2003 Ford Thunderbird

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

• 12/18/2007· POWER TRAINFire

  WHILE DRIVING IN A NICE ASPHALTED ROAD UP A HILL, I FELT LIKE THE TRANSMISSION SUDDENLY STARTED TO SLIP. THE VEHICLE LOST FORWARD MOMENTUM SO I LOOKED FOR A SAFE PLACE TO MAKE AN EMERGENCY STOP. I ENDED UP AT A SERVICE STATION WHERE THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE QUICKLY. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY LOST AND THE SERVICE STATION SUFFERED CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE. *TR

• 12/14/2004· SEATS

  POWER FOLD REAR SEAT IN THE FORD EXPIDITION HAS ITS CONTROL IN THE REAR OF THE 3RD ROW SEATS AND A PERSON CANNOT VIEW IF ANY CHILD OR OBJECTS ARE ON SEATS THAT WILL BE LOWERED,ALSO THE POWER SEAT DOESNT HAVE A RESEVE SENSOR BUILT IN IT, SO IT WILL NOT CRUSH ANYONE AND SHOULD STOP AFTER MEETING A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF PRESSURE. *AK

• 12/13/2004· TIRES

  THE DEALERSHIP HAS ACCUSED ME OF RUNNING OVER SOMETHING IN THE ROAD. IT WAS THE LEFT REAR TIRE THAT BLEW. WHY WAS IT NOT THE FRONT TIRE IF I RAN OVER SOMETHING? HAVE RECEIVED NO SATISFACTION FROM THE DEALERSHIP, CROSSROAD FORD IN CARY, NC.*AK I HAD TO PURCHASE A NEW TIRE WHICH I DO NOT THINK IS RIGHT.THIS IS MY 3 FORD VEHICLE BUT IT WILL BE MY LAST IF THEY CANNOT HELP THE CONSUMER BETTER THAN THIS.

• 12/02/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EQUIPMENT

  A COUPLE OF MONTHS AFTER THE CAR WAS PURCHASED THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AND WHEN IT DOES NO OTHER ELECTRICAL PARTS WILL OPERATE. FOR INSTANCE IF YOU HAVE A WINDOW DOWN YOU CAN'T ROLL IT UP OR THE HEATER WON'T WORK. THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED. WE'VE HAD THE CAR TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES AND THEY HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AS WELL AS OVERLAYING ELECTRICAL WIRES AND NONE OF THIS HAS FIXED THE PROBLEM. ON ONE OCCASION THEY HAD THE CAR FOR A MONTH, PUT APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES ON IT AND STILL COULDN'T FIND AND FIX THE PROBLEM. OUR CONCERN IS THAT WHEN THE BATTERY LIGHT COMES ON AND NOTHING ELSE ELECTRICAL WORKS WHAT IF YOU NEEDED, SAY, THE DEFROSTER TO COME ON AND IT WOULDN'T IT COULD POSE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM! THE DATE IN THE INCIDENT BOX IS JUST AN APPROXIMATION THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING SINCE WE'VE OWNED THE CAR. THANK YOU. *NM

• 12/02/2003· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  WHEN BRAKING THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN PAST THE GAS PEDAL, FOOT TO HIT THEM AT THE SAME TIME. IT IS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION BECAUSE YOU ARE BRAKING AND ACCELLERATING AT THE SAME TIME. ALSO THE BRAKE PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE TO THE GAS PEDAL. I THINK THE BRAKE PEDAL SHOULD NEVER DEPRESS BELOW THE GAS PEDAL.MY WIFE AND I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS SAID IT IS NORMAL.*AK

• 11/17/2005· STEERING

  2003 FORD EXPEDITION EDDIE BAUER: WHEN EXECUTING LOW SPEED TURNS IN EITHER DIRECTION, THERE IS A FEELING THAT THE TIRES ARE RUBBING THE INSIDES OF THE WHEEL WELLS. THERE IS A BINDING OR GRINDING FEELING IN THE STEERING WHEEL AND NOISE OF SUCH CAN BE HEARD MOST OF THE TIME. AS I HAVE SEEN ON PREVIOUS REPORTS, THERE IS ALSO THE SAME CHATTER AND SHUDDER AND VIBRATIONS ALSO. WE TOOK IT IN TO SERVICE DEPT AND AFTER 2 DAYS THEY REPORT THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND NOR REPRODUCE WHAT WE WERE STATING. AFTER A TECHNICIAN TOOK A TEST DRIVE WITH MY HUSBAND, THE TECHNICIAN DID NOTICE A HUMMING SOUND COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. HE SAID THAT THEY HAVE HAD SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS REGARDING THE REAR HUMMING AND THAT THEY WOULD NEED TO REPLACE THE REAR END. (ALL OF THIS OCCURRING AT 29,000 MILES. AFTER THE REAR END WAS REPLACED, THE ABOVE MENTIONED CHATTER, SHUDDER, BINDING, GRINDING AND VIBRATIONS WERE GONE. HOWEVER...NOW AT 31,000 MILES THEY ARE ALL BACK AND PROGRESSIVELY GETTING WORSE. WE WILL AGAIN, RETURN THE VEHICLE FOR REPAIRS AND WILL UPDATE ON THE MATTER. *NM

• 11/15/2007· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ON MY 2003 FORD WINDSTAR FUSES REPEATED BLOW AND ALSO THE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE IGNITION SWITCH EVERY TIME YOU HIT A BUMP ALL THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS COME ON AND SOME TIMES THEY JUST FLICKER OFF AND ON FOR NO REASON. THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE WIRING IN MY VAN AND I HAVE HEARD THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM. I WOULD LIKE FOR THIS TO BE LOOKED INTO. *TR

• 11/13/2006· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE WAS A NOISE AS THOUGH THE WHEEL WAS GOING TO COME OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THE DRIVER SIDE REAR CALIPER, BRAKE SHOE AND ROTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/12/2006 - *NM

• 11/03/2010· POWER TRAIN

  TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE FROM THE PARK POSITION. IN ORDER SHIFT INTO REVERSE HE HAD TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND ALLOW IT TO SLOWLY ROLL BACKWARDS. UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE HE ALSO NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 6TH GEAR. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.

• 10/30/2015· ENGINE

  I'VE OWNED MY 2003 THUNDERBIRD SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT NOW HAS 65000 MILES AND IS DRIVEN ONLY 2000 MILES A YEAR, OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS. DURING THIS PERIOD, I HAVE HAD ALL 8 COILS REPLACED, ONE AT A TIME. THE FIRST TIME WAS WITHIN THE FIRST 1000 MILES. GENERALLY IT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, BEING ON THE FREEWAY OR ON LOCAL STREETS. THE ENGINE STARTS TO MISFIRE AND NOT FUNCTION. AFTER THE 3RD OR SO INCIDENT, I WAS INFORMED THAT FORD RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND WOULD HONOR THE REPAIR. THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THIS, KNOWING OF THE PROBLEM, THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE ALL AT THE SAME TIME. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY WOULD ONLY REPLACE WHEN THE COIL MALFUNCTIONED, THIS NOW HAS OCCURRED 8 TIMES. NOW MY MOTOR HAS FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHEN THE COIL MALFUNCTIONS THE CORRESPONDING CYLINDER ALSO IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. AGAIN, THE CAR ONLY HAS 65000 MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN MISTREATED. THE COST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IS ALMOST $10,000. THIS MOTOR IS A JAGUAR PRODUCTION 3.9 MODEL. DONE WHEN FORD HAD A BRIEF RELATION WITH JAGUAR. TO SAY THE LEAST, I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH FORD AND THEIR LACK OF TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. BY THE WAY, WHEN THEY REPLACE THE MOTOR, THE OLD COILS WILL BE REINSTALLED ON THE REBUILT ENGINE.

• 10/29/2014· ENGINE

  CAR SPUTTERED AND MISFIRED CAUSING PARTIAL POWER LOSS AND SPEED LOSS. PROBLEM IS IGNITION COILS. HAVE NOW HAD TO REPLACE A TOTAL OF THREE DURING TWO SIMILAR EVENTS. TWO DEALERS FAILED TO INFORM ME OF EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR

• 10/25/2006· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY 2003 FORD EXPLORER IS EXPERIENCING SIMILAR SYMPTOMS REPORTED BY OTHER FIRE VICTIMS: CRUISE CONTROL TOTALLY INOPERATIVE, PERSISTENT ABS ALERTS, "LOW OIL PRESSURE" ALERTS (SOMETIMES JUST DAYS AFTER AN OIL CHANGE), AND STEERING ISSUES. THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP IS PROVIDING SERVICE AT MY EXPENSE BUT PRETENDED THAT THEY HAD NO IDEA AS TO WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, AND READING TESTIMONIES FROM OTHER FIRE VICTIMS, I AM TERRIFIED. IN MY SUBDIVISION, HOUSES STAND ONLY A FEW FEET APART...THE HOMEOWNER'S ASSOCIATION PROHIBITS ANY PARKING ON THE STREET. THE 2003 FORD EXPLORER MODELS SHOULD ALSO BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY.

• 10/18/2005· PARKING BRAKE

  SO FAR I HAVEN'T HAD ANY COLLISIONS, BUT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH MY EMERGENCY BRAKES. MY EMERGENCY BRAKES ARE STICKING WHICH IS CAUSING THEM TO RUB AND GRIND WHEN BRAKING. WHEN I ACCELERATE MY ESCAPE JERKS FORWARD. I HAVE CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP WHERE I GET MY VEHICLE WORKED ON TONIGHT. *NM

• 10/18/2005· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  AT THIS TIME I CAN DO NOT HAVE A FAILURE, ONLY A VERY SERIOUS CONCERN. IN THE PAST FEW MONTHS, ANYTIME WHILE MY 2003 EDDIE BAUER EXPEDITION IS TURNED ON, A LOUD "TIN-SOUNDING-POP" OCCURS. IT SOUNDS LIKE THE FUEL TANK BUT I CAN NOT BE SURE WHAT IT IS. IN THE PAST MONTH, THE SOUND HAS GOTTEN LOUDER & LOUDER -- EVEN MORE FREQUENT. THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE THE SOUND IS -- IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMEONE HAS LEFT A TIN CAN OUTSIDE AND WHEN THE WEATHER CHANGES FROM HOT TO COLD OR COLD TO HOT, THE TIN CAN "POPS" AS ITS CONTRACTING OR EXPANDING. NO ENGINE LIGHTS OR COMPUTERIZED MESSAGES COME ON. NO PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON THIS VEHICLE -- I BOUGHT IT NEW IN SEP 2003. *NM

• 10/16/2011· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  DRIVING ON A 1,850 MILE TRIP. CAR ENGINE REPEATEDLY SHUT OFF ON LIGHT ACCELERATION FROM COMPLETE STOP. MOTOR LIGHT AND WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED. PUT CAN IN NEUTRAL AND RE-STARTED. WRENCH LIGHT DE-ILLUMINATED, MOTOR LIGHT STAYED ON. ACCELERATION COULD BARELY BE ATTAINED TO KEEP ENGINE RUNNING UP TO 45 MPH. AFTER THAT SPEED, CAN RAN SOMEWHAT NORMALLY,. ENTERING AN EXPRESSWAY AT VERY LOW SPEED WITH MINIMUM ACCELERATION BECAME THE ONLY WAY TO CONTINUE THE TRIP. VERY DANGEROUS. WENT TO A FORD DEALER ON ROUTE. BECAUSE I WAS FROM OUT OF STATE HE AGREED TO WORK ME IN FOR SERVICE THAT DAY. HOWEVER, AFTER I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM, SERVICE WRITER REFUSED MY REQUEST TO PUT CAR ON THEIR DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. HE AGREED TO CHANGE THE FUEL FILTER ONLY. DEALER WOULD DO NO OTHER WORK. TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE IT SEVERAL DAYS. I TRIED TWO TANKS OF FUEL WITH A STODDARD SOLVENT INJECTOR CLEANER. AT HOME. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM. THE IGNITION COILS AND THROTTLE BODY ARE INDICATED. I HAVE HAD BOTH IGNITION COILS REPLACED.18,000 MILES AGO. REPLACEMENT FOR BOTH WAS NOT FREE. THIS CONDITION IS ABSOLUTELY DANGEROUS AND HAS NO LEAD UP SYMPTOMS TO WARN YOU. I HAVE BARELY AVOIDED BEING REAR-ENDED SEVERAL TIMES AS I TRIED TO MAKE IT OFF THE EXPRESSWAY. LOCAL FORD DEALER IS TRYING TO AVOID SCHEDULING MY THUNDERBIRD FOR REPAIRS. A RECALL OF THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS IS NECESSARY. A CHECK OF THE INTERNET WEB SITES INDICATE THIS IS PREDOMINANT WITH ALL THUNDERBIRDS OF THIS VINTAGE. *TR

• 10/14/2005· POWER TRAIN

  THE VEHICLES REAREND (DIFFERENTIAL) DEVELOPS A HOWLING NOISE, NOTICABLE AT 40+ MPH. THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED TWICE BEFORE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS REPLACED THE REAREND ON TWO PREVIOUS OCCASSIONS. THE NOISE IS STARTING TO OCCUR AGAIN, IF REPLACED THIS WOULD BE THE FOURTH REAREND.

• 10/14/2005· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN MOVING A SLOW SPEED (10MPH TO 15MPH) A SMALL SUDDEN TAP OF THE BREAKS AND THE BRAKE SOMETIMES WILL GO DOWN FARTHER THAN MY FOOT. ALMOST AS IF WHEN TAPPED THE BREAK KEEPS GOING DOWN WHEN MY FOOT IS GOING UP. THIS HAS HAPPEN 2 TIMES TO DATE. WHEN IT HAPPENS THE TRUCK ALMOST FEELS AS THOUGH I AM SLAMMING THE BREAKS TO THE FLOOR AND ALL PEOPLE INSIDE ARE SLUNG FOWARD. WHEN I AM JUST TRYING TO SLOW CAUSE OF A CAR IN FRONT HAS SLOWED. BUT I HAVE TO TAP THEM JUST RIGHT TO DO IT AND I CANT ALWAYS MAKE IT HAPPEN AT WILL, IT JUST DOES IT EVERY NOW AND THEN WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECTED IT.

• 10/02/2014· SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE

  ONE OF THE 4 BOLTS THAT HOLD THE REAR SUSPENSION TO THE VEHICLE FELL OUT OF THE CAR. THE BOLT FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND POSSIBLY OVER TORQUING AT THE FACTORY. SEVERE CORROSION INSIDE THE POCKET THAT HOUSES THIS BOLT. FORD DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT COVERED AND IS AT LEAST 10 HOURS LABOR AND IS CONCERNED THE REMAINING 3 BOLTS MAY BE CORRODED AS WELL. THEY ARE ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE FRAME RAIL ON THE BODY MAY BE AFFECTED. THIS HAS BEEN A SOUTH FLORIDA CAR ITS ENTIRE LIFE AND HAS BEEN GARAGED ITS WHOLE LIFE. IT HAS NEVER BEEN EXPOSED TO ROAD SALT OR SNOW AND HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN IN RAIN ON LIMITED OCCASIONS. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE REAR SUSPENSION COULD FALL OUT OF THE CAR. *TR

• 09/30/2007· TIRES

  COMPAINT IS ABOUT B.F. GOODRICH TIRES (LT 265/75R16) TIRES HAVE BEEN MAINTAINED PERFECTLY, ROTATED EVERY 7500 MILES. TOTAL TIRE MILEAGE ABOUT 61,XXX. WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 70 MPH, THE LEFT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED. I HAD SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE COSTING OVER $2800.00, PLUS REPLACEMENT OF ALL TIRES DUE TO LACK O FAITH IN THE BF GOODRICH TIRES. THE BODY WORK/REPAIRS WILL BEGIN THIS WEEK. *TR

• 09/27/2014· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  VEHICLE EXPERIENCES UNINTENDED ENGINE ACCELERATION WHEN STOPPING FOR A RED LIGHT OR PLACING THE CAR IN PARK. MOTOR HIT OVER 3500 RPM WHILE PARKING BEFORE I COULD SHUT DOWN THE IGNITION. *TR

• 09/27/2006· AIR BAGS

  DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON A DRY, SMOOTH INTERSTATE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT A COLLISION OR IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS NO APPARENT REASON FOR THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IN FLORIDA DETERMINED A COUPLE OF HAIRLINE RUSTED PLACES LOCATED ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WERE TO BLAME FOR THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF AN IMPACT. THERE WERE NO AIR BAG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT.

• 09/16/2003· POWER TRAIN

  MY TRANSMISSION WAS HAVING ISSUES WITH SHIFTING. LIGHTS FLASHED ON DASHBOARD. *JB

• 09/11/2013· ENGINE

  THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON 6/12/12 WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING AND MISSING AND THEN WENT INTO A "LIMP MODE" AND WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE NO MORE THAN 15 MPH. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE SHOP THEY DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION COIL ON CYLINDER #8 WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT FOR $270. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED 9/7/13 AND LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND OUT THAT FORD HAD ISSUED A 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR ALL 2003, 2004, AND 2005 THUNDERBIRDS TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS. FORD HAS RECOGNIZED THAT THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE AND IS A SAFETY PROBLEM, BUT SINCE IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED, AND I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, THEY ARE CHARGING ME $1,200 DOLLARS TO REPLACE 7 IGNITION COILS. LOOKING AT THE FORD THUNDERBIRD FORUMS ON THE INTERNET REVEALS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED SO OWNERS CAN HAVE THEM REPLACED, SINCE FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A DEFECT. *TR

• 09/09/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY FORD EXPLORER HAS SEVERAL PROBLEMS WITH THE COMPUTER SINCE NEW. *NM

• 08/29/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EQUIPMENT

  I HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH MY EXPEDITION 2003 SINCE I BOUGHT IT AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO THE GUARANTEE ITS ALMOST EXPIRED, NOW THE PROBLEM IS WITH THE AIR CONDITION. *JB

• 08/29/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  FOIA REQUEST CYS OF ALL CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN NHTSA & INTERNATIONAL ENGINE GROUP RE THE 6.0 POWERSTROKE ENGINE USED IN THE 2003 FORD F250-F550 SUPER DUTY TRUCKS & THE 2003 FORD EXCURSION. *MR *NLM *JB

• 08/26/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

  DT: WHILE DRIVING AT 55-60 MPH THE ENGINE STARTED TO BOG DOWN AND SLOWLY DIED. HAD BEEN TO DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM AND A TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE HAD BEEN CHECKED DIAGNOSTICIANS, AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. DEALER HAD NEVER INDICATED WHAT WAS WRONG. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE OTHER THAN A REBUILD OF THE TRANSMISSION WHEN FIRST PURCHASED. PROBLEM WITH THE ENGINE DYING WAS INTERMITTENT. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE BECAUSE THEY WERE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK *NM

• 08/19/2004· AIR BAGSCrash

  ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED LEFT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, I WAS GOING APROX 50 MPH, I T-BONED THE OTHER CARS PASSENGER SIDE, MY FRONT END HIT HER AND NEITHER DRIVER OR PASS AIR BAG DEPLOYED. POLICE TOLD ME WHEN BOTH PARTIES SPEEDS FACTORED IN, IT WAS LIKE ME HITTING A BRICK WALL AT 100 MPH & THAT AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND TESTING WILL BE DONE AFTER REPAIRS ARE MADE TO VEHICLE. CAR MAY BE TOTALLED, DAMAGES GETTING CLOSE TO 20,000.00. *AK

• 08/11/2016· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  WHEN I OPEN THE VEHICLE DOOR AT NIGHT OTHER VEHICLE DRIVERS CAN NOT SEE MY OPENED VEHICLE DOOR WHEN I ENTER OR EXIT THE VEHICLE EVEN WITH A REFLECTOR OR LIGHT ON THE VEHICLE DOOR BECAUSE IT IS BLOCKED WHEN ENTER OR EXIT THE VEHICLE BY MY BODY. I APPLIED HIGHLY REFLECTIVE TAPE TO THE LOWER FLANGE OF THE VEHICLE DOOR AND ALSO WAS GRANTED A UNITED STATES PATENT NO. 9,308,859 UNDER THE TITLE MOTOR VEHICLE DOOR HAVING REFLECTIVE LUMINANT COMPONENT ON LOWER INTERIOR EDGE. THE ADVANCEMENT ALLOWS OVER TWO THIRDS OF ANY VEHICLE DOOR TO BE SEEN AT NIGHT BY OTHER VEHICLE DRIVERS AND WILL REDUCE IN MY ESTIMATION ONE LIFE LOST PER NIGHT PER TEN MILLION VEHICLES OR GLOBALLY 35,000 LIVES A YEAR. I WOULD LIKE MY ADVANCEMENT TO BECOME A NEW FMVSS WITH CAUSE AND ENCOURAGE ACCOUNTABILITY AT NHTSA TO RESPOND TO MY GENUINE CONCERNS. PLEASE ADVISE OF WHAT ASSISTANCE YOUR AGENCY CAN PROVIDE ME WITH THE VALIDATED NEW KNOWLEDGE IN VISUAL VEHICLE ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE THAT I PROVIDE THAT IS NOW BEING APPLIED.

• 08/10/2018· SUSPENSION

  BASICALLY, ALL SUSPENSION RUSTED OUT, INCLUDING BOTH FRONT SUSPENSIONS, SPINDLE RODS, SWAY BAR, OUTER TIE RODS, BOTH REAR TIE ROD LINKS, REAR LOWER AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS , FRONT UPPER CONTROL ARMS, REAR SHOCKS. ALL THE WORK WAS PERFORMED BY THE LOCAL FORD DEALER. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT A UNIQUE PROBLEM TO THIS VEHICLE. DRIVING THE VEHICLE MADE SQUEEKY NOISES ALL THE TIME!

• 08/10/2007· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

  CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED ON 2003 FORD EXPLORER AND FIXED AT A COST OF 1479.67 PAID BY THE OWNER (ANGELA MORGAN). VEHICLE REQUIRED SERVICING AS IT BEGAN STALLING WHILE IN TRAFFIC (ATLANTA). CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEMS CAUSED OTHER ELECTRONIC PROBLEMS. I WOULD LIKE A REFUND AS THIS CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEMS EXTEND BEYOND THE FORD 2002 MODELS; I HAVE A FORD EXPLORER 2003. PLEASE CONTACT ME ANGELA MORGAN *TR

• 08/10/2005· POWER TRAIN

  MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION IS NOW ON ITS 4TH REAR DIFFERENTIAL IN 8 MONTHS. WE STARTED COMPLAINING ABOUT IT IN DEC. OF LAST YEAR AND NOW HAVE RECEIVED OUR FOURTH REPAIR, NOT COUNTING THE 3 TIMES THAT THEY DIDN'T FIX IT FOR SOME REASON OR OTHER. THE FIRST FIX LASTED TWO WEEKS AND LAST AND MOST RELIABLE LASTED 3 MONTHS. I ALSO HAVE ALSO BEEN HAVING A POPPING NOISE AFTER THE HEATER OR AIR CONDITIONER IS RUN FOR ANY PERIOD OF TIME, HOWEVER THAT CAN'T BE REPAIRED, NO FIX AVAILABLE. I AM FEED UP, I CONTACTED FORD CORP DIRECTLY, BUT THEY WON'T HELP ME. *JB

• 08/09/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  DRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 91 IN MASS. MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION BLEW OUT A SPARK PLUG. THIS WAS A FACTORY INSTALLED ORIGINAL PLUG . THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE 5.4 TRITON ENGINE WHICH SEEMS TO HAVE A HISTORY OF THIS PROBLEM. WE HAD TO BE TOWED TO A FORD DEALER FOR REPAIRS. RE-THREADING THE ENGINE HEAD, REPLACE THE DAMAGED COIL PACK AND A NEW SPARK PLUG. WITH LABOR MY BILL WAS OVER $700. THIS DOES NOT INCLUDE THE TOW FEE AND A NIGHT AT A LOCAL HOTEL (WE WERE TRAVELING FROM OUT OF STATE ON VACATION). UPON RESEARCHING THIS PROBLEM I HAVE READ DOZENS AND DOZENS OF STORIES LIKE MINE INVOLVING THIS TRITON CLASS ENGINE BUILT BY FORD. A SPARK PLUG SHOULD NOT BE BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK PERIOD. WHEN DOZENS AND DOZENS OF PEOPLE WRITE IN TO SAY THEIR FORD MUSTANG, F150, EXPEDITION, F250, OR EXCURSION HAS BLOWN OUT A PLUG THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE. *NM

• 07/25/2012· ENGINE

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AFTER EACH FAILURE TO HAVE THE COILS AND SPARK PLUGS REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,850.

• 07/25/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE,EQUIPMENT

  2003 FORD THUNDERBIRD HAD SPARK PLUGS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO 5 MPH WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED, AND NUMEROUS ENGINE PROBLEMS. *KB WATER LEAKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER FOUND CRACKS AND A TEAR AROUND THE WEATHER STRIP AND SEAL. THE A/C CONTROL HEAD ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE RADIO HAD TO BE SENT OUT FOR REPAIRS. THE ALARM WOULD SOUND ON ITS OWN. THE LIGHT LOCATED ON THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WOULD NOT GO OUT. THE IGNITION COILS WERE REPLACED. *JB

• 07/21/2016· AIR BAGSCrash

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD THUNDERBIRD. WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

• 07/17/2005· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  MY 2003 FORD FOCUS ZX3 WAS TAKEN IN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR ITS 20,000 MILE SERVICE AND THE TECHNICIAN SAID THE FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED. I DISCUSSED THE ISSUE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER AND SINCE IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, HAD THE WORK DONE AND THEN CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER CARE. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT I HAD TO PAY TO REPLACE OBVIOUSLY FAULTY BRAKE ROTORS AND FORD DOES NOT CARE HOW OR IF ITS DEALERS HONOR THEIR WARRANTY. AS A SIDE NOTE, THERE WERE TWO MINOR BODYWORK ISSUES THAT THE SAME DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO FIX UNDER WARRANTY, WHICH WE TAKEN CARE OF BY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IN MY AREA.

• 07/14/2005· SEAT BELTS

  FRONT SEAT BELTS ARE CUTTING INTO THE PILAR MOLDING. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE MOLDING HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE IN TWO YEARS. FORD STATES THEY HAVE NOT HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT I HAVE BEEN LOOKING INTO OTHER FORD EXPLORERS IN PARKING LOTS AND SEE THAT IT IS HAPPENING IN MOST OF THE VEHICLES. MY FEAR IS THAT THERE IS NOT A PERMANENT SOLUTION TO THIS DEFECT. BY CUTTING INTO THE MOLDING, THE SEAT BELT COULD GET STUCK AND NOT WORK PROPERLY IN AN ACCIDENT, ETC.

• 07/14/2005· POWER TRAIN,VISIBILITY,SEATS

  I HAVE AN EDDIE BAUER EDITION EXPEDITION (2003) . THIS UNIT CAME WITH OUTSIDE REAR VIEW MIRRORS THAT TILT DOWN AND INWARD WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE TO ASSIST YOU IN BACKING UP. THE ISSUE I HAVE HAD SINCE IT WAS PURCHASED NEW IS THAT THE MIRRORS DO NOT RETURN TO THIER ORIGINAL POSITION CONSISTENTLY ONCE YOU PUT THE VENICLE BACK INTO A FORWARD GEAR. THIS ISSUE BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE ONCE OUT ON THE ROADWAYS AS WHEN I GO TO PASS I CAN'T SEE IF THERE ARE ANY VECHICLES IN THE LANE I NEED TO GET INTO. HAROLD ZEIGLER AUTO GROUP SOLD ME THE CAR IN KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN. THEY HAVE TOLD ME THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THE MIRRORS AND HAVE DONE SO MORE THAN ONCE. CAN YOU HELP GET THIS RESOLVED. THE DRIVERS SEAT ALSO DOESN'T RETURN TO ITS PROGRAMED POSITION AND THIS IS AN IMTERMITTEN PROBLEM WHICH ZEIGLER HAD FIXED ONCE AND ITS STARTING TO ACT UP AGAIN! ALSO I'VE HAD REAR END WORK DONE MORE THAN TWICE AND ITS STARTING TO HOWL ONCE AGAIN. THEY ACTUALLY REPLACED IT ONCE COMPLETELY AND REPAIRED IT TWICE, IS THIER AN ISSUE WITH THE REAR ENDS ON THIS MODEL YEAR? THANKING YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME AND CONSIDERATION ON THESE MATTERS. RESPECTFULLY GARY A. ANSPAUGH

• 07/13/2005· FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER,POWER TRAIN

  I PURCHASED THE 2003 EXPLORER IN NOV 2003. ON 6/16/04, 8/17/04,AND FINALLY ON 8/20/04, I COMPLAINED REGARDING THE FUEL GUAGE NOT REGISTERING A FULL TANK. FORD FINALLY REPLACED FUEL TANK. ON DEC 10, 2004, I BROUGHT THE CAR IN BECAUSE WHEN GOING FROM PARK TO REVERSE, A WHINING AND CLUNKING NOICE COULD BE HEARD. ALSO, BECAUSE SOMETIMES THE CAR DOESN'T START. AT FIRST FORD CLAIMED NOTHING WAS WRONG REGARDING THE CLUNKING. I THEN REMINDED THEM ABOUT THE RECALLS BEING DISCUSSED IN THE NEWS REGARDING THE 2004 MODELS. THEN THEY REPLACED SOMETHING CALLED A SOLEONID. THE START PROBLEM STILL EXISTS AND SO DOES THE CLUNKING NOISE. THIS WAS COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. YESTERDAY, IT ACCELLERATED WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BREAK, FORM REVERSE TO DRIVE. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NOTHING IN FRONT OF ME. MY HUSBAND, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR, HAS EXPERIENCED THIS SEVERAL TIMES AS HE IS CHANGING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. THE NEWS JUST DESCRIBED ANOTHER FORD PROBLEM REGARDING ACCELLERATION. I THINK THIS IS WHAT IS AFFECTING MY CAR.

• 07/11/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  2003 FORD EXPLORER OVERHEATED AND LOST COOLANT. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. FIRST 2 TRIPS, PROBLEM NOT FOUND. AFTER 3RD INCIDENT, A CRACKED ENGINE BLOCK WAS FOUND. IN ADDITION TO ENGINE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD JERK FORWARD WHEN SLOWING TO A STOP, THIS OCCURS MOSTLY IN COLD WEATHER AT LEAST ONCE WEEKLY. UPON TAKING TO THE DEALERSHIP (PROBLEM CANNOT BE REPLICATED); THIS COULD LEAD TO A CRASH, DAMAGE TO A PEDESTRIAN........GEE, HATE TO THINK OF THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES. *NM

• 06/28/2026· SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN

  Rattle in my front end E code for transmission

• 06/20/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  I HEARD CNN'S REPORT ON FORD'S THAT COULD HAVE A PROBLEM WITH FIRE DUE TO A HOT WIRED CRUISE CONTROL ON MANY FORDS.THEY CAN GO ON FIRE EVEN WHEN NOT RUNNING, PERHAPS IN THE GARAGE. I HAVE A 2003 EXPLORER, I HAVE CALLED THE FORD DEALER AND THEY HAVE NOT TAKEN RESPONSIBLITY FOR THIS PROBLEM. DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT IT, WHAT CAN WE DO IF WE OWN THESE CARS TO BE SAFE?

• 06/15/2014· ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

  I WAS ACCELERATING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY AT FULL THROTTLE AND THE ENGINE SHUT ITSELF OFF. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND CONTINUED TO MY DESTINATION. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND IT IS ONLY GETTING WORSE AND MORE FREQUENT. SOMETIMES THE LIMP HOME LIGHT (WRENCH) COMES ON. I MUST TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON TO MAKE THE CAR WORK. I HAVE HAD ALL 8 COILS REPLACED AND THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND IT STILL OCCURS TODAY. I CHECKED THE CODES AND IT DID SAY IT WAS A FORCED SHUT DOWN. I UNFORTUNATELY DO NOT REMEMBER THE CODE NUMBER. *JS

• 06/11/2005· AIR BAGS

  THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR ASOLUTELY NO REASON WHATSOEVER. WE WERE JUST DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, AND THERE WAS A LOAD POP. I THOUGHT WE HAD A BLOWOUT UNTIL I SAW MY WIFE SITTING IN THE SEAT IN PAIN. FOR A WHILE SHE COULDN'T EVEN MOVE THE RIGHT SIDE OF HER BODY. WE HEADED HOME IMMEDIATELY, BY THE TIME WE MADE IT HOME SHE WAS ABLE TO MOVE AGAIN. BEING A SATURDAY THERE WASN'T ANYONE TO CALL. I WILL BE CALLING FORD FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING.

• 06/02/2005· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THE IGNITION SWITCH IN MY FORD FOCUS ZX3 (2003) HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE. ONCE ON 6/17/04 AT 17,301 MILES BY LATHAM FORD IN LATHAM, NY AND ON 12/17/04 AT 33,213 MILES BY NEMER FORD IN QUEENSBURY, NY. BOTH TIMES I PUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND IT WOULD NOT TURN. BOTH TIMES THE REPAIR WAS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO NEW COUNTRY FORD YESTERDAY (6/1/05) BECAUSE THE KEY TURNS, BUT THE CAR DOES NOT START ONLY THE ELECTRIC COMES ON. THE SERVICE MANAGER THERE, BOB, SAID THE MECHANIC IS STILL LOOKING AT THE CAR AND APPARENTLY THE IGNITION SWITCH IS BROKEN AGAIN, BUT HE THINKS SOMETHING ELSE IN THE STEERING COLUMN MAY BE THE PROBLEM. IF IT IS NOT THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT IS BROKEN I WILL LIKELY HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPAIR, EVEN THOUGH THE MALFUNCTIONING PIECE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSING THE IGNITION SWITCH TO FAIL THE FIRST TWO TIMES (MEANING THAT THOSE MECHANICS MISSED THE BIG PROBLEM).

• 05/27/2007· VISIBILITY

  FORD TAURUS 2003, WINDSHIELD WAS HIT WITH A STONE WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY ON MAY 10, 2007, A CHIP WAS VISIBLE AND WITHIN A FEW DAYS BECAME A 12 INCH CRACK. HAD REPLACED AT A COST OF $197.34. *TR

• 05/19/2003· SEAT BELTS

  REAR SEAT BELT FOR THE MIDDLE SEAT IN A 2003 FORD ZX2. DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD INSTALL THE SEAT BELT BUT IT WOULD VOID MY WARRANTY AND WOULD BE VERY COSTLY. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLD ME THE SAME THING. *JB

• 05/18/2005· SERVICE BRAKES, AIR,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  MY HUSBAND AND I ARE LEASING A 2003 FORD EXPIDITION OF WHICH WE RECEIVED ON 5/5/03. AS OF 10/04 THIS SUV HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER TWICE FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, (SENSORS BURN OUT). ALSO IN 10/04 THE FRONT END BRAKES HAD TO BE REPLACED, AND THE AGAIN ON 2/05, THE FRONT END BRAKES BACK BRAKES AND ALSO FRONT END ROTORS HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. WE WERE INFORMED THAT THIS SUV SHOULD IN NO WAY NEED NEW BRAKES THIS SOON AND DEFINITLEY NOT ROTORS. THIS SUV ONLY HAVE 35,000 MILES AS OF 5/19/05. BUT WHEN THE ROTORS WERE REPLACED IT ONLY HAD 31,000 MILES. I WOULD LIKE SOMETHING DONE ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, BECAUSE I HAVE SPOKEN TO NUMEROUS OF EXPIDITION OWNERS AND THEY ALL ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEMS THE BRAKES AND ROTORS. I WOULD LIKE TO BE RE-INBURSED FOR THEY MONEY WE HAVE SPENT THUS FAR FOR AN ON GOING DEFECT. ALSO WE WERE TOLD THAT WE WOULD BE CONTACTED WHEN THE LOWER GRILL OF THE TRUCK ARRIVED, BECAUSE OURS DID NOT HAVE ONE WHEN WE PICKED IT UP FROM THE DEALER, WELL WE ARE STILL WAITING AS OF 5/05.

• 05/17/2005· UNKNOWN OR OTHER

  THERE HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH MOLD IN THE AIR CONDITIONING CONDESNER UNIT.