Ford Thunderbird Complaints

2,355 consumer complaints on file.

#764519July 21, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
HEAD GASKET- CAR BEGAN SKIPPING AND THEN WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF EXHUAST. I DROVE IT HOME (3 MILES). I PULLED THE SPARK PLUGS AND FOUND THAT THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER PLUG CLEAN AND WET. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTOR AND CYLINDER. WHY WON'T FORD HELP? I HAVE YET TO BRING IT TO A GARAGE SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE HEAD OR BLOCK IS DAMAGED. I AM HOPING NOT! TRANSMISSION- AOD MODEL STARTING AT ABOUT 79,000 MILES IT BEGAN TO SHIFT FUNNY AND GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS TIME WENT ON. NOW SHIFTING ERATIC, WAS LOOKING INTO FIXING IT WHEN THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM CAME UP!!!!!*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#764003July 9, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE EXHIBITS SYMPTOMS SIMILAR TO EARLIER MODELS WITH TFI; SUDDEN STALL AT ANY SPEED OR CONFIGURATION. ALWAYS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH AMBIENT/ENGINE TEMPERATURE. PROBLEM HAS OCCURED ON HIGHWAY, CREATING EXTRAORDINARILY DANGEROUS SITUATION. DEALER TECHNICIAN DISMISSED POSSIBLE IGNITION FAILURE WHEN ASKED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8013366July 5, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
CONSUME RHAD PROBLEMS WITH ELECTRICALWIRES WHICH CASED HEADLIGHTS AND TURN SIGNAL NOT TO WORK. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#566419July 2, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
CONSUMER STATES HEAD GASKET FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACED, CONSUMER ASKED FORD TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY LIKE THEY DID WITH THE 1994 AND 1995 MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS, HOWEVER FORD DECLINED. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#763620June 28, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE THREE SEPARATE INCIDENCES. FIRST OCCURRING IN 1997 WHILE TAKING MY GRANDSON TO HIGH SCHOOL: WHILE COMPLETING THE TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT AT HIS SCHOOL, MY 1986 THUNDERBIRD SUDDENLY SURGED AS IF I HAD FULLY PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR. FORTUNATELY, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND NEITHER OF US WERE INJURED NOR WAS THERE ANY PROPERTY DAMAGE. INCEDENT#2- WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM SHOPPING, I WAS DRIVING IN THE LANE CLOSEST TO THE CURB ON A 4 LANE STREET WHEN SUDDENLY, AGAIN, MY CAR ACCELERATED AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHERE I JUST BARELY GLANCED OFF A SMALL STATIONERY POLL THAT WAS POSITIONED BASICALLY ON THE SIDEWALK. AGAIN, THANK GOD, NO ONE WAS HURT AND THERE WAS NO PROPERTY DAMAGE. FINAL INCEDENT #3: NOT SO LUCKY THIS TIME. I WAS GOING THROUGH THE MCDONALD'S DRIVE-THRU, AFTER PLACING MY ORDER, MY CAR SUDDENLY TAKES OFF AGAIN, VEERS RIGHT, AND MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE LITERALLY DRIVES UP ONE OF THE 5 VERY HEAVY-DUTY GUARD POLES SURROUNDING THE MAIN ELECTRICAL BOX THUS IMPAILING MY CAR AND SERIOUSLY BENDING THE POLE. IN RETROSPECT, I FEEL I WAS PRETTY BLESSED; NO ONE WAS EVER HURT...EXCEPT FOR ME, NOW, AFTER MORE THAN 45YEARS CLASSIFIED AS A "GOOD DRIVER" NOW IPAYING AN EXTRA$60.00 PER MONTH FOR MY AUTO INSURANCE FOR SOMETHING THAT I KNOW FOR SURE WAS NOT MY FAULT(PLUS THE FACT I HAD TO DISH OUT FOR A NEW CAR...AND ALL THIS COULD NOT HAVE COME AT A WORSE TIME.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8012526June 25, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND FIXED TWICE DUE TO SHIFTING LATE AND SHAKING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS ALSO REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS IN VEHICLE, BUT SOLUTION DID NOT WORK. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#763185June 17, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKETS NEED REPLACED AND EVERYONE IS TELLING US THERE IS A RECALL, EXCEPT THE DEALERSHIP. IS THERE A RECALL OR ANY OTHER OWNER NOTIFICATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8011783June 13, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE WOULD OVERHEAT/RUN ROUGH, AND COOLANT WOULD GET INTO OIL WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8011802June 13, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, PEDAL BECAME HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE DUE TO MASTER CYLINDER. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. DEALER HAS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. *AK BRAKES FAIL INTERMITTENTLY, THEY ARE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AND THE FORD DEALERSHIPS CANNOT REPAIR IT. THERE ARE NO REBUILD KITS AVAILABLE FOR THIS VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED TO PURCHASE A MASTER CYLINDER FROM A JUNK YARD. CONSUMER FEELS FORDS RESPONSIBILTY IS TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE. *JG
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8011291June 7, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE ALREADY AND NEEDS TO GO IN AGAIN BECAUSE OF HEAD GASKET BLOWING OUT. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8011188June 6, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO BOUNCE A BIT, AND THEN CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND FOUND OUT THAT HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWEN. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *TT
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8010956June 3, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
WHEN COMING TO A STOP DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WILL LOCK UP WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#762544June 2, 2002
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL
I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT LIMP UNDER MY FOOT. HOWEVER, THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING. PUMPING THE PEDAL CHANGED NOTHING. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR KEPT GOING AT 55 MPH. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP BY PUTTING IT IN PARK WHILE IT WAS STILL MOVING AND TURNING OFF THE IGNITION. I WAS ON AN EMPTY ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT INCIDENT. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND STARTED THE CAR UP AGAIN AND IT WAS RACING AT FULL THROTTLE WHILE IN PARK. THE THROTTLE IS OBVIOUSLY STUCK WIDE OPEN AND I THINK I PROBABLY INCURRED TRANSMISSION DAMAGE GETTING IT TO STOP. I THEN CALLED A TOW TRUCK WHICH TOWED THE VEHICLE TO MY RESIDENCE. I HAVE NOT YET HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE CAR. I THOUGHT I WOULD MAKE THIS REPORT FIRST AND WAIT FOR YOUR ADVICE AS TO WHAT TO DO. MY GUESS WOULD BE THE THROTTLE CABLE SNAPPED BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT LIMP AND THEN I LOST THE ABILITY TO EITHER ACCELERATE OR DECELERATE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8010710May 30, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING AND SMOKING. MECHANIC SAYS IT DUE TO HEAD GASKETS.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8010584May 28, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
OIL PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSED THE 3.8L V6 ENGINE TO LOCK UP. DEALER AN MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8010346May 22, 2002
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WIRES IN STEERING WHEEL CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK DURING THE FIRE THE CONSUMER SON WAS INJURED. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#8009839May 14, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE STOPPING VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED. DEALERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED AND REPLACED HEADLIGHT SWITCH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#565735May 10, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE HEAD GASKET WAS DESIGNED TOO SMALL AND WAS DEFECTIVE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE UNDRIVABLE. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF REPAIRING THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8009505May 9, 2002
SUSPENSION
WHILE DRIVING HEARS A LOUD BEEP COMING FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. CAN'T ACTUALLY TELL WHERE BEEP IS COMING FROM. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#761622May 7, 2002
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON 8-YR-OLD CAR WITH 45,000 MILES (WARRANTY LIMITED TO 7YRS OR 100,000 MI). MAJOR DEFECT DESIGN FLAW ADMITTED BY FORD. NOW REFUSES TO COVER COSTS OF REPAIR.*AK.*JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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