE CRACK IN INTAKE MANIFOLD OF 4.6 L ENGINE THAT THAT CAUSED LOOSE OF COOLANT AND THE ENGINE TO OVER HEAT. MY 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL EVEN THOUGHT IT HAS THE SAME ENGINE AND DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD. REPAIR COST IS $600.00. FORD ALREADY HAS A RECALL AND THE FOLLOW WAS COPED FROM SOURCE: FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOCUMENTS FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL EXTEND THE RECALL (01M02) ON 4.6L V8 EQUIPPED VEHICLES WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS. SOME OF THE COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLDS USED ON 4.6L SOHC ENGINES MAY DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS AT THE COOLANT CROSSOVER DUCT. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN ENGINE COOLANT LEAKAGE WHICH, IF NOT SERVICED, MAY CAUSE ENGINE OVERHEATING. COMPLETE LOSS OF COOLANT MAY RESULT IN ENGINE DAMAGE OR ENGINE FAILURE. THE UPDATED RECALL NOW INCLUDES: " CERTAIN 1996 THROUGH 2001 MODEL YEAR CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR " CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2001 MODEL YEAR CROWN VICTORIA WITH TAXI " CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE AND LIVERY PREP PACKAGE " CERTAIN 1996-2001 CROWN VICTORIA TAXIS, POLICE CARS AND LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE AND LIVERY CARS. " CERTAIN 1996 THROUGH 1997 CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR VEHICLES WITH 4.6L SOHC ENGINES BUILT AT THE ST. THOMAS ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM THE BEGINNING OF PRODUCTION FOR THE 1996 MODEL YEAR THROUGH JANUARY 28, 1997. " CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2001 CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR VEHICLES WITH 4.6L SOHC ENGINES BUILT AT THE ST. THOMAS ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM NOVEMBER 22, 1997 THROUGH DECEMBER 15, 2000. " CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2001 CROWN VICTORIA TAXI VEHICLES WITH 4.6L SOHC ENGINES BUILT AT THE ST. THOMAS ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM NOVEMBER 22, 1997 THROUGH DECEMBER 15, 2000. " CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE PREP PACKAGE AND LIVERY VEHICLES WITH 4.6L SOHC ENGINES BUILT AT THE WIXOM ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM NOVEMBER 22, 1997 THROUGH DECEMBER 15, 2000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031103August 8, 2003
AIR BAGS
1995 FORD THUNDERBIRD, FRONT END COMPLETELY TOTALED - AND THE AIR BAGS ON EITHER SIDE DID NOT GO OFF. I CALLED FORD DEALER AND WAS GIVEN THE RUN AROUND. THEN I GOT A CALL FROM A FORD LAWYER AND HE SAID THAT IF NO ONE WAS KILLED, THE MATTER WAS CLOSED .
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#10032004August 4, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
PER CONSUMER VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD COOLANT LEAK # .97M91, BUT VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10030248July 28, 2003
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS
THIRD BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY KEEPS MELTING. OCTOBER 2000 26,000 MILES FIRST NOTICED MY THIRD BRAKE LIGHT HAD MELTED THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE LIGHT SOCKETS, WAS TOLD THEN THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, AFTER MUCH ARGUING AND WRITING THE BBB FORD FINALLY AGREED TO REPLACE IT AT NO COST TO ME. NOW 2003 AT 32,800 MILES ASSEMBLY IS MELTED AGAIN, AGAIN I WAS INFORMED THAT FORD WILL NOT REPLACE IT THE COST IS MINE. I SAID THEN AND I STILL BELIEVE THIS A PRODUCT DEFECT ON FORDS PART. I DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A DEFECTIVE PART, APART WHICH IS THE SAME PART THAT IS IN THERE NOW AND WILL MELT AGAIN IN A YEAR OR TWO AND I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. THE LINK BELOW SHOWS PICTURES OF A FORD THUNDERBIRDS THIRD BRAKE LIGHT DAMAGE AFTER THE ASSEMBLY AND WIRE HARRNESS HAS MELTED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A FIRE HAZARD.W.MN12PERFORMANCE.COM/MN12HOWTO/3RD_BRAKE_LIGHT/3RD_BRAKELIGHT.HTML. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10031261July 28, 2003
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
VEHICLE STALLS THEN SHUTS OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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