1993 FORD THUNDERBIRD Complaints

THE DESIGN OF THE SEATS DO NOT CONTAIN A LOCKING FEATURE, THIS COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY DURING REAR END COLLISION, POOR DESIGN. *MJS

SAME 3.8 ENGINE IN OTHER YEAR AND MODEL OF VEHICLE HAS BEEN COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY BY FORD. POSSIBLE REIMBURSEMENT FOR 1993 FORD THUNDERBIRD ?? *AK

BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET - REQUIRING MULTIPLE COMPONET REPLACEMENT & PRESSURE TESTING. *AK

EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON 3.8L FORD ENGINE. REPAIR COST $917. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ON A PREVIOUSLY OWNED 1988 THUNDERBIRD WITH THE SAME ENGINE AND APPROXIMATELY THE SAME MILEAGE. A YEAR AGO MY SON HAD THE SAME FAILURE ON HIS 1995 FORD MUSTANG AND HAS SINCE RECEIVED NOTICE THAT FORD HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR THIS YEAR AND MODEL AND THAT THE COST OF REPAIRS WILL BE REIMBURSED. IF FORD ADMITS TO THE PROBLEM IN THE 1994 MODEL YEARS AND YOUNGER, WHY WOULDN'T THE SAME BE TRUE OF EARLIER MODELS WITH THE SAME ENGINE? I WAS INFORMED BY MY MECHANIC THAT REPAIRED ENGINES ON BOTH MY THUNDERBIRDS THAT HE HAD REPAIRED A NUMBER OF OTHER OUT-OF-WARRANTY FORDS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY THAT FORD IS OFFERING IS 7 YRS. OR 100,000 MILES. MY 1993 WOULD HAVE FALLEN IN THIS CATEGORY IF FORD HAD ADMITTED THE PROBLEM BACK IN APRIL OF 1998 WHEN IT WAS REPAIRED. I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD STAND BEHIND ALL 3.8L COMPLAINTS. *AK

VEHICLE 3.8-V6 ENGINE; WHILE DRIVING NOTICED OVERHEATING AND SMOKE FROM TAIL PIPE DUE TO BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. DEALER PROCEEDED TO REPLACE GASKETS WITH ESTIMATE OF $1,800 FOR REPAIRS. AFTER ASSEMBLY AND TEST DEALER ADVISED THAT THE PISTON SHAFT BEARINGS NEEDED REPLACING AND THOSE REPAIRS WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL $1,100 FOR A TOTAL ESTIMATE OF $2,900.*AK

MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 99V-275, CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT. NLM

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

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

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

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!