1987 Ford Thunderbird Electrical Problems

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

NHTSA ID

10096849

Incident

Sep 19, 2004

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

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

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

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 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

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

FUEL PUMPS CONTINUES TO RUN AFTER VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF.

NHTSA ID

512584

Incident

Mar 1, 1996

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE ALTERNATOR, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE I THE ALTERNATOR CABLE. *AK

NHTSA ID

805537

Incident

Oct 21, 1996

VEHICLE FIRE ORIGINATED UNDER THE HOOD WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY, VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

NHTSA ID

511686

Incident

Oct 22, 1996

THE CAR HAS CAUGHT ON FIRE (3) TIMES IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE IT WAS PARKED. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID

804533

Incident

Nov 4, 1996

IGNITION SWITCH STICKS. *SD

NHTSA ID

507316

Incident

Aug 5, 1996

COMPUTER FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL/ACCIDENT. *SD

NHTSA ID

506980

Incident

Nov 5, 1992

FIRE STARTED UNDERHOOD WHILE DRIVING, PARKED VEHICLE, STARTED SMOKING, SUBSEQUENTLY CAME ENGULFED WITH FLAMES, CAUSED BY ALTERNATOR'S CONNECTORS. *AK

NHTSA ID

987098

Incident

Jun 9, 1996

SHORT IN IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING WIRING UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN TO OVERHEAT/MELT. *AK

NHTSA ID

505471

Incident

Jun 2, 1996

EXPERIENCED ON TWO OCCAISION ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES, WHEN ALTERNATOR SHORTS DUE TO PLUG WITHIN ALTERNATOR GETTING HOT, ALTERNATORS BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES*AK *JB

NHTSA ID

984779

AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSED THE WIRES IN THE STEERING COLUMN TO BURN OUT, AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID

984190

AFTER PARKING, MOMENTS LATER, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, FIRE DEPT. SUSPECT ELECTRICAL SYSTEM AS CULPRIT. *AK

NHTSA ID

983388

IGNITION SWITCH LOOSE, CAUSING FIRE IN STEERING COLUMN. *DSH

NHTSA ID

503805

Incident

Apr 7, 1996

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE, ELECTRICAL WIRE AROUND STEERING WHEEL CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID

983040

Incident

Apr 10, 1995