1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD Complaints

THE 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD'S HEAD GASKET BLEW AND TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. IT HAS BEEN USING WATER SINCE WE BOUGHT IT FROM THE DEALER. *LA

PLASTIC FUEL PRESSURE LINE FROM THE FUEL TANK TO THE HARD LINE RUPTURED FROM RUBBING THE FLOOR PAN. ALSO FOUND THE HARD LINE CHAFING ON THE INBOARD SIDE OF THE ROCKER PANEL WHERE IT CHANGES DIRECTION TO THE FUEL TANK. *LA

THIRD BRAKE LIGHT ASSEMBLY KEEPS MELTING. OCTOBER 2000 26,000 MILES FIRST NOTICED MY THIRD BRAKE LIGHT HAD MELTED THE ENTIRE ASSEMBLY INCLUDING THE LIGHT SOCKETS, WAS TOLD THEN THAT IT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM, AFTER MUCH ARGUING AND WRITING THE BBB FORD FINALLY AGREED TO REPLACE IT AT NO COST TO ME. NOW 2003 AT 32,800 MILES ASSEMBLY IS MELTED AGAIN, AGAIN I WAS INFORMED THAT FORD WILL NOT REPLACE IT THE COST IS MINE. I SAID THEN AND I STILL BELIEVE THIS A PRODUCT DEFECT ON FORDS PART. I DO NOT BELIEVE I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A DEFECTIVE PART, APART WHICH IS THE SAME PART THAT IS IN THERE NOW AND WILL MELT AGAIN IN A YEAR OR TWO AND I WILL HAVE TO REPLACE IT AGAIN. THE LINK BELOW SHOWS PICTURES OF A FORD THUNDERBIRDS THIRD BRAKE LIGHT DAMAGE AFTER THE ASSEMBLY AND WIRE HARRNESS HAS MELTED. THIS SEEMS TO BE A FIRE HAZARD.W.MN12PERFORMANCE.COM/MN12HOWTO/3RD_BRAKE_LIGHT/3RD_BRAKELIGHT.HTML. *AK

FORD RECALL NOT HONORED - INTAKE MANIFOLD HTTP://WWW.BIGCLASSACTION.COM/CLASS_ACTION/FORD_MANIFOLD.HTML UPON ACCELERATION, SMOKE CAME OUT OF UNDER HOOD & I BELIEVE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT ALL HAPPENED SO QUICKLY. MADE IT TO THE NEAREST LOT, WHERE I COULD PULL OFF THE ROAD. ALL COOLANT LEAKED OUT. HAD TO CALL FOR TOW. MECHANIC DID COOLANT PRESSURE TEST, AND SHOWED ONLY LEAK WAS AT BACK OF ENGINE. HAD TO PULL TRANSMISSION TO GET TO IT. WATER POUTING OUT BACK OF ENGINE BUT NO FREEZE PLUG BLOWN, TRACED BACKWARD TO INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACK THAT NEVER SHOWED UP ON INTIAL PRESSURE TESTING. I WAS CHARGED OVER $750. FOR REPAIRS. CALLED DEALER TO CHECK ON WARRANTY (EXPIRED 1200 MILES EARLIER) AND RECALLS. SAID THERE WERE NONE. JUST RECENTLY DISCOVERED THE RECALL AT AN AUTOZONE WEBSITE, AND CONTACTED DEALER ABOUT IT. HE SAID TO SEND IN ORIGINAL RECEIPT & FORD WOULD REIMBURSE. THEY GAVE ME THE RUNAROUND, AND FINALLY SAID THE CLAIM WAS DENIED BECAUSE I SHOULD'VE TAKEN IT TO A FORD DEALER/SERVICE. SINCE THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED, & I KNEW OF NO RECALL, I SAW NO REASON TO SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY FORD MECHANICS CHARGE, SO I WENT WITH THE OTHER PRIVATE MECHANIC. FORD'S ARGUMENT IS THAT I SHOULD'VE GONE TO FORD MECHANIC, AND MINE IS THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED ME OF THE RECALL, ESPECIALLY WHEN I ASKED THEM. AT LEAST THEY SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR SOMETHING THEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2000, RECALL WAS IN 1999. DEALER OR SOMEONE SHOULD'VE NOTIFIED ME OF THE RECALL.*AK

AFTER THE RECALL FOR THE COOLANT SYSTEM WAS PERFORMED THE DEFECT RECURRED ( RECALL # 99B29 ). THE COOLANT SYSTEM RAN WARMER THAN NORMAL, BUT DIDN'T BOIL OVER OR OUT AND ONLY LEAKED WHEN THE ENGINE WAS OFF. *NLM *JB

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED OR AT AN IDLE THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A POWER SERGE OR LOSS OF POWER (TSB 870197). *NLM RPMS JUMPED FROM 500 TO 1100 AT IDLE. *TT *JB

HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER HAS FAILED. RELATED RECALL 96V007000; CONSUMER'S VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

ENGINE SURGE AT IDLE AND LOSS OF POWER/ PROBLEMS WITH OIL AND INTAKE MANIFOLD CROSSOVER. *MR PH

VEHICLE STALLED AND MADE A WEIRD NOISE. DUE TO OIL PUMP BEING DEFECTED. NOW THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TT

MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH CONTROLLING (FLASHER, WIPER, DIMMER/BRIGHT LIGHT AND WIDOW WIPERS) IS DEFECTIVE. MY 1995 COUGAR (SISTER TO A T-BIRD) ALSO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM NOT SURE WHAT YOU WANT FOR THEM. IF IT MEANS IS THE PART ORIGINAL. THE ANSWER IS YES. WHY ASK THIS UNDER VEHICLE? SHOULD IT BE UNDER EQUIPMENT? COULD YOU CHECK ON MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT WITH MY 95 COUGAR AND SEE IF IT IS ANSWERED CORRECTLY? ALL PARTS WERE ORIGINAL ON THAT VEHICLE ALSO. *JB