1995 Ford Thunderbird: engine overheating

Filed Jul 25, 2007 · Engine · 68,000 miles · OH

Tl*the contact owns a 1995 ford thunderbird. The contact stated that the vehicle overheated within minutes of being started. He noticed thick, white smoke coming from the tailpipe and the "low coolant" warning indicator light illuminated. The repair shop stated that the head gasket needed to be replaced. The current mileage was 69,000 and failure mileage was 68,000.

Filed Aug 13, 2004 · Engine · 54,000 miles · OH · fire

Electric fan motor for radiator cooling fan shorted out, causing it to overheat and cause the plastic shroud to catch on fire.

Filed Apr 9, 2003 · Engine · 74,000 miles · WI

By now it is quite apparent of the notorious ford 3.8l head gasket failure issue. Well, just to keep people up to date on ford's business practices. My wife bought a 1995 ford thunderbird in nov 1995. (I must first start off by saying that I am the computer literate one, that is why I am complaining, and I am the one who will be forced to fix/pay for the head gaskets in her thunderbird). Today is april 9th 2003, I am beginning to notice symptoms in the performance of the car (losing coolant, erratic temperature changes) which would indicate a blown head gasket. In doing a little research on the web, I came across some info that there was (2) extended warranties put out on the 3.8l engine by ford, that she has. We never received any recall or customer satisfaction bulletins stating we needed to bring the vehicle in to have this fixed. When I called the hiller ford, hales corners, wisconsin, they told me that we didn't receive the notice because our 3.8l 232 v6 engine wasn't part of the recall program for 3.8l 232 v6 engines because ours wasn't built in the time slot nor the plant that the program (tsb 00m10) was pertaining too. Sounds like a firestone bs story to me. I called ford in dearborn, mi and they told me that it was part of the program but since the 7 years warranty extension as part of the recall expired nov 17th 2002, we now have to eat the cost of replacing ford's design failure by a few months. My dad, myself, and both of my sisters each have ford explorers and I hope ford is happy with the money they made off of all of my family because they will not get another penny from us, as long as, they want to blow me off for a $1500.00 design flaw that they do not want to live up to. First firestone, now ford.

Filed Mar 5, 2002 · Acceleration, Brakes · OH

On two occasions in heavy traffic vehicle suddenly lurched forward. Dealer was notified. *ak engine roars, consumer would tap the accelerator and would go to the floor, feels as if vehicle is put in neutral. Dealer replaced transmission gear shift switch assembly. Check engine light came on intermittently. Dealer replace 2 o2 sensors and maf sensor. Vehicle pulls to right. Wheel alignment performed. Steering wheel shimmy when applying brakes. Prformed front disc/ rear drum brake service. Replaced front rotors after brake job due to pulsation. Steering column had to be replaced. At times, vehicle will not shutt off. Right door lock inoperative. Dealer can not duplicate. Customer states fluid leak at rear end. Right axle seal replaced. Passenger head rest rattles over bumps. Dealer could not duplicate. Consumer states noise from seat when no one is sitting there, dealer states this is normal. Seat track covers mising one laying in the rear floor. Seat track cover reinstalled. Consumer stats there is a pinging noise upon acceleration. Dealer suggested higher fuel octane. Customer states brake pedal seems low. Brakes ok. Front end shimmies at 50 to 60 MPH. 4 tires balanced. Dome light will not come on when driver outside door handle pulled up. Temperature and speedomoter light burned was inoperative. Dealer replaced instrument cluster bulbs. Coolant leak under car and warning light is on. Dealer found no leaks and coolant level low. Consumer states motor will roar and shift into gear. Driver side headlamp burnt out. Headlamp replaced. Transmission slips when not in overdrive. Dealer replaced transmission oil pan and gasket.

Filed Dec 19, 2001 · Engine · CT

While driving about 40 MPH, smoke started coming from rear of vehicle, dealer told consumer that smoke was off due to a blown head gasket. *ak consumer stated that to start the vehicle, he had to try couple of times and while driving 65 MPH he noticed engine overheating pointer moving towards higher than normal and lowered his speed to 40 MPH and stopped the vehicle, while backing up, the engine started shaking, when putting in drive it ran normally then noticed abnormal smoke coming out of muffler, the service engineer told him that head cylinder gasket was blown, and coolant was leaking into engine and to the muffler.

Filed May 9, 2001 · Engine · KY

I have antifreeze pouring from my tail pipe. Ford mechanics missed the head gasket problem when it was small and fixed parts damaged by the overheating problem. Now that the head gasket has worsened--the car isn't drivable. And has exceeded their 100,000 mile warranty. My car was under the warranty when their machanics overlooked my head gaskets.

Filed Mar 16, 2001 · Engine · CA

Engine check light keeps coming on. Consuemr feels vehicle is overheating.

Filed Nov 15, 2000 · Lights · FL

The brake lamp mounted in the rear view window was not designed to tolerate the heat from the bulbs, the heat from the bulbs causes the top of the housing to overheat and melt, the meltings cause the light bulbs and sockets to overheat, burn and melt.

Filed Aug 12, 2000 · Engine · OH

This car has experienced small engine coolant leaks.when I received a notice (# 00m10) from the dealer concerning head gasket failure, I took my car to mathews ford to check out this problem. I was told I did not have head gasket failure, but I do have a cracked front cover engine gasket . $870 to repair and ford would not offer any financial assistance. I learned of ford's owner notification #99b29 which offers financial consideration for owners of the 1996 thunderbirds. When I asked the dealer about this he informed me my car was too old and age has caused the gasket to crack. I believe this is a major flaw in this engine, and ford has known about this problem and offers no help. This engine andgasket are defective. A gasket shouldn't blow at 27000 miles. I am risking my safety by driving this known defective product.

Filed Apr 24, 2000 · Engine · PA

Overheating and white smoke came from tail pipe. Independent mechanic informed consumer of a blown head gasket. Dealer notified, and informed consumer that any front wheel vehicle was not covered under manufacturer's recall.

Filed Apr 5, 2000 · Engine · PA

Looking for reinbursment from manufacturer due to coolant leak since vehicle was new.

Filed Aug 13, 1999 · Engine · NY

At the time of failure, my vehicle was traveling @40mph. A thick white smoke, with an odor, was emitted from exhaust. The car had not overheated prior to the incident. Upon bring the car to a licenced ford dealer (island ford, in staten island ny), I learned that the head gasket was blown requirin $1500 in repair charges. I have since learned that there have been numerous problems of the same circustance with other fords of the same year that also have 3.8l engines. Recall 98-m01 was issued to cover the other vehicles, however, the thunderbird model was not included.