1997 Ford Thunderbird

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, LOSS OF ALL ANTIFREEZE AND VEHICLE BEING TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON. THE LETTER FROM FORD TO REPLACE THIS EXPIRED IN MAY 2004! I HAD COMPLAINED TO MY DEALERSHIP ABOUT LOSS OF ANTIFREEZE, GAS, THEY FOUND NO PROBLEMS. OF COURSE, NOW I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE ENTIRE REPAIR. EVEN THOUGH I SEE THAT MANY T-BIRD OWNERS ARE HAVING THE EXACT PROBLEM. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A MANDATORY RECALL FROM FORD. BECAUSE EXISTING PROBLEMS ARE BEING REPORTED!*AK

INQUIRY REGARDING LATCH LOCKING IN THE DRIVER AND BACK SEAT OF 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD.*MR THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT SEAT LATCH WILL NOT REMAIN LOCKED WHEN THE SEAT WAS IN AN UPRIGHT POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THERE WAS NOTING WRONG WITH SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A COLLISION SPECIALIST WHO WELDED THE RECLINER AND INSIDE SEAT TRACK PIVOT TO KEEP THE SEAT BACK IN THE POSITION THE CUSTOMER REQUESTED. *NM

WHILE REVERSING OUT OF THE GARAGE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO THE MAXIMUM SPEED. CONSUMER'S FOOT WAS DEPRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDAL WHEN THIS OCCURRED. CONSUMER IMMEDIATELY TURNED THE IGNITION OFF, AND REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. VEHICLE STOPPED AND ROLLED INTO THE GATE. THE GARAGE HAD A 33 FEET LONG SKID MARK ON THE GROUND. DEALERSHIP HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *LA

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 1997 FORD THUNDER BIRD WITH THE 4.6 ENGINE. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD IS CRACKED . I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THIS IS A RECALLED PART ON SOME CARS BUT IT SEEMS MY CAR IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE ORIGINAL REPAIR PART IS NOT AVAILABLE ANY LONG DO TO THE FLAW. SINCE THIS IS THE CASE IT WOUD SEEM TO ME ALL VEHICLES WITH THIS INTAKE MANIFOLD WOULD BE INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. *AK

I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO PAY THE POWER BILL. I HAD MADE A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN TURNED LEFT UP THE ROAD ABOUT 4/10'S OF A MILE WHEN I PULLED INTO THE PARKING SPACE I NOTICED WHITE STEAM COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I OPENED THE HOOD A THE ENGINE WAS COVERED IN ANTIFREEZE. I CALLED FOR A TOW HOPING IT WAS A BLOWN HOSE OR AT WORST A HEAD GASKET. SO I DIDN'T DRIVE IT FURTHER TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE. THE DEALERSHIP LOOKS AT IT AND SAYS IT IS A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD. WHICH LEADS TO A $1135 BILL FOR PARTS AND LABOR. SOME ONLINE RESEARCH BROUGHT A CONCERN...IS THE INTAKE MANIFOLD PLASTIC? IF SO, WHY!? *NM

REQUEST FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR REPLACEMENT OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE MANIFOLD WOULD ONLY BE REPLACED UPON FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN LOSING ANTIFREEZE. EACH TIME THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, HE WAS TOLD THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. THE MANIFOLD FINALLY FAILED AND WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE DEALER WOULD NOT HONOR THE OPEN RECALL. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS INTERMITTENT DUE TO A BAD SENSOR. *SC *JB