NHTSA Complaint #10360144 — 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD

NO PARTICULAR EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE, JUST MILEAGE (ABOUT 35K). PROBLEM IS IGNITION MISFIRES - NOT CONSISTENT AT ALL BUT CAUSES NEARLY COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER, STUMBLING, PARTICULARLY ON ACCELERATION (ON RAMPS, PASSING, ETC.). THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT - AT TIMES CAUSES LOSS OF POWER, ENGINE STALLS AND SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY, AT OTHER TIMES CAUSES INABILITY TO ACCELERATE OR EVEN HOLD CONSTANT SPEED. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO CORRECT PROBLEM EXCEPT HAVING MISFIRE CODES CLEARED FROM TIME TO TIME (WHEN CAR RUNS LONG ENOUGH TO GET TO A SERVICE STATION). FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED IDENTICAL PROBLEM FOR IDENTICAL ENGINE IN 2003-2005 THUNDERBIRD AND LINCOLN LS, AND COVERS COST OF FULL REPAIR(CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM 07M07). FORD EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON 2003-2005 VEHICLES TO COVER REPAIR (REPLACE CAM COVER GASKETS, SPARK PLUGS AND COILS ON PLUGS), BUT FOR SOME REASON DID NOT INCLUDE THE 2002 MODELS. COMPLAINT HAS BEEN REGISTERED WITH FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER, BUT THEY CLAIM THEY CAN'T EXTEND WARRANTY TO 2002 MODELS AND THEY CAN'T COMMUNICATE COMPLAINT TO ENGINEERING OR MANAGEMENT STAFF. *TR