Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1995 Ford Thunderbird submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 50 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 50, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BATTERY AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITHIN MINUTES OF BEING STARTED. HE NOTICED THICK, WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE AND THE "LOW COOLANT" WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.
DT: 1995 FORD THUNDERBIRD 3.8. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ENGINE PROBLEM ON OCTOBER 3, 2005. TOOK VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, THEY WANTED $4600 TO PUT IN A NEW ENGINE. IN DECEMBER 2003 VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE FROM TIMING CHAIN GASKET. HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY. VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT NOR HAVE THERE BEEN ANY PROPERTY DAMAGE. POLICE HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 32,000 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE STILL HAS THE ORIGINAL ENGINE . THE CONSUMER CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AND THEY SAID THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK
ELECTRIC FAN MOTOR FOR RADIATOR COOLING FAN SHORTED OUT, CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE THE PLASTIC SHROUD TO CATCH ON FIRE.*AK
WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
BLOWN HEAD GASKETS ON 1995 FORD THUNDERBIRD. *LA
VEHICLE SMOKING FROM UNDERNEATH HOOD AND LEAKING COOLANT.*MR CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING WHEN THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE, A BILLOW OF WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE AND THE VEHICLE LEAKED COOLANT . THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND THE DIAGNOSIS WAS A HEAD GASKET LEAK WHICH ALLOWED COOLANT INTO THE COMBUSTION CHAMBER. THE COOLANT CONTAMINATED THE OIL AND WAS LEAKING OUT THE REAR OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS TOLD THE VEHICLE MAY BE COVERED UNDER A RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE RECALL ONLY COVERED 1994 MODELS NOT 1995. THE CONSUMER LATER LEARNED THE PART WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. FORD WOULDN'T COVER THE REPAIR BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WASN'T DIAGNOSED/REPAIRED AT A FORD DEALER. CONSUMER STATED THAT IF THE WOMAN AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP WOULD'VE CONFIRMED THE WARRANTY ON THE PART, THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE BEEN AT A FORD DEALERSHIP. CONSUMER FELT FORD SHOULD HAVE REIMBURSE THEM THE COST OF THE REPAIRS SINCE THEIR REPRESENTATIVE WAS AT FAULT. *PH *JB
BY NOW IT IS QUITE APPARENT OF THE NOTORIOUS FORD 3.8L HEAD GASKET FAILURE ISSUE. WELL, JUST TO KEEP PEOPLE UP TO DATE ON FORD'S BUSINESS PRACTICES. MY WIFE BOUGHT A 1995 FORD THUNDERBIRD IN NOV 1995. (I MUST FIRST START OFF BY SAYING THAT I AM THE COMPUTER LITERATE ONE, THAT IS WHY I AM COMPLAINING, AND I AM THE ONE WHO WILL BE FORCED TO FIX/PAY FOR THE HEAD GASKETS IN HER THUNDERBIRD). TODAY IS APRIL 9TH 2003, I AM BEGINNING TO NOTICE SYMPTOMS IN THE PERFORMANCE OF THE CAR (LOSING COOLANT, ERRATIC TEMPERATURE CHANGES) WHICH WOULD INDICATE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. IN DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH ON THE WEB, I CAME ACROSS SOME INFO THAT THERE WAS (2) EXTENDED WARRANTIES PUT OUT ON THE 3.8L ENGINE BY FORD, THAT SHE HAS. WE NEVER RECEIVED ANY RECALL OR CUSTOMER SATISFACTION BULLETINS STATING WE NEEDED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN TO HAVE THIS FIXED. WHEN I CALLED THE HILLER FORD, HALES CORNERS, WISCONSIN, THEY TOLD ME THAT WE DIDN'T RECEIVE THE NOTICE BECAUSE OUR 3.8L 232 V6 ENGINE WASN'T PART OF THE RECALL PROGRAM FOR 3.8L 232 V6 ENGINES BECAUSE OURS WASN'T BUILT IN THE TIME SLOT NOR THE PLANT THAT THE PROGRAM (TSB 00M10) WAS PERTAINING TOO. SOUNDS LIKE A FIRESTONE BS STORY TO ME. I CALLED FORD IN DEARBORN, MI AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS PART OF THE PROGRAM BUT SINCE THE 7 YEARS WARRANTY EXTENSION AS PART OF THE RECALL EXPIRED NOV 17TH 2002, WE NOW HAVE TO EAT THE COST OF REPLACING FORD'S DESIGN FAILURE BY A FEW MONTHS. MY DAD, MYSELF, AND BOTH OF MY SISTERS EACH HAVE FORD EXPLORERS AND I HOPE FORD IS HAPPY WITH THE MONEY THEY MADE OFF OF ALL OF MY FAMILY BECAUSE THEY WILL NOT GET ANOTHER PENNY FROM US, AS LONG AS, THEY WANT TO BLOW ME OFF FOR A $1500.00 DESIGN FLAW THAT THEY DO NOT WANT TO LIVE UP TO. FIRST FIRESTONE, NOW FORD. *JB
WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE LIGHT FLASHES ON AND OFF. VEHICLE STARTED RUNNING BADLY, AND SMOKE CAME OF TAILPIPE DUE TO HEAD GASKET BLOWNING OUT. *AK
NOTICED SMOKE POURING OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD---ENGINE COOLING FAN BURNED UP AND IT NEVER BLEW THE FUSE
WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH VEHICLE STARTED TO BOUNCE A BIT, AND THEN CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND FOUND OUT THAT HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWEN. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK *TT
OIL PUMP FAILED WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSED THE 3.8L V6 ENGINE TO LOCK UP. DEALER AN MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK
ON TWO OCCASIONS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK ENGINE ROARS, CONSUMER WOULD TAP THE ACCELERATOR AND WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR, FEELS AS IF VEHICLE IS PUT IN NEUTRAL. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT SWITCH ASSEMBLY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER REPLACE 2 O2 SENSORS AND MAF SENSOR. VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT. WHEEL ALIGNMENT PERFORMED. STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. PRFORMED FRONT DISC/ REAR DRUM BRAKE SERVICE. REPLACED FRONT ROTORS AFTER BRAKE JOB DUE TO PULSATION. STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT TIMES, VEHICLE WILL NOT SHUTT OFF. RIGHT DOOR LOCK INOPERATIVE. DEALER CAN NOT DUPLICATE. CUSTOMER STATES FLUID LEAK AT REAR END. RIGHT AXLE SEAL REPLACED. PASSENGER HEAD REST RATTLES OVER BUMPS. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. CONSUMER STATES NOISE FROM SEAT WHEN NO ONE IS SITTING THERE, DEALER STATES THIS IS NORMAL. SEAT TRACK COVERS MISING ONE LAYING IN THE REAR FLOOR. SEAT TRACK COVER REINSTALLED. CONSUMER STATS THERE IS A PINGING NOISE UPON ACCELERATION. DEALER SUGGESTED HIGHER FUEL OCTANE. CUSTOMER STATES BRAKE PEDAL SEEMS LOW. BRAKES OK. FRONT END SHIMMIES AT 50 TO 60 MPH. 4 TIRES BALANCED. DOME LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON WHEN DRIVER OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE PULLED UP. TEMPERATURE AND SPEEDOMOTER LIGHT BURNED WAS INOPERATIVE. DEALER REPLACED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BULBS. COOLANT LEAK UNDER CAR AND WARNING LIGHT IS ON. DEALER FOUND NO LEAKS AND COOLANT LEVEL LOW. CONSUMER STATES MOTOR WILL ROAR AND SHIFT INTO GEAR. DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP BURNT OUT. HEADLAMP REPLACED. TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN NOT IN OVERDRIVE. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION OIL PAN AND GASKET. *TT
SEAL FAILED KNOWN PROBLEM WITH V 6 3.3L FAULTY DESIGN ACK BY FORD WILL NOT REPLACE CAR CAN BLOW UP NOT RECOMMENDED FOR DRIVING SEVERE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 40 MPH, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE, DEALER TOLD CONSUMER THAT SMOKE WAS OFF DUE TO A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT TO START THE VEHICLE, HE HAD TO TRY COUPLE OF TIMES AND WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH HE NOTICED ENGINE OVERHEATING POINTER MOVING TOWARDS HIGHER THAN NORMAL AND LOWERED HIS SPEED TO 40 MPH AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE, WHILE BACKING UP, THE ENGINE STARTED SHAKING, WHEN PUTTING IN DRIVE IT RAN NORMALLY THEN NOTICED ABNORMAL SMOKE COMING OUT OF MUFFLER, THE SERVICE ENGINEER TOLD HIM THAT HEAD CYLINDER GASKET WAS BLOWN, AND COOLANT WAS LEAKING INTO ENGINE AND TO THE MUFFLER. *YD
HAVE CHECK A ROUND A LOT OF 3.8L MOTORS HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
THE HEAD GASKET IN MY CAR HAS FAILED AS HAVE MANY OF THE 3.8L FORD V6'S FORD HAS PRODUCED ALSO THE DRIVER SIDE MIRROR FELL OFF THE CAR WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE RAOD THERE WAS NO SIGN OF TAMPERING WITH IT NO SCRATCHES NO DENTS JUST FELL RIGHT OFF THE CAR AND ON TO THE ROAD!!!!. *AK
VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. WHEN AT STOP LIGHT CONSUMER WOULD PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK DEALER STATED IGNITION SYSTEM HAD SHORTED OUT RESULTING IN SPARK PLUGS BEING BURNED, DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND SPARK PLUGS, CONSUMER STATES THERE ARE STILL PROBLEMS AND NOW THE ENGINE IS MISFIRING, CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS, HOWEVER DEALER INFORMED THAT THIS VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. FAN BELT REPLACED. FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED. *SLC
HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS SEEMS TO BE A CONTINUING PROBLEM FOR THUNDERBIRDS.*AK
I HAVE ANTIFREEZE POURING FROM MY TAIL PIPE. FORD MECHANICS MISSED THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM WHEN IT WAS SMALL AND FIXED PARTS DAMAGED BY THE OVERHEATING PROBLEM. NOW THAT THE HEAD GASKET HAS WORSENED--THE CAR ISN'T DRIVABLE. AND HAS EXCEEDED THEIR 100,000 MILE WARRANTY. MY CAR WAS UNDER THE WARRANTY WHEN THEIR MACHANICS OVERLOOKED MY HEAD GASKETS. *AK
ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON. CONSUEMR FEELS VEHICLE IS OVERHEATING.*AK
CONSUMER HAD BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE ACCELERATING AND LOSING POWER. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR CHECK UP, DEALER FOUND OUT THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE LETTER INDICATED WORK IS COVERED IN MAY, HOWEVER THIS WORK WAS COMPLETED IN APRIL, CONSUMER FEELS FORD SHOULD STILL BE RESPONSIBLE. *SLC
HAVE HAD HEAT PROBLEMS ALL WINTER. HAD NO IDEA THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. *AK
THIS INQUIRY THROUGH NHTSA IS A RESULT OF LITTLE ASSISTANCE FROM FORD MOROR CO. IN REFERENCE TO A DESIGN RELATED DEFECT ON 1995 V6, 3.8 LITER ENGINES. MY PROBLEM DEVELOPED AT 85000 MILES AND UPON INQUIRY WITH FORD FOUND THAT "ONLY" THE 1995 SABLE AND TAURUS WERE INCLUDED IN AN EXISTING RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM RELATED TO HEAD GASKET PROBLEMS. FORD SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST ME WITH MY THUNDERBIRD, BUT IF I CHOSE TO REPAIR IT, I COULD SAVE MY RECEIPTS AND THEY MAY BE ABLE TO ASSIST LATER IF AND ONLY IF THE THUNDERBIRD WAS INCLUDED IN THE RECALL/EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM. THE PRIMARY SYMPTOM OF SUCH A PROBLEM IS THE ILLUMINATION OF A YELLOW ENGINE LIGHT. IN MY CASE, SINCE I DRIVE ALMOST EXCLUSIVELY ON THE FREEWAY, THE ENGINE LIGHT DOES NOT ILLUMINATE SINCE ADEQUATE COOLING AND REDUCED ENGINE STRESS OCCURS AT THAT TIME. HENCE I WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A MAJOR PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY FORD DID NOT RECORD MY ORIGINAL INQUIRY THROUGH THEIR CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. SO WHEN FORD FINALLY INCLUDED THE THUNDERBIRD IN THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAM FOR THE SAME PROBLEM FOUND ON SABLES AND TAURUSES, I HAD WENT BEYOND THE 100,000 EXTENDED WARRANTY LIMIT. AS A RESULT, THEY NOW CONCLUDE THAT THEY CANNOT ASSIST IN REPAIR OF THE VEHICLE. I'M EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED AND CONCERNED ABOUT THE OUT OF POCKET COST I NOW AM FACED WITH FOR A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN PROVEN TO BE A FORD DESIGN ISSUE. WORSE YET, THE DEALERSHIP IN SPRINGFIELD, OH (WHERE I LIVE), HAS DISASSEMBLED THE ENGINE BLOCK AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PROBLEM IS INDEED THE SAME ONE THAT HAS AFFECTED THE 95 SABLE,TAURUS AND NOW THUNDERBIRD. I'M ALSO CONCERNED ABOUT THE INABILITY OF A CUSTOMER TO PROCEED BEYOND THE CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE REPRESENTATIVES WHO ARE REACHED THROUGH THEIR 800 PHONE NUMBER. EFFORTS TO DISCUSS MY SITUATION TO A MORE KNOWLEDGEABLE REPRESENTATIVE AT PERHAPS A HIGHER LEVEL IN THE COMPANY HAVE BEEN FUTILE. THATS WHY I'VE CONTACTED NHTSA.*AK
I HAVE CONTACT YAM'S ON SEVERAL OCCASSION CONCERING THIS CAR RUNNING HOT . THERE COMMENT TO ME WAS TO GET IT TO THE BECAUSE IT WOULD CAUSE THEM MORE MONEY TO PICK IT UP.UNDER THE CONDITON THE CAR WAS RUNNING I COULD NOT IT HAS SET UP FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP. *AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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