1995 Ford Thunderbird complaints

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT A 25 MPH FRONTAL IMPACT WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANTS IN THIS CRASH. MECHANIC SAID THAT DRIVER'S AIRBAG SENSOR WAS INOPERATIVE. MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. *AK *ML

WHILE ACCELERATING TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO NEUTRAL UNEXPECTEDLY. THIS MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER HAD TRANSMISSION REBUILT. *AK *ML

BAD PAINT- BAD PAINT- BAD PAINT. NO SAFETY DEFECT. *AK

DEALER'S REP HAS BEEN TALKED TO APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES. FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS BEEN CALLED TWICE; ONCE IN FEB AND ONCE IN OCT. I WAS TOLD BY THE CUST SVC CLERK THAT FORD HAD MY FIRST CALL DOCUMENTED. I TOLD HER THIS TIME THAT I WAS GETTING CONCERNED BECAUSE OF THE DECREASE OF VISIBILITY OF THE HEADLIGHTS. SHE SAID THAT SHE WOULD "KICK IT UP THE CHAIN" TO SEE IF MY COMPLAINT WOULD GET ATTENTION. DURING THAT SAME TIME FRAME, I WAS CALLED BY THE DEALER'S REP AND TOLD THAT IF I WOULD AGREE TO PAY $100, THE DEALER WOULD REPLACE THE LENS AND ABSORB THE REMAINDER OF THE $600 COST. I TOLD HIM THAT NEITHER I NOR THE DEALER SHOULD "EAT" THIS REPAIR. I MAINTAIN THAT IT IS A MANUFACTURER'S PROBLEM. BOTTOM LINE, THE LENS ARE A YELLOWISH COLOR, WITH MINOR CRACKS AND WATER/CONDENSATION IN THEM. *AK

HEADLIGHT LENS LEAK WATER INTO THEM, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE THE ROAD AT NIGHT. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

BRAKES SHUTTER ON APPLICATION FIRST TIME DEALER "CUT" THE ROTORS AND TOLD US THEY WHERE A POOR COMPOSITE. WHY HAVE THEY NOT BEEN RECALLED AND WHY WILL FORD NOT REPLACE THEM? I'VE LOOKED AT THE COMPLAINTS WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES

I HAVE REPLACED BRAKES AND ROTORS TWICE SINCE OWNING AND NEED TO DO IT AGAIN.THE BRAKES I HAD PUT ON 6 MONTHS AGO ARE NOW CHIPPING. THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THIS THUNDERBISD FEELS INADEQUATE.SEEING THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THE 95 THUNDERBIRD.WHY ISN'T SOMETHING BEING DONE ABOUT IT?

WOULD NOT MOVE. MOTOR WAS IN GOOD WORKING ORDER, BUT RETRACTOR ITSELF MADE OF PLASTIC BROKE IN TWO.

HAVING PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION SHIFTING FROM 1ST AND 2ND GEAR. ALSO SLUGGISH/SHUDDERS

THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES BY THE DEALER BUT THEY CONTINUED TO WARP AND FINALLY MY WARRENTY AND MY PATIENCE ENDED. YOU CAN ONLY LOSE SO MUCH TIME FROM WORK TO REPAIR A CAR. IN ITS FIRST FOUR MONTHS THE DEALER HAD THE CAR AS MUCH AS I DID.

NO SUMMARY

HEAD GASKET FAILED. NLM

VEHICLE HEADLIGHT LENS EXPERIENCED DISCOLORATION, RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY AT NIGHT. REPORTED INCIDENT TO DEALER AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT PART WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND COST OF LENS REPLACMENT WOULD BE AT CONSUMER COST. ASKING NHTSA FOR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

AT THE TIME OF FAILURE, MY VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING @40MPH. A THICK WHITE SMOKE, WITH AN ODOR, WAS EMITTED FROM EXHAUST. THE CAR HAD NOT OVERHEATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. UPON BRING THE CAR TO A LICENCED FORD DEALER (ISLAND FORD, IN STATEN ISLAND NY), I LEARNED THAT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN REQUIRIN $1500 IN REPAIR CHARGES. I HAVE SINCE LEARNED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS PROBLEMS OF THE SAME CIRCUSTANCE WITH OTHER FORDS OF THE SAME YEAR THAT ALSO HAVE 3.8L ENGINES. RECALL 98-M01 WAS ISSUED TO COVER THE OTHER VEHICLES, HOWEVER, THE THUNDERBIRD MODEL WAS NOT INCLUDED.

VEHICLE WA S PARKED IN PARKING LOT. SUBSEQUENTLY, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN BACKING THE VEHICLE, WITHOUT WARNING DRIVESHAFT SNAPS AND MAKES CLUNKING SOUND. DRIVESHAFT COULD BRAKE AND COME APART. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE SINCE DRIVESHAFT IS VERY CLOSE TO THE FUEL TANK. *AK

THE CAR HAS BEEN VERY WELL MAINTAINED AND OUT OF THE BLUE THE ENGINE BLOWS UP NO WARNING SIGNS NOTHING I FEEL THE HAS BE SOME MANAFATURE DEFECT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 5 MINUTES A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. NO PREVIOUS PROBLEMS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

IT IS THE PAINT ON THE CAR, NOT ANY FAILED COMPONENTS. WE HAVE REPEATEDLY CONTACTED THE DEALER TO NO AVAIL. WE HAVE ALSO CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CORP. I RECENTLY SAW TWO OTHER FORD THUNDERBIRDS WITH THE EXACT DEFECT PATTERNS IN THE PAINT. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. *AK

OCCASIONALLY WHEN GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, IT WILL NOT RETURN IMMEDATELY, CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD. *AK

CATALYTIC CONVERTER PERMATURELY CLOGGED. VEHICLE NEEDED THREE CATALYTIC CONVERTERS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. SEEKING ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND HELP FROM NHTSA IN THIS MATTER. *AK

BRAKE ROTORS FAILURE, MAKES ROARING NOISE. YH

TRANSMISSION JUMPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEED. FIRST WAS JUMPING IN AND OUT OF OVERDRIVE, AFTER JUMPS OUT OF OVERDRIVE WILL JUMP OUT OF GEAR. IF NOT IN OVERDRIVE JUMPS IN AND OUT OF GEAR

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF OVERDRIVE AND WENT INTO DRIVE. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IS SHAKING AND VIBRATING DUE TO WARPED ROTORS. CONSUMER HAD ROTORS REPLACED FOUR TIMES, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

UPON RESEARCH OF THE 3.8 FORD ENGINES, I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE IS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH BLOWN HEAD GASKETS, MOST SPECIFICALLY IN THE TAURUS. HOWEVER, THE THUNDERBIRD IS ALSO EXPERIENCING THE PROBLEM. FORD HAS RECALLED THE TAURUS, BUT NOT THE THUNDERBIRD. THERE WERE NO PRIOR EVIDENCES OF GASKET TROUBLES. I HAD THE CAR CHECKED OUT BY 2 KNOWLEDGEABLE MECHANICS PRIOR TO PURCHASE, AND BY MY REGULAR MECHANIC PRIOR TO THE USED WARRANTY. ALL AGREED IT TO BE A CLEAN CAR AND GOOD DEAL. THE HEAD GASKETS JUST BLEW WITH ABSOLUTELY NO WARNING. AFTER LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS WITH FORD, THEY REFUSED TO STAND BEHIND THE DEFFECT. *AK

I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS, HOWEVER CAR STILL HAS NO POWER BRAKES AND STALLS AFTER BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED. EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN PAINT JOB!

BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TURNING SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS, DUE TO WARPING.

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE CAR SLOWS DOWN,BUT WILL NOT STOP. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE PARALLEL PARKING AND MOVING FORWARD, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITH HIGH SPEED IN WHICH THE DRIVER HAD FOOT ON THE BRAKES, BUT WOULD NOT STOP, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DRIVER HIT TREE AND A WALL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP VEHICLE. AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING EYE DAMAGE TO THE OCCUPANT. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS RECIEVED MAJOR SERVICE REQUIRING IN EXCESS OF 60 DAYS OF SHOP TIME, FIVE TIMES ALONE FOR THE TRANSMISSION .

VEHICLE SLIDES ON SNOW WHILE USING BRAKES.

BLOWER MOTOR STICKS ON "HIGH" OR FAILS TO WORK WHEN "AUTO" IS SELECTED ON THE SWITCH -- REF. 1996 T-BIRD RECALL.; WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHEN MOVING FORWARD A POPPING SOUND IS HEARD. NO OBVIOUS BRAKE PROBLEMS EXIST.

TORQUE CONVERTER PISTON FAILURE. TOURQUE CONVERTER AND PISTON REPLACED

HIGH PRESSURE POWER STEERING LINE THAT RUNS FROM THE GEAR BOX ACROSS THE UNDERNEATH CARRIAGE OF THE CAR TO THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE POWER STEERING SHORT RACK, IS CROSSED BY TWO TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES. DEALER CONTACTED AND CANNOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. OWNER MADE TEMPORARY REPAIRS AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

BRAKE PAD MATERIAL NOT MATING TO RESPECTIVE SURFACES CAUSING THE ROTORS TO WARP AND DAMAGE RESULTING IN EXTREME VIBRATION.

BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ABOUT 4 TIMES, CAUSING SERIOUS VIBRATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

CAR PULLS TO THE RIGHT SINCE DAY ONE. RETURNED CAR TO DEALERSHIP TWICE AND REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE PROBLEM. WHENDRIVING A0T 60-70 MPH IF I SHOULD LET GO OF WHEEL THE CAR WOULD IMMEDIATELY RUN OFF THE ROAD. LONG TRIPS ARE VERY TIRING TO ARMS, SHOULDERS AND BACK. MY TIRES ARE GOOD, FRONT END IN ALIGNMENT ETC.

TRANSMISSION SHUDDER AT SHIFT POINTS INTO THIRD AND OVERDRIVE WITH NORMAL ACCELERATION; ALSO, WITH AGGRESSIVE ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE TURNS 4,500 RPM BEFORE SHIFTING INTO SECOND.

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES ARE MAKING A LOT OF NOISE, AND CONSUMER CAN SMELL A LITTLE OF SMOKE BURNING FROM THE BRAKES. CONSUMER HAS TO REPLACE THE PADS ON THE BRAKES AND THAT FORD HAS TO REPLACE THE BRAKES. *AK

WHEEL STUDS ON LEFT REAR WHEEL FAILED.

BRAKE ROTORS / DRUMS FAILED, CAUSING EXTREME VIBRATION/PULSATION.

PAINT OXIDATION ON TOP OF VEHICLE, SIDE AND DOOR.

A SEVERE VIBRATION OCCURS WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES. CANNOT ALIGN THE FRONT END TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY SPECIFICATIONS. ALL ATTEMPS (27 CONTACTS) TO GET THE MANUFACTURER/DEALER TO REPAIR, REPLACE, OR ADMITT THERE IS A PROBLEM WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES HAS BEEN TO NO AVAIL.. THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. THE CAR CONTINUOUS PULLS TO THE RIGHT.

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH BRAKE/TAIL LIGHTS HOUSING AND THIRD BRAKE LIGHTOVERHEATED/MELTED DUE TO HEATS FROM BULB. DEALER REPLACED PLASTIC HOUSING ON THREE OCCASIONS, AND PROBLEM STILL MAY OCCUR. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THIS WOULD BE THE LAST TIME FOR REPLACEMENT/REPAIR WITHOUT COST TO CONSUMER. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. IN ADDITION, ON THIRD OCCASION, THE GROUND CABLE ITSELF WA STESTED AND FOUND DEFECTIVE DUE T AHIGH RESISTANCE IN THE CABLE. *AK

COSUMER COMPLAINING THAT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT SECURE PROPERLY UNLESS THE DOOR IS SLAMMED CLOSE. BELIEVES THAT THE DOOR HINGES AND ATTACHMENTS WERE CONSTRUCTED IMPROPERLY. FORD WAS NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WHEN ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED IN FRONT OF CONSUMER, CAUSING CONSUMER TO APPLY BRAKES FOR AN EMERGENCY STOP, HOWEVER VEHICLE HIT REAR OF OTHER VEHICLE, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.*AK

BRAKE MALFUNCTION DUE TO WARPED BRAKE ROTORS.

BRAKES AND STEERING PROBLEMS

FRONT END SHAKES AND KNOCKING OR GRINDING SOUND IS HEARD DURING APPLICATION OF BRAKES. ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED AND REPLACED. PROBLEM HAS RETURNED AFTER EACH REPAIR. FRONT ROTORS SEEM TO BE INADEQUATE FOR WEIGHT OF CAR.

CONSUMER COMPLAINING OF BRAKE ROTORS HAVING TO BE REPLACED EVERY 4000 TO 5000 MILES . THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN/OUT OF DEALER'S SHOP. WARRNTY IS NOW EXPIRED. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR WITHOUT COST TO THE CONSUMER.SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. *AK