102 of the 426 complaints about the 1994 Ford Thunderbird are about the transmission — 24% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 80,000 miles.
102
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT IN AND OUT OF OVERDRIVE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS WAS CORRECTED BY REPLACING TWO SPEED SENSING SWITCHES. THIS IS NORMALLY DONE WHEN EVER THE TRANSMISSION IS WORKED ON BY FORD.
NHTSA complaint #10245500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 1994 FORD T-BIRD WITH A 5.0 V8 AND AS I AM DRIVING(NOT ACCELERATING, ETC.) THE CAR IT UNEXPECTLY DOWN SHIFTS FOR NO REASON. IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN MORE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN IT IS HOTTER. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO LAKE CITY FORD IN COEUR D'ALENE AT LEAST 4 OR 5 TIMES OVER THE LAST 4 OR 5 YEARS AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT SOME PART "JUST NEEDS CLEANING" THE PROBLEM KEEPS COMING BACK. I FEEL THAT IT IS A DANGER AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10123771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
ENGINE - MAKES A MOANING NOISE AND RAISES THE IDLE. AS A RESULT, THE CARE WANTS TO ACCELERATE, EVEN WITHOUT PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR. PAINT - PAINT OXIDIZED ON ALL SKYWARD FACING SURFACES. SPOTS OF RUST HAVE DEVELOPED. POWER LOCK - DRIVER'S SIDE POWER LOCK MAKES A NOISE, BUT DOES NOT MOVE THE LOCK TRANSMISSION - DOESN'T SHIFT WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO, AND WHEN IT DOES, IT IS VERY JERKY.
NHTSA complaint #10068811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION BEGINS SHIFTING FROM OD TO LOWER GEARS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. A TRANSMISSION FLUSH SEEMS TO CLEAR UP THE ISSUE FOR APPROX. 6,000 MILES AND THEN THE PROBLEM IS BACK. THE PAST WEEK HAS BEEN VERY BAD. THIS MORNING ON MY DRIVE TO WORK (3 MILES) THE ISSUE OCCURED 6 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10060229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I NOTICED IMMEDIATLY AFTER BUYING THIS CAR THAT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED THAT WAS 11/98 IT TOOK SEVERAL CALLS TO THE DEALER AND A COARSE OF A YEAR FOR THEM TO FINALLY FIX IT. SECOND TIME I BROUGHT IN TO SHOP REPLACED WHOLE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS 12/99. NOW IN 6/03 THE TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO SLIP AGAIN. ALSO HAD RECALL LETTER ABOUT HEAD GASKETS, FORD REFUSED TO WORK WITH ME ON REPLACEMENTS, HAD TO BE REPLACED OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. PRIVATE DEALER LIED ABOUT CONDITION OF VEHICLE, IT HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHEN I BOUGHT IT. FORD MADE NO ATTEMPS TO HELP RESOLVE PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10048796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE JERKING FORWARD WHILE AT STOP LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY THREE CERTIFIED MECHANICS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WORE OUT. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *AK THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH IT'S POWER WINDOW'S, AIR CONDITIONER AND TRANSMISSION. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10044226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
THE TRANSMISSION GEARS SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING REFUSED TO SHIFT OUT OF LOW GEAR. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ABRUPTLY SLOW DOWN ALMOST TO A HALT WHILE IN TRAFFIC. ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, THE CONSUMER BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALER WHERE PURCHASED. WHILE IN THE HANDS OF THEIR TRANSMISSION TECHNICIANS, THE PROBLEM WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. CONSUMER SOUGHT OUT A REPUTABLE SPECIALIST WHO INSTALLED A SENSOR WHICH SOLVED THE PROBLEM BUT ONLY TEMPORARILY. THE MALFUNCTION WAS DIAGNOSED AND REPAIRED AT A SECOND ATTEMPT. THE SPRING ACCUMULATOR WAS BROKEN, THE OVERDRIVE BAND WAS BURNED AS WERE THE LOW CLUTCHES. THE CONSUMER DISCOVERED FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECOGNIZED THE POOR DESIGN AND CHANGED IT SO CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT OF MONIES PAID FOR REPAIRS. *JG *SCC
NHTSA complaint #567570 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION:FLOOR SHIFT ASSEMBLY
AUTO. TRANS. SHIFTS FROM DRIVE TO 2ND GEAR. HAS ONLY DONE THIS 5 SEPERATE TIMES OVER A 2 - 3 YEAR PERIOD. I FIND THAT IF I SHIFT THE GEAR SELECTOR TO 1ST GEAR AND PUSH IT INTO DRIVE THE PROBLEM DOES NOT OCCUR. THE FIVE TIMES IT HAS HAPPENED WAS WHEN I SHIFTED FROM PARK STRAIGHT TO DRIVE. I FIND I CAN PUSH THE GEAR LEVER FORWARD FROM DRIVE UNTIL THE INDICATOR SHOWS IN THE NEUTRAL SLOT BEFORE THE TRANS. SHIFTS TO NEUTRAL. I BELIEVE THE DOWNSHIFTING IS CAUSED BY THE MISALIGNMENT OF THE GEAR SELECTOR. NLM
NHTSA complaint #767170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION WILL MAKE UNCOMMANDED AND UNEXPECTED DOWNSHIFTS FROM OVERDRIVE TO 3RD AND SOMTIMES TO 2ND GEAR ANY NEARLY ANY SPEED ABOVE 35 MPH. THIS OFTEN OCCURS AT FREEWAYS SPEEDS OF 70 TO 80 MPH AND CREATES A HAZARDOUS, AND UNEXPECTED SLOWING. IN ADDITION, THE TRANSMISSION MAY EITHER UPSHIFT AND DOWNSHIFT REPEATEDLY OR GO INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN BACK INTO GEAR. THIS RESULTS IN THE RPM CHANGING WILDLY AND, AT TIMES, GOING HIGH ENOUGH TO POTENTIALLY CAUSE ENGINE DAMAGE.
NHTSA complaint #767036 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND FIXED TWICE DUE TO SHIFTING LATE AND SHAKING WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS ALSO REPLACED SEVERAL PARTS IN VEHICLE, BUT SOLUTION DID NOT WORK. CONTACTED DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #8012526 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSON SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL AT 40 MPH AND HIGHER.
NHTSA complaint #785579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE AND 3RD GEAR CLUTCH FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #785850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE AND 3RD GEAR CLUTCH FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #785850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AND JERKS THE CAR AROUND AND THE STEERING HAS A LOT OF SLACK IN IT ABOUT AN INCH.
NHTSA complaint #758549 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE AND 3RD GEAR CLUTCH FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #785850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE AND 3RD GEAR CLUTCH FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #785850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:CLUTCH ASSEMBLY
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE AND 3RD GEAR CLUTCH FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #785850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE AND 3RD GEAR CLUTCH FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #785850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I THINK MY ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WAS STOLEN BY MY DEALERSHIP. LATER, I THINK ANOTHER DEALER FRAUDUANTLY CHARGED MY EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT TO REMOVED AND REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE.
NHTSA complaint #757381 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSON SLIPS INTO NEUTRAL AT 40 MPH AND HIGHER.
NHTSA complaint #785579 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #751824 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY AND NEIGHBORHOOD SPEEDS. SPEEDOMETER WILL RACE, BUT WILL GET IN GEAR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #895239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY AND NEIGHBORHOOD SPEEDS. SPEEDOMETER WILL RACE, BUT WILL GET IN GEAR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #895239 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE TRANSMISSION OF THIS VEHICLE HAS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND MANY MILES WILL WITHOUT WARNING EITHER DOWNSHIFT FROM OD WITHOUT ANY ALTERATION IN ACCELERATOR PRESSURE OR WILL JUMP INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE RPM WILL RAPIDLY INCREASE AND THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL PULLING POWER. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN CLIMING A HILL ON AN INTERSTATE OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATES WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO TRAFFIC TO THE REAR. REPAIR ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN FILTER AND FLUID CHANGE, FLUID LEVEL CHECKS ON A REGULAR BASIS, LINKAGE LUBRICATION, AND ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF THE VEHICLE IN GENERAL. I AM WONDERING IF THERE ARE INHERENT ISSUES WITH THIS STYLE OD TRANSMISSION. THE OTHER MAJOR FAILURES WERE LEFT SIDE HEAD GASKET AND SEVERE FRONT BRAKE PULSATION. THE DEALER FINALLY REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTORS WITH WHAT SEEMED A BETTER UNIT, AND I CONDUCTED THE REPAIRS ON BOTH SIDE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF ANY KNOWN ISSUES REGARDING THIS TRANSMISSION AND WHAT, IF ANY, RECOURSE FOR REPAIR I MIGHT EMPLOY. I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. GKW.
NHTSA complaint #747781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:BANJO HOUSING
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.
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION OUT DUE TO LOSS OF SECOND GEAR TRANSMISSION DRIVING WITHOUT A SECOND GEAR, HAVE TO MAKE SURE OD IS TURNED OFF OR ELSE THE CAR WILL CONSISTENTLY DROP OUT OF GEAR.
NHTSA complaint #785371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION LURCHES, ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL STALL, RPMS GO UP, BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE.
NHTSA complaint #883454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
AT 56000M HAD TO HAVE TRANSMISSION OVERHAULED, AT 91000 HEAD GASKET OR INTAKE GASKET BLEW HAD TO BE REPLACED, UNDERSTAND THAT OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES HAVE HAD RECALL ON HEAD GASKETS BUT WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT MY MODEL NOT INCLUDED IN THESE RECALLS.
NHTSA complaint #741841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION IN THESE THUNDERBIRD IS TERRIBLE THE PERSON I BOUGHT IT FROM HAS ALREADY HAD IT FIXED AND I HAVE TOO. IT IS STARTING TO ACT UP AGAIN FOR EXAMPLE I WILL BE DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE AND MY CAR WILL SLIP GEAR AND WILL CAUSE ME TOO TEMPORY LOSE CONTROL. I FEEL AS THOUGH THIS SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BECAUSE I HAVE HEARD MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER DRIVERS.
NHTSA complaint #738244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
AUTOMATIC BUTTONS THAT LOCK & UNLOCK GEARS TO SHIFT BROKE OFF WHILE IN USE. BUTTONS FAIL TO STAY IN PLACE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, WHERE MECHANIC REPAIRED BUTTONS WITH 1995 VEHICLE DUE TO BREAKAGE OF PLASTIC BUTTONS. ALSO, VEHICLE WOULD SHIMMY WHEN ACCELERATING.
NHTSA complaint #875360 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.