FROM WHAT I HEAR FROM MY MECHANIC AND OTHER OWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF THUNDERBIRD HAS A HISTORY OF A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 93000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BLOWN THE HEAD GASKET. OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE AS EARLY AS 65K MILES. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WHICH SHO…
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FROM WHAT I HEAR FROM MY MECHANIC AND OTHER OWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF THUNDERBIRD HAS A HISTORY OF A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 93000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BLOWN THE HEAD GASKET. OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE AS EARLY AS 65K MILES. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #754840
Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
CAR BLEW HEAD GASKET AT 94500.00 MILES OTHER FORD MODELS WERE RECALLED BUT THE THUNDERBIRD 1993 WAS NOT AND IT USES THE SAME ENGINE AS THE WINSTAR 94 WHICH WAS RECALLED FOR THE HEAD GASKET. *AK
NHTSA ODI #754047
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH ON A SIDE STREET AND VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. IT WAS CAUSED BY A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. ALSO, VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #898345
Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
THIS THUNDERBIRD HAS THE 3.8L V6 ENGINE. HEAD GASKETS FAILED. THE LOCAL DEALER ADMITS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAMS DO NOT INCLUDED 1993 THUNDERBIRDS, ONLY 1994-1995. REPAIR COST FOR ME WAS ABOUT $1800.00. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REP IS UNWILLING TO ASSIST WITH ANY AMOUNT OF PAYME…
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THIS THUNDERBIRD HAS THE 3.8L V6 ENGINE. HEAD GASKETS FAILED. THE LOCAL DEALER ADMITS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAMS DO NOT INCLUDED 1993 THUNDERBIRDS, ONLY 1994-1995. REPAIR COST FOR ME WAS ABOUT $1800.00. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REP IS UNWILLING TO ASSIST WITH ANY AMOUNT OF PAYMENT. I WILL BE FILING IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #753558
Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
EXPERIENCED LOSS OF HEAT IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. FOUND COOLANT LEVEL TO BE LOW. ADDED COOLANT ON SEVERAL OCCASIIONS. PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY. PROBLEM INCREASED TO POINT WHERE ENGINE OVERHEAT INDICATOR LIT. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC WHERE PROBLEM WAS SUSPECTED TO BE LOSS OF COOLANT BUT COULD NOT BE DEFINITIVELY PINPOINTED. AS A …
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EXPERIENCED LOSS OF HEAT IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. FOUND COOLANT LEVEL TO BE LOW. ADDED COOLANT ON SEVERAL OCCASIIONS. PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY. PROBLEM INCREASED TO POINT WHERE ENGINE OVERHEAT INDICATOR LIT. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC WHERE PROBLEM WAS SUSPECTED TO BE LOSS OF COOLANT BUT COULD NOT BE DEFINITIVELY PINPOINTED. AS A PRECAUTION THE WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, HOSES, AND COOLANT WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH TWO FREEZE PLUGS WHICH WERE SEEN TO BE WEEPING. AFTER A SHORT WHILE THE PROBLEM REAPPEARED AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS INTERNALLY CAUSING THE COOLANT TO ENTER THE ENGINE AND BE CONSUMED. I AUTHORIZED REPAIRS BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE TERMS OF MY WARRANTY AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOW TOO OLD.*AK (DOT NUMBER: NA TIRESIZE: NA)
NHTSA ODI #752936
Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THE HEAD-GASKETS BLEW. ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH FIRST INCIDENT. NOW FACED WITH A SIMILAR SITUATION. ONLY ENGINE IS NOT BURNED UP THIS TIME. WHY FIX IT, IF THE SAME PROBLEM IS GOING TO SIMPLY HAPPEN AGAIN. YET I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. AL…
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ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THE HEAD-GASKETS BLEW. ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH FIRST INCIDENT. NOW FACED WITH A SIMILAR SITUATION. ONLY ENGINE IS NOT BURNED UP THIS TIME. WHY FIX IT, IF THE SAME PROBLEM IS GOING TO SIMPLY HAPPEN AGAIN. YET I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. ALOT OF GOOD THAT DID.
NHTSA ODI #752437
Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKETS FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #563080
Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #750042
Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
BAD HEAD GASKET BLOWING WHITE SMOKE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #748247
Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
PARKED CAR AND HEARD WATERY NOISE - ANTIFREEZE WAS COMING OUT OF TAILPIPE. *AK
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOG LIGHTS, IN WHICH THE HEADLIGHTS MAY GO OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS AND WHICH MAY BE PRECEDED BY FLICKERING OR BLINKING AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH INCORPORATES A CIRCUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN, AND INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, IF NEEDED.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WEST VIRGINIA. MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL LINES CAUSES THE NYLON FUEL LINE JUMPER TO CHAFE AGAINST THE FLOOR PAN. THIS WEAR CAN CAUSE A PIN HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTS IN DAMPNESS AND FUEL ODOR, AND IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PLASTIC CONVOLUTE COVERING AROUND THE FUEL LINES. IF THE LINES SHOW A LEAK, THE LINES WILL BE REPLACED FIRST.
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