2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD Complaints

2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD COILS HAVE PROBLEMS, THEY SHORT OUT, CAUSING POWER TO BE LOST AND SHUTTING DOWN VEHICLE TO ONLY 4 CYLINDERS, IF YOU ARE ON HIGHWAY, MAJOR PROBLEM, CAN'T GO OVER 40-45 MILES AN HOUR.I HAVE HAD THREE COILS GO OUT SO FAR, ONLY FIVE MONTHS TO GO, EACH TIME IT GOES OUT PUTS PERSON BEHIND WHEEL IN JEOPARDY, DUE TO LACK OF POWER. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. WHEN THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY SURGE FORWARD. FOUR YEARS PRIOR TO THIS FAILURE, THE SAME ISSUE OCCURRED AND THE IAC CONTROL WAS REPLACED BY THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO ANOTHER DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 64,332 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61,745. UPDATED 07/28/09. *LJ

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 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, IT 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 REGARDING A POTENTIALLY SERIOUS AND DANGEROUS SITUATION. I OWN A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD -- AN OTHERWISE GREAT CAR THAT I HAVE LEARNED HAS A SIGNIFICANT DESIGN FLAW. I HAVE LEARNED THAT THIS PARTICULAR CAR AND OTHERS LIKE IT (FOR EXAMPLE, MODEL YEARS 2003 THROUGH 2005) 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. YET THE 2002 MODEL USES THE SAME EQUIPMENT AS THE 2003 THROUGH 2005 MODEL YEARS, AND MORE 2002 MODELS WERE SOLD THAN THOSE OF THE SUBSEQUENT YEARS. THE RESULT OF THIS? 2002 MODEL 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. THANKS IN ADVANCE! *TR

2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. DRIVING ON THE ON RAMP TO GET ONTO HIGHWAY ACCELERATING TO GET INTO TRAFFIC. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OF THE GAS PEDAL THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE A FULL SPEED. APPLIED BRAKES AND THE CAR WAS STILL DOING 60 MPH WITH THE BRAKES ON. HAD TO STAND ON BRAKES TO GET OFF THE NEXT EXIT RAMP. COULD NOT BRING IT TO A FULL STOP SO I THREW IT INTO PARK. IT WAS TERRIFYING BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE CONTROL OVER THE ACCELERATOR. TURNED OFF THE CAR. RESTARTED IT IN PARK AND THE ENGINE WAS STILL SCREAMING. I DID NOT HAVE MY FOOT ON THE GAS AND THE BRAKE. I ONLY USE MY RIGHT FOOT FOR THESE PEDALS. MY FEET ARE NOT BIG ENOUGH TO HAVE ONE FOOT ON BOTH. THE MAT WAS NOT STUCK UNDER ANYTHING. AFTER SITTING FOR 5 TO 10 MINUTES I RESTARTED THE CAR IN PARK AND IT SEEMED TO IDLE NORMALLY. I PUT THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON AND DROVE HOME SLOWLY AND BROUGHT IT TO THE FORD DEALER (DON DAVIS AUTO GROUP IN ARLINGTON, TX) THE NEXT MORNING. THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR AND CANNOT "DUPLICATE" THE INCIDENT. THEY SPOKE TO FORD AND THEY WANT ME TO PICK UP THE CAR BECAUSE "THEY CAN'T JUST START THROWING PARTS ON IT WHEN THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR BECAUSE IF IT RECURRS SOMEONE COULD BE KILLED. PLEASE ADVISE ME. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. IMMEDIATELY AFTER PURCHASING THE VEHICLE, HE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WEBBING WAS CUT. THE VEHICLE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 02V169000 (SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING). THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER AND THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE CUTS ON THE SEAT BELT WEBBING WERE NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL; THEREFORE, THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 58,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000. UPDATED 01/29/09. *LJ UPDATED 01/30/09. *JB

I JUST PURCHASED A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD AND HAVE BECOME AWARE OF A DESIGN PROBLEM THAT POTENTIALLY COULD BE FATAL TO THE DRIVER AND OTHER MOTORISTS. I HAVE LEARNED THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY FOR MODEL YEARS 2003-2005 FOR THE COIL OVER PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEM, BUT NOT FOR THE 2002 MODEL YEAR. A MAJORITY OF 2002-2005 THUNDERBIRDS WERE PRODUCED IN MODEL YEAR 2002. I FURTHER LEARNED THAT MANY OWNERS OF THE 2002 MODEL YEAR HAVE EXPERIENCED COP FAILURES WHICH HAVE RENDERED THEIR CARS VIRTUALLY INOPERABLE AND WITHOUT NOTICE OF THE IMPENDING FAILURE. CLEARLY THIS CREATES A HAZARDOUS SITUATION ON THE HIGHWAY AT BEST, AND MORTAL AT WORST. IN ADDITION TO BEING A SAFETY ISSUE THERE IS AN EQUITY ISSUE AS WELL. REPAIRS COST OWNERS OF 2002 THUNDERBIRDS IN EXCESS OF $1,500 BUT OWNERS OF NEWER MODELS ARE COVERED FOR 10 YEARS/100,000 MILES FREE OF CHARGE FOR THE EXACT SAME FAILURE. I HOPE THAT NHTSA WILL CORRECT BOTH OF THESE PROBLEMS WITH THE FORD AND ITS 2002 THUNDERBIRD: HIGHWAY SAFETY AND EQUITY. THANK YOU. *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

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