1996 Ford Thunderbird complaints

ENGINE SURGE AT IDLE AND LOSS OF POWER/ PROBLEMS WITH OIL AND INTAKE MANIFOLD CROSSOVER. *MR PH

VEHICLE STALLED AND MADE A WEIRD NOISE. DUE TO OIL PUMP BEING DEFECTED. NOW THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TT

THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HINGE MALFUNCTIONED WHICH MADE THE DOOR INOPERATIVE. *NLM

MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH CONTROLLING (FLASHER, WIPER, DIMMER/BRIGHT LIGHT AND WIDOW WIPERS) IS DEFECTIVE. MY 1995 COUGAR (SISTER TO A T-BIRD) ALSO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM NOT SURE WHAT YOU WANT FOR THEM. IF IT MEANS IS THE PART ORIGINAL. THE ANSWER IS YES. WHY ASK THIS UNDER VEHICLE? SHOULD IT BE UNDER EQUIPMENT? COULD YOU CHECK ON MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT WITH MY 95 COUGAR AND SEE IF IT IS ANSWERED CORRECTLY? ALL PARTS WERE ORIGINAL ON THAT VEHICLE ALSO. *JB

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE SUFFERED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE COLLIDES WITH GARAGE DOOR. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THE PLASTIC PART OF THE FUEL LINE (LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL) RUBS ON THE UNDERBODY OF THE CAR CAUSING A SUDDEN LARGE FUEL LEAK. THESE PLASTIC LINES ARE A PART OF THE METAL FUEL LINES AND ARE LOCATED ON EACH END OF THE METAL LINES. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF GAS SMELL PRIOR TO THE LARGE LEAK. I HAVE THE PART. I NOTIICE YOU HAVE AN IDENTICAL COMPLAINT (ODI:754600).

CONSUMER STARTED VEHICLE WHILE PARKED IN GARAGE. PLACED GEAR IN REVERSE WITH FOOT APPLIED TO BRAKE AND CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, IN REVERSE, CRASHING INTO CLOSED GARAGE DOOR. CONSUMER TURNED OFF IGNITION, RESTARTED CAR AND PLACED GEAR IN DRIVE TO MOVE FORWARD. VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AGAIN CRASHING INTO FORWARD WALL OF GARAGE. INCIDENT CAUSED OVER $7000 IN DAMAGE TO VEHICLE AND $4000 DAMAGE TO CONSUMER'S HOME. VEHICLE'S ENGINE HAD PREVIOUSLY SURGED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER INSPECTED WAS NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE. TS

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MANUAL DOOR LATCHES WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

WHEN TURNING ON THE AIR CONDITION AND SETTING THE BLOWER ON HIGH, THE A/C WOULD NOT TURN OFF. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

WHILE AT A STOP INTAKE MANIFOLD BLEWOUT WITH NO WARNING, AND STARTED TO LEAK. CONSUMER STATED THAT EARLIER WHILE AT A STOP SAME THING HAPPENED. INTAKE MANIFOLD BLEWOUT, AND STARTED TO LEAK. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

CONSUMER STATES HEAD GASKET FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACED, CONSUMER ASKED FORD TO EXTEND THE WARRANTY LIKE THEY DID WITH THE 1994 AND 1995 MODELS WITH THE SAME PROBLEMS, HOWEVER FORD DECLINED. *SLC

BLOWN HEAD GASKET--ENGINE COOLANT LEAKS--AS THESE ENGINES HAVE A DOCUMENTED HISTORY OF BEING DEFECTIVE

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY OFF. *AK CONSUMER STATED IT WAS THE FRONT BALL JOINT THAT CAUSED THAT WHEEL TO COME OFF. *YH

WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH ON HIGHWAY, VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING INSIDE OF STEERING COLUMN. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER. RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. *AK FIRESTONE FR680 P215/70R15 AND DOT #W2M31PN266. *YH

WITHOUT WARNING, AND AT SPEED, HIGH BEAM HEADLAMPS FAILED LEAVING NO FORWARD VISIBILITY. PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE COLUMN MOUNTED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH TO CORRECT THE SAME PROBLEM. SUSPECT DESIGN/ENGINEERING FLAW WITH SWITCH. *AK

THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL RUBS ON THE UNDERBODY OF THE CAR CAUSING A LARGE FUEL LEAK. THESE PLASIC LINES CONNECT THE METAL LINES FROM THE UNDERBODY TO THE FUEL TANK. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER THUNDERBIRDS HAVING THIS PROBLEM FROM THE YAHOO THUNDERBIRD CLUB. I HAVE PICTURES I CAN EMAIL TO YOU IF YOU ARE INTERESTED. *AK

TRANSMISSION SLIPS AT TAKEOFF, CAUSING CAR TO STOP IN LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *AK

THE VEHICLE STALLS DURING RAIN STORMS, CONSUMER STATED THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER CAUSES LOSS OF POWER BRAKES AND POWER STEERING, CONSUMER IS ASKING FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPAIRS. *YH

CLIMATE CONTROL BLOWER SOMETIMES BLOWS ERRACTICALLY ON HIGH, AND SOMETIMES IT DOESN'T BLOW AT ALL. THIS PROBLEM WAS DISCUSSED IN RECALL 96V007000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 95S32. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED MANUFACTURER REGARDING RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHEN DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUT COMPLETELY OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER. ALSO, AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RESTART, VEHICLE WILL RESTARTEASILY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

HEAD GASKETS FAILED ON 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD 3.8 LITER, V6 ENGINE. CAR UNDER 5 YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES. FORD WOULD NOT COVER FULL COST OF REPAIR EVEN THOUGH AN EXTENDED WARRANTY HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR THE SAME ENGINE/SAME PROBLEM IN OTHER MODELS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER WENT TO PRESS ON BRAKES AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE.CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER STATED HOSE WAS OFF BRAKES. *AK

SHIFT INTERLOCK ENGAGED - TOTAL LOSS OF USE. SHIFT INTERLOCK REQUIRES BYPASS BY TURNING IGNITION TO JUST BEFORE ACC COMES ON, SHIFTING TO NETRUAL, AND STARTING CAR. IF YOU SHIFT TO PARK REQUIRES YOU START PROCESS AGAIN. LOSS OF HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LAMP AND BOTH TAIL LIGHTS. HIGH MOUNT BULBS REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE TAIL LAMP LIGHTS, TO NO AVAIL.*AK

THE FRONT SPRINGS ARE DEFECTIVE AND BREAK THUS COLLASPSING THE STRUTS AND MAKING THE VEHICLE HARD TO HANDLE. THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFILD COOLANT CHANNEL WALLS ARE TO THIN AND TEND TO BLOW-OUT. FINALLY, THE BACKLIT REAR REFLECTOR TENDS TO BURNOUT TO OFTER FOR A INTEGRATED PART. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE THE REFLECTOR IS AN INTEGRATED PART OF THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE COST OF REPLACEMENT IS PROHIBITIVE SO THE REFLCTOR REMAINS BURNED OUT ON MANY OF THE OTHER T-BIRDS I SEE ON THE ROAD CAUSING A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE'S VISIBILITY. THE ILUMENATOR IN THE REFLECTOR SHOULD BE SERVICABLE. *AK

BLOWN ENGINE DUE TO HEAD GASKETS AT 58528 MILES. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WILL NOT REMAIN CLOSED DURING NORMAL OPERATION OF VEHICLE. THERE IS A RECALL (96V070000) FOR DOOR LATCH. HOWEVER, DEALERSHIP AND MANUFACTURER HAVE INFORMED CONSUMER THAT HIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATING ON DASHBOARD. CONTACTED DEALER, DEALER HAS DETERMINED THAT HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING FLUIDS ONTO OXYGEN SENSOR, CAUSING ENGINE CHECK LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. ALSO, NOTE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

OIL PUMP FAILURE. *AK

HEADLIGHT LENSES CLOUD UP, WHICH REDUCES LIGHT BEAMS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD, TOOK VEHICLE DEALER WHO FOUND MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

TIMING CHAIN COVER GASKET REPLACED UNDER RECALL IN 2000 , SUPPOSE TO STOP COOLANT LEAK, BUT MECHANIC NOW REPORTS THE PROBLEM IS HEAD GASKET, COMMON TO FORD'S 3.8 V6. *AK

TWO ORIGINAL TIRES SEPARATED ONE MONTH APART, I REPLACED THE ORIGINALS WITH A NEW SET OF FOUR OF THE SAME MODEL AND SIZE, ONE OF THESE HAS NOW SEPARATED, 3 OF 8 TIRES HAVE GONE BAD. THE TIRE AIR PRESSURE WAS MAINTAINED PROPERLY, PERIODIC ROTATION AND BALANCE AND TWO ALIGNMENTS WERE PERFORMED WITH THE LATEST SET.. I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION AND A RECALL, THE REGIONAL ASST. MGR. (PETE SHEPARD @ 480-443-0606) WILL NOT REFUND EVEN A PRO-RATED PORTION OF MY MONEY. I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE A COMPLETE NEW SET OF TIRES FROM ANOTHER MFG. TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. *AK (DOT NUMBER: WLM3F6H169 TIRESIZE: 215/70R-15)

FIRESTONE TIRE (P215 70 R15) EXPERIENED TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC

THE HEAD LIGHT LENSES ON THE VEHICLE ARE CLOUDING UP, THE PLASTIC USED FOR THE LENSES IS DEFECTIVE. *MJS

HEAD GASKET LEAKING - CAR JUST TURNED 4 - FORD REFUSES TO COVER UNDER RECALL. *AK

THERE WAS RECALL 96V07000/ DOOR LOCKS AND LATCHES. CONSUMER HAD DOOR LOCKS AND LATCES REPLACED, AND CHARGED CONSUMER BECAUSE OF VIN NOT BEING INCLUDED. *AK

BOTH REAR TIRES DEVELOPED BUBBLES, BROKEN BELTS AND FAILED AT THE SAME TIME.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )

4/97 VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT. DEALER ALIGNED FRONT END. 1/98 VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT AND VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DEALER SAYS IT IS A TIRE PROBLEM, ONE TIRE REPLACED. 5/99 VEHICLE STILL PULLS TO RIGHT AND VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND WHILE BRAKING. FRONT ROTORS WARPED AND PADS WORN. ROTORS TURNED AND PADS REPLACED BY GOODYEAR SERVICE CENTER. 9/99 VEHICLE PULLING TO RIGHT AND VIBRATING AT SPEED AND DURING BRAKING. FRONT ROTORS WARPED AND PADS WORN AGAIN. DEALER CLAIMS IT IS OWNERS DRIVING STYLE. ROTORS TURNED AND PADS REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. 10/00 VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT AND VIBRATES. ROTORS FEEL WARPED AGAIN. APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER TO REPAIR. 10/16 TRANSMISSION HAS A SHUDDER IN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR DURING LIGHT TO MODERATE ACCELERATION. DEALER SAYS PROBABLY TORQUE CONVERTER. UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME IF THIS WILL BE CONSIDERED AN WARRANTY ITEM OR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE.

PIECE OF TREAD THROWN FROM CAR, FOLLOWED BY TREAD SEPARATION. ALL 4 TIRES REPLACED. INDEPENDENT DEALER HAS POSSESSION UNTIL RECALL DETERMINATION IS MADE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )

THE LEFT REAR FIRESTONE TIRE TREAD WAS TORN FROM THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER HAD STOPPED ON THE FREEWAY WHICH RESULTED IN A SEVERAL CAR COLLISION, DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE WAS KILLED WHEN SHE EXITED THE VEHICLE TO TRY AND ALERT TRAFFIC. (ACCIDENT VICTIM WRITING IN) *MJS

THERE IS ABOUT A 4 TO 5 INCH LONG GAP ON THE OUTER EDGE OF THE TREAD AREA WHERE IT HAS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. I HAVE CALLED THE FIRESTONE HOTLINE NUMBER, BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO BECAUSE MY TIRE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I WOULD REPLACE THE TIRE, BUT I CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THAT. I AM ON A TIGHT BUDGET. FIRESTONE SAYS THEIR NUMBER 1 CONCERN IS CUSTOMER SAFETY. I DON'T THINK IT IS, OR THEY WOULD HAVE ALREADY REPLACED MY TIRE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2M3 TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)

CONSUMER HAD FOUND OUT AFTER INSPECTING TIRES THAT A TREAD STARTED TO SEPARATE, WHERE THERE WAS A ROTATION FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR. FIRESTONE FR 680 P215/70 R15. *AK

THIS CAR IS NOT OUR PRIMARY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. WE WERE TRAVELLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY WITH IDEAL CONDITIONS ON M-69 20 MILES EAST OF PERRY AT 65 MPH WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE DISINTREGATED DOWN TO THE RIM. LUCKILY WE KEPT CONTROL OF THE CAR AND USED THE SMALL DONUT TO GET TO PERRY TO BUY A TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: W2M3 IPM TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )

THE ASSEMBLY FOR THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT HAS MELTED AND NOW YOU CANNOT GET THE BULBS OUT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED (@ $100.00) NOT COVERD UNDER THE EX-WARRENTY, TALKED WITH ANOTHER FORD MACHANIC AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THAT ASSEMBLY ON THE THUNDERBIRD AND FORD DOESNOT INTEND TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. CUSTOMERS PROBLEM. DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TO ME.

I HAD 2 NEW TIRES FAIL IN 2 YEARS. BOTH TIMES, THE STEEL BELTS BROKE, BUT I WAS ABLE TO NOTICE THEM, AND HAD THEM REPLACED. I EVEN ASKED IF THEY HAD SOME TYPE OF RECALL BACK IN 1998, WHEN THE 2ND TIRE FAILED. I WISH THIS TO BE KNOW THAT THE TYPE OF TIRES I CURRENTLY HAVE DO SEEM TO FAIL MORE THEN NORMAL.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )

WHILE DRIVING 30MPH & APPLYING THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING A VEHICLE THAT STOPPED. HOWEVER, VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS, AND IT REARENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT DUE TO NO BRAKES. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC INDICATED BRAKES WERE GONE. PIN IN THE BRAKES HAD BROKEN WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES TO BE INOPERATIVE. *AK

PROBLEMS WITH SLIPPING TRANSMISSION. *AK

AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE THEN PARKED IT AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. A TECHNICIAN TOLD CONSUMER THAT FIRE STARTED BECAUSE OF AN ELECTRICAL WIRING SHORTING OUT. *AK