1993 Ford Thunderbird complaints

RIGHT ENGINE HEAD GASKET ORIGINALLY FAILED 11/95 WHEN THE CAR WAS EXPERIENCING UNEXPLAINED BUCKING SENSATION UNDER LOAD IN COLD WEATHER. AFTER NUMUROUS VISITS AND ALTERNATIVE REPAIRS, DEALER FINALLY FIGURED OUT PROBLEM AND REPLACED RIGHT HEAD GASKET IN 3/97. BOTH GASKETS ALONG WITH WATER PUMP FAILED THIS TIME. DEALER CONTENDS ORIGINAL REPAIR DONE RIGHT, AND STATED THE NEW HEAD GASKETS CAN BE EXPECTED TO FAIL WITHIN SEVERAL YEARS AGAIN. *AK

ALUMINUM ENGINE HEADS CRACKED, WITH LEAKAGE. SERVICE CENTER SUGGESTED WE REPORT THIS, SINCE HE HAS REPAIRED ABOUT 20 OTHER AUTOMOBILES IN THE LAST 24 MONTHS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE SAME MILEAGE. SAYS HEADS DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH METAL AT THE HEAD BOLTS AND REPAIRS WILL BE NECESSARY AGAIN AFTER 50-70000 MILES. SERVICE CENTER WILL BACK UP THIS STATEMENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE ANY FLAW OR DEFECT IN THIS ENGINE. VERY COSTLY REPAIR. THANK YOU...MRS. T. CARROLL. *AK

REPORTING BOTH FRONT FOLDED SEAT WILL NOT STAY LATCH, SEAT BACK CAN BE MOVE BY PUSHING BACK ON SEAT. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIRS UNLESS COST GO TO CONSUMER.

HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (99V-275) CAUSING LIGHTS TO FLICKER. PRIOR TO NOTICE DEALER REPLACED THE DIMMER SWITCH WHICH DID NOT RECTIFY THE FLICKERING PROBLEM. CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE WRONG PART THAT WAS CHANGED. NLM

RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 99V275000 IN MAIL. CONTACTED DEALER & SET APPOINTMENT. WAS INFORMED BY SERVICE MANAGER THAT RECALL APPLIED ONLY TO NEW DESIGN OF HEADLIGHT SWITCH. INFORMATION IN LETTER DID NOT STATE HEADLIGHT DESIGN. OWNER HAD SWITCH REPLACED TWICE BEFORE RECEIVING NOTICE. MANUFACTURER WAS BACKING DEALERSHIP. OWNER WANTED AREFUND BASED ON WHAT WAS IN LETTER. OWNER UPSET. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE SHOULDER BELT DOESN'T WORK DUE TO THE RETRACTOR NOT OPERATING PROPERLY. *AK

CONSUMER UNABLE TO HAVE RECALL 99V-275 REPAIRED FOR THE HEADLIGHT FLICKERING DUE TO DEALER PROBLEM. *NLM

HEADLAMPS EXHIBITED FLICKERING CONDITION PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 99V-275. *NLM

THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH IS CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO FLICKER AND GO OUT. IN ONORDER TO TURN THE HEADLIGHTS ON, CONSUMERHAS TO TURN ON THE TURN SIGNALS FIRST. THE DEALER HAS REPLACED THE SWITCH. *AK

THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A GASOLINE LEAK; THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DEVELOPED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE OF RECALL. I JUST BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTOMOBILE SERVICE FACILITY. THEY CHARGED ME HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR REPAIR. TONIGHT, I SEARCHED THE INTERNET, AND FOUDN NHTSA CAMPAING ID NUMBER 99V159000 WITH WHAT SOUNDS LIKE MY PROBLEM. HOWEVER, BECAUSE MY CAR IS REGISTERED IN VIRGINIA (NONE OF THE LISTED STATES), I NEVER WAS GIVEN NOTICE. PLEASE ADVISE HOW I WOULD OBTAIN REIMBURSEMENT/WHETHER THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MY VEHICLE. IT IS EXTRAORDINARILY DANGEROUS, AND I AM NOT SURE THAT MY SERVICE FACILITY (NON-DEALER) KNOWS HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM (I.E., STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN PASSENGER CABIN PERSISTS, THOUGH LEAK WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN FIXED.

HEAD LIGHT SWITCH AND WIRING CONNECTOR FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE CAUSING THE HEAD LIGHT FLICKERING ON AND OFF RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY.(99V-275) YH

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT PRIOR TO NOTICE AND REPAIRED AT A NON-FORD DEALERSHIP, REIMBURSEMENT DENIED DUE TO LOCATION OF REPAIR (99V-275). MJS

THE HIGH MOUNTED STOP LAMP ASSEMBLY HAS MELTED. DELAER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

AFTER COMPLETE HEADLIGHT FAILURE WHILE DRIVING, TOOK CAR TO DEALER FOR REPAIR. I WAS ADVISED BY MECHANIC THAT MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH ASSEMBLY WAS BURNED DUE TO "QUOTE" EXCESSIVE DRAW FROM HEADLAMP AND FOG LAMP SWITCHES. HE ADVISED ME THAT HEADLAMP AND FOG LAMP SWITCHES WERE NOT IN STOCK BUT TO REPLACE MULTIFUNTION SWITCH AND HARDSHELL AND NOT TO USE FOG LAMPS. HE COULD NOT CONFIRM THAT MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH AND HARDSHELL WERE IN FACT DEFECTIVE. I HAD THE REPAIR MADE AT COST OF $224.08. ANOTHER FORD DEALER EXAMINED THE OLD MULTIFUNTION SWITCH AND HARDSHELL AND DID NOT BELIEVE THERE WAS ANYTHING WRONG WITH THEM. ON NOV. 22 1999 I WENT TO BOB SIGHT FORD TO PRESENT RECALL #99S30, I ALSO REQUESTED A FULL REFUND FOR THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THIS HEADLAMP SWITCH RECALL PROVES THAT IF THE MULTIFUNTION SWITCH AND HARDSHELL WERE DEFECTIVE IT IS THE DIRECT CAUSE OF THE HEADLAMP SWITCH BEING DEFECTIVE. I TRULEY BELIEVE I WAS SOLD PARTS THAT WERE NOT DEFECTIVE. THE MAN I SPOKE TO PUT MY RECALL LETTER AND SERVICE RECEIPT BACK ON THE COUNTER AND TOLD ME THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO FOR ME. *AK

THE BULBS IN THE HIGH MOUNTED STOP LIGHT MELTED THROUGH THE PLASTIC WHICH MAY HAVE CAUSED A FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

HEADLIGHTS BLINK, FAIL CONTINOUSLY AFTER REPEATED ATTEMPTS TO REPAIR BY DEALERSHIP

THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM

WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY AT APPROX 45MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKING/ROUGH IDLING. CONTACTED LOCAL MECHANIC THERE WAS A BLOWEN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. CONTACTED A LOCAL FORD DEALER, WHO SAID THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM. *AK

STEERING WHEEL UNHINGED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. YH

HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING CAR TO OVERHEAT AND BLOWING WATER THROUGH THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THIS HAPPENED WITH NO WARNING OF OVERHEATING WHATSOEVER. AS A MATTER OF FACT, NO PROBLEMS INCURRED UP TO THIS POINT. THIS INCIDENT LEFT DRIVER STRANDED AS VEHICLE WAS IMMOBILIZED.

STEAM COMES OUT OF ALL AIR VENTS AFTER FIVE MINUTES OF RUNNING, ALONG WITH A BAD SMELL; WATER COMES OUT ONTO PASSENGER FLOOR; ENGINE GETS VERY HOT AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES; COOLANT CONSTANTLY LEAKS. DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS BLINK ON AND OFF FOR PERIODS OF TIME. DLR HAS REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

THROTTLE BODY LEVER GROMMET DRY ROTTED. THEREFORE, THE LEVER DISENGAGED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR CAUSING SERIOUS TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. THIS PART WAS RECALLED ON THE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR OF MY CAR IN DECEMBER 93 (RECALL #93B31). THE REPLACEMENT GROMMET WAS METAL. I HAD MY CAR AT A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR IN MAY 93 AND THIS PART WAS NOT REPLACED OR NOTIFIED. CONTACTING FORD, I WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL . THOUGH I HAVE HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL, THEY WILL NOT EXCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGES. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE?

GAS TANK IS LEAKING FLUID AT THE SEAM ONTO TO THE GROUND. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING A FIRE IGNITED AT THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICL., WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM A SHORTIN THE HEADLAMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

REAR RUNNING LIGHTS THAT GO ACROSS THE BACK OF THE CAR DO NOT LIGHT UP. WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN OR SNOW THE BACK OF THE CAR IS NOT VISABLE. *AK

WHEN SWITCHING FROM BRIGHT TO DIM LIGHTS THE LIGHTS GO COMPLETELY OUT. COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BUT WAS FORTUNATE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS.

SEAT BELT LIGHT DOES NOT GO OUT, UNABLE TO BE FIXED. MJS

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF TO ABOUT 70 TO 80 MPH . CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE PEDAL WAS HARD, AND DID NOT STOP VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. *AK

NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN REPORTED. THIS IS MOST DEFINATELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? LAST FAILURE WAS AT A RATE OF OVER 60MPH AROUND A CURVE WITH NO AMBIENT LIGHTING ON THE ROADWAY. THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO VISIBILITY AFTER THE INCIDENT.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCLERATED WHICH MIGHT HAVE RESULTED IN A CRASH. COMMON PROBLEM. VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE AND WOULD NOT DECELRATE; DRIVER COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. SPEED REACH 90 MPH BEFORE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO SHUT VEHICLE DOWN. *AK

HEAD GASKETS: W/O ANY WARNING WHATSOEVER SUDDENLY THERE APPEARED WHITE SMOKE FROM EXHAUST PIPE, TEMP. GAUAGE WENT UP, CAR HAD NOT BEEN USING ANY OIL AND/OR ANTI-FREEZE WHICH IS A HEADS UP TO SUCH A PROBLEM OCCURING. ALL MAINTENANCE HAD ALWAYS BEEN KEPT UP ON A REGULAR BASIS ON VEHICLE. TOLD AT TIME THAT THIS PROBLEM HAD HAPPENED THAT THE NEXT THING THAT WOULD HAPPEN WOULD BE THE ENGINE WOULD GO. THE FIRST WEEK OF SEPT. JUST LIKE MECHANIC SAID, THE ENGINE WENT THERE AGAIN, W/O ANY NOTICE. IT THROUGH A ROD. WAS TOLD THAT TO SAVE PROBLEMS/TIME, SHOULD ACTUALLY JUST GO AHEAD AND REPLACE BOTH WHEN DOING THE OTHER BECUASE IT WOULD HAPPEN. TOLD FORD MOTOR AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM WITHIN A 3 YR. RANGE ON THIS MOTOR & HEAD GASKETS. THEY HAVE SENSE IMPROVED PROBLEM BUT THAT DOES NOTHING TO HELP OUT THOSE OF US WHO BOUGHT THOSE YEARS. PUT OUT THE MONEY OR PART IT OUT! FOR THOSE OF US WHO HAVE KEPT UP OUR VEHICLES, WE HAVE NO CHOICE. FORD MOTOR KNOWINGLY AWARE OF THIS SHOULD HAVE SOME RESPONSIBILITY. AM IN THE PROCESS OF CONTACTING THEIR CONSUMER AFFAIRS DIVISION IN ORDER TO DISCUSS BUT KNOW WHAT THEY'LL HAVE TO SAY..."OUT OF WARRANTY"...YOU'RE STUCK!

WITHOUT WARNING, HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AT 75,000 MILES. VEHICLE WAS MAINTAINED ACCORDING TO FORD RECOMMENDED SERVICE SCHEDULE. THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM IN 1989-1995 FORD 3.8L V6 ENGINES.

THE RIGHT LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE WHILE DRIVING, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

VEHICLE KEEPS CUTTING OFF, CIRCUITING OUT, A/C DOES NOT WORK. SEEMS TO BE ELECTRICAL. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

THE CAR OVERHEATS AND RUNS POORLY, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS A LEAKY INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET. I HAD IT CHECKED FOR HYDRO CARBONS AT A GARAGE WHICH IT HAS, INDICATING A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. I WAS TOLD THAT THE LOCAL MERCURY DEALER WAS FLOODED WITH 3.8L BLOWN HEAD GASKETS. WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIER WILL BE A RECALL.

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING A FUEL LEAK. *AK

HEADLIGHTS FAILED DUE TO A BAD ELECTRICAL SWITCH, RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS SHORT OUT WHILE DRIVING, AND SMOKE APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM IGNITION SWITCH AREA. DEALER CONTACTED AND FAULTY PARTS WERE REPLACED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 45MH AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT, CAUSING ENGINE COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE. *AK

FRONT END LOWER CONTROL ARMS POORLY DESIGNED, TOO MUCH PLAY WHEN BRAKING, CAR LOOSES ABILITY TO STAY IN LINE. *ET

CAUSES COMPLETE HEADLIGHT LOSS WHEN USED

HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER OFF & ON. DEALER SAID WIRING HAD MELTED TO DUE EXTREME HEAT. WHAT CAUSED EXTREME HEAT?

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE FAILED. THE BELT IS ATTACHED TO DOOR & CAN HEAR MOTOR HUMMING. THE BELT IS STUCK IN SAME POSITION. WILL NOT GO UP OR DOWN. TAKING VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TO CHECK.

EA99005, HEADLIGHT SWITCH; INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIIVNG THE HEADLIGHTS BEGAN TO FLASH ON AND OFF BEFORE GOING OFF COMPLETELY. THE DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. ABOUT ONE YEAR AND SIX MONTHS AGO THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

IN ALL CASES, THE HEAD LIGHTS WILL FLASH OFF AND ON AFTER BEING ON FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DRIVER SIDE WILL BURN OUT REPEATEDLY. THE PARK LIGHTS AND INDICATOR LIGHTS WILL FAIL REPEATEDLY. THE RADIO WILL FAIL ALL AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THESE ELECTRICAL/LIGHT FAILURES HAPPEN MORE OFTEN BUT NOT AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN I TURN THE GROUND LIGHTS ON.

WHEN ACCELERATING TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE, FOOT WAS TAKEN OFF GAS PEDAL TO BRAKE BUT VEHICLE KEPT ACCELERATING. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. INCIDENT OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS.*AK.ET.

DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER'S SIDE SHOULDER SEAT BELTS DON'T WORK WHEN CONSUMER OR PASSENGER GET INTO VEHICLE, SHOULDER BELTS GET STUCK WHEN TRYING TO GET THEM ACROSS CHEST. ALSO, MOTOR IS BURNING OUT, CAUSING SHOULDER BELTS TO WORK IMPROPERLY. *AK

BOTH DOORS SAG THEY MUST BE LIFTED TO CLOSE WHICH IS VERY DIFFICULT DO TO MY CONDITION IT IS ALSO ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO EXIT FROM THE DRIVERS SIDE WITHOUT APPLYING A LOT OF FORCE. SEAT BELT MOTOR ON DRIVERS SIDE IS INTERMITTENT HOWEVER SHOULDER BELT IS NEARLY ALWAYS USELESS IN THE UNSECURED POSITION.

WHILE MAKING A STOP THE ENGINE STARTED ACCELERATING WHILE CONSUMER WAS DEPRESSING THE BRAK PEDAL. REAR WHEELS WERE STILLTRAVELING. ENGINE IDLED TO 65 MPH. CONSUMER HAD TO TURN VEHICLE OFF TO STOP THE ACCLERATION. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

TEMPERATURE NEEDLE RUNS HIGH ON THE CAR, AND BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING OUT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. MECHANIC SAID THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT. *AK