1996 Ford Thunderbird

THE CONSUMER'S 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD COMPLETELY BROKE DOWN DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. *PH THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW AND THE CONSUMER WASN'T GIVEN PRIOR WARNING THAT THIS EXISTED. THE DEFECTIVE PART WAS ON THE VEHICLE BETWEEN THE DATES OF MAY 1996 AND FEBRUARY 2004. THE MANIFOLD WAS FOUND CRACKED. FORD MOTOR ISSUED PROGRAM #97M91 IN RE TO VEHICLES BUILT WITH THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD. THE CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *SC *JB

HEAD GASKETS FAILED RUINING MY CYLINDERS AS WELL WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY CHILDREN. BARELY GOT THE CAR HOME WITH A CLOUD OF WHITE SMOKE. I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX THIS THE CAR HAS BEEN SITTING FOR ALMOST 1 AND A HALF MONTHS, AND I STILL OWE 5900 DOLLARS ON IT. I HAVE TO RIDE MY BIKE TO WORK OVER 3 MILES EACH WAY AND RENT A CAR FOR THE WEEKENDS COSTING ME A FORTUNE. I BELIEVE THEY NEED TO PAY FOR MY ENGINE TO BE REBUILT ESPECIALLY AFTER READING ALL THE ARTICLES OF HOW THE 3.8 LITRE V6 ENGINE HAS FAILED CONTINUOUSLY THROUGHOUT THE YEARS AND FORD HAS KNOWN IT. I LOVE FORDS AND HAVE NEVER DROVE ANYTHING ELSE. I AM IN A SERIOUS BIND AND NEED HELP FOR SOMETHING THAT FAILED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE PART. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING AND I HOPE FORD GETS THE MESSAGE. DEREK HAUGH

IN OCTOBER OF 1998 VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER A RECALL FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. CURRENTLY, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED DUE TO A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *AK WHEN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS REPLACED, THE OLD STYLE IS USED WHICH IS WHY THE CONSUMER BELIEVES IT FAILS AGAIN. CONSUMER FEELS FORD SHOULD REIMBURSE HIM THE COST OF REPAIRS. *PH

MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD CURRENTLY SITTING IN MY 1996 THUNDERBIRD 4.6L ALTHOUGH I CAN FIND ONLY A LITTLE BIT OF INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER REGARDING RECALLS; CLASS ACTION SUITS; AND FREE OF CHARGE REPLACEMENTS; I AM VERY INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT IF THERE IS ACTUALLY ANYTHING LIKE THAT HAPPENING AND TO FILE MY COMPLAINT AND/OR JOIN ANY OTHER CONSUMER WHO IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM ON ANY CLASS ACTION SUIT.*AK

INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE ALL OVER THE PLACE. CONSUMER FOUND A TSB REGARDING THE PROBLEM. *LA THE CONSUMER FELT THAT FORD SHOULD CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE PART(S) UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS FIXED. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD BEEN REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS AND MAY BE ON IT'S THIRD. (THE FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL) *SC *JB

DEFECTIVE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALL CONCERNING DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD. FORD SAYS IT'S NOT COVERED. I PAID TO HAVE IT FIXED AND THEY REPLACED IT WITH ANOTHER PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD -- THE LINK BELOW SHOWS OVER 250 OTHER CONSUMERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME THING. HTTP://WWW.PUBLIC.FOTKI.COM/TRSI/FORD_INTAKE_RECALL/ *LA

FORD RECALL NOT HONORED - INTAKE MANIFOLD HTTP://WWW.BIGCLASSACTION.COM/CLASS_ACTION/FORD_MANIFOLD.HTML UPON ACCELERATION, SMOKE CAME OUT OF UNDER HOOD & I BELIEVE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. IT ALL HAPPENED SO QUICKLY. MADE IT TO THE NEAREST LOT, WHERE I COULD PULL OFF THE ROAD. ALL COOLANT LEAKED OUT. HAD TO CALL FOR TOW. MECHANIC DID COOLANT PRESSURE TEST, AND SHOWED ONLY LEAK WAS AT BACK OF ENGINE. HAD TO PULL TRANSMISSION TO GET TO IT. WATER POUTING OUT BACK OF ENGINE BUT NO FREEZE PLUG BLOWN, TRACED BACKWARD TO INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACK THAT NEVER SHOWED UP ON INTIAL PRESSURE TESTING. I WAS CHARGED OVER $750. FOR REPAIRS. CALLED DEALER TO CHECK ON WARRANTY (EXPIRED 1200 MILES EARLIER) AND RECALLS. SAID THERE WERE NONE. JUST RECENTLY DISCOVERED THE RECALL AT AN AUTOZONE WEBSITE, AND CONTACTED DEALER ABOUT IT. HE SAID TO SEND IN ORIGINAL RECEIPT & FORD WOULD REIMBURSE. THEY GAVE ME THE RUNAROUND, AND FINALLY SAID THE CLAIM WAS DENIED BECAUSE I SHOULD'VE TAKEN IT TO A FORD DEALER/SERVICE. SINCE THE WARRANTY WAS EXPIRED, & I KNEW OF NO RECALL, I SAW NO REASON TO SPEND THE EXTRA MONEY FORD MECHANICS CHARGE, SO I WENT WITH THE OTHER PRIVATE MECHANIC. FORD'S ARGUMENT IS THAT I SHOULD'VE GONE TO FORD MECHANIC, AND MINE IS THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE NOTIFIED ME OF THE RECALL, ESPECIALLY WHEN I ASKED THEM. AT LEAST THEY SHOULD REIMBURSE ME FOR SOMETHING THEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN CARE OF. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 2000, RECALL WAS IN 1999. DEALER OR SOMEONE SHOULD'VE NOTIFIED ME OF THE RECALL.*AK