1997 Ford Thunderbird fuel system problems

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

IN THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST I SMELT GAS WHEN I DROVE. AND THE SMELL HAS BECOME STRONGER AND STRONGER. TODAY (10/10/2011) I WENT TO A VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE LEAKING IS ON THE TOP OF FUEL TANK AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED IN THE SHOP. I CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS VERY DANGEROUS LEAK. PLEASE CLICK THE LINK: HTTP://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T872_DS478881. THIS CAR MUST BE RECALLED FOR FUEL LEAKING.

NHTSA complaint #10429371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

A LEAKING FUEL LINE ON MY 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD, (V6 ENGINE), WITH 113000 MILES ON THE CAR. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO A FORD DEALER WHO SUGGESTED REPLACING COMPLETELY BOTH FUEL LINES, BECAUSE THERE SEEMED TO BE CORROSION, SO THAT WAS DONE AT A COST TO ME OF $548. AS FAR AS I KNOW THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS, ALTHOUGH I BOUGHT THE CAR USED A FEW YEARS AGO. LUCKILY I NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL LINE, AND THEN HAD THE CAR TOWED BY AAA TO THE FORD DEALER. SO NO FIRE OCCURRED. THE CAR BEING JUST 6 YEARS OLD, I AM SURPRISED THAT THERE WOULD BE A LEAKING FUEL LINE. APPARENTLY CORROSION RESULTED IN THE FUEL LINE LEAKING UNDERNEATH THE CAR NEAR THE GAS TANK.

NHTSA complaint #10048871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING FUEL LINE PROBLEMS. THE FUEL LINE THAT COMES OUT OF THE GAS TANK AND RUBS AGAINST THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE LEAKS GAS UNDER THE VEHICLE GOING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ENGINE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND FIXED THE PROBLEM BY REMOVING THE WHOLE FUEL LINE SYSTEM AND REPLACING IT.

NHTSA complaint #10038509 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

FUEL FILTER LEAKS GAS DUE TO CORROSION FROM ROAD SALTS. FILTER LASTS ONLY 1-2 YEARS.

NHTSA complaint #10020553 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

VEHICLE IS EQUIP WITH A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. WHILE DRIVING THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LEAK COOLANT ONTO THE ENGINE. WHICH COULD OF RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. MR

NHTSA complaint #8022064 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

WHILE IN SHOP FOR UNRELATED REPAIR, MECHANIC NOTICED THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING COOLANT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA complaint #8021605 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

CONSUMER STATES OF HAVING PROBLEMS WITH A PRETTY STRONG GAS SMELL ON THE VEHICLE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. MR

NHTSA complaint #8021421 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE WITH COOLANT LEAK TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT.. CAR WAS SUBJECT TO A FORD SERVICE BULLETIN RECALL IN 1998 FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACEMENT TO PREVENT FUTURE FAILURE. UNFORTUNEATELY, THE REPLACEMENT INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED AT THE SAME GLUED SEAM THAT WAS THE BASIS FOR THE RECALL BY FORD.

NHTSA complaint #760998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

ACCORDING TO HOLMAN FORD SERVICE TECHNICIAN, THE FORD THUNDERBIRD INTAKE MANIFOLD WILL CRACK AT THE SEAM NEXT TO ENGINE TOP, CAUSING A COOLING FLUID LOSS.

NHTSA complaint #759468 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #758670 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

1. PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE - COVERED BY GENERAL RECALL 97M91, ALTHOUGH SIMILAR PLASTIC ENGINEERING IS APPLIED TO BOTH VALVE COVERS BUT IS NOT IS NOT COVERED BY RECALL. THE FORD SERVICE REP INFORMED ME THAT THE HEATER CORE WILL BLOW SOON TOO. 2. THE BRAKES/ROTORS HAVE BEEN A CHRONIC PROBLEM - THIS IS MY 2ND THUNDERBIRD - BOTH CARS HAD THE SAME TYPE PROBLEMS. I HAVE REPLACED ROTORS, BRAKE PADS REPEATEDLY WITHOUT SOLVING THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS SEVERE FRONT END VIBRATION WHICH IS MAKES THE CAR UNENJOYABLE AND DANGEROUS. I HAVE CHANGED TIRE SIZES AND BRANDS 4 TIMES. THE CONSUMER REPORTS RESEARCH THAT I HAVE DONE ON THIS CAR CAUSES ME TO BE AFRAID OF IT. 3. THE CRUISE CONTROL DEFECT WAS ALSO DANGEROUTS, BUT IT WAS REPAIRED SATISFACTORY.

NHTSA complaint #754545 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY, CLIMBING UP A HILL AND GOING UP A MOUNTAIN, AND WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GASOLINE STATION, AND MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD IN ENGINE WAS MADE FROM PLASTIC AND CAUSING THE PROBLEM. INTAKE MANIFOLD SPLIT OPEN. *AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #881423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.