1992 Ford Thunderbird Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD THUNDERBIRD. IN APRIL OF 2000, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT PERFORMED AT THAT TIME BECAUSE THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF AND TWO PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER TO CALL FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,800.

CONSUMER' S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AS STATED IN NHTSA RECALLS 96V071000 AND 99V27500 CONCERNING IGNITION SYSTEM AND HEADLIGHTS. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *NM

THE REAR BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION AND NO POWER BRAKES AT ALL REALLY HARD PEDAL HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET IT TO STOP THIS HAPPENED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THIS MAKES IT VERY HARD TO STOP I WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE FORD.COM SAID NO RECALLS FOR MY CAR AND IT COST $1500 TO FIX . *TR

COMPONANT: UPPER MOUNTED TAILLIGHT REPEATED STOP AND GO TRAFFIC CREATED EXCESSVIE HEAT IN THE UNVENTED PLASTIC MOUNTING. PLASTIC MELTED AND DRIPED ONTO BULBS CAUSING THEM TO FAIL. POSSIBILITY OF FIRE.

LEFT AND RIGHT OUTER AND INNER ROCKERS ROTTED. BAD DESIGN, NO VENTILATION BUILT IN TO DRY MOISTURE INSIDE ROCKER. THEREFORE THEY ROT TILL THERE IS NO MORE ROCKER, COSTING $700 PER SIDE TO HAVE A FORD BODY SHOP TO CUT OUT AND WELD IN NEW ROCKERS.*AK

PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE - REPAIR COST OF $970. *AK

1992 FORD THUNDERBIRD RECALLED FOR REPLACEMENT OF IGNITION SWITCH A FEW YEARS BACK (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA95002). DEFECTIVE SWITCH WAS REPLACED WITH EXACT SAME PART THAT WAS RECALLED AND FAILED AGAIN WITHIN ONE YEAR WITH TWO HALVES OF UNIT AGAIN COMING APART. I HAVE JUST REPLACED FOR THE FIFTH TIME WITH EXACT SAME DEFECTIVE UNIT, THIS BEING THE ONLY THING AVAILABLE FROM FORD AND FROM AFTERMARKET SUPPLIERS. HOW DOES REPLACING DEFECTIVE PART WITH EXACTLY SAME PART ELIMINATE FIRE HAZARD ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PART WHICH PROMPTED RECALL IN THE FIRST PLACE??? *TR

CONSUMER' S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AS STATED IN NHTSA RECALLS 96V071000 AND 99V27500 CONCERNING IGNITION SYSTEM AND HEADLIGHTS. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *NM

1)1992 FORD THUNDERBIRD VIN [XXX], FUEL LINE CHAFFED AGAINST FLOOR PAN CAUSING A PIN HOLE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE (EXACTLY AS IN NHSA ID: 97V159000 ISSUED 09/17/1997). 2) FUEL LINE LEAKED STRONG ODOR AND EXTEAM FIRE DANGER. 3)JOHN'S REPAIR 189 E. 2ND S. SODA SPRINGS, ID REPLACED FUEL LINE 10/20/03 $292.66. CONTACTED FORD AT 800-392-3673, 07/28/2004, THEY STATED THIS VIN HAD NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS, THEY COULDN'T CROSS CHECK NHTSA ID # TO FORD'S RECALL NUMBER AND FORD WOULDN'T REIMBURSE ME FOR REPAIR.*AK UPDATED 07/25/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY, THE CONSUMER HAD SMELLED GASOLINE COMING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK (*SCC

I GOT INTO MY CAR THIS MORNING AND THE DRIVER POWER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT WORK. WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR TO MY PASSENGER SIDE THE POWER SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE ATTEMPTED TO WORK BUT DIDN'T WORK COMPLETELY. THERE WAS NO EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE. THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. I HAVEN'T MADE AN ATTEMPT TO GET IT FIXED YET AS IT JUST HAPPENED ONLY A HALF HOUR AGO. *TR

THE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS DON'T WORK. ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, THE SEAT BELT STAYS IN A POSITION THAT APPEARS TO BE EFFECTIVE, BUT IT DOES NOT GO ALL THE WAY BACK. IT ALSO NO LONGER MOVES FORWARD WHEN THE DOOR IS OPENED. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, THE SEAT BELT WORKS MOST OF THE TIME. HOWEVER, IT OCCASIONALLY GETS STUCK IN A POSITION WHERE IT HAS MOVED FORWARD WHEN THE DOOR WAS OPENED BUT IT WON'T MOVE BACK TO ITS CORRECT POSITION. I READ IN THE CAR MANUAL THAT THERE IS A KNOB THAT CAN BE TURNED IN ORDER TO GET THE SEAT BELT TO GO BACK ALL THE WAY. I'VE TRIED THIS MANY TIMES; IT WORKED AT FIRST, BUT DOESN'T ANY MORE.

I WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50-55 MPH WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT LIMP UNDER MY FOOT. HOWEVER, THE CAR CONTINUED ACCELERATING. PUMPING THE PEDAL CHANGED NOTHING. WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR KEPT GOING AT 55 MPH. I APPLIED THE BRAKES AND MANAGED TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP BY PUTTING IT IN PARK WHILE IT WAS STILL MOVING AND TURNING OFF THE IGNITION. I WAS ON AN EMPTY ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO GET TO THE SHOULDER WITHOUT INCIDENT. I WAITED A FEW MINUTES AND STARTED THE CAR UP AGAIN AND IT WAS RACING AT FULL THROTTLE WHILE IN PARK. THE THROTTLE IS OBVIOUSLY STUCK WIDE OPEN AND I THINK I PROBABLY INCURRED TRANSMISSION DAMAGE GETTING IT TO STOP. I THEN CALLED A TOW TRUCK WHICH TOWED THE VEHICLE TO MY RESIDENCE. I HAVE NOT YET HAD A MECHANIC LOOK AT THE CAR. I THOUGHT I WOULD MAKE THIS REPORT FIRST AND WAIT FOR YOUR ADVICE AS TO WHAT TO DO. MY GUESS WOULD BE THE THROTTLE CABLE SNAPPED BASED ON THE FACT THAT THE PEDAL SUDDENLY WENT LIMP AND THEN I LOST THE ABILITY TO EITHER ACCELERATE OR DECELERATE.*AK

ACCELERATOR PEDAL STICKS TO FLOOR WHEN PASSING AND WILL NOT RELEASE UNTIL TAPPED OR PULLED BY HAND.

DEFECTIVE TAIL SHAFT ON TRANSMISSION. NEW SEAL DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. MR

HEAD GASKET- CAR BEGAN SKIPPING AND THEN WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF EXHUAST. I DROVE IT HOME (3 MILES). I PULLED THE SPARK PLUGS AND FOUND THAT THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER PLUG CLEAN AND WET. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTOR AND CYLINDER. WHY WON'T FORD HELP? I HAVE YET TO BRING IT TO A GARAGE SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE HEAD OR BLOCK IS DAMAGED. I AM HOPING NOT! TRANSMISSION- AOD MODEL STARTING AT ABOUT 79,000 MILES IT BEGAN TO SHIFT FUNNY AND GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS TIME WENT ON. NOW SHIFTING ERATIC, WAS LOOKING INTO FIXING IT WHEN THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM CAME UP!!!!!*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SOMETHING BLACK FALLING ON DASH, HE STOPPED/ INSPECTED, AND NOTICED A PIECE OF WINDSHIELD ADHESIVE HAD FALLEN. ADHESIVE HAD NEVER HARDENED,AND WHEN CLEANING INSIDE OF IT, CONSUMER GOT STUCK ON ADHESIVE. FORD DEALER TOLD HIM UP TO 36000 MILES FORD CO. WOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT SINCE THIS VEHICLE WAS OVER THAT MILEAGE THEY WOULD DO NOTHING.*AK CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *SLC

CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE IN WINDSHIELDS WIPERS . *ET

THE DOORS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS, THEY SEEM TO BE TOO HEAVY FOR THE HINGES AS THEY SAG AND REQUIRE US TO LIFT THE DOOR TO GET THEM TO SHUT. THE FRONT SEAT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS DON'T WORK PROPERLY AT ALL AS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN TO RETRACT AND PASSENGER SIDE STAYS AT BOTTOM OF TRACK AND SHUTTERS ALL THE TIME. THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT STAY ELEVATED, WHICH CAUSES THE IN-DASH BRAKE LIGHT TO COME ON DURING OPERATION.*AK

BECAUSE OF THE HINGES IN DOOR IT WILL NOT SHUT PROPERLY. SEAT ALSO WILL NOT LOCK *AK.

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE COMING IN FROM THE VENTS. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, LIFTED THE HOOD UP, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

BECAUSE OF THE HINGES IN DOOR IT WILL NOT SHUT PROPERLY. SEAT ALSO WILL NOT LOCK *AK.

THE PLASTIC TRANSMISSION CABLE END BROKE OFF THE THROTTLE BODY CAUSING THE GAS PEDAL STICKING TO THE FLOOR.*ET

AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN MAKING LANE CHANGES THE REAR END GOES TO THE OPPOSITE OF THE DIRECTION IT IS TRAVELING DUE TO AXLE BEARING FAILURE. *AK

THE LINE ROUTED FROM THE PUMP TO THE RACK AND PINION WAS WEDGED INBETWEEN THE BOTTOM OF THE OIL PAN AND THE TOP OF THE FRAME, CAUSING IT TO RUB THROUGH THE LINE, WEARING A HOLE IN IT. THIS CAUSED IT TO LEAK P.S. FLUID RAPIDLY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE WAS SOMETHING DONE WRONG ON MY PART.

POWER STEERING HOSE DISCONNECTED CAUSING FLUID LEAK ON EXHAUST (CATALYTIC CONVERTER) RESULTING IN FIRE.

FORD SPRINGS I OWNED AN ESCORT AND AM ON THE SECOND SET OF SPRINGS AND JUST BOUGHT A 92 THUNDERBIRD AND BOTH FRONT SPRINGS ARE BAD THIS HAS HAPPENED TO A TOPAZ I HAD TO WHAT IS THE PROBLEM WITH FORD AND THERE SPRINGS LATELY I'VE BEEN HEARING A LOT ON THIS SEEMS LIKE WHEN THE CARS GET UP TO 75000 MILES. EVER HEARD OF FLATS BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM PLEASE LOOK INTO IT THANK YOU. *NLM

DRIVING ALONG AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE PART THAT TURNS THE SPINDLE/ LOWER BALL JOINTS/ LOWER CONTROL ARM JUST FELL OFF. *AK

LEFT REAR WHEEL HAS BECOME LOOSE, DUE TO THE WASHER THAT HOLDS THE WHEEL ON THE AXLE IS DEFECTIVE, REPLACE WASHER 3 TIMES. TT

LUG NUT DESIGNED WITHOUT SAFETY DEVICE PREVENTS LUG FROM FALLING OFF, RESULTING IN REAR WHEEL COMING OFF. *SKD

COMING ACROSS A SMALL BRIDGE THAT WAS ICED, LOST CONTROL, HITTING THE GUARDRAIL, TOTALLY DEMOLISHING THE FRONT. NEITHER DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT ANY TIME EVEN AFTER BEING TOWED TO BODY SHOP. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

DRIVING HOME IN LEFT LANE, STREET LIGHTS NOT BRIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE IN LEFT LANE NOT MOVING, NO HAZARDS OR OTHER LIGHTS, THUNDERBIRD REARENDED VEHICLE, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME RE. TIRE MODEL, SIZE, ETC. THE TREAD COMPLETELY PEELED WHILE TRAVELLING AT ~ 65 MPH, RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE BUMPER, FENDER, AND MISC. DAMAGE. THE TIRE WAS ROUGHLY 2 YEARS OLD AND HAD LESS THAN 35,000 MILES OF WEAR. PROPER ROTATION, BALANCING, AND INFLATION HAD BEEN MAINTAINED.( DOT NUMBER: )

THE ORGINAL SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED AT 7,000 MILES, THE SECOND ONE WAS REPLACED AT 5,000 MILES AND THE THIRD ONE AT 8,000 MILES. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK THE NEEDLE WILL NOT PROGRAM PAST 38 MPH ALSO HEATER NOT WORKING PROPERLY LOW HEAT AND ALSO A/C LOW..*JB