1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD Complaints

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP PERSONNEL SUGGESTED THE MANIFOLD CRACKED DUE TO THE COMPOSITE PLASTIC USED IN MANUFACTURING. THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED WITH AN AFTER MARKET MANIFOLD MADE OF METAL MATERIAL. *NM

I HAD A 96 T-BIRD THAT MY DAUGHTER NOW OWNS. THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD CRACKED LAST SPRING CAUSING ME TO BE STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. MY SISTER TOWED ME TO HER HOUSE WHERE THE VEHICLE SAT UNTIL I GOT A NEW MANIFOLD FOR ABOUT $289 ONLINE. I INSTALLED IT MYSELF TAKING ME ABOUT 2 DAYS AND DRIVING 45 MILES EACH WAY TWICE TO MY SISTER'S HOUSE. OLD PART WAS DISCARDED. *NM

INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. THIS PART WAS MADE OUT OF NYLON AND IS A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE STATING THAT THERE WAS A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ACTION IN 1996. SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A KNOWN DEFECTIVEPART I THINK IT SHOULD BE COVERED FOR LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. LATER FORD REDISIGNED THE PART USING ALUMINUM INSTEAD OF NYLON. *NM

DT: THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPEN'S PROPERLY BUT DOES NOT CLOSE AS IT SHOULD. THE CONSUMER THINKS THE DOOR IS CLOSED CLOSE UNTIL NOTICING THAT THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *AK *NM

PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE ON A 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD V8. PART FAILURE WAS PRECEDED BY A "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" AND "LOW COOLANT" LIGHT. TURNS OUT THAT FORD HAD PUT OUT "SERVICE BULLETIN" IN 1999 AND FOLLOWED UP ON IT IN 2001 ON THIS ISSUE (97M91) YET THEY NEVER NOTIFIED ANY OWNERS. COST OF REPAIRS FOR THIS PART WILL BE AROUND $1,000 YET FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING WILLINGLY TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. FAILURE OF PART COULD LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE IF NOT CORRECTED. *MN

THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE BLOWER WAS INOPERATIVE. THE BLOWER FAILS TO TURN ON SOMETIMES AND IT STICKS ON HIGH AT ALL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

THERE IS A WHITRE CLOUDY FILM ON THE HEADLIGHTS CREATING POOR VISABILITY AT NIGHT.*AK

1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD 4.6L V8 MOTOR FAILURE OF PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. DRIVING HOME UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND CHECK COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. DUAGHTER SAID SHE HAD THOUGHT SHE SMELLED BURNING COOLANT FOR SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND HE POINTED OUT THE CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. SAID THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTOR. PAID OVER $900.00 TO HAVE REPAIRED WITH UPGRADED PART. TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT RECALL ISSUED BUT EXPIRED ABOUT 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO REPAIR.*AK

COOLANT FUMES/ODOR WAS COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A PRESENT RECALL.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. VEHICLE REVVED EVEN WHILE THE CONSUMER HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE, WENT THROUGH A GUARD RAIL, AND FINALLY STOPPED WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *TC