1993 FORD THUNDERBIRD Complaints

FRONT PASSENGER'S SEAT BELTS FAILED TO REMAIN LOCKED. AUTOMATIC MECHANISM FOR THE SHOULDER BELT WOULD DROP OUT. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC THE SPRING IN THE MECHANISM WAS BROKE & IT NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. *AK

RECALL 99V275000; DEALER FIXED THE RECALL, BUT VEHICLE IS STILL EXPERIENCING HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONING WHICH MAY CAUSE VISIUAL DIFFICULTY, AND RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER NEEDED TO REPLACE "OTHER SWITCHES" AND WILL CHARGE CONSUMER. *AK

ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHT LENSES FADNG/DISCOLORATION WHICH CAUSE POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ON THIS MATTER. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCE FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT PRIOR TO NOTICE, REPAIRS MADE TO WRONG COMPONENT AND CONSUMER WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR PRIOR WRONG REPAIRS (99V-275). *MJS

RIGHT ENGINE HEAD GASKET ORIGINALLY FAILED 11/95 WHEN THE CAR WAS EXPERIENCING UNEXPLAINED BUCKING SENSATION UNDER LOAD IN COLD WEATHER. AFTER NUMUROUS VISITS AND ALTERNATIVE REPAIRS, DEALER FINALLY FIGURED OUT PROBLEM AND REPLACED RIGHT HEAD GASKET IN 3/97. BOTH GASKETS ALONG WITH WATER PUMP FAILED THIS TIME. DEALER CONTENDS ORIGINAL REPAIR DONE RIGHT, AND STATED THE NEW HEAD GASKETS CAN BE EXPECTED TO FAIL WITHIN SEVERAL YEARS AGAIN. *AK

ALUMINUM ENGINE HEADS CRACKED, WITH LEAKAGE. SERVICE CENTER SUGGESTED WE REPORT THIS, SINCE HE HAS REPAIRED ABOUT 20 OTHER AUTOMOBILES IN THE LAST 24 MONTHS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND THE SAME MILEAGE. SAYS HEADS DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH METAL AT THE HEAD BOLTS AND REPAIRS WILL BE NECESSARY AGAIN AFTER 50-70000 MILES. SERVICE CENTER WILL BACK UP THIS STATEMENT. PLEASE INVESTIGATE ANY FLAW OR DEFECT IN THIS ENGINE. VERY COSTLY REPAIR. THANK YOU...MRS. T. CARROLL. *AK

REPORTING BOTH FRONT FOLDED SEAT WILL NOT STAY LATCH, SEAT BACK CAN BE MOVE BY PUSHING BACK ON SEAT. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIRS UNLESS COST GO TO CONSUMER.

HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (99V-275) CAUSING LIGHTS TO FLICKER. PRIOR TO NOTICE DEALER REPLACED THE DIMMER SWITCH WHICH DID NOT RECTIFY THE FLICKERING PROBLEM. CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE WRONG PART THAT WAS CHANGED. NLM

AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT FAILURE. DURING OPERATION, AFTER THE SEAT BELT HAS LOCKED IN PLACE, IT WILL RETRACT TO THE STARTING POSITION, DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE BELTS ARE AFFECTED. *AK

HEADLIGHTS GO OUT WHILE DRIVING. *AK DEALER REPLACED THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TWICE, CONSUMER STATES THAT IN TALKING WITH OTHER MECHANICS, THEY HAVE STATED THAT THERE IS A CIRCUIT BREAKER THAT FREQUENTLY FAILS, CAUSING THE HEADLIGHT PROBLEMS. *SLC