1993 Ford Thunderbird complaints

WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL PARK IN DRIVEWAY ENGINE STARTED SHAKING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE FOR A TEST, AND WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM PIPE, AND ANTI-FREEZE SMELL WAS FELT INSIDE OF VEHICLE THEN, DEALER STATED THAT ENGINE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK THE MANUFACTURER HAD RECALLED OTHER VEHICLES WITH THIS DEFECT BUT DECLINED TO FIX THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. *YH

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. FORD IMPLIES THAT HEAD GASKETS SHOULD LAST 100,000 MILES. WILL NOT HONOR ON THUNDERBIRD. *AK

HEADLIGHT LENS COVER HAS BECOME VERY DIMMED OR CLOUDED OVER. THIS MAKES LIGHTING ALMOST NON EXISTENT WHEN IT'S DARK. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE, AND CAN NOT SEE ROAD CLEARLY. PROBLEM IS STEADY OR HAS STEADILY GOTTEN WORSE.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT RECALL 99V275 WAS COMPLETE ON VEHICLE , HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, DEALER WILL ONLY DO REPAIR IF CONSUMER PAYS FOR IT. *SLC

PIRELLI TIRES WERE REPLACED AT 55000 MILES AND ARE WORN AFTER 40000 MILES. *SLC

HEAD GASKET FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. REPLACEMENT ONLY LASTED ABOUT 1 YEAR, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. ALSO, ENGINE WILL BE REPLACED. *AK

OWNER NOT SATISFIED WITH CORRECTIVE ACTION FOR RECALL CAMPAIGNS (99V-275 & 97V-159), DOES NOT WANT TO LEAVE VEHICLE ALL DAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF HEADLIGHT SWITCH (99V-257),VEHICLE TAKEN TO THREE DEALERSHIPS, CONSUMER EXPERIENCING HEADLIGHT FAILURE, DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO CORRECT RECALL 97V-159. *CJ

I AM WRITING TO YOU BECAUSE I WAS DRIVING MY CAR YESTERDAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JUST STARTED ACCELERATING BY ITSELF . IT WENT FROM 10 MPH TO 70 MPH WITHOUT ME EVEN TOUCHING THE GAS PEDAL. I FINALLY PUSHED ON THE BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR AND SHUT IT OFF. EVEN THOUGH I WAS APPLYING ON THE BRAKE IT DID NOT WANT TO STOP. THE ENGINE WAS STILL RACING. I HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL GARAGE AND HE CALLED ME TODAY TO TELL ME IT WAS THE THROTTLE BODY LEVER GROMMET . I DID A SEACH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND OUT THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS EXACT PART. RECALL # 93B31. HOWEVER IT WAS NOT INCLUDED ON MY CAR BECAUSE THE LADY AT FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE SAID IT WAS VEHICLE SPECIFIC. DOESN'T SOUND RIGHT TO ME. SAME CAR , SAME PART, SAME PROBLEM , CAN CAUSE A HUGE ACCIDENT AND POSSIBLY FATALITIES COULD ARISE FROM THIS DEFECT AND SHE SAID SORRY , CAN'T HELP YA. FORD WILL NOT ACCEPT ANY FINANCIAL RESPONSIBLITY FOR THIS . PLEASE RESPOND TO ME AND LET ME KNOW WHAT ELSE TO DO TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *AK

A RECALL FOR PREMATURE FAILURE OF HEAD GASKETS HAS BEEN INITITATED FOR THE 94 AND 95 MODELS. A SIMPLE LOOK AT YOUR OWN DATABASE PLUS MY EXPERIENCE INDICATES THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM IS MUCH WIDER THAN JUST THESE TWO MODEL YEARS.

WOULD LIKE A REFUND OF $1619.01 FOR HEAD GASKET REPAIR. WOULD LIKE VOLT METER AND CRUIZ CONTROL FIXED. *AK

HEAD GASKETS WERE OVER TIGHTENED ON ASSEMEBLY LINE,1994 AND LATER WERE RECALLED. *AK

PROBLEM WITH ENGINE HESITATION/ LOSS OF COOLANT AND OVERHEATING WHEN DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT 3.8L ENGINE EXPERIENCED A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

THE CAR HESITATES WHEN GAS IS MASHED WHICH COULD, CAUSE AN ACCIDENT

94+UP 3.8'S REPAIRED FOR FREE BUT NOT 93 AND DOWN! SAME ENGINE WHY NOT SAME SOLUTION? *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT REGULAR SPEED AND VEHICLE STALLED. COOLIANT WAS RUNNING VERY LOW. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THAT HEAD GASKET BROKE. *AK

I BROUGHT THE CAR USED WITH APPROXIMATLY 73,000 MI. AFTER PUTTING ON ONLY ABOUT 10,000 MILES THE CRANKSHAFT SNAPPED. FURTHERER INVESTIGATION REVIELED A PREVIOUS BLOWN HEAD GASKET REPAIR. COOLANT CONTAMINATION OF THE CRANKCASE WHEN A HEAD GASKET BLOWS OFTEN TIMES RESULTS IN DAMAGE TO THE CRANKSHAFT AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE. I'VE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY ARE PLAYING DUMB. THE 1993 THUNDERBIRD SC 3.8 LITER ENGINE IS THE EXACTLY THE SAME ENGINE AS IN THE 1994, 1995 THUNDERBIRDS. WHAT GIVES? I'M BUMMED THAT FORD IS NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING.

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS WILL START FLICKERING, THEN THEY GO OUT. *AK

THERE IS A REGIONAL RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM NHTSA RECALL 97V159 AND FORD RECALL 97S84. THE RECALL WAS LIMITED TO NORTHERN STATES AND IS NOT COVERING MY CAR THAT IS REGISTERED IN GEORGIA. WHY IS THIS ONLY A RECALL ONLY FOR THE NORTHERN STATES IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS IN THE SAME MODELS IN OTHER AREAS. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED AT AROUND 95,000 MILES PAID REPAIR SHOP $1700+ TO REPLAIN THE HEADS AND REPLACE THE GASKET. RECENTLY FOUND OUT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS 3.8L ENGINE AND FORD WILL NOT FIX IT. PROBLEM STILL NOT FIXED ENGINE STILL RUNNING POORLY AND COOLENT LEVELS STILL DROPING. WHITE CLOUD OF SMOKE WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED.*AK

HEAD GASKETS FAILED. *SLC

GASKETS WERE LEAKING BEHIND THE TIMING CHAIN COVER DUE TO CRACKED HEADS, THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. CONSUMER STATED THAT WHITE SMOKE WAS BLOWING OUT THE EXHAUST. *SLC

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OVER TO SHOULDERS. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART, AND VEHICLE STARTED LATER. HE TOOK IT TO DEALER. DEALER CLAIMED IGNITION SWITCH HAD A DEFECT. *AK

I HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS PILE OF JUNK. FIRST THE HEADLIGHTS, TOOK IT IN ON RECALL BUT THE HEADLIGHTS STILL GO OUT ALSO ADDING TO ME NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE AND ALMOST KILLING MY DAUGHTER AND MYSELF, IS THE HEATER CORE WENT OUT ALL OVER THE FLOOR CAUSING US TO BREATH ANTIFREEZE MIST AND GETTING SICK ,AND CAUSES THE WINDOWS TO STEAM UP, BECAUSE I HAD TO UNDO THE HOSES , SO THE CAR WOULD STOP OVER HEATING , BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD $700 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED SO NOW WE ARE ALSO FREEZING TO DEATH ALONG WITH THE BREAKS NOT WORKING AND THE CAR DYING AT STOP LIGHTS AND WHEN TAKING TURNS OR CORNERS WHICH CAUSES THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES TO GO OUT BECAUSE OT POWERED,OH YA DID I MENTION I SPENT 500.ON A WATER PUMP AND 1000 ON NEW BRAKES JUST FOR THE BREAKES TO STILL NOT WORK WHEN I PICKED IT UP FROM THE SHOP. I COUL D GO ON BUT I WILL GIVE YOU A BREAK, I AM JUST REALLY FRUSTRATED I CANT AFFORD TO PUT ANY MORE MONEY INTO THIS CAR BECUASE SOMETHING ELSE WILL JUST GO BESIDED IM A SINGLE MOM WORKING TO KEEP OUR HEADS UP . I WAS READING THAT A JUDGE IN CALIFORNIA MADE FORD BY BACK THESE CARS BECAUSE OF AN INCIDENT WHERE A MOTHER AND CHILD WERE ALMOST HURT WHEN HER CAR STALLED JUST LIKE MINE DOES CONSTANTLY. THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP AND I FEAR FOR MY DAUGHTERS SAFETY BUT IT THE ONLY THING I GOT TO GET HER TO THE SITTERS AND ME TO WORK . PLEASE HELP WHAT CAN BE DONE? THANK YOU SINCERELY STEPHENIE COLE. *AK

RECALL 99V275 000/ CONCERNING HEADLIGHT SWITCH. AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE CONDITION BECAME WORSE. MULTI- FUNCTION SWITCH WAS BURNED OUT UPON RECEIPT FROM DEALER. CONSUMER STATED THAT SWITCH WAS WORKING PRIOR TO RECALL REPAIRS.*AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET NOT COVERED SINCE FORD WON'T COVER 1993 MODEL...OLY THE 1994 AND NEWER. *AK

TWO YEARS AGO, MY SON AND I WERE ALMOST KILLED WHEN WE WERE DRIVING IN 55 MPH TRAFFIC IN THE MIRA MESA AREA OF SAN DIEGO, AND MY 1993 FORD T-BIRD ENGINE FAILED DUE TO DEFECTIVE ENGINE GASKETS--THE EXACT SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED IN FORD RECALL #00M10. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUR CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NO ONE WAS HURT.*AK

THIS 93 THUNDERBIRD HAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS . LEAKS IN BODY (WHEN NEW 12MI) DOOR HINGES , SEATBELTS, SEAT COVERS RIP OUT, FOG LAMPS AND SWITCH RECALL, CAN'T KEEP BREAKS AND ROTORS ON FRONT, WINDSHILD WIPERS BROKE (WHEN NEW) HAD TO HAVE NEW TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED , AT ABOUT 40.000 MI. THE STRUTS WERE BAD FROM THE FIRST DAY NEVER COULD GET THEM FIXED. (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

VEHILCE STOPS WHILE DRIVING AS IF THE IGNITION HAS BEEN TURNED OFF, NO STUDDER, NOT ROUGH RIDE IT JUST TURNS OFF AND WHEN IT STARTS ROUGH LIKE FIRING ORDER IS INCORRECT THEN IDLES WITH A SLIGHT MISS EVERY 5-10 SECONDS. NLM

WISH I WOULD HAVE SEEN THIS SITE BEFORE I PURCHASED MINE 2 WEEKS AGO. I AM NOW GONG TO PAY 1600 TO REPLACE MY WHOLE TRANSMISSION! AM VERY WORRIED LOOKING AT THE OTHERS ABOUT THE GASKETS GOING NEXT!*AK

THROTTLE STUCK IN WIDE OPEN OR NEAR WIDE OPEN POSITION - DETAILS FOLLOW. I HAD EXPERIENCE DOWNSHIFT PROBLEMS BEFORE AND WHEN I NOTICED MY MOST RECENT DOWNSHIFT EVENT, IT WAS AT INTERSTATE SPEEDS. ON MERGING, THE CAR FAILED TO DROP OUT OF PASSING GEAR. I PULLED OVER AND INVESTIGATED TO FIND THE "THROTTLE VALVE CABLE" WAS LOOSE FROM THE THROTTLE BRACKET. I TRIED TO FIND REPLACEMENT PARTS FOR THE WORN GROMMET WHICH HAD ALLOWED IT TO DEPART THE BRACKET AND FOUND IT TO BE A "DEALER-ONLY" PART. DEALER WAS CLOSED. TV CABLE WAS RE-INSERTED AND CAR RECOVERED TO HOME. ON MONDAY, WHILE ENROUTE TO THE DEALER TO GET THE PART, THE THROTTLE STUCK BECAUSE THE TV CABLE BECAME WEDGED UNDER THE THROTTLE BRACKET. I APPLIED BRAKES BUT WAS UNABLE TO SLOW THE CAR ADEQUATELY BEFORE STOPPED TRAFFIC AHEAD. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND STOPPED IN TIME TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT.

VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING WHILE MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS, NOW THE CAR IS STALLING WHILE GOING UPHILL AND WHILE MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT HAND TURNS, DUE TO IGNITION SYSTEM TFI MODULE FAILURE.

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT CAUSING TURN SIGNALS TO BE INOPERABLE, REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER TO BE INOPERABLE, TEMPERATURE CONTOL UNIT TO BE INOPERABLE, AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS UNABLE TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. COOLANT GAUGE STAYS AT COLD, DEALER REPLACED THERMOSTAT DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION. *SLC

HEAD GASKET AND NOISE IN BOTTOM OF ENGINE, RUNNING ROUGH WITH CHECK GUAGE LIGHT COMING ON AND OVERHEATING,THIS HAPPENED WHILE ON THE FREEWAY IMMEDIALTELY GOT OFF AND TOOK IT OVER TO RICE AND HOLMAN THE NEXT DAY.

DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY

VEHICLE STALLS/OVERHEATS, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR AT CONSUMERS COST BECAUSE RECALL THAT WAS FOUND FOR THE PROBLEM WAS TOWARDS A LATER MODEL.*AK THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN. HEAVY WHITE SMOKE COMES FROM EXHAUST PIPE AND VEHICLE OVERHEATS. *YH

THIS IS THE SECOND FORD VEHICLE WITH 3.8L THAT WE HAVE OWNED. BOTH VEHICLES SUFFERED FROM THE SAME PROBLEM OF PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE FIRST VEHICLE WAS A 1993 MERCURY SABLE WITH THE 3.8L ENGINE. EVERY MECHANIC I HAVE TALKED TO KNOWS THAT THESE HEAD GASKETS FAIL AT OR ABOUT 60,000 MILES. IS FORD GOING TO DO ANY THING ABOUT IT? IT HAS COSTED US 2000.00 NOW BETWEEN THE TWO VEHICLES.

BLOWN HEADGASKET,DAMAGED ENGINE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE. WHY DOESN'T FORD PLAY FAIR?

VEHICLE STALLS DURING AND AFTER LEFT HANDED TURNS, ALSO STALLS GOING UPHILL AND WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS, DUE TO THE TFI MODULE FAILURE. *SLC

ENGINE OVERHEATING SINCE 36797 MILES DEALER EXAMINED, SAME PROBLEM 36813 MILES DEALER EXAMINED AGAIN 41803 AGAIN COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING. SAID THAT HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND THAT FORD WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKET BOLTS AND NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL BOLTS ON HEAD GASKET OR NEW HEAD GASKET WOULD FAIL. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS NO HELP AND UPSET WITH DEALER ALSO. RECENT RECALLS OF 1994 VEHICLES WITH SAME ENGINE WITH SAME PROBLEMS ARE ALSO FRUSTRATING. WHY DO THEY NOT LOOK AT NUMBER OF FAILURES OF THIS ENGINE AND INCLUDE THEM IN THE RECALL IF THEY EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. *AK

IT SEEMS LIKE FORD HAS A PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THERE 3.8L ENGINS AND NEEDS TO DO SOMTHING ABOUT THIS IF THEY WANT TO KEEP HAPPY CUSTOMERS. *AK

DRIVER'S SEAT BELT WILL NOT RETRACT TO ORIGINAL POSITION AFTER BEING USED. BEEN TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC ENTIRE SEAT BELT SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MANUFACTURER REFERRED OWNER TO HOTLINE.*AK

HAD HEAD GASKET, CRANKSHAFT, AND ROD BEARINGS REPLACED AT 67,000 AND 68,000 MILES, AND AT 83,000 BOTH ARE SHOT AGAIN.

HEAD GASKETS FAILED,HEAD LIGHTS FAILED,A/C FAILED,THROTTLE CABLE FAILED,THERMOSTAT FAILED,CLUTCH FAN FAILED,TAPE PLAYER NEVER WORKED

FORD HAS ADMITTED THEY HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD GASKET IN THEIR 3.8L ENGINE, BUT ARE ONLY REPLACING THOSE IN CARS 1994 OR NEWER. CALLS TO FORD STATED THEY WON'T COVER THIS EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE SAME ENGINE, HAS LESS THEN 100,000 MILES, BECAUSE IT IS IN A 1993 VEHICLE. THEIR EXCUSE WAS THEY HAVN'T RECEIVED ENOUGH COMPLAINTS FROM OWNERS OF 1993 VEHICLES. REQUEST TO TALK TO SOMEONE IN MANAGEMENT IN CUSTOMER SERVICE WAS DENIED BY A SUPERVISOR. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A SERIOUS PROBLEM, AS STEAM BLOCKED MY VISION WHEN THE HEAD GASKET BLEW.

STEAM COMING FROM TAILPIPE. MY MECHANIC KNEW THE PROMLEM IMMEDIATELY, SAYS IT'S COMMON ON FORD 3.8L. GASKET MADE OF SHODDY MATERIAL. FUNNY,I LIKE T-BIRDS, MY SECOND ONE.

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

HEADLIGHTS BLEW OUT WHEN THE FOG LIGHTS WERE ON. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE UNDER A RECALL; HOWEVER THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

HEAD GASKETS FAILED PREMATURELY, SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM EVEN PRIVIOUS TO 1994 3.8L'S

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LOST OF POWER AND WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF TAIL PIPE; VEHICLE TAKEN TO INDEPENDENCE REPAIRS SHOP AND INFORMED OF A HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND VEHICLE WAS NOT COVER UNDER MFR'S EXTENDS WARRANTY. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.