Ford Thunderbird Complaints

2,355 consumer complaints on file.

#10161682July 6, 2006
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE A LEAK WAS FOUND ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE. THE LINE WAS CORRODED TWO INCHES FROM EITHER SIDE OF A CLIP HOLDING THE BRAKE LINE. NO OTHER CORROSION WAS FOUND ON THE REMAINING BRAKE LINES.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10158123May 23, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE AUDIBLE WARNING THAT ALERTS THE OCCUPANTS THE SEAT BELTS ARE NOT SECURED WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10156178April 26, 2006
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS HAVE CRACKED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED SOON. IT IS NOT RIGHT THAT FORD WILL NOT COVER THIS AFTER THE WARRANTY. MY CAR IS A 2002 THEY CHANGED THE DESIGN IN 2003 SO IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. ALSO IT IS NOT LIKE WE TYPICALLY DRIVE THESE AS AN EVERYDAY CAR. MINE HAS ONLY 13,000 MILES. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155918April 23, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD THAT HAS SUDDENLY ACCELERATED 3 TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF 2005. THIS HAPPENED ONCE FORWARD AND TWICE IN REVERSE. ON ALL 3 OCCASIONS I HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKE WHILE SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL BEFORE THE REVS WOULD COME DOWN. THE FORWARD ONE WAS THE MOST SCARY SINCE I HAD A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON NOV 11, 2005 BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND. THANK YOU TIM SHIPLEY. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10155041April 11, 2006
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
COMPLIANT IS THAT THROUGH MY INSURANCE PROVIDER I WAS ALERTED TO TWO RECALLS THAT SHOULD BE AT LEAST LOOKED INTO ON MY AUTO. THE FIRST IS THE BLOWER ON THE CLIMATE CONTROL BEGAN TO WORK ERRATICALLY AND NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. MEANING THAT MY DEFROSTING DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. THE OTHER AND MORE SERIOUS IS THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH STICKS AT SMACKS AGAINST THE PEG AND DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY OR AT ALL, UNLESS THE LATCH IS MANUALLY LIFTED. BOTH OF THESE ARE RECALLS FOR OTHER T-BIRDS BUT SOMEHOW MINE SLIPPED THROUGH. VIN IS [XXX]. IF THESE ARE SUCH COMMON PROBLEMS WHY WEREN'T ALL THE T-BIRDS RECALLED? I AM LOOKING AT OVER 600.00 TO REPLACE THESE PARTS. WHICH IS IRRITATING WHEN FORD SHOULD BE FIXING IT'S KNOWN PROBLEMS. *NM UPDATED 07/16/2012 * JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154985April 10, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VOLTAGE INDICATOR WOULD DECREASE AND THE TURN SIGNALS, RADIO, AND DEFROST WOULD BE INOPERABLE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 96V071000, REGARDING THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10154892April 9, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
INTAKE MANIFOLD SPLIT CAUSING COOLANT LEAKAGE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10150681February 20, 2006
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
WHILE DRIVING TO WORK AT APPROX. 65 MPH, MY DRIVERS SIDE, SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. THANKFULLY I DIDN'T LOSE CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND EXITED MY VEHICLE. I CHECKED MY CAR, ALTHOUGH I KNEW I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING OR RUN OVER ANYTHING. THERE WERE NO SIGNS OF IMPACT AND NOTHING IN THE ROAD BEHIND ME. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT. THEY SAID THEY'D NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. THAT WAS 2/17/06. TODAY, ON 2/20/06 THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT REPAIR IT AS I HAVE 40,000 MILES ON MY CAR AND THAT THE DEPLOYMENT WAS CAUSED BY MY RUNNING OVER SOMETHING IN THE ROAD. APPARENTLY THAT'S WHAT THE COMPUTER CODE TOLD THEM. THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO REASON FOR THAT AIR BAG TO DEPLOY. I BELIEVE THEY JUST DON'T WANT TO ADMIT RESPONSIBILITY FOR A MALFUNCTION. I COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AT THAT SPEED. IT KNOCKED MY OVER TOWARDS THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CAR. MY INSURANCE COMPANY IS NOW TAKING CARE OF THE CLAIM AND THE AIRBAG AND SEAT WILL BE REPAIRED AT THEIR AND MY COST. THE THING THAT UPSETS ME IS, THAT AIRBAG SHOULDN'T HAVE DEPLOYED FROM RUNNING OVER SOMETHING. THEY COULDN'T EVEN TELL BY LOOKING UNDER THE CAR THAT I RAN OVER SOMETHING, ONLY WHAT THE COMPUTER CODE TOLD THEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148309January 22, 2006
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD ACCELERATOR HAS A 1\2 TO 1 SECOND OR MORE DELAY IN ENGINE RESPONSE (DRIVE BY WIRE) WHEN EITHER STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP OR WHEN PASSING OR CHANGING LANES. FORD CLAIMS IT IS BY DESIGN AND WILL NOT ADDRESS THE DELAY. THE LINCOLN LS IS IDENTICAL IN ENGINE AND DRIVE CHAIN AND HAS NO DELAY. THIS DELAY IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A STOP STREET OR EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN GOING TO PASS OR CHANGING LANES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN HELPFUL BUT MUST WAIT FOR FORD TO RESPOND WITH A COMPUTER CHANGE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM BUT NONE HAS COME IN TWO YEARS. THIS PROBLEM EXISTED FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10148186January 20, 2006
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP PERSONNEL SUGGESTED THE MANIFOLD CRACKED DUE TO THE COMPOSITE PLASTIC USED IN MANUFACTURING. THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED WITH AN AFTER MARKET MANIFOLD MADE OF METAL MATERIAL. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145968December 23, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
THE HEADLIGHT BRACKETS ON THE 2002 THUNDERBIRD CRACK AT THE REAR, WHERE THE HEADLIGHT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME WITH A BOLT. ALSO CRACKS IN THE ENTIRE REAR BODY OF THE HEADLIGHT... DESIGN WAS CHANGED IN 2003, FORD WILL ONLY REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY, AFTER WARRANTY FORD WILL NOT REPLACE OR ADMIT THIS IS A PROBLEM... THERE ARE OVER 280 MESSAGES AT WWW.THUNDERBIRDNEST.COM RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145991December 23, 2005
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FLOOR SHIFTER WAS STICKING IN PARK WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD. IT TOOK FIVE TO TEN MINUTES TO MOVE THE SHIFTER INTO OTHER GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER SAID THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE, AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO TO A JUNK YARD TO LOCATE ANOTHER SHIFTER. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10145883December 22, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
I HAD A 96 T-BIRD THAT MY DAUGHTER NOW OWNS. THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD CRACKED LAST SPRING CAUSING ME TO BE STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. MY SISTER TOWED ME TO HER HOUSE WHERE THE VEHICLE SAT UNTIL I GOT A NEW MANIFOLD FOR ABOUT $289 ONLINE. I INSTALLED IT MYSELF TAKING ME ABOUT 2 DAYS AND DRIVING 45 MILES EACH WAY TWICE TO MY SISTER'S HOUSE. OLD PART WAS DISCARDED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10120421December 8, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD MOTOR DIED WHILE DRIVING.*MR ***NOT IN REPOSITORY. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144228December 2, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AND WHEN IT DOES NO OTHER ELECTRICAL PARTS WILL OPERATE. FOR INSTANCE IF YOU HAVE A WINDOW DOWN YOU CAN'T ROLL IT UP OR THE HEATER WON'T WORK. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. WE'VE HAD THE CAR TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AS WELL AS OVERLAYING ELECTRICAL WIRES AND NONE OF THIS HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. ON ONE OCCASION THEY HAD THE CAR FOR A MONTH, PUT APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES ON IT AND STILL COULDN'T FIND AND FIX THE PROBLEM. OUR CONCERN IS THAT WHEN THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AND NOTHING ELSE ELECTRICAL WORKS WHAT IF YOU NEEDED, SAY, THE DEFROSTER TO COME ON AND IT WOULDN'T IT COULD POSE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM! THE DATE IN THE INCIDENT BOX IS JUST AN APPROXIMATION THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE WE'VE OWNED THE CAR. THANK YOU. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10144017November 30, 2005
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V275000 CONCERNING THE HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH. THIS VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE CONSUMER FIRST EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM IN LATE 1997, AND HAD IT REPAIRED AT THE HER EXPENSE. THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED A SECOND TIME THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10143721November 27, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I PURCHASED THIS 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD LX SPORT AS A USED VEHICLE IN OCT. 2002. I NOTICED THAT DURING THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE IT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LEAK A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF COOLANT ONTO MY DRIVEWAY BUT I COULD NEVER SEE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. SOMETIMES IT WOULD GO FOR DAYS WITHOUT LEAKING AND THEN ONE DAY THERE WOULD BE OVER A QUART OF COOLANT ON THE DRIVEWAY. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO A SHOP THAT PUT THE CAR ON A LIFT TO LOOK FOR THE LEAK BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ONE. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND ADD COOLANT EVERY TIME THE "LOW COOLANT" LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH PANEL. IN MAY 2005 I WAS ON THE 91 FREEWAY AND SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE "LOW COOLANT" LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TEMP CAME UP QUICKLY SO I TRIED TO CHANGE LANES TO THE RIGHT TO EXIT THE FREEWAY AND THE BACK OF THE CAR BROKE LOOSE AND I ALMOST TURNED SIDEWAYS. I FOUND OUT LATER THAT THE REAR TIRES AND WHEEL WELLS WERE SOAKED IN COOLANT. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I FOUND OUT THAT MY INTERMITTENT LEAK THAT NO ONE COULD FIND WAS MY INTAKE MANIFOLD AT THE BASE OF THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING. I WENT TO RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA FORD AND ASKED ABOUT RECALLS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD EXPIRED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. THE CAR NOW SITS PARKED UNREPAIRED. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY ALMOST TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS TO CORRECT FORDS ENGINEERING BLUNDER. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142743November 15, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING AT A STEADY 60 MPH WHEN A SUDDEN LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY AND FOUND A BLOWN HEAD GASKET TO BE THE PROBLEM. CAR HAS 101,000 MILES. CONTRARY TO MANY OTHERS, THIS IS A 4.6 V8. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10142652November 14, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1. JUST SUDDENLY STARTED OCCURRING. 2. RE: CAMPAIGN ID # 96V071000, I HAVE AN IGNITION PROBLEM WITH MY 1990 FORD THUNDERBIRD BUT WAS TOLD BY FORD MY VIN DOES NOT APPLY TO RECALL. ALTHOUGH NO FIRE, I BELIEVE THERE IS SOME SORT OF SHORT CIRCUIT IN MY IGNITION SWITCH. THE AUTOMATIC SEAT-BELT WILL, AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES, NOT MOVE INTO POSITION WHEN IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED AND AT THE SAME TIME THE ENGINE WILL TURN OVER NORMALLY BUT WILL NOT START. "EVERY TIME" SEAT BELT DOESN'T WORK, ENGINE WILL NOT START. 3. HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS, YET. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10141775November 4, 2005
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM
DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY THE REAR BRAKES SQUEAKED. THERE WAS AN INTENSE GRINDING NOISE. AT 40 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION . NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. *AK UPDATED 1/4/2006 - THE TRIES JUST NEEDED TO NE BALANCED AND ROTATED. THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS WOULD GRIND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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