1993 Ford Thunderbird complaints

TALKING WITH OTHER FORD OWNERS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTOR, YET FORD DOES NOT ACKNOWLEGDE OR ASSIST IN ANYWAY WITH THE THUNDERBIRD MODELS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKET. THE CAR WOULDN'T HEAT UP AND IT WOULD DIE ON ME WHEN I WOULD GIVE IT GAS TO ACELERATE OR TAKE OFF FROM A STOP LIGHT. I ALMOST GOT HIT TWICE. THERE ALSO WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST.*AK

I CONTACTED YOU BACK IN MARCH BECAUSE OF MY THUNDERBIRD'S EARLY ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURE,AND MY MANY LETTER'S AND PHONE CALLS TO FORD WHICH WENT UNANSWERED . I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANY SATISFACTION IN MY COMPLAINTS. IN FORD'S FIRST RECALL OF THEIR 3.8L HEAD GASKET FAILURE MY CAR WAS NOT INCLUDED THE REASON BEING THAT IT IS A REAR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE, THE CARS BEING RECALLED WERE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES. I ARGUED THAT IT WAS THE SAME ENGINE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM WHY COVER ONLY CERTAIN MODEL'S. NOW I HAVE READ THAT FORD IS AGAIN GOING TO EXTEND WARRANTIES AND COVER REPAIR BILLS FOR THIS PROBLEM IN THUNDERBIRDS AND COUGARS WHICH WERE NOT INCLUDED IN THE FIRST PROGRAM. THEY STATE THAT DUE TO MANY COMPLAINTS THEY WILL NOW COVER THIS ENGINE IN REAR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES. I AGAIN PHONED CUSTOMER SERVICE AT FORD ONLY TO BE TOLD AGAIN THAT IT DID NOT INCLUDE MY THUNDERBIRD BECAUSE IT IS A 93. I ASKED WHEN MY CAR WAS ACTUALLY PUT IN SERVICE, AND WAS TOLD APRIL4,1993, WHEN MY HEAD GASKET FAILED IT WAS NOT EVEN SEVEN YEARS OLD WHICH IS THE AMOUNT OF YEARS THAT THEY ARE EXTENDING THE WARRANTY FOR THIS PROBLEM. THE MILEAGE ON MY CAR WAS ALSO WAY BELOW THE AVERAGE MILES ON OTHER CARS THAT THIS HAPPENED TO. THE AVERAGE BEING 65,000. MY ORIGINAL QUESTION IS STILL THE SAME ISN'T THE PROBLEM A DEFECTIVE ENGINE, AND IT SHOULD'NT MATTER WHETHER IT'S A 93 OR 94. FORD IS STATING THAT THE ENGINE IS A PROBLEM, BUT WON'T STAND BEHIND IT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME WITH THIS .*AK

I HAD A BAD HEAD GASKET, PROBLEMATIC OF MOST 3.8 LITRE REAR WHEEL DRIVE FORD PASSENGER CARS FROM 1988 TO 1996. FORD HAS RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM WITH THE '94 THROUGH '96 3.8 LITRES, BUT THESE ARE THE SAME 3.8 LITRES IN THE EARLIER MODELS. I OWN A '93 THUNDERBIRD THAT JUST NEEDED THE HEAD GASKETS REPLACED FOR $1000.00 . I SHOULD NOT BE EXPECTED TO PAY FOR A PROBLEM THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS ADMITTED HAVING. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE ENTIRE AMOUNT OF THE REPAIR, DUE TO THE FACT THAT FORD IS AND WAS AWARE OF THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. THANK YOU. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 70,000 MILES / FORD FAILS TO RECALL VEHICLE. *AK

IGNITION SWITCH HAS FAILED AND FALLS A FEW MONTHS OUTSIDE OF RECALL. *AK

BLOWN HEAD GASKETS-TWICE. ONCE AT ABOUT 65000 MILES AND AGAIN AT ABOUT 120000 MILES. I BELIEVE IT'S DUE TO MANUFACTURING DEFECT--IRON BLOCK/ALUMINUM HEADS--AND INCORRECT ASSEMBLY. I CAN'T BELIEVE THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. IF NHTSA WOULD CHECK SERVICE RECORDS ON A NATIONAL BASIS THEN I THINK YOU'D FIND THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF IDENTICAL FAILURES. MECHANICS AND SERVICE MANAGERS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY LOVE TO SEE US COMING. OTHER T-BIRD OWNERS (AND OTHER FORD MOTOR CO. AUTOMOBILE OWNERS) HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. WHY HASN'T SOMETHING BEEN DONE?

I AM ON THE FOURTH ENGINE FAILURE OF THIS CAR, I FEEL IT SHOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE BUY-BACK THAT FORD IS HOLDING ON THE 95 WINDSTARS. *AK

TOOK CAR IN TO HAVE A RECALL ON A HEAD LAMP SWITCH FIXED. TOLD THEM CAR SEEMS TO HAVE A HESITATION WHEN TAKING OFF AFTER A COMPLETE STOP. THEY TOLD ME IT HAD TO HAVE THE IAC CENSOR REPLACED. HAD THAT DONE AT A COST OF 363.00. THEY ALSO PUT IN A NEW THERMOSTAT, SID ENGINE WASN'T GETTING HOT ENOUGH? 2 DAYS LATER CAR STILL HESITATED AND OVER HEATED. WAS TOLD HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HAD THAT FIXED 900.00. THEY ALSO TOLD ME I SHOULD HAVE THE TIMING COVER REPLACED BECAUSE IT HAS A POSSIBLE CRACK? TOOK TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP HAD THEM TAKE A LOOK, THEY SAID IT LOOKED FINE? *AK

VEHICLE 3.8 - V6 ENGINE; WHILE DRIVING NOTICED COOLANT LEAKAGES/OVERHEATING, AND SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE DUE TO A BLOWEN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S EXTENDED WARRANTY. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM MANIFOLD PIPE. *AK *TT

WELL MAINTAINED CAR. NEVER ABUSED. NOSAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

HEAD GASKET(S) FAILED. ANTI-FREEZE WENT OUT EXHAUST CAUSING LARGE WHITE CLOUD - REDUCED VISIBILITY FOR DRIVERS BEHIND ME. CAR OVERHEATED - STOPPED ON ROAD CAUSING TRAFFIC BACKUP. A DEALER REP SAID PROBLEM IS BECOMING COMMON WITH T-BIRDS THAT HAVE 55-80K MILES. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO ACCIDENTS. BUT ITS GOING TO COST $800-1000 TO FIX!!. *AK

HAVE A V6 3.8 LITER FORD THUNDERBIRD LX WITH A HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. BROUGHT THIS CAR USED IN JULY OF 1999 AND IT HAD 63,000 MILES ON IT NOW HAS 68,000 TOOK TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND HE TALKED WITH THE FORD DEALER IN OUR TOWN AND THEY TOLD HIM THERE WERE 3 AUTO WITH SAME PROBLEM ON RECALL THAT WAS A TAURUS,SABLE AND WINDSTAR. CONTACTED THE DEALER WHO SOLD IT TO ME AND WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER AND WAS TOLD ABOUT OTHER CARS MENTIONED. I CALLED FORD MOTOR TO REPORT PROBLEM THEY TOOK A COMPLAINT AND TOLD ME I HAD TO GO THROUGH A DEALER TO CONTACT A REGIONAL MANAGER. FORD DEALER TOLD ME THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTACT A FORD REGIONAL MANAGER. THAT HE HAD GOTTEN A CAR IN HIS DEALERSHIP WITH SAME PROBLEMS AND THAT IT IS BASICALLY JUNK MATERIAL IT WILL HAVE TO BE SALVAGED. THE ONLY HELP WOULD BE TO HAVE A NEW OR USED MOTOR PUT IN THIS AUTO. I AM ON A LIMITED INCOME MY HUSBAND IS DUE TO BE PUT ON A LIVER LIST. AND THIS IS MY ONLY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. THIS CAR WAS PAID FOR AND I HAVE HAD IT LESS THAN A 8 MONTHS AND THERE IT SITS IN MY DRIVEWAY A PIECE OF JUNK. IF YOU FIGURE OUT HOW MANY MONTHS I HAVE THIS CAR IT EQUALS TO 750.00 A MONTH TO HAVE OWNED THIS I COULD HAVE PURCHASED A NEW AUTO AND MADE PAYMENTS WITH WHAT I HAD SPENT ON THIS. AND NOW WITH THE REPAIRS IT WILL COST ME MORE THE FORD DEALER SAID THESE CARS ARE KNOWN FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. *AK

DEFECTIVE 3.8 LITER ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, CAUSING ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE CYLINDER. THIS ENGINE IS RECALLED IN OTHER MODELS, BUT NOT THE THUNDERBIRD. OWNER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIRS. *AK *ML

MY HEAD GASKETS BLEW AT 80,000 MILES. FORD HAS HAS A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE. THEY RERFUSE TO RECALL MY 1993 THUNDERBIRD. *AK

ENGINE WAS OVERHEATING DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE WHICH ALSO CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK INTO THE OIL. *AK

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED ON MY THUNDERBIRD WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AT HIGHWAY SPEED - THE CAR EMITTED A HUGE CLOUD OF VAPOR, OBSCURING THE ROAD BEHIND ME AND CAUSING ME TO IMMEDIATELY LOSE POWER. FORD HAS DECLINED TO COVER THE REPAIR COST, EVEN THOUGHT THE EXACT SAME ENGINE IN A TAURUS OR WINDSTAR VAN IS COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTLY PROGRAM FOR EXHIBITING THE SAME FAILURE. THIS DEFECT CAN PRESENT A SAFETY ISSUE, BY OBSCURING THE VISIBILITY OF CARS FOLLOWING AND CAUSING THE IMMEDIATE LOSS OF POWER IN MY VEHICLE.*AK

THIS FAILURE IS KNOWN BY FORD, AND RECALLS OF OTHER VEHICLES WITH THIS ENGINE HAVE BEEN DONE. BUT THEY REFUSE TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL/YEAR. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED WITHIN SUMMARY. *AK

DESPITE HAVING REGULAR SERVICE AS FORD MANUAL DETAILS, ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED OCT 23,1999 AT 65,975 MILES. I HAD NO WARNING OF ANYTHING WRONG UNTIL THAT SATURDAY MORNING WHEN I WAS DRIVING TO THE GROCERY AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED POURING FROM MY TAILPIPE. I WAS LESS THAN 1 MILE FROM HOME, SO I RETURNED. LIQUID WAS LEAKING OUT OF THE TAIL PIPE. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A GARAGE WHERE THE HEAD GASKET WAS REPLACED AT A COST OF $1100.00. I HAVE CONTACTED MY FORD DEALER WHO TOLD ME TO CALL THE FORD CUSTOMER HOTLINE. I HAVE DONE THAT SEVERAL TIMES BUT HAVE NOT BEEN HELPED. I HAVE WRITTEN A LETTER TO THE CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF FORD MOTOR DATED MARCH 8, 2000 BUT HAVE NOT RECEIVED A REPLY AS OF MARCH 29. FORD HAS ADMITTED PROBLEMS WITH THIS ENGINE ON THE FRONT WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES, BUT MY MECHANIC TOLD ME HE HAS HAD SEVERAL REPAIRS ON REAR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES SUCH AS MY CAR. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET CRACKED, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. FORD HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON VARIOUS MODELS. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED TWICE, AND OWNER WAS TOLD THAT HIS CAR WASN'T COVERED BECAUSE IT HAD A DIFFERENT COOLANT SYSTEM, AND BECAUSE THERE WEREN'T A LARGE ENOUGH AMOUNT OF STATISTICAL OCCURENCES REPORTED OF THE HEAD GASKET FAILING IN THIS MODEL FOR A RECALL. *AK *ML

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME, IN A YR-1/2 THE ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS FAILED.

RECALL WORK PERFORMED FOR THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH, PRIOR TO REPAIR THE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE ANY FAILURES, AFTER REPAIR OF THE RECALL COMPONENT VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHTS DUE TO A FAULTY MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH. *MJS

RECALL # 99V275000 FORD/HEADLIGHTS; DEALER WAS REFUSING TO NONOR RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL. DEALER INSISTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

COULD SMELL ANTIFREEZE COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE SHORTLY BEFORE THE HEAED GASKET BLEW AND ENGINE BEGAN TO RUN POORLY AND BLOW WHITE SMOKE FROM THE TAILPIPE. THIS REPAIR WAS VERY COSTLY AND FORD HAS BEGUN TO COMPENSATE OWNERS OF OTHER FORD MODELS WITH THE EXACT SAME ENGINE, BUT NO THE FORD THUNDERBIRD.T. *AK

PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT IS DEFECTIVE. YH

WHILE DRIVING IN NORMAL TRAFFIC THE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON, AND TEMPERATURE GAUGE WENT UP, CONSUMER HAD TO STOP 10 TIMES FOR WATER. THE HEAD GASKET BLEW SOON AFTER. OTHER FORD MODELS HAVE HAD THEIR ENGINES RECALLED, BUT THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED. CONSUMER ALSO COMPLAINS THAT THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE IS NOT EFFECTIVE, IT DOESN'T GIVE THE OWNER SUFFICIENT INFORMATION REGARDING THE LEVEL OF PRESSURE. *AK *ML

CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW BY FATHER IN 1993 AND PURCHASED BY ME (SON) IN 1999. ALL SERVICE TO VEHICLE HAS BEEN COMPLETED BY FORD DEALERS OR NATIONAL OIL CHANGE COMPANIES AT MANUFACTURER'S SPECIFICATIONS. THIS HEAD GASKET FAILURE IS VERY PREMATURE FOR THIS VEHICLE AND IS INDICITIVE OF A COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS ENGINE TYPE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

PLEASE ENCOURAGE FORD TO RECALL THIS PROBLEM ENGINE OR REIMBURSE COST OF REPAIRS!!! NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW 2X 1ST. TIME @ 67,000 MI, AND AGAIN @ 96,000 MI. JUNKED CAR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN REPLACED ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCASIONS, WITHIN 72000 MILES OF EACH OTHER. CONSUMER WANTS TO BE REIMBURSEDFOR REPAIRS. *AK *ML

FORD HAS EXTENDED WARRANTIES ON SOME MODELS FOR EARLY HEAD GASKET FAILURE,AT ABOUT 65,500 MILES, OUR CAR HAS THE SAME ENGINE IN IT AS THE RECALLS AND WE HAD FAILURE AT 48,000 MILES, I HAVE CONTACTED CUSTOMER SERVICE ONLY TO BE TOLD MINE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROGRAM, I HAVE WROTE A LETTER TO JIM O' CONNOR A FORD EXECUTIVE AND I HAVE RECEIVED A PHONE CALL FROM A CUSTOMER SERVICE REP. WHEN I QUESTIONED WHY SHE WAS ANSWERING MY LETTER INSTEAD OF JIM SHE REPLIED THAT HE GETS THOUSANDS OF LETTERS DAILY AND DOES"NT HAVE THE TIME TO READ OR ANSWER THEM. ALL SHE TOLD ME BASICALLY WAS WHAT I HAD WRITTEN IN MY LETTER AND SHE COULD'NT ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS. I WAS TOLD TO CALL 1-800-325-5621 WITH MY QUESTIONS, AND THAT MY LETTER WOULD BE FILED IN THEIR COMPUTER JUST IN CASE THEY LATER INCLUDED MY CAR IN THIS EXTENSION. I CALLED THE NUMBER ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT A DEALER HAD TO CALL THIS NUMBER FOR ME. SO I CALLED MY DEALER AND ASKED THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE 3.8L ENGINE IN MY CAR AND IN THE TAURUS OR WINDSTAR I WAS TOLD THAT THE DIFFERENCES WERE MINOR BUT THAT THE THUNDERBIRD HAD A SUPERIOR COOLING SYSTEM IN IT'S ENGINE. HE SUGGESTED THAT I COME IN AND FILL OUT A CUSTOMER REVIEW FORM AND THEY WOULD SUBMIT IT TO FORD AND THEY MAY HELP ME WITH THE BILL. MY MAJOR COMPLAINT IS THAT IF FORD IS RECOGNIZING A PROBLEM WITH THIS ENGINE AND EARLY HEAD GASKET FAILURE, WHY ARE THEY ONLY RECOGNIZING CERTAIN MAKES AND YEAR'S . MY CAR MAY BE A 93 , THE CAR'S IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY ARE 94'S AND 95'S BU

FAILED HEAD GASKET CAUSED ME TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. HEAD GASKET FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY 5 MONTHS AFTER 6 YEAR/100K EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED. SINCE FORD IS ALREADY RECALLING THIS ENGINE FROM OTHER CARS OF THE SAME ERA, IT IS LIKELY MY ENGINE HAD THE SAME DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS. *AK

LOCAL MECHANIC TOLD ME THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE3.8'S WISH I HAVE KNOWN SOONER. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

BIG PROBLEMS WITH ENGINE SAME ONE RECALLED IN OUTHER FORDS. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE BLOWN OUT, RENDERING THE ENGINE INOPERABLE. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING NOTICED STEAM COMING FROM THE TAIL PIPE. CALLED DEALER. DEALER STATED ENGINE GAS VALVE COVER BLEW OUT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURHTER INFORMATION. *AK

THE SEAT BELT BROKE WHEN MY SON THREW HIS BOOK BAG IN THE CAR. I CALLED FORD TO GET A REPLACEMENT PART AND THATS WHEN THEY TOLD ME IT WAS $258.00 . JUST FOR THE PART . IT IS HARD FOR ME TO BELIVE THAT IT BROKE THAT EASY. AND THAT THEY DONT JUST MAKE THE PLASTIC PART. I HOPE YOU CAN HELP

WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT A DEFECTIVE HEAD CASKET WAS ALSO SEEN ON ANOTHER 1993 T-BIRD (6 CYL). *AK

NHTSA RECALL 99V275000 CONCERNING HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILURE. CONSUMER HAD THIS RECALL REPAIRED ON DEC. 12, 1999, THE SWITCH HAS GONE BAD AGAIN ON 02-FEB-2000. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

HIGH MOUNTED STOP LIGHT BULBS FAIL DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD-UP IN PLASTIC HOUSING WHICH CAUSES PLASTIC BULB SOCKETS TO MELT TO BULBS. *MJS

ENGINE CONTINUALLY OVERHEATING, SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS HOWEVER HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO ENGINE. *MJS

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, SEAT BELT RETRACTOR THAT GOES ACROSS THE SHOULDERS WILL REETRACT AS IF THE DOOR WAS OPENED, AND THE SAME FOR THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. BUT, NOT IT'S BROKEN. *AK *SLC

FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS FAILED TO REMAIN LOCKED. AUTOMATIC MECHANISM FOR THE SHOULDER BELT WOULD DROP OUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE SPRING IN THE MECHANISM WAS BROKE & IT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. *AK

RECALL 99V275000; DEALER FIXED THE RECALL, BUT VEHICLE IS STILL EXPERIENCING HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONING WHICH MAY CAUSE VISIUAL DIFFICULTY, AND RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER NEEDED TO REPLACE "OTHER SWITCHES" AND WILL CHARGE CONSUMER. *AK

HEADLAMP SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE. NLM

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHT LENSES FADNG/DISCOLORATION WHICH CAUSE POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ON THIS MATTER. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCE FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT PRIOR TO NOTICE, REPAIRS MADE TO WRONG COMPONENT AND CONSUMER WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR PRIOR WRONG REPAIRS (99V-275). *MJS