1994 FORD THUNDERBIRD Engine And Engine Coolingengine Problems

I WAS DRIVING AT A STEADY 60 MPH WHEN A SUDDEN LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY AND FOUND A BLOWN HEAD GASKET TO BE THE PROBLEM. CAR HAS 101,000 MILES. CONTRARY TO MANY OTHERS, THIS IS A 4.6 V8. *JB

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT AND STALL OUT. *NLM

THE VEHICLES HEAD GASKET FAILED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM

ENGINE FAILURE AT 63000 MILES. FRONT SEAL FAILED, ALLOWING COOLANT INTO ENGINE. CAR WAS METICULOUSLY CARED FOR, AND DRIVEN CAREFULLY. *JB

CONSUMER EXPEREINCED PROBLEMS WITH THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE GOING FROM COLD TO HOT INSTANTANEOUSLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THE HEAD GASKET WAS THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER FEELS FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. *JG

HEAD GASKETS SHOULD NOT BE A PROBLEM AT 66,000 MILES. THIS IS A MAJOR REPAIR THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR.*AK

HEAD GASKETS NEED REPLACED AND EVERYONE IS TELLING US THERE IS A RECALL, EXCEPT THE DEALERSHIP. IS THERE A RECALL OR ANY OTHER OWNER NOTIFICATION.*AK

EXPERIENCED HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON 8-YR-OLD CAR WITH 45,000 MILES (WARRANTY LIMITED TO 7YRS OR 100,000 MI). MAJOR DEFECT DESIGN FLAW ADMITTED BY FORD. NOW REFUSES TO COVER COSTS OF REPAIR.*AK.*JB

HEAD GASKET FAILED. *AK

PREMATURE WEAR OF HEAD GASKETS. MANUFACTURER HAS ISSUED A RECALL ON HEAD GASKETS; HOWEVER, CONSUMER DID NOT RECEIVE NOTIFICATION. *AK

HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN PREMATURE. *AK

I TOOK THE CAR IN FOR AAA DIAGNOSIC AND FOUND OUT THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN AND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL. I CONTACTED THE FORD DEALER WHO SAID I WAS NOT COVERED SINCE THE CAR HAS 103,000 MILES. THE CAR HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AS PER FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS. IT HAS HAD REGULAR OIL CHANGES AND HAS NEVER OVERHEATED. I HAVE ALL MAINTANENCE RECORDS SHOWING DILIGANT MAINTENENCE PRACTICES. THE HEADGASKET BLEW FROM DEFECT, YET FORD REFUSES TO COVER IT, FIRST STATING THE MILEAGE LIMIT AND THEN FURTHER STATING THAT, SINCE I WAS NOT THE ORGINIAL OWNER AND SINCE PRIOR REPAIR WORK HAD NOT BEEN DONE AT A FORD DEALERSHIP I WOULD NOT BE COVERED ANYWAY. FURTHERMORE THEY STATED THAT IF I HAD RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE AND BROUGHT THE CAR IN TO REPLACE THE GASKETS, THEY WOULD NOT HAVE FIXED GASKETS THAT WERE NOT YET BLOWN. I HAVE NOT BEEN...

FORD KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM, AND EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 7 YEARS AND/OR 100,000 MILES. THEY "CLAIM" THEY SENT ME A NOTICE IN APRIL OF 2,000, AND I KNOW I NEVER RECEIVED IT! NOW, THEY ARE SAYING THAT IT'S OUTSIDE COVERAGE, AND THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. REQUESTING YOU INVESTIGATE OTHER CLAIMS ON THIS AND SINCE IT'S WIDESPREAD WITH THIS VEHICLE TYPE, CONSIDER RECALLING THE T-BIRD FOR THE FAULTY HEAD GASKET. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED. CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY. SAID THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKETS BUT IT WAS ONLY UP TO 100000 MILES OR 7 YEARS WAS NOT COVERED ANY MORE. I DO BELEIVE THE PROBLEM HAD STARTED SOME TIME AGO AS THE MOTOR KEPT USEING ANTIFREEZE. I THOUGHT THE RADIATOR HAD A SLOW LEEK BUT NOW I REALIZE IT WAS PROBABLY PUSHING THE ANTIFREEZE OUT THE OVERFLOW WHEN THE MOTOR WAS RUNNING. SO BEING THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE HEAD GASKETS I DO FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE HELP ON AT LEAST SOME IF NOT ALL OF THE REPAIRS. *AK

3.8 LITER ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEWOUT. CONTACTED DEALER. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT THE WARRANTY ENDED AND REPAIR WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN COVERED. *SLC

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE PREMATURELY FAILED CAUSING REPLACEMENT: ROTORS, OIL PRESSURE GAUGE AND SENDING UNIT, THERMOSTAT & GASKET, INSTRUMENT PANEL, POWER STEERING PUMP, BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, PISTON, TRANSHAFT, FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, INTAKE MANIFOLD, SERPENTINE BELT AND NOW THE HEADGASKETS ARE BLOWN

ENGINE BLOWN DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE, HAD TO REPLACE THE PULLEY THAT BROKE OFF RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER. *JB

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 45MPH ON HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING VEHICLE HAD SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH OF HOOD. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A PRIVATE COMPANY. HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWEN OUT. *AK

AT 56000M HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED, AT 91000 HEAD GASKET OR INTAKE GASKET BLEW HAD TO BE REPLACED, UNDERSTAND THAT OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES HAVE HAD RECALL ON HEAD GASKETS BUT WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT MY MODEL NOT INCLUDED IN THESE RECALLS.*AK

DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY (60MPH), ENGINE'CHECK GAUGES' LIGHT WENT ON - TEMP GAUGE WAS RISING AND WENT PASSED THE RED ZONE. THE LOW COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON AND THE HEATER WAS BLOWING COLD AIR. AFTER EXAMINATIONS  I BLEW A HEAD GASKET. NOW I LEARN THAT THERE WAS A FORD PROGRAM EXTENDING THE WARRANTY ON THE HEAD GASKET TO 7 YEARS/100,000 MILES - INITIATED APRIL, 2000. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF THE PROGRAM AND HAVE JUST EXCEEDED THE 100,000 MILES. FORD IS UNWILLING TO ASSIST ME IN ANY WAY, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND I WAS NOT ALERTED. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH AT LEAST 5 DIFFERENT DEALERS AND WITH 3 REPS AT THE CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIP CENTER AND HAVE REC'D MUCH CONTRADICTORY INFORMATION REGARD THE LOGISTICS OF THE CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION BULLETINS AND THE DETAIL OF THE PROGRAM. IM SORRY TO SAY THAT ALTHOUGH I WOULD NEVER BUY...

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE CHECK GAUGES" LIGHT CAME ON THE DASH BOARD. I LOOKED AND SAW THAT THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE HAD GONE UP AS FAR AS IT COULD GO. I BROUGHT IT TO AN AUTO SERVICE CENTER AND HAD IT CHECKED. I WAS TOLD I HAD A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. MY CAR ONLY HAS 46,500 ON IT AND HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED. I WAS TOLD THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THAT YEAR THUNDERBIRD AND I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS.*AK

I RECEIVED A LETTER OF RECALL FOR THE HEADGASKETS ON MY CAR WHICH HAD ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED AND, FORD REFUSED TO HONOR THEIR RECALL. APPARENTLY THEY DON'T KNOW HOW TO PREVENT THIS PROPLEM CONSIDERING THEIR HAVE SEVERAL MAKE AND YEARS THAT HAVE BEEN RECALLED. ALSO I THINK IT IS ODD TO HAVE A TRANSMISSION COMPLETLY REBUILT 2 TIMES. FIRST TIME WAS 93000 MILES NEXT WAS 106000 MILES. SO FAR I HAVE SPENT MORE MONEY ON THIS CAR THAN ANY OF THE REST OF THE CARS I HAVE EVER HAD. GOING BACK TO THE HEADGASKETS, I TRIED TO TRADE MY T-BIRD FOR ANOTHER T_BIRD AND THE DEALERSHIP WOULD NOT DEAL WITH ME PERIOD. THANK YOU TINA TROUT. *AK

VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND STOPPED RUNNING. VEHICLE TOWED TO REPAIR SHOP. SHOP MANGER SAID THERE WAS COOLANT IN THE OIL AND THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. AFTER THE ENGINE WAS REPAIRED THERE WAS STILL A PROBLEM WITH COOLANT IN THE OIL. THEY REMOVED THE VALVE TIMING CHAIN COVER TO FIND THAT ONE OF THE FREEZE PLUGS HAS RUSTED THRU CAUSING THE COOLANT TO BECOME MIXED WITH THE OIL. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE RUSTED THRU FREEZE PLUG AND THREE OTHERS IN THE AREA. AFTER ALL THESE REPAIRS THE CAR STILL DOES NOT RUN CORRECTLY AND EMITTS A LOUD RATTLING SOUND FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE.WE HAVE HAD OTHER PROBLEMS WITH THIS CAR NAMELY THE TRANSMISSION AND THE AIR CONDITIONING.*AK

THE ENGINE IN THIS VEHICLE HAS PERFORMED WITHOUT FLAW. I LEARNED FROM MY DEALER THAT A LETTER WAS ISSUED TO OWNERS WITH INFORMATION ON PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE ON THE 3.8 L ENGINE. I DID NOT RECEIVE THIS LETTER DUE TO DEALER ERROR. THE DEALER DID NOT PROPERLY REGISTER ME HAS THE ONWER OF THE VEHICLE WITH FORD MOTER COMPANY. THEREFOR I WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY PENDING PROBLEMS. THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT THE DEALER WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE ERROR AND NO SUPPORT FOR REPAIR WOULD BE GIVEN. HAD I BEEN AWARE OF SUCH PROBLEM, CORRECTIVE MEASURE COULD HAVE BEEN PERFORMED WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SUPPORT THE CALL TAKER WAS VERY RUDE AND OFFERED NO SUPPORT WHAT SO EVER. ALSO, COMMENTS WERE MADE TO THE AFFECT THAT I SHOULD CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY THAT THE CAR LASTED AS LONG AS...

I, AS WELL AS MY FAMILY HAVE DEALT WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY FOR AS LONG AS I CAN REMEMBER, HOWEVER I MUST SAY THIS OCCURENCE IS AN OUTRAGE! I HAVE HAD MULTIPLE PROBLEMS WITH MY CAR RECENTLY. I HAVE A 94 FORD T BIRD THAT I BOUGHT LAST YEAR AND HAVE JUST BEEN CONTACTED BY LETTER THAT THERE IS A RECALL ON THE 94 T BIRD FOR THE HEADS. THIS THROUGHLY EXPLAINS TO ME WHY THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP THREE TIMES OVER A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME. MY MECHANIC HAS CHECKED FOR A RADIATOR LEAK BECAUSE THE COOLENT LIGHT IS ON AND I'M CONTINUOUSLY LEAKING COOLENT. I HAVE HAD A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST LOOK AT MY CAR FOR POSSIBLE TRANSMISSION FAILURE BECAUSE OF THE WAY THE CAR IS DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION WAS SERVICED TO TRY A FIX THIS MOST INCONVENIENT PROBLEM. THE CAR WAS IN THE SHOP ANOTHER...

WE WERE ORIGANLLY TOLD OUR CAR NEEDED A NEW COMPUTER CHIP,WE NOW BELIEVE IT WAS A BLOWN HEADGASKET THE ENTIRE TIME. THE CAR RAN "ALRIGHT" FOR A MONTH OR SO,BUT NEVER QUITE THE SAME,AFTER WE GOT THE CHIP, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS REMAINED ON,THE DEALER SAID THEY WOULD HAVE TO RE-START THE COMPUTER,AND ADDTIONAL $200.00. WE DROVE IT FOR ANOTHER MONTH,UNTIL IT FINALLY JUST QUIT. AFTER TALKING TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT MECHANIC'S THEY ALL INFORMED US IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD-GASKET ALL ALONG. SEVERAL OTHER T-BIRD OWNERS HAVE TOLD US THE EXACT SAME THING HAPPENED TO THEM,AT APPROX. THE SAME MILAGE. HAS THERE OR WILL THERE BE A RECALL ON THE HEAD-GASKETS? OW MANY COMPLAINTS DO THEY NEED TO RECIEVE,BEFORE THEY WILL RE-CALL A VEHICLE?*AK( DOT NUMBER: )

HEAD GASKET BLEW ON MY 3.8L FORD THUNDERBIRD. CAR ONLY HAD 83,000 MILES ON IT. I HAD READ THAT OTHER FORD 3.8L ENGINES HAVE HAD THIS PROBLELM AND THAT FORD MAY BE EXTENDING WARRENTIES TO COVER THIS PROBLEM. PLEASE INFORM ME OF ANY EXTENSIONS ON WARRENTIES OR IF FORD HAS A PROGRAM TO REIMBURSE OWNERS WITH THIS PROBLEM. *AK

PASSENGER SEAT HITS CONSOLE WHEN MOVED FORWARD, WHEN APPLYING BRAKES-THE STEERING AND CAR SHAKES BADLY, BOTH SIDE ELECTRIC WINDOWS BINDS WHEN GOING UP OR DOWN,SHIFTER HANDLE BROKE OFF CAUSING TO HOLD PIECE IN WHEN SHIFTING TO DRIVE-PARK-ETC., BOTH ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW AT THE SAME TIME ALONG WITH A COOLANT TUBE, ROCKER ARM LOCK NUT WAS BAD CAUSING LOUD NOISES IN ENGINE, SPEEDOMETER NEEDLE STICKS ON 0. I BOUGHT IT AT SUBURBAN FORD IN ELGIN, BUT MOVED TO ELK GROVE AND TOOK MY CAR TO LARRY ROESCH FORD FOR THE REPAIRS. MY CAR STILL NEEDS TO BE BROUGHT IN FOR BRAKES, ENGINE RUNS ROUGH AND HESITATES AT A LOW SPEED, THE SEAT IS STILL BROKEN, SHIFTER ALSO STILL BROKEN, WINDOWS STILL BIND, THE BRAKES AND ENGINE IS WHAT WORRIES ME THE MOST. AFTER ALL THE TIMES I BROUGHT IT IN, THEY STILL HAVEN'T FIXED ANYTHING. IN FACT, THE LAST TIME...

VEHICLE STARTED OVERHEATING, AND RADIATOR COOLANT STARTED LEAKING & EVENTUALLY VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN. DEALER STATED IF THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED, THEY WOULD PAY FOR IT. BUT, IF THE RADIATOR NEEDED TO BE FLUSHED, THEY WOULDN'T COVER IT. *AK

WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50MPH & NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM REAR OF VEHICLE. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. CONSUMER PULLED INTO GAS STATION & HAD VEHICLE CHECKED. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE ENGINE'S HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN OUT. ALSO THE ENGINE BLOCK WAS CRACKED. *AK

HEAD GASKETS BLEW, CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK ONTO THE ENGINE. FORD HAS EXTENDED THE WARRANTY ON SIMILAR MAKES AND MODELS. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE STREET AT 40-45 MPH, VEHICLE OVERHEATED. DROVE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND TOLD CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT. *AK

SMOKE WAS COMING FROM TAIL PIPE. TOWED VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP THAT INFORMED COSUMER OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER/ MANUFACTURER CONTACTED. *AK *ML

HEAD GASKETS BLEW AT 69000. REPLACED HEADS, GASKETS, INTAKE AND OUTTAKE THERMOSTAT, CAR STILL NOT RUNNING PROPERLY. BLEW GASKETS TWICE. AT PRESENT TIME IT IS BEING WORKED ON FOR THE SAME PROBLEM

LEAK DUE TO EITHER GASKET FAILURE OR CHANNELING DUE TO CORROSION OF ALUMINUM PARTS. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD. VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. TECHNICIAN SAID IT BLEW A HEAD GASKET. OTHER FORD MODELS ARE COVERED FOR THIS PROBLEM, BUT THE THUNDERBIRD IS NOT. *AK *ML

CAR WAS CHECKED AFTER FOUND TO BE RUNNING WARMER THAN USUAL. HEAD GASKETS AND CYLINDER HEAD WATER PORTS WERE FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE AND REPLACEMENT WAS SUGGESTED. APPROXIMATLEY 1500 MILES AFTER THIS WORK WAS PERFORMED THE CAR DEVELOPED ADDITITIONAL ENGINE PROBLEMS INCLUDING EXCESIVLY WORN MAIN BEARINGS RESULTING IN A REPLACEMENT "SHORT BLOCK" BEING INSTALLED. SINCE THIS WORK HAS BEEN PERFORMED THE CAR HAS HAD OIL LEAKS AND TUNE-UP PROBLEMS.

ENGINE HEAD GASKET SEAL HAS BLOWN, CAUSING OIL AND ANTI-FREEZE TO LEAK ALL OVER THE ENGINE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

HEAD GASKET FAILED.

DIFFERENTIAL COVER GASKET FAILED. *SD