1991 Ford Thunderbird

HEAD GASKET PREMATURE FAILURE. BAY FORD REPLACED HEAD GASKET 2 1/2 MONTHS AND 3,000 MILES AFTER WE PURCHASED THIS WELL MAINTAINED USED VEHICLE FOR OVER BLUE BOOK PRICE. THE DEALER FAILED TO TELL US WHAT WE NOW KNOW TO BE TRUE - ALL FORDS WITH 3.8L ENGINES WITH THE ALUMINUM HEADS ARE SUFFERING FROM THIS PROBLEM, OFTEN LEADING TO ENGINE FAILURE AND LARGE BILLS WHICH FORD IS NOT RECOGNIZING WITH THEIR VERY LIMITED EXTENDED WARRANTY. OUR ENGINE SUFFERED MAJOR LOWER END FAILURE WHILE ON A TRIP, ONLY 4 MONTHS AND 3,000 MILES AFTER GASKET REPLACEMENT, WITH 80,000 MILES ON ENGINE. FIVE STAR FORD IN ABERDEEN WASHINGTON RECOMMENDED LONG BLOCK REPLACEMENT AT COST OF $4000. WYNN'S WARRANTY SCREAMED AFTER PAYING BILL OF $1800 FOR HEAD GASKET MONTHS BEFORE. BAY FORD WON'T RECOGNIZE LIABILTY - POINTS TO NO LEMON LAW - AREN'T THEY THE LUCKY ONES - AND WE ARE ALREADY OUT $120 FOR THE DEDUCTIBLE ON HEAD GASKET REPAIR, $175 FOR LOANER CAR WHICH FIVE STAR KINDLY GAVE US AFTER BAY FORD WHO SOLD US THIS WONDER CAR WOULDN'T, PLUS $180 FOR PULLING ENGINE TO BEGIN REPAIR. THIS PLUS NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS, AGGRAVATION, DESTROYED VACATION PLANS, BEING STRANDED ON SIDE OF ROAD WITH 3 YOUNG GIRLS WHO MISSED HOCKEY GAME, AND NOW 3 WEEKS WITHOUT CAR. NOW BAY FORD WANTS CAR TOWED BACK 100 MILES AND TO POSSIBLY PUT A USED ENGINE IN AT WHAT WILL PROBABLY BE MORE COST TO US, ALTHOUGH THEY AND WYNN'S HAVE AGREED TO 'HELP' US OUT. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHY FORD IS NOT STANDING BEHIND SUCH A GLARING MANUFACTURERS DEFECT? WHAT HAPPENED TO "QUALITY IS JOB #1?" I HAVE FOUND NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS, AND MECHANICS TELL ME THE THUNDERBIRD 3.8 IS SUFFERING SAME HEAD GASKET PROBLEM AS THE OTHER COVERED MODELS. I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN AND I WILL MAKE SURE EVERYONE I KNOW HEARS OF THIS IF FORD DOESN'T STEP FORWARD AND REMEDY THEIR MISTAKE AND STAND BY THEIR CUSTOMERS. WHAT HAPPENED TO RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR ACTIONS, DOESN'T EXIST IN AMERICA ANYMORE? I WOULD LIKE THIS MADE RIGHT ASAP! *AK

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME TO LET A CAR IN OUR LANE. WE WERE GOING AROUND 15 MPH. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, I JUST KEPT ON GOING AND HIT THE TRUCK IN THE REAR. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND GOT OUT AND WENT OVER TO THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK TO MAKE SURE HE WAS OK. HE TOLD ME HE WAS FINE,AT WHICH POINT I TOLD HIM THE DAMAGE DONE WAS TO MY CAR AND HIS TRUCK WAS FINE. HE SAID FINE AND WENT ON HIS WAY. I GOT BACK IN MY CAR AND FOUND MY BRAKE PEDDLE HAD BROKEN OFF THE ARM AND WAS ON THE FLOOR. THE METAL PART OF PEDDLE SNAPPED RIGHT OFF THE BRAKE ARM.