NHTSA Complaint #739704 — 1995 FORD THUNDERBIRD

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