1996 Ford Thunderbird Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED AN ABNORMALLY STRONG COOLANT ODOR. THE CONTACT THEN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE ANTIFREEZE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD FAILED. THE INTACT MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO SPILL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD. FORD REPLACED ONCE, FREE OF CHARGE @ 48,523 MILES. CRACKED AGAIN @ APPX. 95,700 MILES. FORD REFUSED TO REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE. REPLACED ONE DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD WITH ONE THAT WAS JUST AS DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT ON THIS MANIFOLD, IT WAS SO BAD. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE A LEAK WAS FOUND ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE. THE LINE WAS CORRODED TWO INCHES FROM EITHER SIDE OF A CLIP HOLDING THE BRAKE LINE. NO OTHER CORROSION WAS FOUND ON THE REMAINING BRAKE LINES.

PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE ROTORS ON VEHICLE ARE WARPED. *MR THE FRONT ROTORS WERE REPLACED, LEFT AND RIGHT (2 TIMES) AND WERE WARPED AGAIN. *SCC *JB

INTAKE (PLASTIC) CRACKS ;LEAVING FAMILY AND I STRANDED ON 30 MILE STRETCH OF HIGHWAY WITH NO HOUSES OR BUSINESS. TOWED TO STATION AND FIXED RECALLED INTAKE. TAXI COST HOME AND BACK 2 DAYS LATER TO RETRIEVE CAR SOON STARTED HAVING HEATER COIL LEAKS AND OVERHEATING;ANTIFREEZE CAUSING HEADACHES. ALMOST $1000.00 TO REPLACE 30 DOLLAR PART(DASH BOARD AND CONSOLE REMOVED AND AIR CONDITION UNIT DISCONNECTED AND RECHARGED) DEALER TOOK COST OF NEXT 2 REPLACEMENT HEATER COILS AND IT STILL NEEDS 4TH;NO HEAT;STILL LEAKS ANTIFREEZE INSIDE CAR. INTAKE MANIFOLD(PLASTIC) CRACKED AGAIN;OVERHEATED AND BURNT ME THIS TIME ALSO CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO CAR;VERY COSTLY WHICH I GUESS WE THE CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO BEAR. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE? *TR

COMPLIANT IS THAT THROUGH MY INSURANCE PROVIDER I WAS ALERTED TO TWO RECALLS THAT SHOULD BE AT LEAST LOOKED INTO ON MY AUTO. THE FIRST IS THE BLOWER ON THE CLIMATE CONTROL BEGAN TO WORK ERRATICALLY AND NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. MEANING THAT MY DEFROSTING DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. THE OTHER AND MORE SERIOUS IS THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH STICKS AT SMACKS AGAINST THE PEG AND DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY OR AT ALL, UNLESS THE LATCH IS MANUALLY LIFTED. BOTH OF THESE ARE RECALLS FOR OTHER T-BIRDS BUT SOMEHOW MINE SLIPPED THROUGH. VIN IS [XXX]. IF THESE ARE SUCH COMMON PROBLEMS WHY WEREN'T ALL THE T-BIRDS RECALLED? I AM LOOKING AT OVER 600.00 TO REPLACE THESE PARTS. WHICH IS IRRITATING WHEN FORD SHOULD BE FIXING IT'S KNOWN PROBLEMS. *NM UPDATED 07/16/2012 * JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

THE 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD'S HEAD GASKET BLEW AND TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. IT HAS BEEN USING WATER SINCE WE BOUGHT IT FROM THE DEALER. *LA

TRANSMISSION SLIPS AT TAKEOFF, CAUSING CAR TO STOP IN LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *AK

THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING GAS. AN INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE FUEL RAIL. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

PLASTIC FUEL PRESSURE LINE FROM THE FUEL TANK TO THE HARD LINE RUPTURED FROM RUBBING THE FLOOR PAN. ALSO FOUND THE HARD LINE CHAFING ON THE INBOARD SIDE OF THE ROCKER PANEL WHERE IT CHANGES DIRECTION TO THE FUEL TANK. *LA

WHILE TRAVELING 70MPH ON HIGHWAY, VEHICLE WAS VIBRATING INSIDE OF STEERING COLUMN. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER TO SHOULDER. RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. *AK FIRESTONE FR680 P215/70R15 AND DOT #W2M31PN266. *YH

TWO ORIGINAL TIRES SEPARATED ONE MONTH APART, I REPLACED THE ORIGINALS WITH A NEW SET OF FOUR OF THE SAME MODEL AND SIZE, ONE OF THESE HAS NOW SEPARATED, 3 OF 8 TIRES HAVE GONE BAD. THE TIRE AIR PRESSURE WAS MAINTAINED PROPERLY, PERIODIC ROTATION AND BALANCE AND TWO ALIGNMENTS WERE PERFORMED WITH THE LATEST SET.. I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION AND A RECALL, THE REGIONAL ASST. MGR. (PETE SHEPARD @ 480-443-0606) WILL NOT REFUND EVEN A PRO-RATED PORTION OF MY MONEY. I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE A COMPLETE NEW SET OF TIRES FROM ANOTHER MFG. TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. *AK (DOT NUMBER: WLM3F6H169 TIRESIZE: 215/70R-15)

THERE IS A WHITRE CLOUDY FILM ON THE HEADLIGHTS CREATING POOR VISABILITY AT NIGHT.*AK

96 FORD THUNDERBIRD HEADLIGHT SWITCH SHORTINGSMOKING HEADLIGHTS OUT. KEVIN VANOY, ASTORG FORD PARKERSBURG, WV SAYS THIS IS COMMON. HE ORDERED PART SAID MECHANIC SEPARATED WIRES AND ORDERED PARTS. SAID NO MORE PROBLEMS DRIVE AWAY. LIGHTS STILL GO OUT MELTING WIRES. GLEN DETHY CARRIAGE FORD CLARKSVILLE, IN ORDERS PARKERSBURG TO SEND PARTS TO IN, BUT WILL CHARGE $100 EXTRA TO INSTALL, NEITHER DEALER WOULD RUN A HOT WIRE WITH A CABIN SWITH TO LET CUSTONMER SAFELY HAVE LIGHTS. BOTH DEALERS SENT CUSTOMER BACK ON ROAD WITH DANGEROUS LIGHT SWITCH.

OPENING DOORS FROM THE INSIDE, LITTLE BY LITTLE, BOTH DOORS FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, HAD TO LEAVE WINDOW OR WINDOWS OPEN TO STICK HAND OUT TO OPEN DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. FAILURE OF THESE DOORS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AT SOME POINT IF BATTERY WOULD GIVE OUT WOULD LEAVE US LOCKED IN, BUT FORTUNATELY THAT DID NOT HAPPEN DUE TO US REMEMBERING TO LEAVE AT LEAST ONE WINDOW OPEN. AFTER SOME MINOR REPAIR, FOUND OUT PLASTIC PARTS WORE OUT AND ONLY ONE DOOR CAN BE UNLOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE. *TR

INTAKE (PLASTIC) CRACKS ;LEAVING FAMILY AND I STRANDED ON 30 MILE STRETCH OF HIGHWAY WITH NO HOUSES OR BUSINESS. TOWED TO STATION AND FIXED RECALLED INTAKE. TAXI COST HOME AND BACK 2 DAYS LATER TO RETRIEVE CAR SOON STARTED HAVING HEATER COIL LEAKS AND OVERHEATING;ANTIFREEZE CAUSING HEADACHES. ALMOST $1000.00 TO REPLACE 30 DOLLAR PART(DASH BOARD AND CONSOLE REMOVED AND AIR CONDITION UNIT DISCONNECTED AND RECHARGED) DEALER TOOK COST OF NEXT 2 REPLACEMENT HEATER COILS AND IT STILL NEEDS 4TH;NO HEAT;STILL LEAKS ANTIFREEZE INSIDE CAR. INTAKE MANIFOLD(PLASTIC) CRACKED AGAIN;OVERHEATED AND BURNT ME THIS TIME ALSO CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO CAR;VERY COSTLY WHICH I GUESS WE THE CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO BEAR. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED THE FAN BLOWER STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN THE HEAT OR DEFROSTER WAS ACTIVATED. THE FUNCTIONS WOULD ALSO OPERATE ERRATICALLY CAUSING THE FAN BLOWER TO GO FROM HIGH TO LOW ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V007000 (EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:AIR CONDITIONER) WAS RELATED BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 123,100.

HEATER/AIR CONDITIONING BLOWER HAS FAILED. RELATED RECALL 96V007000; CONSUMER'S VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY OFF. *AK CONSUMER STATED IT WAS THE FRONT BALL JOINT THAT CAUSED THAT WHEEL TO COME OFF. *YH

THE FRONT SPRINGS ARE DEFECTIVE AND BREAK THUS COLLASPSING THE STRUTS AND MAKING THE VEHICLE HARD TO HANDLE. THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFILD COOLANT CHANNEL WALLS ARE TO THIN AND TEND TO BLOW-OUT. FINALLY, THE BACKLIT REAR REFLECTOR TENDS TO BURNOUT TO OFTER FOR A INTEGRATED PART. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE THE REFLECTOR IS AN INTEGRATED PART OF THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE COST OF REPLACEMENT IS PROHIBITIVE SO THE REFLCTOR REMAINS BURNED OUT ON MANY OF THE OTHER T-BIRDS I SEE ON THE ROAD CAUSING A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE'S VISIBILITY. THE ILUMENATOR IN THE REFLECTOR SHOULD BE SERVICABLE. *AK

AIR BAG FLASHING CODE

WHEN DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHESYSTEM STOPPED WORKING IN MOTION FAILURE OF THE CLOCK SPRING

COMPLIANT IS THAT THROUGH MY INSURANCE PROVIDER I WAS ALERTED TO TWO RECALLS THAT SHOULD BE AT LEAST LOOKED INTO ON MY AUTO. THE FIRST IS THE BLOWER ON THE CLIMATE CONTROL BEGAN TO WORK ERRATICALLY AND NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. MEANING THAT MY DEFROSTING DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. THE OTHER AND MORE SERIOUS IS THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH STICKS AT SMACKS AGAINST THE PEG AND DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY OR AT ALL, UNLESS THE LATCH IS MANUALLY LIFTED. BOTH OF THESE ARE RECALLS FOR OTHER T-BIRDS BUT SOMEHOW MINE SLIPPED THROUGH. VIN IS [XXX]. IF THESE ARE SUCH COMMON PROBLEMS WHY WEREN'T ALL THE T-BIRDS RECALLED? I AM LOOKING AT OVER 600.00 TO REPLACE THESE PARTS. WHICH IS IRRITATING WHEN FORD SHOULD BE FIXING IT'S KNOWN PROBLEMS. *NM UPDATED 07/16/2012 * JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

WHEN DRIVING AT 25 MPH AND WITHOUT ANY PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE WILL SHUT COMPLETELY OFF, CAUSING LOSS OF ALL POWER. ALSO, AFTER ATTEMPTING TO RESTART, VEHICLE WILL RESTARTEASILY. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

RACK AND PINION STEERING SHAFT/TIE ROD FAILED AFTER RIGHT FRONT TIRE GLANCED A STANDARD STREET CURB CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL AS THE VEHICLE SKIDDED ACROSS FIVE LANES OF TRAFFICE BEFORE COLLIDING WITH OPPOSING TRAFFIC. OWNER HAD RODS TESTED, AND TESTS SHOW NUMEROUS IMPURITIES AND METALLIC FLAWS.

RACK AND PINION STREERING ROD/TIE ROD END BROKE WHEN WHEELS CRASHED INTO CURBS.

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. VEHICLE REVVED EVEN WHILE THE CONSUMER HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE, WENT THROUGH A GUARD RAIL, AND FINALLY STOPPED WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *TC

CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE SUFFERED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN SHIFTED FROM PARK INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE COLLIDES WITH GARAGE DOOR. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

COMPLIANT IS THAT THROUGH MY INSURANCE PROVIDER I WAS ALERTED TO TWO RECALLS THAT SHOULD BE AT LEAST LOOKED INTO ON MY AUTO. THE FIRST IS THE BLOWER ON THE CLIMATE CONTROL BEGAN TO WORK ERRATICALLY AND NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. MEANING THAT MY DEFROSTING DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. THE OTHER AND MORE SERIOUS IS THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH STICKS AT SMACKS AGAINST THE PEG AND DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY OR AT ALL, UNLESS THE LATCH IS MANUALLY LIFTED. BOTH OF THESE ARE RECALLS FOR OTHER T-BIRDS BUT SOMEHOW MINE SLIPPED THROUGH. VIN IS [XXX]. IF THESE ARE SUCH COMMON PROBLEMS WHY WEREN'T ALL THE T-BIRDS RECALLED? I AM LOOKING AT OVER 600.00 TO REPLACE THESE PARTS. WHICH IS IRRITATING WHEN FORD SHOULD BE FIXING IT'S KNOWN PROBLEMS. *NM UPDATED 07/16/2012 * JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

DT: THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPEN'S PROPERLY BUT DOES NOT CLOSE AS IT SHOULD. THE CONSUMER THINKS THE DOOR IS CLOSED CLOSE UNTIL NOTICING THAT THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *AK *NM

SPEEDOMETER FAILED.

REAR END DIFFERENTIAL FAILED.

VEHICLE WAS HIT ON LEFT MIDDLE AND WAS BUMPED INTO SOMEONE ON THE RIGHT AT ABOUT 20MPH, AND NEITHER DRIVER'S SIDE OR PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. ALSO THE DRIVER'S SEATBELT CAME LOOSE. DEALER HAS VEHICLE NOW. *AK

RIGHT FRONT SEAT BELT LOCKS AND WILL NOT RELEASE UNTIL YOU UNHOOK AND LET IT RETRACT COMPLETELY.

DRIVE SHAFT VIBRATION.