1987 Ford Thunderbird Owner Complaints

DT: THIS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE THREE TIMES. IT WAS CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. CONTACTED FORD, THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONSUMER PUT TWO OF THE FIRES OUT, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT ONE OF THE FIRES OUT. ALL FIRES STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THIS HAPPENED ON JUNE 1, 1996. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF ALL THREE TIMES AND PARKED AND THAT WAS WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE REPAIR SHOP REBUILT THE WIRING ALL THREE TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ID

10136339

Incident

Jun 1, 1996

Mileage

63,000 mi

THE ELECTRIC WIRES ON THE VEHICLE MELTED AND BURNED. *BF *TC

NHTSA ID

10096849

Incident

Sep 19, 2004

WHILE PULLLING SEAT BELT OUT TO LOCK IN PLACE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT BECOME LATCHED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID

899397

ALL OF THE INCIDENTS THAT I HAVE REPORTED IN THIS FORM ARE RELATED! OUR CAR KEPT WANTING TO DIE AT STOPLIGHTS AND WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES TO GET IT FIXED, BUT, THEY NEVER COULD QUITE GET IT RIGHT. AT 3:30 AM. ON 07/06/2000, I SMELLED SMOKE IN THE HOUSE AND IT AWOKE ME FROM A SOUND SLEEP! I GOT UP TO SEE WERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM AND IT WAS COMING FROM OUR ATTACHED GARAGE! MY 1987 FORD THUNDERBIRD WAS ON FIRE! I HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL FOR SMOKE INHALATION AND MY WIFE AND STEP-SON WERE TREATED AT THE SCENE FOR THE SAME. WE HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO OUR GARAGE AND EXTENSIVE SMOKE DAMAGE TO OUR HOUSE. WE HAD TO LEAVE OUR HOUSE FOR 4 AND ONE-HALF WEEKS WHILE OUR HOUSE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE CAR WAS TOTALLED AND MY 1984 CHEVY VAN, WHICH WAS RIGHT NEXT TO THE CAR, HAD &5,000.00 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE CONTENTS OF THE GARAGE WERE DISTROYED! WE ARE STILL TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THIS DISASTER! ITOOK EXCELLENT CARE OF MY CAR AND THERE IS NO REASON, BESIDES DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT, THAT THIS TERRIBLE THING COULD HAVE HAPPENED. JESSE STOREY, THE STATE FIRE INSPECTOR, CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DEFINITELY ELECTRICAL IN NATURE, ACCORDING TO HIM AND ALSO OUR MECHANIC. I SENT AN E-MAIL TO THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY TELLING THEM OF MY INCIDENT AND SUPPLYING THEM WITH THE V.I.N. AND OTHER INFORMATION AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD NO RECALL ITEMS ON THAT CAR. FROM WHAT I READ IN THE PAPER RECENTLY, THEY OUT-RIGHT LIED TO ME! A JUDGE IN CALIFORNIA HAS ORDERED FORD TO RECALL 1.7 MILLION VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE LIST OF RECALLS INCLUDES OUR CAR(THUNDERBIRD, 1983-88). I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN TRUTHFUL WITH ME WHEN I QUESTIONED THEM BY WAY OF E-MAIL! I ALSO FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR LOSES AND ALL OF THE MISERY THAT THIS INCIDENT HAS PUT US THROUGH. I WOULD SETTLE FOR $100,000.00. I FEEL THAT IF THEY WOULD HAVE FIXED THIS PROBLEM, WHICH APPEARS TO BE THEIR FAULT, WE WOULD NOT OF HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS TO.*A

NHTSA ID

739459

Incident

Jul 6, 2000

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE ACCELERATES BY ITSELF AND THAT THE GAS PEDAL GOES UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN, CONSUMER STATES THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. *SLC

NHTSA ID

872949

Incident

Oct 12, 2000

OUR CAR KEPT WANTING TO DIE AT STOPLIGHTS AND WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES TO GET IT FIXED, BUT, THEY NEVER COULD QUIT GET IT RIGHT. AT 3:30AM ON 07/06/2000 I SMELLED SMOKE IN THE HOUSE AND IT WOKE ME UP FROM A SOUND SLEEP. I GOT UP TO SEE WERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM AND IT WAS COMING FROM THE GARAGE. MY 1987 THUNDERBIRD WAS ON FIRE! I HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL FOR SMOKE INHALATION AND MU WIFE AND STEP-SON WERE TREATED AT THE SCENE. WE HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO OUR GARAGE AND EXTENSIVE SMOKE DAMAGE TO OUR HOUSE. WE HAD TO LEAVE OUR HOUSE FOR 4 AND ONE-HALF WEEKS WHILE OUR HOUSE WAS BEING REPAIRED. WE ARE STILL TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THIS DISASTER. I TOOK EXCELLENT CARE OF MY CAR AND THERE IS NO REASON BESIDES, DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT, THAT THIS TERRIBLE THING COULD HAVE HAPPENED. JESSE STOREY, THE STATE FIRE INSPECTOR CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND THE THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DEFINITELY ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. I SENT AN E-MAIL TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY TELLING THEM OF MY INCIDENT AND SUPPLYING THEM WITH THE V.I.N. AND OTHER INFORMATION AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD NO RECALL ITEMS ON THIS CAR. FROM WHAT I READ IN THE PAPER RECENTLY, THEY OUT-RIGHT LIED TO ME . A JUDGE IN CALIFORNIA HAS ORDERED FORD TO RECALL 1.7 MILLION VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE LIST OF RECALLS INCLUDES OUR CAR(THUNDERBIRD,1983-88). I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN TRUTHFUL WITH ME WHEN I QUESTIONED THEM BY WAY OF E-MAIL. I ALSO FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR LOSES AND ALL OF THE MISERY THAT THIS INCIDENT HAS PUT US THROUGH. I FEEL THAT IF THEY WOULD HAVE FIXED THIS PROBLEM, WHICH APPEARS TO BE THEIR FAULT, WE WOULD NOT OF HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS TORTURE MENTALLY AND FINANCIALLY! PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS PLEA FOR HELP SO THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME CLOSURE ON THIS INCIDENT. THANK YOU, SINCERELY, STEPHEN SCHNUR

NHTSA ID

734188

Incident

Jul 6, 2000

ON GOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING; VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR REPAIRS AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID

871335

Incident

Sep 11, 1995

CONSUMER DROVE CAR AND BRAKES WERE NOT GOOD. WHEN DRIVING AT ABOUT 50 MILES CAR WOULD SHIMMY BADLY. *AK

NHTSA ID

857604

Incident

Jan 1, 1999

CONNECTERS FOR TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES ARE LEAKING DUE TO THE HEAT COMING FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

853796

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE PLUG THAT GOES TO THE ALTENATOR BEGAN TO MELT AND CAUSED AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

844180

AT 10,000 MILES THE BRAKE PADS GLAZED / ROTORS WARPED / THE REAR CALIPERS LOCKED-UP CAUSING FAILURE. *YC

NHTSA ID

547570

AFTER DRIVING HEADLIGHTS WERE SUPPOSE TO TURN THEMSELVES OFF. BUT THEY DID NOT. THEN WHEN CONSUMER BEGAN TO DRIVE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE. AFTERWARDS, DROVE VEHICLE AGAIN, IT THEN STOPPED AND WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK

NHTSA ID

831099

Incident

Aug 15, 1998

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 45 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL SHORTED, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO FALL OFF, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO A BARN, INJURING THREE PASSENGERS AND KILLING ONE COW.

NHTSA ID

781471

Incident

Jul 2, 1998

WHILE PARKED IN PARKING LOT NEXT TO RESTAURANT, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE; ELECTRICAL FIRE; WHOLE FRONT END BURNED UP; ALL WIRES BURNED. *AK

NHTSA ID

983240

Incident

Jul 15, 1995

WHEN PUTTING THE ADJUSTABLE STEERING WHEEL IN THE DOWN POSITION, THE ELECTRICAL POWER IS DISCONNECTED IN THE VEHICLE. THE IGNITION KEY ALSO GETS WARM, AND THE POWER WILL GO OFF AND ON IF WIGGLING THE KEY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN THE ON POSITION. *AK

NHTSA ID

826542

Incident

Aug 1, 1998

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE REAR BRAKES REMAIN ENGAGED. DEALER CAN'T FIX PROBLEM. DEALER NOTED POSSIBLE CAUSE BRAKE CALIPERS. *AK

NHTSA ID

825695

IGNITION SWITCH FAILED.

NHTSA ID

536247

Incident

Jun 19, 1995

THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH PLASTIC CONNECTOR TO THE POWER SYSTEM MELTED, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. HEAT CONTROL. PROBLEM OCCURRED 3 TIMES. RECALL ON IGNITION SWITCH FOR 88 THUNDERBIRD FOR THE SAME IGNITION PART AS THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

823324

Incident

Jun 6, 1995

WHENEVER THE IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED ON, IT WOULD CAUSE THE ABS BRAKES TO FAIL. THERE IS NO POWER IN ABS BRAKES. *AK

NHTSA ID

823317

Incident

Jun 6, 1996

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ID

528441

STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP. (NEW JERSEY ACCIDENT REPORT)

NHTSA ID

522762

Incident

Aug 11, 1997

T.P.S. SWITCH FAILURE WHICH THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON (NO.87-25-7 DATE :8712). THIS FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AND CAUSE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

521437

Incident

Apr 12, 1997

OWNER PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THERE WAS A INVESTIGATION PE-88097, BUT THAT INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. *AK

NHTSA ID

813361

Incident

Jun 13, 1997

ENGINE: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH WHEN BODY MOUNTS BROKE AND ENGINE COLLAPSED. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND RAN INTO A FIELD. HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. *AK

NHTSA ID

812795

Incident

Jun 2, 1997

#EA90-005, CAME HOME/PARKED CAR, THAT NIGHT AND THE NEXT MORNING THE FRONT SEAT CONSOLE WAS ON FIRE . *AK

NHTSA ID

808501