12 of the 426 complaints about the 1994 Ford Thunderbird are about the fuel system — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 72,000 miles.
12
Complaints
0
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
FUEL LEAKED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO A RUPTURED FUEL LINE. *JB IN 1997 THE SAME DEFECT WAS FOUND IN THE CONSUMERS 1992 THUNDERBIRD. *SCC *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10038626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL TANK IS LEAKING FUEL FROM CRACKS IN SEAL RINGS OF TANK.FUEL TANK HAD BEEN CHECKED, AND NO PRIOR PROBLEMS WERE NOTICED OR FOUND. HAVE CONTACTED DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #8001774 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE PREMATURELY FAILED CAUSING REPLACEMENT: ROTORS, OIL PRESSURE GAUGE AND SENDING UNIT, THERMOSTAT & GASKET, INSTRUMENT PANEL, POWER STEERING PUMP, BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, PISTON, TRANSHAFT, FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, INTAKE MANIFOLD, SERPENTINE BELT AND NOW THE HEADGASKETS ARE BLOWN
NHTSA complaint #745330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE PREMATURELY FAILED CAUSING REPLACEMENT: ROTORS, OIL PRESSURE GAUGE AND SENDING UNIT, THERMOSTAT & GASKET, INSTRUMENT PANEL, POWER STEERING PUMP, BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, PISTON, TRANSHAFT, FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, INTAKE MANIFOLD, SERPENTINE BELT AND NOW THE HEADGASKETS ARE BLOWN
NHTSA complaint #745330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
THE FUEL PUMP HAS BEEN REPLACED 2X SINCE THE BEGINNING TO JULY 1998. THE WHEN YOU FILL THE TANK IT IS AS IF SOMEONE HAS TURNED ON A FAUCED DIRECTLY UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE AND GASOLINE JUST POURS OUT. GASOLINE FUMES ARE ALWAYS PRESENT IN THE VEHICLE. WE HAVE BEEN TO 3 MECHANICS AND ALL HAVE CLAIMED THAT IT IS FAULTY FUEL PUMP BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO LEAK GASOLINE. THE PROBLEM STARTED BEFORE THE 60,000 WARRANTY RAN OUT BUT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE WE WERE ON VACTION AT THE TIME. AS SOON AS WE RETURNED WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY CLAIMED IT WASN'T COVERED BECAUSE WE WERE 1100 MILES OVER THE WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE IS STILL LEAKING GASOLINE AND FUMES ARE ALWAYS PRESENT . ANY ASSISTANCE WOULD BE APPRECIATED SINCE WE ARE AT A LOSS AS TO WHO TO TURN TO. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT NOBODY HAS BEEN ABLE TO FIX BUT $1200 LATER WE STILL HAVE AN UNSAFE VEHICLE. *AK( DOT NUMBER: )
NHTSA complaint #708810 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
VEHICLE O-RING FAILED,DUE TO A CRACK IN THE SENDER PUMP, RESULTING IN LEAKAGE.
NHTSA complaint #545153 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
97S84; FUEL LINE RUBS AGAINST THE FLOOR PAN, FORD CONTACTED AND NO CHANGES HAVE BEEN MADE AFTER THE RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #829530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY FAILED ON TWO OCCASIONS, RESULTING IN LEAKAGE AND FUMES.
NHTSA complaint #543957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
FUEL GAUGE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #543957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
TO WHOM THIS MAY CONCERN: I AM WRITING TO INFORM YOU OF AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DEFECT WITH THE FORD THUNDERBIRD. LUCKILY, I DID NOT INCUR ANY BODILY HARM, BUT THE POTENTIAL FOR PERSONAL INJURY IS SIGNIFICANT. ON SEPTEMBER 15, 1998 THE COMPUTER ON MY THUNDERBIRD FAILED. EVERYTHING ON MY CAR IS CONTROLLED BY THIS SINGLE PART TO SOME DEGREE. THE THUNDERBIRD HAS ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION, WHICH DEPENDS SOLELY ON THE COMPUTER TO REGULATE THE GAS FLOW. INSTEAD OF SHUTTING EVERYTHING DOWN WHEN THE COMPUTER FAILED, THE COMPUTER ACTUALLY ALLOWED AND UNREGULATED FLOW OF GASOLINE INTO THE ENGINE. THIS DESIGN FLAW HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE TWO SIGNIFICANT SITUATIONS THAT WOULD CAUSE HUMAN INJURY. FIRST, THE EXCESS GAS IN THE ENGINE COULD CAUSE A FIRE, OR EVEN WORSE, AN EXPLOSION IN THE ENGINE. SECOND, THE EXCESS GAS MAY CAUSE THE CAR TO ACCELERATE AGAINST THE DRIVER'S WILL AND CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION TO THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY, THIS FLAW IS ALSO VERY COSTLY TO REPAIR. THE EXCESS GAS IN THE ENGINE CAUSES SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. WHILE THE COMPUTER COST 'ONLY' $550 TO REPLACE, THE BILL TO REPAIR THE ENGINE DAMAGE WAS OVER $2000. MY CAR HAS HIGH MILEAGE FOR A 1994 VEHICLE, SO THIS MAY BE ONE OF THE FIRST COMPLAINTS FILED FOR THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE PROMPTLY ADDRESSED BY FORD. PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ISSUE AND MAKE CONSUMERS AWARE OF THIS POTENTIALLY DEADLY PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #700247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
CONSUMER PARKED CAR AT 4:00PM AT 2:00AM THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE . TT
NHTSA complaint #973289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
VEHICLE HESITATES WHEN ACCELERATING. *SKD
NHTSA complaint #481453 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.