1993 FORD THUNDERBIRD Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON 1993 FORD THUNDERBIRD WITH 80,000 ORIGINAL MILES. *JB

BLOWN HEAD GASKET ON THE 3.8L V6. ONLY 103,000 MILES ON IT. *JB

VEHICLE STALLS THEN SHUTS OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKETBLEWOUT, CAUSING AND ENGINE TO LEAK. NO DEALER WAS CONTACTED AT THE TIME OF THIS CALL. PH. *AK

ENGINE WOULD OVERHEAT/RUN ROUGH, AND COOLANT WOULD GET INTO OIL WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFROMATION.*AK

THE HEAD GASKET WAS DESIGNED TOO SMALL AND WAS DEFECTIVE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE UNDRIVABLE. THE CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE COST OF REPAIRING THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. *YH

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING AND SMOKING. MECHANIC SAYS IT DUE TO HEAD GASKETS.*JB

WHILE STOPPING VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STALLED. DEALERS HAVE BEEN CONTACTED AND REPLACED HEADLIGHT SWITCH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

HEAD GASKETS FAILED.

THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AT 62032 MILES, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER DENIED CONSUMERS CLAIM. *YH

THE HEAD GASKET BLEW OUT AT 62032 MILES, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPAIRS, HOWEVER THE MANUFACTURER DENIED CONSUMERS CLAIM. *YH

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED ON THIS VEHICLE WITH WHAT I CONSIDER VERY LOW MILEAGE, LESS THAN 43K MILES. FORD HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON '94 AND '95 MODEL YEARS TO COVER THIS REPAIR. THIS CAR WAS NOT ABUSED AND HAD EXCELLENT MAINTENANCE OVER THE YEARS. THERE'S NO REASON FOR THE FAILURE OF THE HEAD GASKET OTHER THAN A DESIGN DEFECT. FORTUNATELY, I WAS NOT DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED.*AK

PREMATURE HEADGASKET FAILURE LED TO $1750 IN REPAIRS. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE; TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR; LEFT VEHICLE AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP. PLANNED TO BUY A NEW FORD, BUT NOT AFTER REVIEWING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE.*AK

HEAD GASKET BLEW 3 TIMES, CAUSING CAR TO STALL UP IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY JUST STOPPED. ALSO BLOWING WHITE STEAM THRU BACK END MAKING IMPOSSIBLE FOR DRIVERS BEHIND TO HAVE A CLEAR VISION, ALSO STEAM WHITE SMOKE IN FRONT END, BLOWING ANIFREEZE THRU THE EXHUAST. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG FORDS 3.8L ENGINES. I GET NO HELP FROM MANUFACTURE OR DEALER. I AM VERY DISAPOINTED IN FORD CO.*AK

VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT AND EXPERIEINCE LOSS OF COOLANT WHILE DRIVING. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. ALSO FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER INFORMATION OR DETAILS CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

FROM WHAT I HEAR FROM MY MECHANIC AND OTHER OWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF THUNDERBIRD HAS A HISTORY OF A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 93000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BLOWN THE HEAD GASKET. OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE AS EARLY AS 65K MILES. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY.*AK

CAR BLEW HEAD GASKET AT 94500.00 MILES OTHER FORD MODELS WERE RECALLED BUT THE THUNDERBIRD 1993 WAS NOT AND IT USES THE SAME ENGINE AS THE WINSTAR 94 WHICH WAS RECALLED FOR THE HEAD GASKET. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH ON A SIDE STREET AND VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. IT WAS CAUSED BY A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. ALSO, VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. *AK

THIS THUNDERBIRD HAS THE 3.8L V6 ENGINE. HEAD GASKETS FAILED. THE LOCAL DEALER ADMITS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAMS DO NOT INCLUDED 1993 THUNDERBIRDS, ONLY 1994-1995. REPAIR COST FOR ME WAS ABOUT $1800.00. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REP IS UNWILLING TO ASSIST WITH ANY AMOUNT OF PAYMENT. I WILL BE FILING IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT.*AK

HEAD GASKETS FAILED.

ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THE HEAD-GASKETS BLEW. ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH FIRST INCIDENT. NOW FACED WITH A SIMILAR SITUATION. ONLY ENGINE IS NOT BURNED UP THIS TIME. WHY FIX IT, IF THE SAME PROBLEM IS GOING TO SIMPLY HAPPEN AGAIN. YET I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. ALOT OF GOOD THAT DID.

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE LOOSING COOLANT, THE LEAK IN THE LOWER PART OF THE RADIATOR CAUSING LOSS OF COOLANT AND COOLANT ODOR OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. NLM

HEAD GASKETS WERE OVER TIGHTENED ON ASSEMEBLY LINE,1994 AND LATER WERE RECALLED. *AK

WOULD LIKE A REFUND OF $1619.01 FOR HEAD GASKET REPAIR. WOULD LIKE VOLT METER AND CRUIZ CONTROL FIXED. *AK

BAD HEAD GASKET BLOWING WHITE SMOKE. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE,HAD TO REPACE TWICE. IS STARTING TO OVERHEAT AGAIN. *AK

WHILE STARTING VEHICLE NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM TAIL PIPE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

AS TO HEAD GASKETS, HAVE HAD TWO SETS OF FAILURES, AT APPROX. 100K APART . . . . AS TO BRAKES, HAVE HAD MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS OF ROTORS DUE TO CHRONIC WARPING . . . . AS TO TRANSMISSION, HAVE HAD TO HAVE PURCHASE LIFETIME WARRANTY TRANSMISSION FROM AAMCO DUE TO FAILURES IN 2-3 & 3-4 SHIFTS. *AK

HEAD GASKET IS LEAKING COOLANT ONTO ENGINE, CAUSING SHAKING AND ENGINE TEMPERATURE TO GO UP. DEALER DETERMINED HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *JB

CONSUMER STARTED UP VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS BLUE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO A DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THIS FOR THE 1994-1995 MODELS. *SLC

OVERHEATING AND LOSS OF ENGINE COOLANT, AND HEATER WOULD BLOW OUT COOL AIR. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT 3.8L V6 ENGINE HAD A HEAD GASKET FAILURE, VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP FOR REPAIRS. *AK *SLC

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT KEPT COMING ON/ OVER HEATED AND LOSS OF COOLANT. TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER AN EXTENED WARRANTY. *AK CONSUMER STATES SHE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO. AND WAS ADVISED THEY WOULD NOT COVER REPAIRS DUE TO CONSUMER TAKING VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. *JB

LOSS OF COOLANT AND ENGINE CHECK LIGHT WOULD COME ON. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER, AND INFORMED OF A HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON IT 3.8L V6 ENGINE, AND IT WAS NOT COVER UNDER A MANUFACTURER'S EXTENDED WARRANTY. *AK *SLC

VEHICLE WAS BLOWING WHITE SMOKE OUT OF BACK OF VEHICLE DUE TO A LEAKY HEAD GASKET, ALLOWING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO ENGINE. DEALER REPLACED GASKET AND MILLED DOWN HEAD.*AK

MY 3.8L ENGINE'S CYLINDER HEAD GASKETS FAILED. FORD HAS CONCEDED THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM AND HAS ISSUED RECALLS FOR THE SAME ENGINE 1994 AND UP, BUT MINE IS A 1993 AND HAS THE SAME ENGINE. I HAVE BEEN ON SEVERAL WEB SITES WHERE MANY PEOPLE WHO 1993 3.8L ENGINES HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. ITS APPARENT THAT THE PROBLEM RESIDES IN 1993 ENGINES TOO BUT FORD HAS YET TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR 1993 ENGINES AND THEY SHOULD. REPAIRS FOR THIS PROBLEM COST ME OVER $2000 AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALER. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. FORD IMPLIES THAT HEAD GASKETS SHOULD LAST 100,000 MILES. WILL NOT HONOR ON THUNDERBIRD. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS STILL PARK IN DRIVEWAY ENGINE STARTED SHAKING. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE FOR A TEST, AND WHITE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM PIPE, AND ANTI-FREEZE SMELL WAS FELT INSIDE OF VEHICLE THEN, DEALER STATED THAT ENGINE HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. *AK THE MANUFACTURER HAD RECALLED OTHER VEHICLES WITH THIS DEFECT BUT DECLINED TO FIX THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE. *YH

ENGINE MOUNTS FAILED AT 59000 MILES, NOW HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN AND IS CAUSING VEHICLE TO USE A LOT OF WATER AND COOLANT. *SLC

HEAD GASKET FAILED AND WAS REPLACED. REPLACEMENT ONLY LASTED ABOUT 1 YEAR, NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. ALSO, ENGINE WILL BE REPLACED. *AK

HEAD GASKETS FAILED. *SLC

HEAD GASKET FAILED AT AROUND 95,000 MILES PAID REPAIR SHOP $1700+ TO REPLAIN THE HEADS AND REPLACE THE GASKET. RECENTLY FOUND OUT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS 3.8L ENGINE AND FORD WILL NOT FIX IT. PROBLEM STILL NOT FIXED ENGINE STILL RUNNING POORLY AND COOLENT LEVELS STILL DROPING. WHITE CLOUD OF SMOKE WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED.*AK

I BROUGHT THE CAR USED WITH APPROXIMATLY 73,000 MI. AFTER PUTTING ON ONLY ABOUT 10,000 MILES THE CRANKSHAFT SNAPPED. FURTHERER INVESTIGATION REVIELED A PREVIOUS BLOWN HEAD GASKET REPAIR. COOLANT CONTAMINATION OF THE CRANKCASE WHEN A HEAD GASKET BLOWS OFTEN TIMES RESULTS IN DAMAGE TO THE CRANKSHAFT AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE. I'VE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY ARE PLAYING DUMB. THE 1993 THUNDERBIRD SC 3.8 LITER ENGINE IS THE EXACTLY THE SAME ENGINE AS IN THE 1994, 1995 THUNDERBIRDS. WHAT GIVES? I'M BUMMED THAT FORD IS NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING.

PROBLEM WITH ENGINE HESITATION/ LOSS OF COOLANT AND OVERHEATING WHEN DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT 3.8L ENGINE EXPERIENCED A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT REGULAR SPEED AND VEHICLE STALLED. COOLIANT WAS RUNNING VERY LOW. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THAT HEAD GASKET BROKE. *AK

GASKETS WERE LEAKING BEHIND THE TIMING CHAIN COVER DUE TO CRACKED HEADS, THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. CONSUMER STATED THAT WHITE SMOKE WAS BLOWING OUT THE EXHAUST. *SLC

BLOWN HEAD GASKET NOT COVERED SINCE FORD WON'T COVER 1993 MODEL...OLY THE 1994 AND NEWER. *AK

TWO YEARS AGO, MY SON AND I WERE ALMOST KILLED WHEN WE WERE DRIVING IN 55 MPH TRAFFIC IN THE MIRA MESA AREA OF SAN DIEGO, AND MY 1993 FORD T-BIRD ENGINE FAILED DUE TO DEFECTIVE ENGINE GASKETS--THE EXACT SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED IN FORD RECALL #00M10. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUR CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NO ONE WAS HURT.*AK

HEAD GASKET AND NOISE IN BOTTOM OF ENGINE, RUNNING ROUGH WITH CHECK GUAGE LIGHT COMING ON AND OVERHEATING,THIS HAPPENED WHILE ON THE FREEWAY IMMEDIALTELY GOT OFF AND TOOK IT OVER TO RICE AND HOLMAN THE NEXT DAY.

THIS IS THE SECOND FORD VEHICLE WITH 3.8L THAT WE HAVE OWNED. BOTH VEHICLES SUFFERED FROM THE SAME PROBLEM OF PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE FIRST VEHICLE WAS A 1993 MERCURY SABLE WITH THE 3.8L ENGINE. EVERY MECHANIC I HAVE TALKED TO KNOWS THAT THESE HEAD GASKETS FAIL AT OR ABOUT 60,000 MILES. IS FORD GOING TO DO ANY THING ABOUT IT? IT HAS COSTED US 2000.00 NOW BETWEEN THE TWO VEHICLES.