Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 14 of 423 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 171 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Exterior Lighting. Review the 119 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports7 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
423 reports
Mileage unknown · May 19, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
I AM MAKING THIS COMPLAINT ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET I HAD TO REPLACE RECENTLY. I CALLED FORD TO COMPLAIN AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NOT GOTTEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. NOW I FIND OUT IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT. I ALSO READ THAT FORD WAS GOING TO REPLACE/PAY FOR SOME BUT NOT ALL THE 3.8 L ENGINES WITH THIS PR…
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I AM MAKING THIS COMPLAINT ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET I HAD TO REPLACE RECENTLY. I CALLED FORD TO COMPLAIN AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NOT GOTTEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. NOW I FIND OUT IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT. I ALSO READ THAT FORD WAS GOING TO REPLACE/PAY FOR SOME BUT NOT ALL THE 3.8 L ENGINES WITH THIS PROBLEM. MY 1993 THUNDERBIRD IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. THIS SEEMS TO BE DISCRIMINATORY ON FORD'S PART. I ONLY HOPE THERE IS SOME INFLUENCE NHTSA CAN HAVE IN THIS MATTER. THANKYOU. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722903
Mileage unknown · May 18, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET CAUSED THE ENGINE TO EASE UP & FAIL. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED FOUR TIMES. DEALER SAID HEAD GASKETS WERE THE REASON WHY THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED SO MANY TIMES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #862112
Mileage unknown · May 18, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET LEAKING ON CYLINDERS 1&2. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722867
Mileage unknown · May 16, 2000
Unknown Or Other
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722778
Mileage unknown · May 14, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
HAVE HEARD OF POSSIBLE WIDESPREAD PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKET OF THIS TYPE. WOULD LIKE INFORMATION BEFORE WE HAVE IT FIXED. IS FORD RECALLING, EXTENDING WARRANTY? *AK
NHTSA ODI #722666
Mileage unknown · May 13, 2000
Seats
SEATS DO NOT LOCK; I CALLED A FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IS HOW THE 1993 FORD'S WERE MADE THAT YEAR. TO ME THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS HAZARD; THEY HAVE THE "LOCK HANDLE" BUT SERVES NO PURPOSE; I ALWAYS USED THE "HANDLE" THINKING IT WORKED, UNTIL I FOUND OUT 'OTHERWISE'!!! I FEEL THIS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY SHOULD I GET…
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SEATS DO NOT LOCK; I CALLED A FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID THAT IS HOW THE 1993 FORD'S WERE MADE THAT YEAR. TO ME THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS HAZARD; THEY HAVE THE "LOCK HANDLE" BUT SERVES NO PURPOSE; I ALWAYS USED THE "HANDLE" THINKING IT WORKED, UNTIL I FOUND OUT 'OTHERWISE'!!! I FEEL THIS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY SHOULD I GET HIT FROM THE REAR!
NHTSA ODI #722625
Mileage unknown · May 12, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE PREMATURELY BLOWN OUT FOUR TIMES, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #861832
Mileage unknown · May 12, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
BLEW A HEAD GASKET AT A LITTLE OVER 90000 MILES. THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST BLINDING DRIVERS BEHIND AND ON EITHER SIDE. THE CAR ALSO STALLED SEVERAL TIMES BLOCKING TRAFFIC AT MAJOR INTERSECTIONS LEADING UP TO THE ENGINE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS COVERED FOR 1994 AND 1995 T-BIRDS UP TO 100000 MILES, BUT BECAU…
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BLEW A HEAD GASKET AT A LITTLE OVER 90000 MILES. THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST BLINDING DRIVERS BEHIND AND ON EITHER SIDE. THE CAR ALSO STALLED SEVERAL TIMES BLOCKING TRAFFIC AT MAJOR INTERSECTIONS LEADING UP TO THE ENGINE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS COVERED FOR 1994 AND 1995 T-BIRDS UP TO 100000 MILES, BUT BECAUSE MINE IS A 1993, THEY ARE REFUSING TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION OF ANY KIND FOR WHY THE 1994 IS COVERED, YET THE 1993 IS NOT FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722606
Mileage unknown · May 12, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS BLUE AT 82,00 MILES. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722605
Mileage unknown · May 11, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET BLOWN AT 72,000 MILES. THERE IS NO RECALL OR TSB ON THIS PROBLEM, YET IN CHECKING NHTSA COMPLAINT SECTION THERE APPEARS TO BE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. OF COURSE THESE ARE ONLY THOSE PEOPLE THAT TOOK THE TIME TO FILE A COMPLAINT. MY LOCAL DEALER, JORDAN FORD IN MISHAWAKA, IN, SAYS THAT HE WI…
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HEAD GASKET BLOWN AT 72,000 MILES. THERE IS NO RECALL OR TSB ON THIS PROBLEM, YET IN CHECKING NHTSA COMPLAINT SECTION THERE APPEARS TO BE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. OF COURSE THESE ARE ONLY THOSE PEOPLE THAT TOOK THE TIME TO FILE A COMPLAINT. MY LOCAL DEALER, JORDAN FORD IN MISHAWAKA, IN, SAYS THAT HE WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO GIVE ME A NUMBER FOR FORD THAT I COULD CALL TO REGISTER MY COMPLAINT. *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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