2004 Ford Thunderbird Problems & Complaints

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Thunderbird. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact approached a stop sign and the vehicle stopped as needed; however, after the contact depressed on the accelerator pedal, the vehicle began to misfire and shuddered for several minutes. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer who inspected the vehicle and diagnosed that the failure was related to TSB 05-16-2 (moisture build up on the plugs and on the cylinder) that caused the vehicle to misfire. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,526.

HAVE REPLACED VIA FORD DEALER THROTTLE CONTROL SENSOR TWICE. FIRST REPAIR 2007. SECOND REPAIR 2014, AND NOW IN 2020. I AM FACING SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. OBVIOUSLY THE CONTROL SYSTEM IS DEFECTIVE. THE PROBLEM TRIGGERS VEHICLE LIMP MODE WHILE DRIVING AND IN PARK.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSIDE THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL ODOR APPEARED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CHANGED THE OIL AND NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CURRENTLY STILL BEING EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V113000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000.

2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS CAUSES ENGINE TO MIS-FIRE, DEALERSHIP REPLACED DEFECTIVE COILS UNDER EXTENDED ONE-TIME WARRANTY REPAIR. CONSUMER STATES ENGINE MIS-FIRE STILL EXISTS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENGINE MISFIRED DUE TO DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS. TWO COILS WERE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. THE DEALER WOULD NOT REPLACE ANY OTHER COILS THAT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED ANY FAILURE. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN. UPDATED 05/4/2017 *JS

VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY LOST POWER UPON MILD ACCELERATION ON A CITY STREET AND DEVELOPED A ROUGH, SKIPPING AND HESITANT IDLE UPON WARM UP. WE IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE CAR IN FOR EVALUATION AT THE SARAT FORD DEALERSHIP IN AGAWAM, MA. THEY DIAGNOSED THE DREADED THUNDERBIRD COIL ON PLUG FAILURE IN THIS VEHICLE AT ONLY 33,165 TOTAL MILES. BEING THAT THIS CAR IS NOW OVER TEN YEARS OLD, I WAS TOLD THAT THE FOMOCO EXTENDED WARRANTY (10 YEARS AND 100,000 MILES) ON THIS VEHICLE, FOR THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM, DOES NOT APPLY. WHAT IS EXTREMELY AGGRAVATING AND REALLY MADDENING WITH THIS IS THAT THEY GROSSLY OVER CHARGED ME FOR THE PARTS. MUCH MORE THAN WHAT FORD CHARGES ON THEIR OWN PARTS WEBSITE FOR BOTH THE 8 SPARK PLUGS AND THE 8 COIL COMPONENTS. RATHER THAN TRYING TO HELP A CUSTOMER GET THROUGH THIS UNEXPECTED AND EXPENSIVE MECHANICAL FAILURE (...WHICH THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF AND SHOULD HELP COVER) THEY DECIDE TO ALLOW THEIR DEALERS TO PRICE GOUGE. I HAVE ALL PAPERWORK FROM THE REPAIR.

ON THREE OCCASIONS AUTO ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. TRIED TO BREAK TO NO AVAIL. KEPT GOING FASTER. SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, ENGINE KEPT RACING. WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP VEHICLE. WENT TO DEALER. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. .ONE EVENT IN A PARKING LOT, ONE ON THE INTERSTATE AND THE OTHER WHEN APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION ON A CITY STREET AUTO HAS ONLY 10,000 MILES ON IT. INCIDENTS OCCURRED 2005 20014 2016.

DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT 50MPH COMING TO A TOWN AND A RED LIGHT I REMOVED MY FOOT FROM THE GAS PEDAL AND APPLIED THE BRAKES THE CAR DID NOT SLOW I APPLIED MORE PRESSURE ON THE BRAKES THE CAR SLOWED SOME BUT THE ENGINE KEPT REVING THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT DOWN SHIFTING THE CAR WAS NOT STOPPING I GRABBED THE SHIFT LEVER AND SWITCHED GEARS BUT TO LATE AND WE HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF US STOPPED AT THE LIGHT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN OVER TO START THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY REPLACED THE FILTER, THE REAR MODULE, THE VAPOR MANAGEMENT VALVE, THE VENT SOLENOID AND THE THROTTLE BODY BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

AS I WAS PARKING MY CAR, IT SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AT A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. I WAS PARKING BY A WOODED AREA, AND WAS PROPELLED ABOUT 2 CAR LENGTHS INTO THE BUSHES IN THE WOODS (BARELY MISSING A TREE) BEFORE I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE CAR. NOT CERTAIN IF THE CAR STOPPED BECAUSE OF MY BRAKING, OR BECAUSE THE THICK BUSHES WOULD NOT PERMIT THE CAR TO TRAVEL ANY FURTHER. I HAD THE CAR TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP, BUT THE SERVICE DEPT. HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I AM ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THIS WAS NOT A "DRIVER ERROR" SITUATION AND AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT CONTINUING TO DRIVE THIS VEHICLE SHOULD THIS OCCUR AGAIN AND I HIT SOMEONE OR SOMETHING LESS FORGIVING THAN THE BUSHES IN THE WOODS. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION COILS WERE MISFIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,200.

COMING OFF I-5 FREEWAY IN WEST WASHINTONG STATE. STOPPED FOR RED LIGHT AND THEN MOVED INTO LEFT TURN LANE BUT CAR KEPT PICKING UP SPEED, APPLIED BRAKES (HARD) SLOWING DOWN BUT AUTO NOT WANTING TO STOP. APPLIED EMERGENCY BRAKE, CAR SLOWED DOWN MORE, COULD HEAR ENGINE RACING AND FEEL IT STILL WANTING TO GO. SLIPPED CAR INTO NEUTRAL ON THE AUTO TRANSMISION, NOW FORWARD PROGRESS SLOWING DOWN GREATLY BUT STILL HIT REAR OF CAR IN FRONT OF ME. FORD IN BODY REPAIR SHOP SO HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO TAKE TO FORD TO EXAM FOR ANY DEFECT(S). I ONLY USE MY RIGHT FOOT TO ACCELRATE AND BRAKE SO I KNOW I WAS NOT STEPPING ON GAS PEDAL & OTHER FOOT USING BRAKE AT SAME TIME. CAR HAD BEEN ON CRUISE CONTROL PRIOR TO ACCIDENT SET AT 60 MPH FOR I-5 DRIVING. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH, THE ENGINE MISFIRED AND LOST THROTTLE RESPONSE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COIL OVER PLUG ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 36,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE E DRIVING 20 MPH, THE ENGINE MISFIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED FREQUENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO STATED THAT THERE WERE TWO IGNITION COILS THAT FAILED. THE IGNITION COILS WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE CONTACT LATER NOTICED OIL ON SEVERAL CYLINDERS IN THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 97,512.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE SUSPENSION WAS PREVIOUSLY REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE SUSPENSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 39,730. ..UPDATED 08-07-13 *BF

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY AND EXHIBITED A SEVERE HESITATION. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO A NEARBY TRANSMISSION CENTER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WOULD MISFIRE AND LOSE THROTTLE RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE LATER STALLED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE MISFIRE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY ENGINE COIL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE COIL BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,500. UPDATED 01/18/12*LJ

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WERE CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT TO HAVE THE SPARK PLUGS REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH A DIFFERENT MODEL SPARK PLUG. THE MANUFACTURER WAS AWARE OF THE FAILURE YET NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR SIDE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER SIDE DEPLOYED ABNORMALLY WHILE THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER AND THE DOOR WAS REMOVED BUT THE DEALER COULD NOT PROVIDE A REASON FOR THE AIR BAG FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000. UPDATED 05/25/11 *BF THE CONSUMER CHECKED THE INJURED BOX. UPDATED 06/06/11

I HAVE A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. FOR THE SECOND TIME IN THE PAST 8 MONTHS, MY CAR WENT INTO LIMP MODE UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE DRIVING. ON A 50 MILE AN HOUR ROAD, MY CAR SUDDENLY DROPPED TO 20 MPH. I IMMEDIATELY ACTIVATED MY HAZARD LIGHTS, BUT CAME VERY CLOSE TO GETTING REAR ENDED. THE THROTTLE BODIES ON THESE CARS EVIDENTLY GO OUT AN ALARMING RATE. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME I HAVE NARROWLY AVOIDED BEING IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. I HAD THE PROBLEM ADDRESSED ONCE ALREADY, AND NOW IT IS HAPPENING ALL OVER AGAIN. *TR

CAR INTERMITTENTLY GOES INTO SHUT DOWN MODE(DECELERATES, WILL NOT TAKE GAS) DURING DRIVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE TRYING TO MERGE ONTO A HIGHWAY AND ALMOST RESULTED IN ME BEING REAR NEEDED BY AN TRACTOR TRAILER. THIS IS HAPPENING DURING THE MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY TRAFFIC AND HAS PLACED ME IN SEVER SAFETY SITUATIONS. I AM TOLD BY FORD THIS IS A THROTTLE BODY PROBLEM AND APPARENTLY THIS IS WIDE SPREAD FOR NUMEROUS FORD AUTOMOBILES (ESCAPE, THUNDERBIRD,MUSTANG, LINCOLN, THUNDERBIRD...) OF THE YEARS 2002-2005. FORD NEEDS TO BE HELD TO TASK FOR THIS REPAIR! THIS IS DANGEROUS!!*CW

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED APPROXIMATELY JULY 2006 WITH THE ORIGINAL WHEELS. THE LEFT REAR WHEEL HAS CRACKS AND CORROSION WHICH ALSO MADE AN INDENTATION IN THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE AND CAUSED IT TO LEAK. THE MECHANIC HAD TO SAND THE RIM IN ORDER TO REMOVE THE CORROSION AT COST TO THE OWNER. THEY ALSO HAD TO REPOSITION THE TIRE TO OFFSET THE PART OF THE TIRE THAT HAD THE INDENTATION IN IT. THE CONTACT WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING $42 FOR THE REPAIR. THEY ALSO ADDED SOME FORM OF GLUE WHICH IS A SAFETY RISK. THE TIRE MECHANIC DID NOT PROVIDE A WARRANTY. THE OTHER TIRES WERE NOT DIAGNOSED FOR RUST CORROSION WHICH THE CONTACT IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,840.

ABS & WHEEL SPEED SENSOR DASH LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. HAD MECHANIC INSPECT CAUSES AND DIAGNOSE USING ABS FAULT CODES. VEHICLE REQUIRED A NEW ABS BRAKE / WHEEL SPEED SENSOR REPLACEMENT ON LEFT FRONT HUB ASSY. FORD DOES NOT SELL THIS PART INDIVIDUALLY ONLY AS AN ASSEMBLY CONSISTING OF MAJOR BRAKE AND SUSPENSION DETAILS AS A UNIT. THIS COST IS @ $580. MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO PURCHASE A HUB UNIT FROM NAPA AUTO PARTS @ $236.17. WITH ONLY 21,696 MILES TOTAL THIS PART SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED SO PRE-MATURELY AND PARTS SHOULD BE MADE AVAILABLE FOR THIS AS A DETAIL OF AN ASSEMBLY NOT A WHOLE ASSEMBLY CONSISTING OF UN-NEEDED PARTS DIRECTLY FROM FORD. IS THERE A NOTICE REGARDING THIS ITEM? *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A SCREECHING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE ENGINE MOUNT FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE PART IS UNAVAILABLE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 48,000.

2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD WAS LEFT RUNNING PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARDS. WE THOUGHT THE VEHICLE WAS JUST ROLLING. DID NOT REALIZE DURING THAT SPLIT SECOND THAT THE CAR HAD ENGAGED IN REVERSE ON ITS OWN. VEHICLE DOOR HIT A PERSON STANDING BEHIND THE OPEN DOOR KNOCKING HIM TO THE GROUND. VEHICLE CONTINUED IN REVERSE WITH DRIVER'S DOOR OPEN, STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE IN THE DRIVEWAY BEFORE DRIVING INTO A RETAINING WALL. THE FIRST TRANSMISSION ON THE CAR WAS DEFECTIVE AND REPLACED AT ABOUT 2000 MILES. THERE IS ONLY 4200 MILES ON THE CAR NOW AND THE SECOND TRANSMISSION IS DANGEROUSLY BAD. *TR

WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON AND VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP.

TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 55-60 MPH ON A HIGHWAY WITH DRY ROAD CONDITIONS AND THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AIRBAG, WHICH WAS LOCATED IN THE SEAT, DEPLOYED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER, AND AFTER EXAMINING THE VEHICLE ,THE FORD DEALER CONCLUDED THAT THERE WAS COLLISION DAMAGE TO THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FORD DEALER REFUSED TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE, AND WERE TOLD THEY NEEDED TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO HIS HOME. THE FORD DEALER AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY TOOK PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE.

I HAVE A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD THAT HAS SUDDENLY ACCELERATED 3 TIMES OVER THE COURSE OF 2005. THIS HAPPENED ONCE FORWARD AND TWICE IN REVERSE. ON ALL 3 OCCASIONS I HAD TO STAND ON THE BRAKE WHILE SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL BEFORE THE REVS WOULD COME DOWN. THE FORWARD ONE WAS THE MOST SCARY SINCE I HAD A CAR IN FRONT OF ME. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER ON NOV 11, 2005 BUT NOTHING WAS FOUND. THANK YOU TIM SHIPLEY. *JB

2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD ACCELERATOR HAS A 1\2 TO 1 SECOND OR MORE DELAY IN ENGINE RESPONSE (DRIVE BY WIRE) WHEN EITHER STARTING FROM A DEAD STOP OR WHEN PASSING OR CHANGING LANES. FORD CLAIMS IT IS BY DESIGN AND WILL NOT ADDRESS THE DELAY. THE LINCOLN LS IS IDENTICAL IN ENGINE AND DRIVE CHAIN AND HAS NO DELAY. THIS DELAY IS EXTREMELY UNSAFE WHEN PULLING OUT FROM A STOP STREET OR EVEN ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN GOING TO PASS OR CHANGING LANES. THE DEALER HAS BEEN HELPFUL BUT MUST WAIT FOR FORD TO RESPOND WITH A COMPUTER CHANGE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM BUT NONE HAS COME IN TWO YEARS. THIS PROBLEM EXISTED FROM DATE OF PURCHASE. *NM

ON AUGUST 19, 2004 I WAS PARKING MY 2004 T-BIRD IN THE PARKING LOT AT WORK. MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. AS I EASED IN, I REALIZED I WANTED TO EDGE FORWARD AN INCH OR TWO SO I SLOWLY BEGAN TO RELEASE MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND WITHOUT WARNING THE CAR LURCHED FORWARD HITTING THE CURB AND FLEW FORWARD 4-5 FEET WHILE I WAS PUTTING EXTREME PRESSURE ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. IT FINALLY STOPPED AS THE CAR ACTUALLY HIT THE COMPANY SIGNAGE. THE FRONT END WAS DAMAGED TO THE TUNE OF ------. NOT UNDERSTANDING HOW IT HAPPENED, I CHALKED IT UP TO HUMAN ERROR, ALTHOUGH I KNEW I HAD NOT TOUCHED THE GAS PEDAL. OCTOBER 5, 2005. I AM SLOWLY PULLING INTO MY GARAGE IN THE SAME 2004 T-BIRD. AS I APPROACH THE CURB AND A 5 FOOT DEEP CEMENT STOOP, I NEED TO EDGE IN ANOTHER 1 TO 2 INCHES TO CLEAR THE GARAGE DOOR. AS I GINGERLY BEGIN TO RELEASE THE PRESSURE ON MY BRAKE, THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD HITTING THE CURB AND FLYING FORWARD INTO AN UPRIGHT FREEZER IN THE GARAGE ON THE STOOP- 5 FEET FROM WHERE THE CAR USUALLY IS PARKED. THE FORCE IS SO GREAT THAT THE FREEZER IS T-BONED AND PUSHED INTO THE FINISHED WALL OF THE GARAGE, WHICH IN TURN REARRANGES THE CABINET IN THE POWDER ROOM IN THE LIVING QUARTERS OF MY HOME. THE COUNTER TOP/SINK COMBO IS SHATTERED. THE EVENT WAS MOST DISTURBING AND FRIGHTENING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. OF WILLOWBROOK FORD IN WILLOWBROOK, IL. AFTER EXAMINATION AND FINDING NO MECHANICAL DEFECTS IT WAS TRANSFERRED TO THE BODY SHOP WHERE I WAS INFORMED OVER THE PHONE THAT NOTHING WAS FOUND MECHANICALLY WRONG AND THEY COULDN'T REPRODUCE THE INCIDENT. THE INSURANCE HAD APPROVED PAYMENT FOR BODY REPAIRS AND SO IT WAS FIXED. THE CAR HAS BEEN RETURNED TO ME COMPLETELY REPAIRED, BUT I AM NEVER GOING TO DRIVE IT AGAIN. A T-BIRD ENTHUSIAST WEBSITE WWW.THUNDERBIRDNEST.COM ALSO RELATES SIMILAR STORIES OF HORROR. PERHAPS FORD WILL DO SOMETHING ONCE SOMEONE IS MAIMED OR KILLED. *JB

I WAS DRIVING IN VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC IN DOWNTOWN BEVERLY HILLS. I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN MY CAR JERKED AND RAPIDLY ACELERATED. MY CAR STARTED TO GO FASTER AND FASTER AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK THEY WERE FROZEN. THE CAR WAS GOING SO FAST AND IT WOULD NOT STOP. MY PASSENGER AND MYSELF WERE SCREAMING AND TO AVOID RUNNING OVER PEDESTRIANS I RAN UP A CURB. THIS ACCIDENT WAS SO SEVRE THAT MY CAR HIT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND IT FELL ONTO MY CAR. THERE WERE SEVERAL WITNESSES TO THIS ACCIDENT. THERE WERE SEVERAL POLICE CARS AS WELL AS PARAMEDIC'S AS WELL AS THE NEWS MEDIA. THE CAR WAS SO BADLY DAMAGED THAT THE ENGINERRING COMPANY THAT WAS HIRED BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY CANNOT CHECK FOR MECHANICAL FAILURE. I FEEL LUCK TO BE ALIVE.THE ENTIRE FRONT END OF THE CAR IS TOTALLY CRUSHED AND COLAPSED. THE DAY OF THE ACCIDENT THE CAR HAD BEEN JERKING HARSHLY FORWARD. I JUST HAD AROUND THE TOWN DRIVING AND I HAD NO WORRY THAT THE CAR HAD ANY TYPE OF MAJOR MECHANICAL FAILURE. I HAD JUST HAD MY CAR SERVICED AND IT ONLY HAD 9,500 MILES. SHORTLY AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR IT WAS RECALLED. I WAS TOLD BY FORD OF BEVERLY HILLS THAT THE CAR WAS UNREPAIRABLE AND THEY GAVE ME A BRAND NEW VEHICLE. I WAS NEVER TOLD WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. I AM YOUNG AND A RECENT COLLEGE GRADUATE. I AM NOT EXPERIENCED IN THESE TYPE OF MATTERS. I CAN'T GET INFORMATION FROM FORD. CAN YOU HELP ME WITH THIS MATTER. THANK YOU, ELIZABETH LEON

CONCERNS REGARDING 2004 THUNDERBIRD AND THE CHANCE OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILING AFTER THE WARRANTY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANT WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID FORMULATION THAT, OVER TIME, MAY CAUSE DELAYED/HARSH REVERSE ENGAGEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM BY INITIATING A RECALL TO ADD AN ADDITIVE TO THE FLUID. THE CONSUMER FELLS THE TRANSMISSION FLUID SHOULD BE TOTALLY DRAINED AND REPLACED WITH THE PROPER FLUID. *BF *NM

VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHEN YOU STOP IN A HURRY THE FOOT GOES DOWN TO THE FLOOR. OWNER WENT TO THE DEALER AND ASKED TO HAVE THE BRAKES ADJUSTED. OWNER WAS TOLD THERE IS NO ADJUSTING THE BRAKES OR ACCELERATOR. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS TO CLOSE TOGETHER CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WHILE BRAKING. *NM *NM

WHILE DRIVING A WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN GEAR. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF, THEN RESTART THE ENGINE. AFTER DOING THIS THE CAR RAN OK FOR ABOUT 2 MILES THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THIS TIME WHEN RESTARTED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. THE DEALER RESET THE COMPUTER. ON 10-09-04 THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE DEALER NOW HAS THE CAR TRYING TO FIND THE TROUBLE. EACH FAILURE CAME WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE POTENTIAL FOR A REAR-END COLLISION, BECAUSE THE CAR COMES TO A DEAD STOP IN TRAFFIC. *NM

WHILE DRIVING REAR PASSENGER 'S SIDE AIR BAG WENT OFF INADVERTENTLY PASSENGER SUSTAINED BURNS ON BOTH HANDS. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT A ROCK FROM THE HIGHWAY CAUSED THE AIR BAG PREMATURELY TO DEPLOY. CONSUMER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS ANSWER WAS UNACCEPTABLE AND OTHER ACTION WOULD BE TAKEN. *AK