1997 Ford Thunderbird complaints

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE STREET IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING LOT OF A FOOD STORE. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION PRIOR TO FIRE. *SCC *JB

FATIGUE CRACK IN INTAKE MANIFOLD OF 4.6 L ENGINE THAT THAT CAUSED LOOSE OF COOLANT AND THE ENGINE TO OVER HEAT. MY 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL EVEN THOUGHT IT HAS THE SAME ENGINE AND DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD. REPAIR COST IS $600.00. FORD ALREADY HAS A RECALL AND THE FOLLOW WAS COPED FROM SOURCE: FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOCUMENTS FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL EXTEND THE RECALL (01M02) ON 4.6L V8 EQUIPPED VEHICLES WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS. SOME OF THE COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLDS USED ON 4.6L SOHC ENGINES MAY DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS AT THE COOLANT CROSSOVER DUCT. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN ENGINE COOLANT LEAKAGE WHICH, IF NOT SERVICED, MAY CAUSE ENGINE OVERHEATING. COMPLETE LOSS OF COOLANT MAY RESULT IN ENGINE DAMAGE OR ENGINE FAILURE. THE UPDATED RECALL NOW INCLUDES: " CERTAIN 1996 THROUGH 2001 MODEL YEAR CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR " CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2001 MODEL YEAR CROWN VICTORIA WITH TAXI " CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE AND LIVERY PREP PACKAGE " CERTAIN 1996-2001 CROWN VICTORIA TAXIS, POLICE CARS AND LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE AND LIVERY CARS. " CERTAIN 1996 THROUGH 1997 CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR VEHICLES WITH 4.6L SOHC ENGINES BUILT AT THE ST. THOMAS ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM THE BEGINNING OF PRODUCTION FOR THE 1996 MODEL YEAR THROUGH JANUARY 28, 1997. " CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2001 CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR VEHICLES WITH 4.6L SOHC ENGINES BUILT AT THE ST. THOMAS ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM NOVEMBER 22, 1997 THROUGH DECEMBER 15, 200

PER CONSUMER VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD COOLANT LEAK # .97M91, BUT VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE.*AK

THE REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT HAVE THE ALR SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT FEATURE IS OPTIONAL FOR THAT YEAR. THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THE VEHICLE MUST HAVE ALR TO PROPERLY SECURE A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING COOLANT ONTO THE ENGINE. THID COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE.*AK

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK AND THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED. *JB

I BOUGHT MY 1997 THUNDERBIRD 4-15-2003 W/70000 MILES, AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS PAGE I CAN ONLY RELATE TO 2 OF THEM, THE VIBERATION IN THE TRANSMISSION ON UPSHIFT,AND THE FRONT END SHAKING ABOVE 50 MPH.BUT I'M SO GLAD. *AK I BOUGHT A 2 YR.EXTENTED WARRENTY,BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE I'M IN FOR SOME PROBLENS. I CAN BE CONTACTED AT [email protected]

FUEL FILTER LEAKS GAS DUE TO CORROSION FROM ROAD SALTS. FILTER LASTS ONLY 1-2 YEARS. *TT

THE CONSUMER COULD SMELL ANTI-FREEZE IN THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED IN TWO SPOTS. *NLM

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. *JB *TS

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE FRONT LOWER BALL JOINT SNAPPED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL. THE CONSUMER MANAGED TO PULL OVER. *AK THE INCIDENT OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE IN MOTION. THE REPAIR DEPARTMENT SUGGESTED THAT THE CONSUMER SHOULD EXPECT THIS AT 70K MILES. FORD HAD NOT RESPONDED TO THE CONSUMER. *SC *JB

VEHICLE IS EQUIP WITH A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. WHILE DRIVING THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LEAK COOLANT ONTO THE ENGINE. WHICH COULD OF RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. MR

WHILE IN SHOP FOR UNRELATED REPAIR, MECHANIC NOTICED THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING COOLANT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A PRETTY STRONG GAS SMELL ON THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. MR

VEHICLE T-BONED ANOTHER AT 45-50 MPH, NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. NO INJURIES, DAMAGE TO VEHICLE WAS $ 7000.00. THIS WAS THE SECOND ACCIDENT WHERE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. NLM

INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS RECALLED ON VEHICLE, BUT OWNER WAS NOT INFORMED WHEN VEHICLE WAS AT DEALERSHIP. EIGHT DAYS LATER, VEHICLE SHUTDOWN ON HIGHWAY WITH NO WARNING DUE TO LOSS OF COOLANT FROM INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKING. *AK *JB

CONSUMER STATES HIS POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILED WHILE HE WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. HE HAD HIS AUTO TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP.*JB

FIRST PROBLEM: CAR DOOR INDICATOR LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF EVEN WHEN THE DOORS OR TIGHTLY SHUT. SECOND PROBLEM: LEFT TURNING SIGNAL LIGHT BLINKS VERY FAST AND THE RIGHT SIGNAL LIGHT BLINKS REGULARLY. THIRD PROBLEM: PASSENGER SELT BELT KEEPS GETTING STUCK EVEN AFTER PRESSING THE RED BUTTON TO RELEASE. FOURTH PROBLEM: THE SQUEAKING AND SHAKING VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING A SPEED OF 50 OR MORE MPH AND YOU BEGIN PRESSING THE BRAKES IS WHEN THE SOUNDS AND THE VIBRATIONS BEGINS. FIFTH PROBLEM: THE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD IT CHECK TO THE FORD PLACE THEY STATED IT WAS A DEFECT IN A BOX THE SITS ON TOP OF THE ENGINE ( I WANT TO SAY IT HOLDS THE COMPUTER CHIP) IS GOING BAD. AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME I DID NOT ASK THEM TO DO A RECALL LIST FOR ME. I REALLY NEED ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE ME ON THIS VEHICLE.

WHILE DRIVING AT 5-10 MPH IN A PARKING LOT CONSUMER WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN WHEN FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL FELL OFF. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER IS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE WITH COOLANT LEAK TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT.. CAR WAS SUBJECT TO A FORD SERVICE BULLETIN RECALL IN 1998 FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACEMENT TO PREVENT FUTURE FAILURE. UNFORTUNEATELY, THE REPLACEMENT INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED AT THE SAME GLUED SEAM THAT WAS THE BASIS FOR THE RECALL BY FORD.*AK

ACCORDING TO HOLMAN FORD SERVICE TECHNICIAN, THE FORD THUNDERBIRD INTAKE MANIFOLD WILL CRACK AT THE SEAM NEXT TO ENGINE TOP, CAUSING A COOLING FLUID LOSS. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NOT LONG AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE, CONSUMER BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE THE BRAKING EFFECTS CAUSED BY WARPED ROTORS. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THEM AT NO COST, HOWEVER 12 MONTHS LATER ROTORS WERE WARPED AGAIN, CONSUMER IS STILL HAVING WARPED ROTOR PROBLEMS. *JG

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 TO 70 MPH, ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY LOST POWER AND WHITE SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT. INDEPENDENT GARAGE EXAMINED VEHICLE AND DIAGNOSED HEAD GASKET HAD FAILED, AND WAS REPLACED. *AK CONSUMER STATES BECAUSE OF ALL THE OTHER FAILURES THE ENGINE WAS RUINED AND ALSO NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. *JB

HEAD GASKET BLEW. ENGINE RUINED. VEHICLE LOST POWER. SMOKE POURED FROM ENGINE. THERE WAS NO FIRE. I SAW NO INDICATION OF PROBLRM ON PANEL. NOTIFICATIO ON PANEL LIT UP AS VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO SERVICE ENGINE. *AK

THEY REPLACED THE MANIFOLD AND THEN THE RADIATOR MALFUNCTIONED, 18.000 MILES LATER THE HEATER CORE FAILED, WAS REPLACED IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS SINCE AUG 4 TIMES. FORD DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE AND THE DEALER IS TRYING TO FIX IT EACH TIME AT LEAKS.THE BRAKES/ROTORS HAVE BEEN A CRONIC PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THE CALIPERS HAVE BEEN RESURFACED 3 TIMES AND FINALLY REPLACED.*AK

DRIVER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF PARKING VEHICLE AND HAD COME TO A STOP IN THE PARKING SPOT WHEN IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB, AND CRASHED INTO A METAL BENCH.*AK

THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY BOOKLET THAT CAME WITH CAR WHEN I PURCHASED IT STATED THAT EMISSION SENSORS WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY FOR 7 YEARS OR 70,000 MILES UNDER CALIFORNIA EMISSIONS WHICH I HAVE ON MY CAR...WHEN CATALYTIC SENSOR MONITOR FAILED FORD REFUSED TO COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY, AND I WAS FORCED TO PAY $269.TO HAVE REPAIR DONE BY DEALERSHIP...FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR NOT COMPLYING WITH SAFETY AND EMISION STANDARDS..*AK

DUE TO THE LOCATION OF CUP HOLDERS SPILLAGE FROM CUPS GET INTO GEAR SHIFT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT DUE TO DESIGN AND LOCATION OF THE CUP HOLDER ANY SPILL OF LIQUIDS GETS INTO THE GEAR SHIFT AREA CAUSING THE GEAR SHIFT TO GET HARD AND ALSO, HARD TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK. ENGINE LEAKS OIL DUE TO ROCKER ARM COVER FAILURE. *YH

ABS BRAKE LIGHT GO ON AND OFF WITH THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, CAUSING A FLASHING OF THE LIGHTS. *AK

1. PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE - COVERED BY GENERAL RECALL 97M91, ALTHOUGH SIMILAR PLASTIC ENGINEERING IS APPLIED TO BOTH VALVE COVERS BUT IS NOT IS NOT COVERED BY RECALL. THE FORD SERVICE REP INFORMED ME THAT THE HEATER CORE WILL BLOW SOON TOO. 2. THE BRAKES/ROTORS HAVE BEEN A CHRONIC PROBLEM - THIS IS MY 2ND THUNDERBIRD - BOTH CARS HAD THE SAME TYPE PROBLEMS. I HAVE REPLACED ROTORS, BRAKE PADS REPEATEDLY WITHOUT SOLVING THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS SEVERE FRONT END VIBRATION WHICH IS MAKES THE CAR UNENJOYABLE AND DANGEROUS. I HAVE CHANGED TIRE SIZES AND BRANDS 4 TIMES. THE CONSUMER REPORTS RESEARCH THAT I HAVE DONE ON THIS CAR CAUSES ME TO BE AFRAID OF IT. 3. THE CRUISE CONTROL DEFECT WAS ALSO DANGEROUTS, BUT IT WAS REPAIRED SATISFACTORY.*AK

VEHICLE WAS GOING 20MPH AND THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL. FRONT PASSENGER WHEEL BENT, AND BALL JOINT CAME APART, DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WILL BE CONTACTED. *AK

AS CONSUMER STARTED TO PULL OUT AND ACCELERATE TO PASS A SLOW MOVING VEHICLE, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE GAS PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR WITH NO POWER, CONSUMER THEN ENGAGE THE CRUISE CONTROL AT 40 MPH WHICH GOT HIM TO AN AUTO PARTS STORE, WHERE A MECHANIC SHOWED CONCUMER THE ACCELERATOR CABLE BREAK ABOUT 4-6 INCHES FROM THE CONNECTOR IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WITHIN THE PROTECTIVE CONDUIT.*JB

ENGINE PINGING AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHTCONSTANTLY REAPPEARS. SOURCE OF PROBLEM IS MAF SENSOR. *AK

I EXPERIENCE DIZZINESS, NASEA, AND HEADACHES AFTER DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE 1-75 FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES. I HAD TO PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND OPEN ALL THE WINDOWS. AFTER 10 MINUTES MY HEAD CLEARED ENOUGH TO DRIVE TO THE NEXT EXIT AND GET OFF. THIS IS THE FOURTH OR FIFTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I AM AFRAID NOW TO DRIVE MY CAR WITH THE WINDOWS UP. *AK

NO ACCIDENTS, 1-TREAD PEALED FROM TIRE, 1-TREAD STARTED TO SEPARATE. *AK (TIRESIZE: R215/70/15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: R215/70/15 )

CRUISE CONTROL TOOK OVER VEHICLE,AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY. DEALER WILL BE NOTIFIED.*AK

ORIGINAL FIRESTONE FR680 TIRES, SIZE P21570R15 97TMTS, ALL 4 TIRES' STEEL BELTS HAVE SEPARATED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHIMMY, AND WOULD HAVE EVENTUALLY BLOWN OUT.*AK CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES. *SLC

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY, CLIMBING UP A HILL AND GOING UP A MOUNTAIN, AND WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GASOLINE STATION, AND MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD IN ENGINE WAS MADE FROM PLASTIC AND CAUSING THE PROBLEM. INTAKE MANIFOLD SPLIT OPEN. *AK *SLC

LOSS OF COOLANT AND WHITE SMOKE;VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A OF A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. NOTIFIED MANUFACTURER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL OR EXTENDED WARRANTY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

CONSUMER APPLIED RAIN-X TO WINDSHIELD AND SIDE VIEW MIRRORS, A FEW MONTHS LATER CONSUMER STARTED NOTICING A HAZE, SIMILAR TO WATER SPOTS, ALL OVER WINDSHIELD AND MIRRORS, CONSUMER TRIED SEVERAL CLEANERS AND ALSO A PRODUCT BON-AMI WHICH THE MANUFACTURER OF RAIN-X STATED WOULD REMOVE ANY TRACE OF THE PRODUCT, HOWEVER NONE REMOVED THE PRODUCT. *SLC

MAJOR SHUDDER IN DRIVE BETWEEN 30-40MPH BEFORE IT SHIFTS TO OVERDRIVE AT WHILE INCREASING AT A SLOW SPEED. TSB#97106 EXPLAINS. DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM IN NOVEMBER. DROP OFF CAR AGAIN. *AK

TREAD SEPARATION ON DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE LOWER QUARTER PANEL, TRIM ON THE PANEL AND AROUND THE WHEEL, FIRESTONE 721 P22575R15, TEN YEARS AGO THE FRONT TIRES REPLACED BECAUSE OF TREAD SEPARATION. *CJ

TWO OUT OF FOUR FIRESTONE TIRES (P215/70R15) EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT AT HIGHWAY SPEED. HAD NOTICED AN UNUSAL SOUND BEGINNING THE PREVIOUS DAY, BUT COULDN'T DETERMINE WHAT IT WAS. THE NOISE DISSAPEARED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILED TIRE WAS CHANGED, WHICH WOULD SEEM TO INDICATE A DEFECT MORE LIKELY THAN A ROAD HAZARD. FAILURE INDICATED BY CATASPROHIC OUTTER SIDEWALL RUPTURE ADJACENT TO TREAD EDGE. TREAD SHOWED SEPARATION IN VICINITY RUNNING ABOUT TEN INCHES ALONG CIRCUMFERENCE. WILL KEEP TIRE ON HAND FOR ANYONE WHO MIGHT WANT TO SEE IT AT SOME POINT IN THE FUTURE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2M3IPN237 TIRESIZE: P21570R15)

THE FIRESTONE TIRE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION AND BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER IS BEING DENIED RECALL (00T-005). *MJS

FRONT BALL JOINT POPPED OUT OF SOCKET WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS REPLACED CONTROL ARM AND BALL JOINT TWICE, AND PROBLEM REOCCURRED.*AK THE FRONT SUSPENSION COLLAPSED COMPLETLY AND THE REAR LOWER BALL JOINT BROKE. TENSION ARM BUSHING AND LOWER CONTROL ARM ON RIGHT SIDE FAILED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. THE LEFT FRONT SWAYBAR FAILED. THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL BEARING FAILED. *YH

BOTH INCIDENTS COULD HAVE CAUSED SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. THIS IS NOW THE SECOND TIME THIS PART HAS BEEN REPLACED. ON THE FIRST OCCASION I WAS IN A PARKING LOT AND THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE CAR COLLAPSED. FROM WHAT THE DEALER SAY FORD ENGINEERS LOOKED AT IT AND COULDN'T BELIEVE THE BALL JOUINT POPPED OUT OF THE SOCKET. AGAIN THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THEY HAD TO REPLACE IT WITHIN 10 MONTHS. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND LET ME KNOW IF I CAN TAKE FURTHER ACTION WITH REGARDS TO THE SAFETY OF THIS CAR. THANKS , TOM. *AK

TREAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE WHILE DRIVING @ 70 MPH, 2ND TIRE HAS TREAD STARTING TO SEPARATE. *AK (DOT NUMBER: W2M3 TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)

I READ AN ARTICLE IN THE ROCKY MTN NEWS ON RECALLS ON SOME IGNITIONS ON 29 FORD MODELS I JUST PAID $325.41 TO GET IT REPLACED AND IN THE PROCESS ALTERNATOR BURNED OUT. *AK