2003 Ford Thunderbird problems

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DRASTICALLY REDUCED SPEED AND HESITATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN TWO MANUFACTURER RECALLS THAT EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.”

“WHILE MAKING A U-TURN IN A CULD-E-SAC AT 5 MPH, THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. I CAN ONLY REACH A SPEED OF 40 MPH NOW. I AM AFRAID TO TURN THE CAR OFF UNTIL I GET HOME. *TR”

“DRIVING ON A 1,850 MILE TRIP. CAR ENGINE REPEATEDLY SHUT OFF ON LIGHT ACCELERATION FROM COMPLETE STOP. MOTOR LIGHT AND WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED. PUT CAN IN NEUTRAL AND RE-STARTED. WRENCH LIGHT DE-ILLUMINATED, MOTOR LIGHT STAYED ON. ACCELERATION COULD BARELY BE ATTAINED TO KEEP ENGINE RUNNING UP TO 45 MPH. AFTER THAT SPEED, CAN RAN SOMEWHAT NORMALLY,. ENTERING AN EXPRESSWAY AT VERY LOW SPEED WITH MINIMUM ACCELERATION BECAME THE ONLY WAY TO CONTINUE THE TRIP. VERY DANGEROUS. WENT TO A FORD DEALER ON ROUTE. BECAUSE I WAS FROM OUT OF STATE HE AGREED TO WORK ME IN FOR SERVICE THAT DAY. HOWEVER, AFTER I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM, SERVICE WRITER REFUSED MY REQUEST TO PUT CAR ON THEIR DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. HE AGREED TO CHANGE THE FUEL FILTER ONLY. DEALER WOULD DO NO OTHER WORK. TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE IT SEVERAL DAYS. I TRIED TWO TANKS OF FUEL WITH A STODDARD SOLVENT INJECTOR CLEANER. AT HOME. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM. THE IGNITION COILS AND THROTTLE BODY ARE INDICATED. I HAVE HAD BOTH IGNITION COILS REPLACED.18,000 MILES AGO. REPLACEMENT FOR BOTH WAS NOT FREE. THIS CONDITION IS ABSOLUTELY DANGEROUS AND HAS NO LEAD UP SYMPTOMS TO WARN YOU. I HAVE BARELY AVOIDED BEING…”

“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THERE WAS A NOISE AS THOUGH THE WHEEL WAS GOING TO COME OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DETERMINED THE DRIVER SIDE REAR CALIPER, BRAKE SHOE AND ROTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 12/12/2006 - *NM”

“I'VE OWNED MY 2003 THUNDERBIRD SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT NOW HAS 65000 MILES AND IS DRIVEN ONLY 2000 MILES A YEAR, OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS. DURING THIS PERIOD, I HAVE HAD ALL 8 COILS REPLACED, ONE AT A TIME. THE FIRST TIME WAS WITHIN THE FIRST 1000 MILES. GENERALLY IT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC, BEING ON THE FREEWAY OR ON LOCAL STREETS. THE ENGINE STARTS TO MISFIRE AND NOT FUNCTION. AFTER THE 3RD OR SO INCIDENT, I WAS INFORMED THAT FORD RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND WOULD HONOR THE REPAIR. THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THIS, KNOWING OF THE PROBLEM, THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE ALL AT THE SAME TIME. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY WOULD ONLY REPLACE WHEN THE COIL MALFUNCTIONED, THIS NOW HAS OCCURRED 8 TIMES. NOW MY MOTOR HAS FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHEN THE COIL MALFUNCTIONS THE CORRESPONDING CYLINDER ALSO IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. AGAIN, THE CAR ONLY HAS 65000 MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN MISTREATED. THE COST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IS ALMOST $10,000. THIS MOTOR IS A JAGUAR PRODUCTION 3.9 MODEL. DONE WHEN FORD HAD A BRIEF RELATION WITH JAGUAR. TO SAY THE LEAST, I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH FORD AND THEIR LACK OF TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. BY THE WAY, WHEN THEY…”

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD THUNDERBIRD. WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.”