Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1993 record →
HEAD GASKET BLEW 3 TIMES, CAUSING CAR TO STALL UP IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY JUST STOPPED. ALSO BLOWING WHITE STEAM THRU BACK END MAKING IMPOSSIBLE FOR DRIVERS BEHIND TO HAVE A CLEAR VISION, ALSO STEAM WHITE SMOKE IN FRONT END, BLOWING ANIFREEZE THRU THE EXHUAST. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG FORDS 3.8L ENGINES. I GET NO HELP FROM MANUFACTURE OR DEALER. I AM VERY DISAPOINTED IN FORD CO.*AK
UPON STARTING VEHICLE GAS WILL POUR OUT ONTO THE GROUND. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE A POSSIBLE FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN ACTING UP AND NOW THE KEY WILL NOT START THE CAR THE KEY WILL NOT TURN AT ALL AS OF THIS DATE 12/14/2001. *AK
99 V 275 000/ HEADLIGHT: SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH AND LOSS OF HEAD LIGHTS. LIGHT SWITCH WIRING AND CONNECTOR WERE BURNING AND MELTING MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WA S NO SUCH RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK
VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT AND EXPERIEINCE LOSS OF COOLANT WHILE DRIVING. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. ALSO FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER INFORMATION OR DETAILS CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK
FROM WHAT I HEAR FROM MY MECHANIC AND OTHER OWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF THUNDERBIRD HAS A HISTORY OF A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 93000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BLOWN THE HEAD GASKET. OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE AS EARLY AS 65K MILES. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY.*AK
HEADLAMP SWITCH THAT HAD A RECALL ON IT HAS WENT OUT FOR THE 3RD TIME. *AK
CAR BLEW HEAD GASKET AT 94500.00 MILES OTHER FORD MODELS WERE RECALLED BUT THE THUNDERBIRD 1993 WAS NOT AND IT USES THE SAME ENGINE AS THE WINSTAR 94 WHICH WAS RECALLED FOR THE HEAD GASKET. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH ON A SIDE STREET AND VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. IT WAS CAUSED BY A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. ALSO, VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. *AK
THIS THUNDERBIRD HAS THE 3.8L V6 ENGINE. HEAD GASKETS FAILED. THE LOCAL DEALER ADMITS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAMS DO NOT INCLUDED 1993 THUNDERBIRDS, ONLY 1994-1995. REPAIR COST FOR ME WAS ABOUT $1800.00. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REP IS UNWILLING TO ASSIST WITH ANY AMOUNT OF PAYMENT. I WILL BE FILING IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT.*AK
HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL 99V275000 ON 10 FEBRUARY, 2000. PART FAILED AGAIN ON 1 OCTOBER, 2001.*AK
EXPERIENCED LOSS OF HEAT IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. FOUND COOLANT LEVEL TO BE LOW. ADDED COOLANT ON SEVERAL OCCASIIONS. PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY. PROBLEM INCREASED TO POINT WHERE ENGINE OVERHEAT INDICATOR LIT. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC WHERE PROBLEM WAS SUSPECTED TO BE LOSS OF COOLANT BUT COULD NOT BE DEFINITIVELY PINPOINTED. AS A PRECAUTION THE WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, HOSES, AND COOLANT WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH TWO FREEZE PLUGS WHICH WERE SEEN TO BE WEEPING. AFTER A SHORT WHILE THE PROBLEM REAPPEARED AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS INTERNALLY CAUSING THE COOLANT TO ENTER THE ENGINE AND BE CONSUMED. I AUTHORIZED REPAIRS BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE TERMS OF MY WARRANTY AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOW TOO OLD.*AK (DOT NUMBER: NA TIRESIZE: NA)
ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THE HEAD-GASKETS BLEW. ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH FIRST INCIDENT. NOW FACED WITH A SIMILAR SITUATION. ONLY ENGINE IS NOT BURNED UP THIS TIME. WHY FIX IT, IF THE SAME PROBLEM IS GOING TO SIMPLY HAPPEN AGAIN. YET I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. ALOT OF GOOD THAT DID.
HEAD GASKETS FAILED.
HEAD LAMP COVERS TURNED YELLOW. AS TIME HAS PASS HEADLIGHTS GAVE POOR VISIBILITY. CONSUMER HAD TO TRAVEL WITH BRIGHT LIGHTS TO GAIN VISIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
HEADLIGHT REFLECTORS BURNED OUT. DEALER ADVISED THAT ENTIRE LIGHTING SYSTEM WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. DEFECT CAUSES BAD VISION AT NIGHT. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
DASH HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN JUNE OF 2000 DUE TO RECALL BY FORD. APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR LATER REPLACEMENT SWITCH FAILED FOR SAME REASON ORIGINAL SWITCH WAS RECALLED FOR. BURNED CONTACTS WERE FOUND ON THE BACK OF THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH. SEEMS AS IF SWITCH USED FOR REPLACEMENT IS NO BETTER THAN ORIGINAL SWITCH RECALLED.
LENS ASSEMBLY FOR LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAS DETERIORATED, TURNING CLOUDLY YELLOW, THIS HAS RESTRICTED THE LIGHT FROM THE LOW BEAM PER NIGHT DRIVING, WHICH IS A SERIOUS LOSS OF VISIBILITY . MY DEALER WILL NOT PASS THE CAR UPON INSPECTION DUE TO THE LOSS OF LIGHT . THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY UNITS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT ONCE. *AK
BAD HEAD GASKET BLOWING WHITE SMOKE. *AK
PARKED CAR AND HEARD WATERY NOISE - ANTIFREEZE WAS COMING OUT OF TAILPIPE. *AK
HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. LIGHTS ARE VERY DIM. *AK
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
HEAD GASKET FAILURE,HAD TO REPACE TWICE. IS STARTING TO OVERHEAT AGAIN. *AK
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
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
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?
LOW BEAM LIGHTS ARE INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS REPLACED HEADLIGHT FUNCTION SWITCH, HOWEVER PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED.*AK
WHILE STARTING VEHICLE NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM TAIL PIPE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ENGINE IDLE INCREASED SHORTLY AFTER TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER HAS NOT DETERMINED PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
RECALL 99 V 275 00/HEADLIGHTS: IN FEBRUARY 1998 CONSUMER HAD REPAIRS DONE. IN 1999, A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NOTICE WAS RECEIVED, AND A REIMBURSEMENT WAS GIVEN. PRESENTLY, PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF PROBLEM, AND REFUSED TO HELP IN THIS MATTER. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AND SHE NOTICED THAT ODOMETER WASN'T REGISTERING THE SPEED. ODMETER WOULDN'T MOVE AT ALL. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED IT. *AK *JB
AS TO HEAD GASKETS, HAVE HAD TWO SETS OF FAILURES, AT APPROX. 100K APART . . . . AS TO BRAKES, HAVE HAD MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS OF ROTORS DUE TO CHRONIC WARPING . . . . AS TO TRANSMISSION, HAVE HAD TO HAVE PURCHASE LIFETIME WARRANTY TRANSMISSION FROM AAMCO DUE TO FAILURES IN 2-3 & 3-4 SHIFTS. *AK
THE CONSUMER DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIR 99V-275 BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS EXPERIENCED WITH THE DEALER ON PREVIOUS OCCASION, THE CONSUMER WANTS PERMISSION TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC. NLM
HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING COOLANT ONTO ENGINE, CAUSING SHAKING AND ENGINE TEMPERATURE TO GO UP. DEALER DETERMINED HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *JB
CONSUMER RECEIVED HEADLIGHT RECALL 99V275000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 99S30 . HEADLIGHTS ARE BLINKING OFF/ON, STILL HEADLIGHTS HAVE TO BE USED JUST TO SEE SOMETIMES. CONSUMER HASN'T TAKEN VEHICLE BACK BECAUSE OF THE TREATMENT AT DEALERSHIP. BUT, CONSUMER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER TO RECTIFY PROBLEM.*AK
CONSUMER STARTED UP VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THIS FOR THE 1994-1995 MODELS. *SLC
FORD SHOULD ADMIT ALL 3.8L V6 ARE DEFECTIVE AND COVER REPAIRS. NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH SHORTED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE . VEHICLE IS INCLUDED UNDER RECALL FOR HEADLIGHT SWITCH; HOWEVER THIS PART IS NOT INCLUDED UNDER REMEDY OF RECALL.
OVERHEATING AND LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT, AND HEATER WOULD BLOW OUT COOL AIR. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT 3.8L V6 ENGINE HAD A HEAD GASKET FAILURE, VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *AK *SLC
WIRING HARNESS ON ALT. MELTED AND THE HOUSING ON ALT. MELTED. LOST HALF POWER TRAVELING AT 65 MPH AT NIGHT ALL LIGHTS DIMMED.
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON/ OVER HEATED AND LOSS OF COOLANT. TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER AN EXTENED WARRANTY. *AK CONSUMER STATES SHE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. AND WAS ADVISED THEY WOULD NOT COVER REPAIRS DUE TO CONSUMER TAKING VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. *JB
LOSS OF COOLANT AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD COME ON. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, AND INFORMED OF A HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON IT 3.8L V6 ENGINE, AND IT WAS NOT COVER UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S EXTENDED WARRANTY. *AK *SLC
LAP SEAT BELTS STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY AND DID NOT LOCK UP CORRECTLY. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS WILLING TO TAKE A LOOK AT VEHICLE. *AK
VEHICLE WAS BLOWING WHITE SMOKE OUT OF BACK OF VEHICLE DUE TO A LEAKY HEAD GASKET, ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE. DEALER REPLACED GASKET AND MILLED DOWN HEAD.*AK
WAS JUST LEAVING A STOP WHEN ACCELERATOR PEDAL BECAME STUCK. TROTTLE WAS WIDE OPEN. BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE. HAD TO SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL TO SLOW VEHICLE DOWN BEFORE TURNING OFF VEHICLE.*AK
PRIOR TO APRIL 8TH OF 1999 THE REACCURANCE HAS HAPPENED FREQUENTLY HEADLAMPS FLICKERIN G WHEN THE FOG LAMPS WERE IN USE . TWO PRIOR TIMES I CHANGED OUT THE HEADLAMP SWITCH AND IT WOULD SEEM TO WORK OK FOR A WHILE FINALLY I PROCEDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THIS SITUATION RESOLVED. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN, THE HEAD LAMPS WORKED FOR A MONTH OR SO THEN THEY BEGAN TO FAIL AGAIN IN NOVEMBER OF 1999 A RECALL NOTICE WAS SENT OUT ,I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO WHERE I GOT THE VEHICLE REPAIRED THE FIRSTR TIME , THAT REPAIRED THE HEAD LAMPS FOR APPROXIMATLY ONE YEAR .THE REACCURING FLICKERING OF THE HEADLAMPS STARTED AGAIN APPROXIMATLY THREE MONTHS AGO UNTILL FINALLY THE HEAD LAMPS STOPED WORKING. *AK
FORD REFUSES TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE.SO MUCH FOR "A CONSUMER DRIVEN COMPANY". NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED. *AK
MY 3.8L ENGINE'S CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS FAILED. FORD HAS CONCEDED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED RECALLS FOR THE SAME ENGINE 1994 AND UP, BUT MINE IS A 1993 AND HAS THE SAME ENGINE. I HAVE BEEN ON SEVERAL WEB SITES WHERE MANY PEOPLE WHO 1993 3.8L ENGINES HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ITS APPARENT THAT THE PROBLEM RESIDES IN 1993 ENGINES TOO BUT FORD HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR 1993 ENGINES AND THEY SHOULD. REPAIRS FOR THIS PROBLEM COST ME OVER $2000 AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. *AK
NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 1993 Ford Thunderbird → · Every Thunderbird year → · How the figures are calculated →