1997 Ford Thunderbird engine problems

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I SMELL GAS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED OF 60 AND ABOVE ON FREEWAY MOSTLY. ONCE IN A WHILE I CAN SMELL IT WHEN DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS OF 25 -30MPH. I USED TO THINK THAT I HAD SPILLED GAS ON THE OUTSIDE OF CAR WHEN IT FIRST STARTED HAPPENING, BUT NOW A YEAR LATER, I STILL SMELL GAS AND I DO SMOKE IN MY CAR, BUT WHEN I SMELL THE GAS, I WILL PUT THE CIGARETTE OUT. IS THERE SOME KIND OF RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, THAT CAN REPAIR IT. I HAVE PUT $4000.00 INTO RESTORING THE CAR AND I AND PUTTING ANOTHER $800.00 INTO IT NEXT WEEK, NOVEMBER 2013, TO REPLACE ALL OF THE BELTS AROUND THE ENGINE. I HAVE ALREADY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION FOR $1800.00 AT AAMCO, AND PUT A $2200.00 PAINT JOB ON IT, BEFORE I KNEW OF THE GAS SMELL. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. AM I FIGHTING A LOSING BATTLE WITH THIS CAR?

NHTSA complaint #10550111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD CRACKED SPILLING OUT ALL MY COOLANT AND CAUSING MY ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD BE COVERD BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY, THIS HAPPEND WHILE DRIVING DOWN GRATIOT AVE. IN ROSEVILLE MI AT 40 MILES PER HOUR WITH NO PREVIOUS WARNING, THIS FAILURE HAPPEND 7/3/2011 SATURDAY OVER THE FORTH OF JULY WEEKEND, WHERE I COULDN'T GET IT TO A OPEN FORD DEALERSHIP, NOW I CONNOT USE MY VEHICAL FOR WORK MONDAY 7/4/2011. WILL THIS REPAIR BE COVERD BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY?

NHTSA complaint #10410350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I HAVE A 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD THAT HAS A MANIFOLD PROBLEM. I AM BEING TOLD BY FORD THAT IT DOESN'T FALL UNDER THE RECALL FROM 2005 BECAUSE IT WASN'T BUILT IN THE RIGHT PLANT. I HAVE READ A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT ALL OF THE 1997 T-BIRD HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND NEED TO BE FIXED. NOT ONLY IS DOES MY CAR NOT RUN RIGHT, BUT I ALSO AM NOT FACING REPLACING MY CATALYTIC CONVERTER, AS WELL DUE TO THE LEAKAGE. WE ARE TALKING ABOUT $1700 IN REPAIR.

NHTSA complaint #10274375 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, A YEAR AGO, IT RAN GREAT. ONE DAY AS I AS COMING UP A HILL, MY CAR STARTED SHAKING. IT WAS A CRACKED INTAKE MANIFOLD, THAT OF WHICH FORD WAS IN A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT IN 2005. WHICH COVERED A "SELECT FEW" OF THUNDERBIRDS. HOWEVER NOW THAT MY MANIFOLD CRACKED, THERE "NOT AT FAULT." WE HAD THE CAR FIXED, ONLY TO LEARN AFTERWARDS THAT FORD HAD SEVERAL ISSUES ABOUT THE FAULTY INTAKE.

NHTSA complaint #10260469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ENGINE IDLE RACING. CAN'T STOP UNLESS PLACED IN NEUTRAL, WHERE CAR WOULD RUN OVER 2000 RPM. DEALER REPLACED IDLE AIR CONTROL AND POWER CONTROL MODULE. DEALER STATED THAT IDLE AIR CONTROL BURNS OUT THE POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULES ON MANY V-6 FORD ENGINES. CAR HAD ONLY 34,518 MILES CHECKED OTHER SURGES THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE OF RACING ENGINES IN ACCIDENTS OF V-6 MOTORS AND FORD REFUSING ANY RECALLS FOR POSSIBLE FIRE OF IDLE AIR CONTROL AND THE BURNING OUT OF POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE.

NHTSA complaint #10232085 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE.

NHTSA complaint #10205781 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, IN HEAVY TRAFFIC THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE RISING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE NEEDLE SHIFTED TO THE HOT INDICATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE REPAIR SHOP AND THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS LEAKING COOLANT AND THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 73,500. *UPDATED 12/12/07 *BF UPDATED 12/12/07

NHTSA complaint #10202164 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

TL*THE CONTACT'S DAUGHTER OWNS A 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING. HER DAUGHTER NOTICED A CRACK ON THE INTAKE MANIFOLD, WHICH SHE BELIEVED MAY BE THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. AS OF AUGUST 31, 2007, THE DEALER HAS NOT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA complaint #10201345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

INTAKE MANIFOLD SPLIT CAUSING COOLANT LEAKAGE.

NHTSA complaint #10154892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD MOTOR DIED WHILE DRIVING.*MR ***NOT IN REPOSITORY.

NHTSA complaint #10120421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

I PURCHASED THIS 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD LX SPORT AS A USED VEHICLE IN OCT. 2002. I NOTICED THAT DURING THE FIRST FEW WEEKS OF OWNING THIS VEHICLE IT WOULD INTERMITTENTLY LEAK A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF COOLANT ONTO MY DRIVEWAY BUT I COULD NEVER SEE WHERE IT WAS COMING FROM. SOMETIMES IT WOULD GO FOR DAYS WITHOUT LEAKING AND THEN ONE DAY THERE WOULD BE OVER A QUART OF COOLANT ON THE DRIVEWAY. I BROUGHT THE CAR INTO A SHOP THAT PUT THE CAR ON A LIFT TO LOOK FOR THE LEAK BUT THEY COULD NOT FIND ONE. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE CAR AND ADD COOLANT EVERY TIME THE "LOW COOLANT" LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASH PANEL. IN MAY 2005 I WAS ON THE 91 FREEWAY AND SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE "LOW COOLANT" LIGHT CAME ON AND THE TEMP CAME UP QUICKLY SO I TRIED TO CHANGE LANES TO THE RIGHT TO EXIT THE FREEWAY AND THE BACK OF THE CAR BROKE LOOSE AND I ALMOST TURNED SIDEWAYS. I FOUND OUT LATER THAT THE REAR TIRES AND WHEEL WELLS WERE SOAKED IN COOLANT. THIS WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT I FOUND OUT THAT MY INTERMITTENT LEAK THAT NO ONE COULD FIND WAS MY INTAKE MANIFOLD AT THE BASE OF THE THERMOSTAT HOUSING. I WENT TO RANCHO SANTA MARGARITA FORD AND ASKED ABOUT RECALLS AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE RECALL FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD EXPIRED A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AND THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CO. CUSTOMER RELATIONS AND WAS TOLD THE SAME THING. THE CAR NOW SITS PARKED UNREPAIRED. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY ALMOST TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS TO CORRECT FORDS ENGINEERING BLUNDER.

NHTSA complaint #10143721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED CAUSING COOLANT TO LEAK OUT. FORD WILL NOT REPAIR UNLESS I PAY FOR IT. CLASS ACTION LAW SUIT PENDING. FORD AGREED TO REPLACE ON VEHICLES 7 YEARS OLD OR LESS. MY VEH IS 8 YEARS OLD WITH 26000 MILES. BAD DESIGN FOR INTAKE.

NHTSA complaint #10139547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

DT: 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD LX V8 4.6 LITERS. 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD LX HAD A COOLANT LEAK. THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD OVERHEATED. COULD SMELL ANTIFREEZE WHEN GETTING OUT OF VEHICLE. THE ANTIFREEZE WAS LEAKING IN THREE PLACES. VEHICLE HAD THE ORIGINAL PARTS. THE CONSUMER WAS THE SECOND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. HAD NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER. DID HAVE SOMEONE LOOK AT VEHICLE , WHO CONFIRMED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS PLASTIC AND VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE, AND THAT THE O RINGS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER FOUND ON THE INTERNET THAT A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS WAS SENT OUT ON FEBRUARY 2, 2002 DISCUSSING THIS PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THE CONSUMER WAS UNAWARE OF THE TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN.

NHTSA complaint #10139300 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

UPPER INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1997 4.6 L THUNDERBIRD CRACKED AND BLEW ALL THE COOLANT INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I HAD TO PAY FORD TO REPLACE THE UPPER INTAKE AND THE PLUGS THAT WERE FOULED OUT. THEY REFUSED ANY RESPONSIBILITY EVEN WITH A FORMAL WRITTEN COMPLAINT TO THEIR HOME OFFICE. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THIS IS HAPPENING TO A LOT OF THEIR 4.6 L ENGINES IN A VARIETY OF VEHICLES.

NHTSA complaint #10135684 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN! MY 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD IS NOT LISTED WHY? I HAVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THE SMOG STUFF EVERY YEAR I PAY A LOT OF MONEY. WHEN TEMPERATURES ARE HOT OUTSIDE OVER 90 THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND SAYS SERVICE ENGINE, OR WHEN I GO UP A LONG HILL AND MY CAR OVERHEATS THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND SAYS SERVICE ENGINE AND IT IS ALWAYS ABOUT AN OXYGEN SENSOR OR OTHER SMOG RELATED ITEMS THAT ALWAYS COST $300 TO $650 I AM GOING B BROKE BEING ON A FIXED INCOME. FORD CAN'T FIX MY FRONT END VIBRATION I HAD ALL ALIGNMENTS DONE WHEEL BALANCING 4 TIMES NOTHING HELPS. MY STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES ALSO. PLEASE HELP! MANFRED GAUER .

NHTSA complaint #10130641 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH CONSUMER HEARD A NOISE, THEN WATER SPILLED FROM THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR SERVICE, AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED.

NHTSA complaint #10115359 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

VEHICLE WOULD NOT HOLD ANY RADIATOR FLUID,CAUSING THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE TO RISE. TRIED TO REFILL THE RADIATOR FLUID, BUT 5 MINUTES LATER IT RAN OUT. COULD NOT DRIVE VEHICLE. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MY MECHANIC,WHO TOLD ME THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. HE REPLACED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD,SO THE I WOULD BE ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10110043 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET FAILED IN LINE WITH RECALL 99B29. FORD DOES NOT INCLUDE MY CAR BUILT 04/97 IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 99B29 INDICATING THE ORIGINAL RECALL HAS BEEN INADEQUATE.

NHTSA complaint #10108212 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

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!

NHTSA complaint #10093009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS DEFECTIVE. ALL OF THE COOLANT LEAKED AND SUBSEQUENTLY THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. THE DEALER STATED THE DEFECT WAS OUTSIDE OF THE SEVEN YEARS OF THE ORIGINAL RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #10091450 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

CRACKED INTAKE ON MY 97 T BIRD.

NHTSA complaint #10088358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

ENGINE MANIFOLD CRACKED ALLOWING ANTIFREEZE TO ESCAPE. TOOK CAR FOR REPAIR. LEARNED LATER THAT REPAIR WAS A RECALL. ASKED FORD FOR REIMBURSEMENT. REIMBURSMENT DENIED.

NHTSA complaint #10086956 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL

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

NHTSA complaint #10079862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

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

NHTSA complaint #10079862 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

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.

NHTSA complaint #10080637 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS. CONSUMER HAS TO PUT COOLANT IN THE VEHICLE EVERY 2 TO 3 DAYS.

NHTSA complaint #10071859 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

INTAKE MONIFOLD FAILED TO CONTAIN 220 DEGREE F ENGINE COOLANT.

NHTSA complaint #10062024 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

I HAD TO REPLACE THE COOLANT INLET MANIFOLD ON MY 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN COVERED BY FORD RECALL #97M91 BUT FOR SOME REASON FORD HAS EXCLUDED MY VIN NO. FROM THE RECALL. THIS PROBLEM WAS CLEARLY CAUSED BY A DEFECTIVE PART AND WAS REPLACED WITH AN "UPGRADED" PART.

NHTSA complaint #10056528 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STARTED TO MISFIRE AND STALL. INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LEAKED ANTI FREEZE WHICH CAUSED THE PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER HAD AN OWNER NOTIFICATION ON THIS ISSUE TO REPLACE THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD, BUT THIS VEHICLE NOT COVERED FOR TWO MONTHS DUE TO VIN.

NHTSA complaint #10040259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.