1994 Ford Thunderbird complaints

I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AAA DIAGNOSIC AND FOUND OUT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER WHO SAID I WAS NOT COVERED SINCE THE CAR HAS 103,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AS PER FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. IT HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND HAS NEVER OVERHEATED. I HAVE ALL MAINTANENCE RECORDS SHOWING DILIGANT MAINTENENCE PRACTICES. THE HEADGASKET BLEW FROM DEFECT, YET FORD REFUSES TO COVER IT, FIRST STATING THE MILEAGE LIMIT AND THEN FURTHER STATING THAT, SINCE I WAS NOT THE ORGINIAL OWNER AND SINCE PRIOR REPAIR WORK HAD NOT BEEN DONE AT A FORD DEALERSHIP I WOULD NOT BE COVERED ANYWAY. FURTHERMORE THEY STATED THAT IF I HAD RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE AND BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO REPLACE THE GASKETS, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE FIXED GASKETS THAT WERE NOT YET BLOWN. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO SPEAK WITH ANYONE ABOVE PHONE REPRESENTATIVE OR SERVICE MANAGER. THE REGIONAL MANAGER (TARA OLSEN) WAS SUPPOSED TO EXPLAIN THE COMPANY'S REASONING BEHIND THEIR REFUSAL AND DISCUSS MY CONCERNS WITH ME YET SHE HAS YET TO RETURN MY CALLS AND HER DIRECT NUMBER IS "NOT ACCESSABLE TO THE PUBLIC." THE REPRESENTATIVE I SPOKE TO AT FORD HEADQUARTERS (DUNCAN ALDERSON) REFUSED TO DISCUSS THE ISSUE BEYOND A BLANKET REFUSAL, AND INSTEAD OF BEING TRANSFERED TO HIGHER-UPS, I WAS TRANSFERED TO SECURITY. I WOULD HAVE BEEN WILLING TO SPLIT THE COST WITH FORD IF THEY WOULD HAVE DEALT WITH ME REASONABLY, BUT THEY REFUSED TO DISCUSS OR NEGOTIATE A FLAW THAT THEY HAVE ADMITT

THE TRANSMISSION OF THIS VEHICLE HAS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND MANY MILES WILL WITHOUT WARNING EITHER DOWNSHIFT FROM OD WITHOUT ANY ALTERATION IN ACCELERATOR PRESSURE OR WILL JUMP INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE RPM WILL RAPIDLY INCREASE AND THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL PULLING POWER. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN CLIMING A HILL ON AN INTERSTATE OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATES WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO TRAFFIC TO THE REAR. REPAIR ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN FILTER AND FLUID CHANGE, FLUID LEVEL CHECKS ON A REGULAR BASIS, LINKAGE LUBRICATION, AND ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF THE VEHICLE IN GENERAL. I AM WONDERING IF THERE ARE INHERENT ISSUES WITH THIS STYLE OD TRANSMISSION. THE OTHER MAJOR FAILURES WERE LEFT SIDE HEAD GASKET AND SEVERE FRONT BRAKE PULSATION. THE DEALER FINALLY REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTORS WITH WHAT SEEMED A BETTER UNIT, AND I CONDUCTED THE REPAIRS ON BOTH SIDE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF ANY KNOWN ISSUES REGARDING THIS TRANSMISSION AND WHAT, IF ANY, RECOURSE FOR REPAIR I MIGHT EMPLOY. I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. GKW. *AK

FORD KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM, AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS AND/OR 100,000 MILES. THEY "CLAIM" THEY SENT ME A NOTICE IN APRIL OF 2,000, AND I KNOW I NEVER RECEIVED IT! NOW, THEY ARE SAYING THAT IT'S OUTSIDE COVERAGE, AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. REQUESTING YOU INVESTIGATE OTHER CLAIMS ON THIS AND SINCE IT'S WIDESPREAD WITH THIS VEHICLE TYPE, CONSIDER RECALLING THE T-BIRD FOR THE FAULTY HEAD GASKET. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH STEERING AND FRONT OF VEHICLE STARTED VIBRATING. HAD TO SLOW DOWN TO STOP VIBRATION. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

3.8 LITER ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT THE WARRANTY ENDED AND REPAIR WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN COVERED. *SLC

HEAD GASKET FAILED. CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY. SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKETS BUT IT WAS ONLY UP TO 100000 MILES OR 7 YEARS WAS NOT COVERED ANY MORE. I DO BELEIVE THE PROBLEM HAD STARTED SOME TIME AGO AS THE MOTOR KEPT USEING ANTIFREEZE. I THOUGHT THE RADIATOR HAD A SLOW LEEK BUT NOW I REALIZE IT WAS PROBABLY PUSHING THE ANTIFREEZE OUT THE OVERFLOW WHEN THE MOTOR WAS RUNNING. SO BEING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKETS I DO FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE HELP ON AT LEAST SOME IF NOT ALL OF THE REPAIRS. *AK

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE PREMATURELY FAILED CAUSING REPLACEMENT: ROTORS, OIL PRESSURE GAUGE AND SENDING UNIT, THERMOSTAT & GASKET, INSTRUMENT PANEL, POWER STEERING PUMP, BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, PISTON, TRANSHAFT, FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, INTAKE MANIFOLD, SERPENTINE BELT AND NOW THE HEADGASKETS ARE BLOWN

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED EXTREME VIBRATION WHEN BRAKING. VEHICLE SEEMED TO HAVE A DEFECT ALL TOGETHER. ROTORS AND CALIPERS HAVE BEEN CHANGED TWICE UNDER WARRANTY. IN DECEMBER, ROTORS AND DISCS WERE CHANGED AGAIN. CURRENTLY, 12,000 MILES LATER, ROTORS AND DISCS HAVE TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. REAR BRAKES WERE CHECKED, AND ORIGINAL WERE STILL ON. BRAKES WERE NOT EQUALIZED TO KEEP FROM SO MUCH WEAR ON FRONT.*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH ON HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE HAD SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH OF HOOD. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A PRIVATE COMPANY. HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWEN OUT. *AK

ENGINE BLOWN DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE, HAD TO REPLACE THE PULLEY THAT BROKE OFF RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER. *JB

TRANSMISSION LURCHES, ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL STALL, RPMS GO UP, BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE. *AK

AT 56000M HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED, AT 91000 HEAD GASKET OR INTAKE GASKET BLEW HAD TO BE REPLACED, UNDERSTAND THAT OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES HAVE HAD RECALL ON HEAD GASKETS BUT WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT MY MODEL NOT INCLUDED IN THESE RECALLS.*AK

IM JUST TRYING TO FILE A COMPLAINT AND GET HELP ON THIS MATTER. I HAVE CONTACTED THE BETTER BUSINESS B. AND I WAS TOLD THEY CAN'T HELP ME. I WORK HARD FOR MY MONEY TO SUPPORT MY FAMILY, I TRY TO GET BETTER EVERYTIME I CAN. WELL I HAVE PURCHASE THIS VEHICLE 1994 FORD T BRID TRADE IN THE VEHICLE THAT I HAD, BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE FOR $ 8000.00I DIDNT GET NO WARRANTY. NEXT DAY I DISCOVER (BECAUSE I BOUGHT IT THE NITE BEFORE AFTER WORK) THAT THE VEHICLES HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS. ( THIS VEHICLE IS FOR MY WIFE TO GET AROUND AND TAKE OUR HANDICAP SON TO DOCTORS APPOINTMENTS) I'VE SEEN THE CAR WAS PREVIOUSLY INTO AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THAT HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS AND I CALL THE DEALER TOLD THEM WAS GOIN ON WITH IT I WANT IT ANOTHER VEHICLE THEY ARE REFUSING TO DO IT ONLY TO FIXED IT I TOOK THE CAR IN THEY DIDNT DO ANYTHING STILL THE SAME PROBLEMS ONLY THING THEY DID WAS AN ALIGMENT. HOW CAN I HAVE MY WIFE DRIVING THIS CAR WITH MY SON IN A VEHICLE LIKE THIS. THE BBB WONT HELP, WHERES THE CONSUMER PROCTECTION AT? FOR THE PEOPLE OF LOW INCOME THAT WORKS HARD TO GET THINGS WE NEED SUPPORT A FAM. ETC. I CANT AFFORD A LAWYER. PLEASE HELP !???? THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP ON THIS MATTER! J. ALICEA

RUBBER SHIELD OF THE STEEL ACCELERATOR CABLES BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR WORE OFF, THIS CAUSED A SHORT CIRCUIT FROM THE ALTERNATOR TO THE GROUND, THE HOT POST OF THE ALTERNATOR ARCED ON THE CABLES AND MELTED THE MAIN LEAD TO THE BATTERY AND FRIED THE AREAS AROUND THE POST. *SLC

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (60MPH), ENGINE'CHECK GAUGES' LIGHT WENT ON - TEMP GAUGE WAS RISING AND WENT PASSED THE RED ZONE. THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND THE HEATER WAS BLOWING COLD AIR. AFTER EXAMINATIONS  I BLEW A HEAD GASKET. NOW I LEARN THAT THERE WAS A FORD PROGRAM EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE HEAD GASKET TO 7 YEARS/100,000 MILES - INITIATED APRIL, 2000. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE PROGRAM AND HAVE JUST EXCEEDED THE 100,000 MILES. FORD IS UNWILLING TO ASSIST ME IN ANY WAY, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND I WAS NOT ALERTED. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH AT LEAST 5 DIFFERENT DEALERS AND WITH 3 REPS AT THE CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AND HAVE REC'D MUCH CONTRADICTORY INFORMATION REGARD THE LOGISTICS OF THE CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION BULLETINS AND THE DETAIL OF THE PROGRAM. IM SORRY TO SAY THAT ALTHOUGH I WOULD NEVER BUY A FOREIGN CAR, MY NEXT CAR WILL NOT BE A FORD. *AK

AFTER VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP FROM SKIDDING, NOTHING WAS STRUCK/HIT, BOTH AIR BAGS INADVERTENTLY DEPLOYED. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED ,AND INFORMED CONSUMER TO TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND HAVE THEM CHECK FOR A MALFUNCTION DEFECT. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO CHECK FOR DEFECTS. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE CHECK GAUGES" LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH BOARD. I LOOKED AND SAW THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAD GONE UP AS FAR AS IT COULD GO. I BROUGHT IT TO AN AUTO SERVICE CENTER AND HAD IT CHECKED. I WAS TOLD I HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. MY CAR ONLY HAS 46,500 ON IT AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. I WAS TOLD THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THAT YEAR THUNDERBIRD AND I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS.*AK

WHILE PULLING OFF FROM A TOLL POLL FRONT BALL JOINT BROKE, CAUSING A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

TRANSMISSION IN THESE THUNDERBIRD IS TERRIBLE THE PERSON I BOUGHT IT FROM HAS ALREADY HAD IT FIXED AND I HAVE TOO. IT IS STARTING TO ACT UP AGAIN FOR EXAMPLE I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND MY CAR WILL SLIP GEAR AND WILL CAUSE ME TOO TEMPORY LOSE CONTROL. I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER DRIVERS. *AK

6TH CYLINDER NOT FIRING, LOSING OIL, VIBRATING SEVERELY WHEN ACCELERATING AFTER 40 MPH. *AK

CAR WOULD RUN AT 60-70 MILES PER HOUR WITHOUT PRESSING THROTTLE PEDAL. CAR WOULD RUN AWAY DUE DUE TO UNCOMMANDED THROTTLE.

AUTOMATIC BUTTONS THAT LOCK & UNLOCK GEARS TO SHIFT BROKE OFF WHILE IN USE. BUTTONS FAIL TO STAY IN PLACE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHERE MECHANIC REPAIRED BUTTONS WITH 1995 VEHICLE DUE TO BREAKAGE OF PLASTIC BUTTONS. ALSO, VEHICLE WOULD SHIMMY WHEN ACCELERATING. *AK

WHILE PARKED APPLIED BRAKES TO SWITCH INTO REVERSE, THERE WAS A LOUD POPPING NOISE, AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE WITH DRIVER'S FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. OWNER HAD TO APPLY EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE IN ORDER TO STOP. DEALER WAS REPLACING MASTER CYLINDER DUE TO BOLTS BREAKING.*AK

AUTO TRANS SHUDDERS SHIFTING 3-4 AND 4-3. SPEED CONTROL FAILED AT 15,000 MILES, FRONT DISC BRAKES PULSATE AND STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES.

EXCESSIVE WEAR OF BRAKE ROTORS. INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED THE VEHICLE VIBRATES VIOLENTLY. DEALER HAS REPLACED THE ROTORS AND PADS SEVERAL TIMES, AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK

THREAD SEPARATION AT HIGH SPEED CAUSED SEVERE SHAKING AND VIBRATION, RISKING LOSS OF CONTOL AND ACCIDENT.( DOT NUMBER: FR 480 ? TIRE SIZE: 215-70R15 )

3.8L ENGINE HAS GONE OUT ON MY 94 THUNDERBIRD 3 TIMES SINCE NEW. I DO DRIVE MY CAR FOR WORK AND PUT ON AVERAGE 35000 MILES A YEAR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A REACURRING PROBLEM FOR NOW I HAVE 95 MUSTANG ENGINE IN THIS CAR AND THE SAME PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED AGAIN. FIRST ENGINE REPLACED IN ALABAMA WITH A PRIVATE REPAIR PLACE SO I HAVE NO DOCUMENTATION OF REPAIR. SECOND WENT OUT AT 160,000 AFTER REBUILT. PURCHASED 3RD ENGINE FROM YOUNG MAN WHO WAS TAKING IT FROM MUSTANG TO INSTALL SOME THING BIGGER. THE THIRD HAD 65000 MILES AND HAS GONE OUT WITHIN 25000 MILES AFTER I INSTALLED IT. SEEMS KINDA FISHY WILL NEVER OWN A FORD AGAIN. FORD WILL NOT REEMBERSE ME FOR ANY REPAIR SINCE THE ONLY RECEIPT I AHVE REFLECTS 160000 MILES AT TIME OF 2ND REPAIR.

I RECEIVED A LETTER OF RECALL FOR THE HEADGASKETS ON MY CAR WHICH HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED AND, FORD REFUSED TO HONOR THEIR RECALL. APPARENTLY THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO PREVENT THIS PROPLEM CONSIDERING THEIR HAVE SEVERAL MAKE AND YEARS THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. ALSO I THINK IT IS ODD TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION COMPLETLY REBUILT 2 TIMES. FIRST TIME WAS 93000 MILES NEXT WAS 106000 MILES. SO FAR I HAVE SPENT MORE MONEY ON THIS CAR THAN ANY OF THE REST OF THE CARS I HAVE EVER HAD. GOING BACK TO THE HEADGASKETS, I TRIED TO TRADE MY T-BIRD FOR ANOTHER T_BIRD AND THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT DEAL WITH ME PERIOD. THANK YOU TINA TROUT. *AK

AFTER HAVING PUT IN A NEW ENGINE, THE NEWLY INSTALLED ENGINE ALSO FAILED AT 90,037 MILES. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS A STOP LIGHT AND WAS APPROACHING ANOTHER LIGHT. CONSUMER WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, AND THERE WAS A COKE BOTTLE THAT ROLLED UNDERNEATH BRAKES, AND VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP. WAS TRYING TO GET ATTENTION OF OTHER DRIVER, BUT SHE WAS A 16 YEAR OLD NEW DRIVER. A VEHICLE HIT HER DEAD CENTER, AND AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. SHE SUFFERED INJURIES. CONSUMER WANTS TO NO WHY AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY.*AK

NO SUMMARY

THERE ARE ACTULLY TO MANY OTHER THINGS TO LIST BUT I WOULD BE HAPPY TO MAIL COPIES OF ALL MAJOR SAFETY RELATED PROBLEMS THAT IVE HAD WITH THIS CAR.IM STILL HAVEING ENGINE ,TRANSMISSION,AND OTHER PROBLEMS NOT TO MENTION THE GAS SMELL THAT THE FORD DEALER SWEARS ISNT THERE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

CONSUMER IS GETTING A SHUTTER OR VIBRATION WHEN SHIFTING TO 3RD GEAR, CONSUMER HAS NOTICED THIS FOR ABOUT 9 MONTHS. CONTACTED DEALER AND HAD FLUID CHANGED. PROBLEM HAS NOT REOCCURRED SINCE. *AK *ML

THE ECC APPARENTLY FAILED 1 JUL 2000, ALTHOUGH DIAGNOSIS OF THIS WAS NOT KNOWN UNTIL THE CAR COULD BE SERVICED ON 5 JUL. THE ECC FAILED, COMMANDING A FUEL INJECTOR TO REMAIN OPEN, THUS INJECTING RAW FUEL INTO THE CYLINDER CONTINUOUSLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AFTER SEVERAL HOURS OF ENGINE STUMBLING ON 1 JUL. FORD DEFINES THIS PROBLEM AS, "HAVE YOUR VEHICLE SERVICED AS SOON AS CONVENIENTLY POSSIBLE." FOR THIS SITUATION, THIS COMMENT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE AS THE PROBLEM CAN CAUSE A FIRE. I STOPPED DRIVING THE CAR AFTER FILLING THE GAS TANK ON 2 JUL AND FINDING THE CAR CONSUMING MORE THAN A HALF TANK OF GAS IN THIRTY MILES OF DRIVING. THE CAR WAS SMOKING PROFUSELY FROM OIL BURN AND GAS COULD BE SMELLED BY FOLLOWING DRIVERS BY 4 JUL. THE CAR WAS DRIVEN ABOUT ONE MILE FROM ONE HOME TO ANOTHER AND THEN TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN STATES THAT A CAR WITH SIMILAR OCCURRENCE WAS IN LAST WEEK WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THAT HAD RESULTED IN A FIRE. THIS DISCHARGE OF RAW, EXCESS GAS INTO THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER IS MOST DANGEROUS. FORD SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM TO PRECLUDE DRIVING UNDER THESE CIRCUMSTANCES. THE ECC SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO COMMAND COMPETE SHUTOFF WHEN IT DETECTS AN ABNORMAL FUEL FLOW TO ANY CYLINDER. THE TOTAL COST TO ME FOR RESOLVING THIS PROBLEM IS IN EXCESS OF $450.00. THIS IS NOT A "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT THAT CAN BE IGNORED UNTIL CONVENIENT.

COMIN HOME FROM WORK BIG CLOUD OF SMOKE THEN THE CAR LOST POWER ,JERKING ,STARTED OVERHEATING , SMOKE BEGAN COMINING FRO THE HOOD HAD IT TOWED TO CARTWRIGHT AUTO , MECHANIC TOLD ME IT WAS BLOWN GASKET ,TWO HOURS LATER MECHANIC CALLED AND SAID THE MOTOR WAS BLOWED DUE TO BLOWN GASKET AND WOULD NEED A NEW MOTOR .*AK

MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS STOPPED WORKING. *AK

WHEN VEHICLE WARMS UP IT GOES INTO NEUTRAL SPONTANEOUSLY AND WITHOUT BEING TOUCHED AT ALL. ALSO, VEHICLE LURCHES TO 1000RPMS, AND THEN GOES BACK TO NORMAL*AK.

TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR, RPMS RUN HIGH, AND THEN IT GOES BACK INTO GEAR, AND JUMPS FORWARD. *AK

THE TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR BY ITSELF. IT HAPPENS AT ALL SPEEDS SPORADICALLY. WHEN IT SLIPS THE CAR SLOWS DOWN,WHICH HAS CAUSED A COUPLE OF DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. MORE DANGEROUS STILL IS THAT WHEN IT SLIPS THE R.P.M.'S JUMP HIGHER AND SOMETIMES THE TRANSMISSION THEN GRABS AND THE CAR LURCHES SUDDENLY FORWARD.THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED US TO CRASH TWICE;ONCE ON THE FREEWAY AND ONCE ON A SHARP TURN.*AK

THE ENGINE IN THIS VEHICLE HAS PERFORMED WITHOUT FLAW. I LEARNED FROM MY DEALER THAT A LETTER WAS ISSUED TO OWNERS WITH INFORMATION ON PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON THE 3.8 L ENGINE. I DID NOT RECEIVE THIS LETTER DUE TO DEALER ERROR. THE DEALER DID NOT PROPERLY REGISTER ME HAS THE ONWER OF THE VEHICLE WITH FORD MOTER COMPANY. THEREFOR I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY PENDING PROBLEMS. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ERROR AND NO SUPPORT FOR REPAIR WOULD BE GIVEN. HAD I BEEN AWARE OF SUCH PROBLEM, CORRECTIVE MEASURE COULD HAVE BEEN PERFORMED WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SUPPORT THE CALL TAKER WAS VERY RUDE AND OFFERED NO SUPPORT WHAT SO EVER. ALSO, COMMENTS WERE MADE TO THE AFFECT THAT I SHOULD CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY THAT THE CAR LASTED AS LONG AS IT DID. I HAVE MAINTAINED MY CAR AS PRESCRIBED BY FORD SINCE IT HAS BEEN IN MY POSSESSION. I FEEL THIS MAY BE AN ATTRIBUTING FACTOR IN THE EXTRA MILEAGE BEFORE FAILURE. HOWEVER, BASED ON MY CARE OF THE CARE, I AM EXPECTED TO COVER THE CAOST OF A KNOWN FLAW IN THE HEAD GASKET. I AM REQUESTING ASSISTANCE FOR THE REPAIR OF MY VEHICLE.*AK

THE STOP LIGHT MODULE IN REAR WINDOW HAS MELTED BECAUSE OF HEAT CAUSED BY THE LIGHT BULBS. THE MELTING HAS CRUSHED ON BULB AND CANNOT REPLACE THE BULB. FEAR OF HIGH HEAT MAY CAUSE A FIRE.

VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STOPPED RUNNING. VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. SHOP MANGER SAID THERE WAS COOLANT IN THE OIL AND THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS REPAIRED THERE WAS STILL A PROBLEM WITH COOLANT IN THE OIL. THEY REMOVED THE VALVE TIMING CHAIN COVER TO FIND THAT ONE OF THE FREEZE PLUGS HAS RUSTED THRU CAUSING THE COOLANT TO BECOME MIXED WITH THE OIL. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE RUSTED THRU FREEZE PLUG AND THREE OTHERS IN THE AREA. AFTER ALL THESE REPAIRS THE CAR STILL DOES NOT RUN CORRECTLY AND EMITTS A LOUD RATTLING SOUND FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE.WE HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR NAMELY THE TRANSMISSION AND THE AIR CONDITIONING.*AK

ROUGH 3-4 UPSHIFT WITH INCREASE IN RPMS, WHEN DRIVING AT 55-60MPH RPMS WILL SUDDENLY GO UP AND DOWN. *AK

CAR SHIFTS INTO NEUTRAL FROM ANY GEAR UNEXPECTEDLY. *AK

I, AS WELL AS MY FAMILY HAVE DEALT WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, HOWEVER I MUST SAY THIS OCCURENCE IS AN OUTRAGE! I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR RECENTLY. I HAVE A 94 FORD T BIRD THAT I BOUGHT LAST YEAR AND HAVE JUST BEEN CONTACTED BY LETTER THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 94 T BIRD FOR THE HEADS. THIS THROUGHLY EXPLAINS TO ME WHY THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP THREE TIMES OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. MY MECHANIC HAS CHECKED FOR A RADIATOR LEAK BECAUSE THE COOLENT LIGHT IS ON AND I'M CONTINUOUSLY LEAKING COOLENT. I HAVE HAD A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST LOOK AT MY CAR FOR POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE CAR IS DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED TO TRY A FIX THIS MOST INCONVENIENT PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP ANOTHER TIME FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. THREE BILLS HAVE BEEN PAID SPECIFICALLHY BECAUSE OF LEAKING COOLANT. SINCE I DON'T RELIGIOUSLY KEEP RECEIPTS I ONLY HAVE ONE, WHICH ONLY PUTS ME OUT ABOUT 650.00 BECAUSE OF A RECALL FROM FORD MOTOR CO THAT SAYS THE COOLENT IS LEAKING OUT THROUGH THE HEADS BASICALLY DESTROYING MY CAR ENGINE. THIS DOES NOT ACCOUNT FOR THE NUMBER OF TIMES I HAVE HAD TO PULL OFF THE ROAD AND LET MY CAR COOL DOWN BECAUSE OF OVERHEATING. I HAVE BEEN GIVEN TWO OPTIONS BY THE COMPANY. THE WILL REPAIR THE HEADS WITH MANUFACTURED HEADS AND GIVE ME A 12 MONTH WARRANTY OR IF I WAIT MORE THAN 5 DAYS FOR THE SERVICES THEY WILL GIVE ME A 3000.00 DOLLAR GIFT CERTIFICATE TO BUT A NEW CAR THAT I CAN'T AFFORD AND

VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING, AND RADIATOR COOLANT STARTED LEAKING & EVENTUALLY VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN. DEALER STATED IF THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED, THEY WOULD PAY FOR IT. BUT, IF THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED, THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT. *AK

PASSENGER SEAT HITS CONSOLE WHEN MOVED FORWARD, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES-THE STEERING AND CAR SHAKES BADLY, BOTH SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOWS BINDS WHEN GOING UP OR DOWN,SHIFTER HANDLE BROKE OFF CAUSING TO HOLD PIECE IN WHEN SHIFTING TO DRIVE-PARK-ETC., BOTH ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW AT THE SAME TIME ALONG WITH A COOLANT TUBE, ROCKER ARM LOCK NUT WAS BAD CAUSING LOUD NOISES IN ENGINE, SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STICKS ON 0. I BOUGHT IT AT SUBURBAN FORD IN ELGIN, BUT MOVED TO ELK GROVE AND TOOK MY CAR TO LARRY ROESCH FORD FOR THE REPAIRS. MY CAR STILL NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT IN FOR BRAKES, ENGINE RUNS ROUGH AND HESITATES AT A LOW SPEED, THE SEAT IS STILL BROKEN, SHIFTER ALSO STILL BROKEN, WINDOWS STILL BIND, THE BRAKES AND ENGINE IS WHAT WORRIES ME THE MOST. AFTER ALL THE TIMES I BROUGHT IT IN, THEY STILL HAVEN'T FIXED ANYTHING. IN FACT, THE LAST TIME I BROUGHT IT IN, SOME BOLTS WERE MISSING FROM THE ENGINE. ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS, PLEASE CONTACT ME. THANK YOU. *AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW ON MY 3.8L FORD THUNDERBIRD. CAR ONLY HAD 83,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD READ THAT OTHER FORD 3.8L ENGINES HAVE HAD THIS PROBLELM AND THAT FORD MAY BE EXTENDING WARRENTIES TO COVER THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE INFORM ME OF ANY EXTENSIONS ON WARRENTIES OR IF FORD HAS A PROGRAM TO REIMBURSE OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *AK

WE WERE ORIGANLLY TOLD OUR CAR NEEDED A NEW COMPUTER CHIP,WE NOW BELIEVE IT WAS A BLOWN HEADGASKET THE ENTIRE TIME. THE CAR RAN "ALRIGHT" FOR A MONTH OR SO,BUT NEVER QUITE THE SAME,AFTER WE GOT THE CHIP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS REMAINED ON,THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO RE-START THE COMPUTER,AND ADDTIONAL $200.00. WE DROVE IT FOR ANOTHER MONTH,UNTIL IT FINALLY JUST QUIT. AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT MECHANIC'S THEY ALL INFORMED US IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD-GASKET ALL ALONG. SEVERAL OTHER T-BIRD OWNERS HAVE TOLD US THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO THEM,AT APPROX. THE SAME MILAGE. HAS THERE OR WILL THERE BE A RECALL ON THE HEAD-GASKETS? OW MANY COMPLAINTS DO THEY NEED TO RECIEVE,BEFORE THEY WILL RE-CALL A VEHICLE?*AK( DOT NUMBER: )