1992 Ford Thunderbird

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/29/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  SEE CAMPAIGN ID 97V159000. CAMPAIGN DESCRIBES EXACT PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED, BUT DOES NOT APPLY TO MY SPECIFIC CAR. PROBLEM: NYLON FUEL LINE AT GAS TANK CHAFED TO CREATE FUEL LEAK. *AK

• 12/21/2000· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  ON 12-14-1999 THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON MY 1992 THUNDERBIRD WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL NUMBER 99S30. THE ORIGINAL SWITCH HAD EXHIBITED THE SYMPTOMS LISTED IN THE RECALL LETTER I RECEIVED (I.E. HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING OFF WHEN THE FOG LAMPS WERE USED). I AM NOW BEGINNING TO SEE SIMILAR SYMPTOMS WITH THE SWITCH THAT WAS INSTALLED LAST YEAR BY THE FORD DEALER. THIS MORNING WHEN LEAVING FOR WORK I PULLED THE LIGHT SWITCH OUT FULLY AND HAD NO HEADLIGHTS. I INSPECTED THE CONDITION OF THE HEADLIGHT FUSE AND FOUND IT TO BE GOOD. I THEN TRIED WIGGLING THE SWITCH WHILE IN THE ON POSITION (THAT HAD WORKED WITH THE ORIGINAL SWITCH) AND THE LIGHTS EVENTUALLY DID COME ON. SINCE THEN I TURNED THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT A FAILURE. I CONTACTED THE DEALER THAT DID THE RECALL WORK LAST YEAR AND FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT., AND WAS TOLD BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM BOTH THAT THERE IS NO WARRANTY ON PARTS REPLACED UNDER A RECALL AND THAT, THEREFORE, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE COST OF REPLACING THE SWITCH MYSELF. I WILL BE REPLACING THE SWITCH IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO, AND WILL RETAIN THE RECEIPT FOR REIMBURSEMENT IN THE EVENT THERE IS ANOTHER RECALL RELATED TO THE SWITCH. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT FORD IS NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THE SWITCH. APPARENTLY THEY ARE NOT UNDER A MANDATE TO DO SO, BUT THEY COULD IF THEY WANTED TO IN THE NAME OF "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION". THEY KNOW AS WELL AS I DO THAT THE SWITCH SHOULD LAST A LOT LONGER THAN ONE YEAR.

• 12/18/1997· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  GAS PEDAL STUCK TO THE FLOOR DUE TO THROTTLE CABLE FAILURE.

• 12/16/1999· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH FAILED. NLM

• 12/13/1999· SEAT BELTS

  DRIVER SIDE MOTORIZED SEAT BELT STUCK MID CYCLE. ACCORDING TO TWO MECHANICS,FAILURE IN THE TRACK SYSTEM. THEY BOTH REPORT THAT THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS;IN FACT, THE SECOND MECHANIC COMPLETED MY COMPLAINT AFTER I GAVE HIM THE MAKE AND MENTIONED SEATBELTS. SO FAR, I'VE NOT HAD ANY INJURIES OTHER THAN A BUMPED HEAD, TRYING YO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE, BUT I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE EFFICACY IN AN ACCIDENT SHOULD THE TRACK SYSTEM FAIL DURING AN ACCIDENT. *AK

• 12/11/1996· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  FUEL LINE LEAKS AT GAS TANK.

• 12/10/1997· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL LINE PROTRUDED BELOW THE FRAME OF THE VEHICLE AFTER RECALL REPAIRS (97V-159). *AK

• 12/09/1998· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  THE LENS COVERS FOR THE HEAD LIGHT ASSEMBLIES (BOTH SIDES) HAVE DETERIOTED TO THE POINT THAT WE ARE NO LONGER GETING ENOUGH LIGHT AT NIGHT TO DRIVE THE CAR SAFELY. THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE MATERIAL THE LENS WAS MADE OFF, AND THE INABILTY TO KEEP THE INSIDE OF THE LENS CLEAN. THE COST TO REPLACE THESE LENS COVERS ARE $75 EACH. IF THIS WAS A TRADITION SEALED BEAM LIGHT, THE COST TO REPLACE WOULD BE $10. THE DETERIATION IS ALSO VERY SUTTLE. YOU DO NOT KNOW THAT THE LUMENS THE LIGHT ARE PROVIDING IS BEING REDUCED BECAUSE OF THE SUTTLE CHANGE IN THE LENS COVER OVERTIME. THE LENS COVER CHANGES SO THAT IT REDUCES THE AMOUNT OF LIGHT THE HALOGEN BULB PROVIDES TO LIGHTING THE ROAD. I NOTICED THIS CHANGE WHEN I WENT FROM DIRVING THE 92 CROWN VICTORIA TO MY NEW DODGE DACODA ON SOME BACK ROADS ON VERY DARK NIGHTS. I BELIEVE THE DESIGN OF THE LENS COVERS NEED TO ADDRESS TO ASSURE THAT THEY WILL NOT DETERIORATE OVER TIME AND CAUSE THIS VISIBITY PROBLEM, FORD SHOULD BE MADE RESPONSIBLE TO INSURE THE PLASTIC FOR THESE LENS ARE AS GOOD AS THE GLASS WAS FOR THE SEALED BEAM LIGHTS. I KNOW THE DOT ALLOWED THE CAR MANUFACTURER THE ABILITY NOT TO USE THE SEALED BEAM TO PROVIDE THE BENEFIT OF THE HALOGEN BULBS BRIGHTNESS, LESS ENERGY USED PER LUMIN, AND TO ALLOW A MORE GAS EFFENTS DESIGNS. THEY SHOULD HAVE ALSO BEEN REQUIRED TO PROVIDE A PRODUCT THAT WOULD LAST AS LONG AS THE GLASS ON THE SEAL BEAMS. PLEASE CALL ME AT MY WORK PHONE TO PROVIDE ME SOME FEEDBACK AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. THANK-YOU PAUL D'ANDRIES 706-647-7131.

• 12/08/1995· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

• 12/07/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEAD GASKET BLEW RESULTING IN COMPLETE ENGINE FAILURE WHEN THE CYLINDERS FILLED WITH COOLANT FLUID. YH

• 12/07/1995· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  EA95-030 ACTIVE, FUEL LINE FAILURE, SMELL FUEL WHILE DRIVING. TT

• 12/06/1996· AIR BAGSCrash

  DRIVING HOME IN LEFT LANE, STREET LIGHTS NOT BRIGHT, ANOTHER VEHICLE IN LEFT LANE NOT MOVING, NO HAZARDS OR OTHER LIGHTS, THUNDERBIRD REARENDED VEHICLE, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

• 12/06/1995· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  EA95-030; SEVERAL FUEL COMPONENTS REPLACED RESULTING LEAKAGE, FUMES AND ERRATIC FAILURE OF VEHICLE PERFORMANCE WOULD STALL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

• 12/03/1996· VISIBILITY

  WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE PASSENGER'S SIDE WINDOW FELL OUT. THE WINDOW HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE, 5/95 AND 8/96. *AK

• 12/02/1997· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

  FUEL LINES FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE CAUSING FUMES AND LEAKING.

• 12/02/1996· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND SMOKE CAME FROM THE IGNITION ( STEERING COLUMN ) . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

• 12/01/1995· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  DIMMER SWITCH SHORTS, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT. *DSH

• 11/25/1997· SEAT BELTS,STRUCTURE,SEATS

  BECAUSE OF THE HINGES IN DOOR IT WILL NOT SHUT PROPERLY. SEAT ALSO WILL NOT LOCK *AK.

• 11/25/1996· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL LEAK, FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY, THE PLASTIC LINE RUBBING AGAINST THE FRAME, METAL DROPS , ALSO FUMES COME INSIDE OF VEHICLE. *AK

• 11/23/2001· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE DRIVING BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, INDICATING A PROBLEM. WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED FRONT AND REAR BRAKES FAILED, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

• 11/21/1996· SUSPENSION

  DRIVING ALONG AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH THE PART THAT TURNS THE SPINDLE/ LOWER BALL JOINTS/ LOWER CONTROL ARM JUST FELL OFF. *AK

• 11/21/1996· POWER TRAIN,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  THE BRAKES SWITCH GOES OUT, CONSUMER LOSES BRAKES LIGHTS, NO CRUISE CONTROL AND IS UNABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK INTO DRIVE. THE SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED (6) TIME SINCE OWNING VEHICLE IN JULY 92. *AK

• 11/20/1997· AIR BAGSCrash

  COMING ACROSS A SMALL BRIDGE THAT WAS ICED, LOST CONTROL, HITTING THE GUARDRAIL, TOTALLY DEMOLISHING THE FRONT. NEITHER DUAL AIR BAGS DEPLOYED AT ANY TIME EVEN AFTER BEING TOWED TO BODY SHOP. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

• 11/19/1999· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS GO OFF UNKNOWNGLY. SOMETIMES THE HEADLIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON WITHIN A FEW SECONDS AND SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT. THERE HAS BEEN 3 DIFFERENT REPAIRS DONE TO THE HEADLIGHTS, WHICH HAVE NOT DONE ANY GOOD. WHEN CONTACTING FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 99V275000 FORD/HEADLIGHTS DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

• 11/19/1999· VISIBILITY

  CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE IN WINDSHIELDS WIPERS . *ET

• 11/15/1999· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHEN USING THE FOG LIGHTS THEY FLASH ON AND OFF EVERYTIME HEADLAMPS ARE CHANGED, PROBLEM OCCURS REGULARLY. *AK

• 11/14/1996· POWER TRAIN,VISIBILITY,EQUIPMENT

  THE ORGINAL SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED AT 7,000 MILES, THE SECOND ONE WAS REPLACED AT 5,000 MILES AND THE THIRD ONE AT 8,000 MILES. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK THE NEEDLE WILL NOT PROGRAM PAST 38 MPH ALSO HEATER NOT WORKING PROPERLY LOW HEAT AND ALSO A/C LOW..*JB

• 11/13/1998· STEERING

  THE LINE ROUTED FROM THE PUMP TO THE RACK AND PINION WAS WEDGED INBETWEEN THE BOTTOM OF THE OIL PAN AND THE TOP OF THE FRAME, CAUSING IT TO RUB THROUGH THE LINE, WEARING A HOLE IN IT. THIS CAUSED IT TO LEAK P.S. FLUID RAPIDLY. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THERE WAS SOMETHING DONE WRONG ON MY PART.

• 11/13/1994· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  BRAKE LIGHT SWITH BURNS OUT/FAILED SIX TIMES, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKE LIGHTS/FAILURE OF CRUISE CONTROL AND PREVENTS TRANSMISSION FROM SHIFTING OUT OF PARK GEAR.

• 11/12/2003· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *PH

• 11/12/1997· SEAT BELTS,STRUCTURE

  DOOR DOES NOT SHUT PROPERLY; HAVE TO LIFT UP & THEN CLOSE IT. THE MOTORIZED SEAT BELTS DO NOT WORK PROPERLY; THEY ARE NOT RETRACTING BACKWARDS OR FOWARDS LIKE THEY SHOULD. *AK CONSUMER STATES DOOR HINGE IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH, IT STARTS TO WEAR AFTER SEVERAL YEARS, DEALER STATES THAT HINGE CAN NOT BE ADJUSTED THAT IT HAS TO BE REPLACED. *SLC

• 11/03/2000· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  FORD GARAGE UNABLE TO GET PART. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

• 10/25/2000· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

• 10/25/2000· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

• 10/23/1997· STEERING

  CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 5 MPH , THE POWER STEERING HOSE BECAME LOOSE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LOSE POWER STEERING . THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

• 10/21/2008· SEAT BELTS

  I GOT INTO MY CAR THIS MORNING AND THE DRIVER POWER SEAT BELT WOULD NOT WORK. WHEN I OPENED THE DOOR TO MY PASSENGER SIDE THE POWER SEAT BELT ON THE DRIVER SIDE ATTEMPTED TO WORK BUT DIDN'T WORK COMPLETELY. THERE WAS NO EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE. THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE. I HAVEN'T MADE AN ATTEMPT TO GET IT FIXED YET AS IT JUST HAPPENED ONLY A HALF HOUR AGO. *TR

• 10/19/2000· TIRES

  I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME RE. TIRE MODEL, SIZE, ETC. THE TREAD COMPLETELY PEELED WHILE TRAVELLING AT ~ 65 MPH, RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE BUMPER, FENDER, AND MISC. DAMAGE. THE TIRE WAS ROUGHLY 2 YEARS OLD AND HAD LESS THAN 35,000 MILES OF WEAR. PROPER ROTATION, BALANCING, AND INFLATION HAD BEEN MAINTAINED.( DOT NUMBER: )

• 10/19/1998· STEERINGFire

  POWER STEERING HOSE DISCONNECTED CAUSING FLUID LEAK ON EXHAUST (CATALYTIC CONVERTER) RESULTING IN FIRE.

• 10/11/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  SERVICE SHOP STATED THAT A HOLE DEVELOPED IN THE FUEL LINE, CAUSED BY THE FUEL LINE RUBBING AGAINST THE FRAME OF THE CAR.*AK

• 10/09/2002· POWER TRAIN

  DEFECTIVE TAIL SHAFT ON TRANSMISSION. NEW SEAL DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. MR

• 10/09/2001· POWER TRAIN

  VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF PARK KNOCKING CONSUMER OVER AND RUNNING OVER HER ANKLE/LEG.

• 10/05/1994· STRUCTURE

  WARPED FRAME.

• 10/04/2007· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD THUNDERBIRD. IN APRIL OF 2000, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT PERFORMED AT THAT TIME BECAUSE THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF AND TWO PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER TO CALL FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,800.

• 10/03/2000· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  FUEL LINE HAD BEEN REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO UNDER RECALL, NOW FORD SAYS WON'T COVER TWICE. *AK

• 09/24/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED. THE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO THE FLOOR , THERE WERE NO BRAKES AT ALL. THIS WAS ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THE SYSTEM HAS ABS.*AK

• 09/19/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  RECALL 96V-071 (FORD 95S28) WAS ORIGINALLY REPAIRED ON 12/2/97. VEHICLE IS NOW EXPERIENCING A SIMILAR PROBLEM. DEALER WILL NOT HONOR RECALL REPAIR, AND CONSUMER IS BENG CHARGED FOR EXPENSE OF INSTALLING ANOTHER NEW IGNITION SWITCH.*AK

• 09/19/1995· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  VEHICLE WHILE ACCELERATING CAR WOULD NOT DECELERATE WHILE DRIVING DUE TO STUCK THROTTLE. T

• 09/15/2010· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EQUIPMENT

  1992 FORD THUNDERBIRD RECALLED FOR REPLACEMENT OF IGNITION SWITCH A FEW YEARS BACK (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA95002). DEFECTIVE SWITCH WAS REPLACED WITH EXACT SAME PART THAT WAS RECALLED AND FAILED AGAIN WITHIN ONE YEAR WITH TWO HALVES OF UNIT AGAIN COMING APART. I HAVE JUST REPLACED FOR THE FIFTH TIME WITH EXACT SAME DEFECTIVE UNIT, THIS BEING THE ONLY THING AVAILABLE FROM FORD AND FROM AFTERMARKET SUPPLIERS. HOW DOES REPLACING DEFECTIVE PART WITH EXACTLY SAME PART ELIMINATE FIRE HAZARD ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PART WHICH PROMPTED RECALL IN THE FIRST PLACE??? *TR

• 09/14/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE ABS BRAKE PUMP CAUSED THE BRAKES TO LOCK UP WITHOUT WARNING.OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. *AK

• 09/02/2012· SERVICE BRAKES

  THE REAR BRAKES FAILED TO FUNCTION AND NO POWER BRAKES AT ALL REALLY HARD PEDAL HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKE PEDAL TO GET IT TO STOP THIS HAPPENED UNDER NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS THIS MAKES IT VERY HARD TO STOP I WAS ABLE TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE FORD.COM SAID NO RECALLS FOR MY CAR AND IT COST $1500 TO FIX . *TR