2002 Ford Thunderbird

I AM WRITING TODAY TO EXPRESS GRAVE CONCERNS FOR MY 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR MODEL YEARS 2003-2005 FOR THE COIL OVER PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEM, BUT HAS CHOSEN TO OMIT THE 2002 MODEL YEAR EVEN THOUGH A MAJORITY OF 2002-2005 THUNDERBIRDS WERE PRODUCED IN MODEL YEAR 2002. MY CONCERN IS THAT MANY OWNERS OF THE 2002 MODEL YEAR HAVE EXPERIENCED COP FAILURES WHICH HAVE RENDERED THEIR CARS VIRTUALLY INOPERABLE WITHOUT NOTICE OF THE IMPENDING FAILURE. TO TAKE THIS A STEP FURTHER, IMAGINE DRIVING ON A HIGH SPEED INTERSTATE AND HAVE THE SYSTEM FAIL. THE CAR IS DESIGNED TO GO INTO "LIMP" MODE WHEREBY THE CAR CANNOT GO ANY FASTER THAN 25 MPH. THIS IS A DISASTROUS ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN! NOT ONLY IS THIS A SAFETY ISSUE, THE REPAIRS ARE COSTING OWNERS OF MY 2002 CARS IN EXCESS OF $1,500 WHERE OWNERS OF NEWER MODELS ARE COVERED FOR 10 YEARS/100,000 MILES FREE OF CHARGE FOR THE EXACT SAME FAILURE. THIS INEQUITY MUST SERIOUSLY BE INVESTIGATED AND CORRECTED BY THE NHTSA! *TR

I AM WRITING TO HOPEFULLY PREVENT A DANGEROUS AND SERIOUS SITUATION. I OWN A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THIS PARTICULAR CAR AND OTHERS LIKE IT HAVE DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS WHICH COULD CAUSE THE CAR(S) TO BECOME INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS. THE COILS ARE PRONE TO CEASE FUNCTIONING AT ANY MOMENT, THUS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SUDDENLY AND RAPIDLY LOSE POWER. THIS IS DANGEROUS AT BEST AT LOW SPEEDS, AND DEADLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS ISSUED A LETTER STATING THAT 2003-2005 THUNDERBIRDS CAN HAVE THEIR COILS REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE FAILED TO INCLUDE THE OWNERS OF 2002 MODELS IN THIS ACTION. THE RESULT OF THIS IS THAT 2002 OWNERS CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THEIR COILS REPLACED DUE TO THE EXPENSE (BETWEEN $1500 AND $2500). THIS PLACES THOUSANDS OF CARS ON THE ROAD THAT ENDANGER NOT ONLY THEIR OWN OCCUPANTS, BUT THOSE OF OTHER VEHICLES AS WELL. SINCE FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE COILS (THE 2002 USES THE SAME AS THOSE BEING REPLACED FOR FREE), I IMPLORE YOU TO USE WHATEVER INFLUENCE YOU MIGHT HAVE TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION. MANY POTENTIAL DEATHS COULD BE AVOIDED IF FORD WOULD SIMPLY INCLUDE THE 2002 MODEL THUNDERBIRD IN THE LIST OF APPROVED VEHICLES FOR COIL REPLACEMENT AT NO COST. *TR

THIS IS A COPY OF A FORUM MEMBERS COMPLAINT. I COULD NOT SAY IT BETTER SO I'M USING IT. I HAVE NOT HAD THE PROBLEM YET. BUT THIS COULD BE REAL SCARY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC, ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAYS. I AM WRITING TO HOPEFULLY PREVENT A DANGEROUS AND SERIOUS SITUATION. I OWN A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THIS PARTICULAR CAR AND OTHERS LIKE IT HAVE DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS WHICH COULD CAUSE THE CAR(S) TO BECOME INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS. THE COILS ARE PRONE TO CEASE FUNCTIONING AT ANY MOMENT, THUS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SUDDENLY AND RAPIDLY LOSE POWER. THIS IS DANGEROUS AT BEST AT LOW SPEEDS, AND DEADLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS ISSUED A LETTER STATING THAT 2003-2005 THUNDERBIRDS CAN HAVE THEIR COILS REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE FAILED TO INCLUDE THE OWNERS OF 2002 MODELS IN THIS ACTION. THE RESULT OF THIS IS THAT 2002 OWNERS CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THEIR COILS REPLACED DUE TO THE EXPENSE (BETWEEN $1500 AND $2500). THIS PLACES THOUSANDS OF CARS ON THE ROAD THAT ENDANGER NOT ONLY THEIR OWN OCCUPANTS, BUT THOSE OF OTHER VEHICLES AS WELL. SINCE FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE COILS (THE 2002 USES THE SAME AS THOSE BEING REPLACED FOR FREE), I IMPLORE YOU TO USE WHATEVER INFLUENCE YOU MIGHT HAVE TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION. MANY POTENTIAL DEATHS COULD BE AVOIDED IF FORD WOULD SIMPLY INCLUDE THE 2002 MODEL THUNDERBIRD IN THE LIST OF APPROVED VEHICLES FOR COIL REPLACEMENT AT NO COST. *TR

I AM WRITING TO HOPEFULLY PREVENT A DANGEROUS AND SERIOUS SITUATION. I OWN A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THIS PARTICULAR CAR AND OTHERS LIKE IT HAVE DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS WHICH COULD CAUSE THE CAR(S) TO BECOME INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS. THE COILS ARE PRONE TO CEASE FUNCTIONING AT ANY MOMENT, THUS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SUDDENLY AND RAPIDLY LOSE POWER. THIS IS DANGEROUS AT BEST AT LOW SPEEDS, AND DEADLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS ISSUED A LETTER STATING THAT 2003-2005 THUNDERBIRDS CAN HAVE THEIR COILS REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE FAILED TO INCLUDE THE OWNERS OF 2002 MODELS IN THIS ACTION. THE RESULT OF THIS IS THAT 2002 OWNERS CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THEIR COILS REPLACED DUE TO THE EXPENSE (BETWEEN $1500 AND $2500). THIS PLACES THOUSANDS OF CARS ON THE ROAD THAT ENDANGER NOT ONLY THEIR OWN OCCUPANTS, BUT THOSE OF OTHER VEHICLES AS WELL. SINCE FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE COILS (THE 2002 USES THE SAME AS THOSE BEING REPLACED FOR FREE), I IMPLORE YOU TO USE WHATEVER INFLUENCE YOU MIGHT HAVE TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION. MANY POTENTIAL DEATHS COULD BE AVOIDED IF FORD WOULD SIMPLY INCLUDE THE 2002 MODEL THUNDERBIRD IN THE LIST OF APPROVED VEHICLES FOR COIL REPLACEMENT AT NO COST.

I AM WRITING TO HOPEFULLY PREVENT A DANGEROUS AND SERIOUS SITUATION. I OWN A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THIS PARTICULAR CAR AND OTHERS LIKE IT HAVE DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS WHICH COULD CAUSE THE CAR(S) TO BECOME INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS. THE COILS ARE PRONE TO CEASE FUNCTIONING AT ANY MOMENT, THUS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SUDDENLY AND RAPIDLY LOSE POWER. THIS IS DANGEROUS AT BEST AT LOW SPEEDS, AND DEADLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS ISSUED A LETTER STATING THAT 2003-2005 THUNDERBIRDS CAN HAVE THEIR COILS REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE FAILED TO INCLUDE THE OWNERS OF 2002 MODELS IN THIS ACTION. THE RESULT OF THIS IS THAT 2002 OWNERS CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THEIR COILS REPLACED DUE TO THE EXPENSE (BETWEEN $1500 AND $2500). THIS PLACES THOUSANDS OF CARS ON THE ROAD THAT ENDANGER NOT ONLY THEIR OWN OCCUPANTS, BUT THOSE OF OTHER VEHICLES AS WELL. SINCE FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE COILS (THE 2002 USES THE SAME AS THOSE BEING REPLACED FOR FREE), I IMPLORE YOU TO USE WHATEVER INFLUENCE YOU MIGHT HAVE TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION. MANY POTENTIAL DEATHS COULD BE AVOIDED IF FORD WOULD SIMPLY INCLUDE THE 2002 MODEL THUNDERBIRD IN THE LIST OF APPROVED VEHICLES FOR COIL REPLACEMENT AT NO COST. *TR

I AM WRITING TO PROACTIVELY PREVENT WHAT I PERCEIVE TO BE A DANGEROUS AND SERIOUS SITUATION. I OWN A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD AND OTHER 2002'S LIKE IT HAVE DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS WHICH COULD CAUSE THE CAR(S) TO BECOME INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS. THE COILS ARE PRONE TO CEASE FUNCTIONING AT ANY MOMENT, THUS CAUSING THE ENGINE TO SUDDENLY AND RAPIDLY LOSE POWER. THIS COULD BE DEADLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS ISSUED A LETTER STATING THAT 2003-2005 THUNDERBIRDS CAN HAVE THEIR COILS REPLACED AT NO COST TO THE OWNER. HOWEVER, THEY HAVE FAILED TO INCLUDE THE OWNERS OF 2002 MODELS IN THIS ACTION. THE RESULT OF THIS IS THAT 2002 OWNERS CANNOT AFFORD TO HAVE THEIR COILS REPLACED DUE TO THE EXPENSE (BETWEEN $1500 AND $2500). THIS PLACES THOUSANDS OF CARS ON THE ROAD THAT ENDANGER NOT ONLY THEIR OWN OCCUPANTS, BUT THOSE OF OTHER VEHICLES AS WELL. SINCE FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE COILS (THE 2002 USES THE SAME AS THOSE BEING REPLACED FOR FREE), I IMPLORE YOU TO USE WHATEVER INFLUENCE YOU MIGHT HAVE TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION. POTENTIAL SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATHS COULD BE AVOIDED IF FORD WOULD SIMPLY INCLUDE THE 2002 MODEL THUNDERBIRD IN THE LIST OF APPROVED VEHICLES FOR COIL REPLACEMENT AT NO COST. *TR

MOST 2002-2005 THUNDERBIRD HAVE HAS COP IGNITION FAILURES. FORD HAS ISSUED A TSB AND HAS AUTHORIZED FREE REPAIRS AND REPLACEMENTS ON 2003-2005 THUNDERBIRD BUT NOT 2002 MODELS. THERE ARE MORE 2002 MODELS THAN ANY OTHER YEAR, YET FORD IS IGNORING THE PROBLEM. A CHECK ON ANY THUNDERBIRD FORUM WILL SHOW THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM, HTTP://WWW.THUNDERBIRDNEST.COM/FORUMS/FORUMDISPLAY.PHP?F=172 IS A GOOD PLACE TO START. I HAVE HAD 2 REPLACED AND NOW HAVE 2 MORE THAT NEED REPLACING. FORD MUST HE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR A POOR DESIGN OR A SUB-STANDARD PART. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AFTER THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SERVICED FOR ITS 30,000 MILE ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAKED OIL ONTO THE COILS AND SPARK PLUGS. ALL OF THE FAILURES NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 76,050.

THIS IS A DESIGN/ENGINEERING FLAW ADDRESSED ON 2003 MODEL, BUT LEFT OUT 2002. THE PROBLEM STATED BY--VEHICLE NOT STARTING AT THE FIRST ATTEMPT AND GOT WORSE ON 1/11/2008. THE ENGINE VALVE COVERS WARPS ALLOWING OIL TO SEEP INTO COIL/SPARK PLUG CAVITIES SHORTING-OUT THE COILS, FOULING SPARK PLUGS. RIGHT NOW I HAVE A $2000.00 REPAIR BILL AND FORD FAILED TO RECOGNIZED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE EASILY BEEN AVOIDED BY INSPECTING THE COIL/SPARK PLUG CAVITIES FOR EVIDENCE OF OIL. IF OIL PRESENT, TO RESEAL/REPLACE VALVE COVER GASKETS. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED FORWARD AND THE CONTACT HEARD A POPPING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE DEALER STATED THAT A COIL AND A SPARK PLUG WERE DEFECTIVE AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. APPROXIMATELY THREE WEEKS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT A COIL AND A SPARK PLUG WERE DEFECTIVE AND THEY MADE THE REPAIR ONCE AGAIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 52,705 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 51,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAS 8 COILS, ONE FOR EACH CYLINDER/SPARK PLUG TWO OF THE COILS HAVE FAILED. UPDATED 09/05/07. *JB