Engine
3.8L 6-cyl
How to read this file. Complaint records are unverified owner submissions to the federal safety agency. Counts are raw, not adjusted for sales volume or vehicle age. Recall campaigns apply to the model; only a VIN check shows whether this car is affected or repaired. Parts shown are named by an editorial note or listed as a search directory; none is a diagnosis. Full methodology.
Fault profile
Complaint-component records on this vehicle, grouped by family. A complaint naming two systems counts once in each.
Complaints are owner-reported and not verified by the agency.
When it fails
The timing of this vehicle's reported failures, from the complaint file itself. A cluster tells you what to expect and when; it is shaped by reporting behavior as well as by the vehicle.
Vehicle age when the failure occurred
Years between the model year and the owner's reported failure date. Based on 179 of 233 complaints with a usable failure date.
Odometer when the failure occurred
Owner-reported mileage at failure, in 20,000-mile bands. Based on 36 of 233 complaints reporting a plausible odometer (500 to 500,000 miles; unverified).
Known issues
The component families with the most complaint records against this vehicle. Counts, crash and fire figures belong to the whole family, not to any single named issue. Parts listed are related system parts, not a diagnosis.
Engine & cooling
68 complaint records1 fire report
"THE OIL PUMP FAILED CAUSING ENGINE TO LOCK-UP WHICH COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY. FORD HAS REDESIGN A NEW ENGINE. *YC..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse engine & cooling parts in the directory →
Brakes
55 complaint records1 fire report1 crash report
"WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT, ALSO WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, CAUSING BRAKES TO VIBRATE AND AIR CONDITIONING MALFUNCTIONED. *AK..."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse brakes parts in the directory →
Power train
22 complaint records1 crash report
"VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY SHUTTERS ON ACCELERATION AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER...."- one owner's federal complaint about this system; it may not describe the issue named above
Parts
No specific part is named for this issue. Browse power train parts in the directory →
Recall campaigns
Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN. Each campaign number links to the federal record.
| Campaign | Component | Summary | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 96V070000 | Latches/Locks/Linkages | WHEN IN THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, THE DRIVER DOOR LATCHES MAY OPEN WHEN SUBJECTED TO TRANSVERSE LOADS LESS THAN THAT SPECIFIED IN FMVSS NO. 206, "DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS." | Normally free |
| 96V007000 | Equipment | UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE CLIMATE CONTROL BLOWER DOES NOT OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE BLOWER COULD (1) STICK ON "HIGH;" (2) OPERATE ERRATICALLY WITH BLOWER OUTPUT VARYING BETWEEN NO BLOWER AND MAXIMUM BLOWER; OR (3)... | Normally free |
Transport Canada recalls
Recalls issued under Canadian law for this model year, from Transport Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database. Matched by model name, so a Canadian-market variant may appear here that was sold under another name in the US. Units are Canadian vehicles affected.
| Recall | System | Units (CA) | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996071 1996-05-09 | Structure | 3,296 | THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S 206 - DOOR LATCHES, HINGES AND LOCKS. THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WHEN CLOSED ONLY TO THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, MAY NOT SUSTAIN A 1000 POUND TRANSVERSE LOAD AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD. |
| 1996017 1996-01-25 | Heater And Defroster | 245 | THE SEMI-AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL MODULE MAY MALFUNCTION AND CAUSE ERRATIC BLOWER OPERATION, HIGH BLOWER OR NO BLOWER REGARDLESS OF CONTROL POSITION. |
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Manufacturer communications to dealers on file with the federal agency: repair instructions, service campaigns, and warranty extensions. A warranty extension means the manufacturer may pay for a repair the recall table does not cover.
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 03181 Sep 2003 | Electrical System | REMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) - SERVICE TIPS. *TT | |
| 03261 Jan 2003 | Power Train | NEW SERVICE PART - NUMBER 5 NEEDLE BEARING AND RACE KIT - 4R70W TRANSMISSION - SERVICE TIP. *TT | |
| 02221 Nov 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE-GEAR DRIVEN SYNCHRONIZERS-INCORRECT INSTALLATION-CAMSHAFT POSITION SYNCHRONIZER (CMP) INSTALLATION TOOL CORRECT APPLICATION. *MJ | |
| 870197 Oct 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | INCORRECTLY INSTALLED GEAR DRIVEN CAMSHAFT POSITION (CMP) SENSOR SYNCHRONIZER ASSEMBLIES CAUSING SURGE, LOST OF POWER, MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP ON AND DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P1336, P1309 AND P0340. *TT | |
| 02208 Oct 2002 | Equipment | CLIMATE CONTROL A/C SERVICE TECH TIPS. *EH |
Show 55 more bulletins
| Bulletin | Type | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 02176 Sep 2002 | Exterior Lighting | LAMP-BRAKE-INVADVERTENT DISABLING OF BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. *MJ | |
| 0222 Feb 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN INTAKE MANIFOLD CROSSOVER (FIRST RUNNER) COOLANT SEEPAGE CONDITION. *TT | |
| 0214 Jan 2002 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SOME ENGINE ASSEMBLIES WITH ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS REPAIRED IN-VEHILE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO LEAK COOLANT AND/OR OIL FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AREA. *TT | |
| 01246 Dec 2001 | Engine And Engine Cooling | ENGINE OIL SYSTEM PRIMING PROCEDURES, SERVICE TIPS FOR REPORTS OF PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TT | |
| 01181 Sep 2001 | Power Train | BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB | |
| 01156 Aug 2001 | Visibility | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC | |
| 01157 Aug 2001 | Unknown Or Other | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC | |
| 0147 Mar 2001 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SUBJECT REGARDING ENGINE OIL RECOMMENDATIONS FOR USE IN 2001 VEHICLES - SAE 5W-20 MOTOR OIL. *TT | |
| 002310 Nov 2000 | Power Train | SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT | |
| 99B29#1 Apr 2000 | Engine And Engine Cooling | INFORMATION REGARDING REPLACMENT OF ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET. **MR | |
| 0015 Jan 2000 | Power Train | INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS | |
| 99B29 Dec 1999 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE ENGINE COOLANT LEAKS AT THE ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET. OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM PROVIDING REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE FRONT COVER GASKET. *TT | |
| 99222 Oct 1999 | Electrical System | SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT | |
| 99207 Oct 1999 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SUBJECT ON ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE OIL ON SOME VEHICLES. *TT | |
| 99194 Sep 1999 | Service Brakes | INFORMATION FOR SERVICING AND DIAGNOSING BRAKE VIBRATION, BRAKE INSPECTION, AND BRAKE FRICTION MATERIAL REPLACEMENT. *TT | |
| 99196 Sep 1999 | Equipment | INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT | |
| 6996 Sep 1999 | Engine And Engine Cooling | INFORMATION REGARDING A CHANGE IN THE TORQUE VALUES OF THE ENGINE FRONT COVER WATER PUMP BOLTS. *TT | |
| 13186 Sep 1999 | Engine And Engine Cooling | INFORMATION REGARDING FRONT COVER & WATER PUMP BOLTS-TORQUE VALVE REVISION/3.8-4.2L. *MJS | |
| 99152 Jul 1999 | Power Train | INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT | |
| 99131 Jun 1999 | Engine And Engine Cooling | CONCERNS WITH ENGINE COOLANT LEAKING INTO ENGINE OIL ON SOME VEHICLES. *TT | |
| 99139 Jun 1999 | Exterior Lighting | CONDITIONS WITH THE BRAKE LAMPS INADVERTENTLY DISABLING THE BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. *TT | |
| 99129 Jun 1999 | Fuel System | INFORMATION ON "WHINING" / "BUZZING" NOISE COMING THROUGH ENTERTAINMENT OR TWO-WAY RADIO SPEAKER CAUSED BY THE FUEL PUMP. *TT | |
| 99111 Jun 1999 | Unknown Or Other | INFORMATION DESIGNED TO AID IN THE DIAGNOSIS, TESTING AND REPAIR OF NOISE, VIBRATION AND HARSHNESS (NVH) CONCERNS. *TT | |
| 991210 Jun 1999 | Unknown Or Other | FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A PRIVATE LABELED MATERIAL TO BE USED FOR IRON PARTICLE / ACID RAIN SERVICE REPAIRS. *TT | |
| 9996 May 1999 | Power Train | EXPERIENCING A DELAYED OR NO 2-3 UPSHIFT, PRIMARILY WHEN THE TRANSMISSION IS COLD ON VEHICLES WITH FORD QALITY REMANUFACTURED (FQR) 4R70W TRANSMISSION EXCHANGE UNITS WITH JULIAN BUILD BETWEEN 062-97 AND 040-99. *TT | |
| 99816 May 1999 | Engine And Engine Cooling | FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOW RECOMMENDS SAE 5W-30 VISCOSITY GRADE FOR SERVICING ANY FORD GASOLINE-POWERED VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF MODEL YEAR. *TT | |
| 99-8-15 May 1999 | Structure | SUBJECT REGARDING DOOR TRIM PANEL REPLACEMENT - SERVICE TIP. *TT | |
| 9943 Mar 1999 | Power Train | INFORMATION REGARDING REPROGRAMMING POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULES (PCMS). *TT | |
| 98246 Dec 1998 | Electrical System | FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF MOISTURE CORROSION AT THE TERMINALS. *YC | |
| 982310 Nov 1998 | Engine And Engine Cooling | MASS AIR FLOW (MAF)- SENSOR CONTAMINATION- SERVICE TIP. *AK | |
| 982323 Nov 1998 | Structure | INFORMATION REGARDING REPLACEMENT AND / OR REPAIRS ON ANY LOCK COMPONENT. *YC | |
| 98216 Nov 1998 | Steering | A STEERING WHEEL MOVEMENT FELT WHEN DRIVING OVER ROUGH SURFACES. | |
| 12098 Nov 1998 | Visibility | SOME VEHICLES WITH NON-FUNCTIONAL WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY REQUIRE WIPER MOTOR REPLACEMENT. *MJS | |
| 985111 Nov 1998 | Visibility | SOME VEHICLES WITH NON-FUNCTIONAL WINDSHIELD WIPERS MAY REQUIRE WIPER MOTOR REPLACEMENT. *TT | |
| 982010 Oct 1998 | Engine And Engine Cooling | EXPERIENCING A " BUZZING " OR " RATTLING " NOISE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *YC | |
| 4643 Aug 1998 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN RPM FLARE ON A FORCED 4/2 DOWNSHIFT. ADDITIONALLY, THE COMMANDED ELECTRONIC PRESSURE CONTROL IS AT APPROMATELY 10 PSI. *TT | |
| 11760 Aug 1998 | Power Train | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN RPM FLARE ON A FORCED 4/2 DOWNSHIFT. *TT | |
| 9887 Apr 1998 | Power Train | EXPERIENCING A TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH SHUDDER OR VIBRATION. *YC | |
| 9888 Apr 1998 | Power Train | INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC | |
| 9852 Apr 1998 | Tires | INFORMATION ON TIRE COMPANY TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. *YC | |
| 9873 Apr 1998 | Equipment | EXPERIENCING A WHINING / BUZZING NOISE IN THE SPEAKERS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT RADIO OR TWO-WAY RADIO. *TT | |
| 9874 Apr 1998 | Engine And Engine Cooling | A NEW SILICONE GASKET AND SEALANT. *YC | |
| 9864 Mar 1998 | Engine And Engine Cooling | INFORMATION ON A BUZZING OR RATTLE NOISE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *TT | |
| 985A5 Mar 1998 | Service Brakes | HUB-MOUNT BRAKE ROTOR MACHINING EQUIPMENT FROM ROTUNDA IS NOW APPROVED FOR WARRANTY AND SERVICE USE. *YC | |
| 985A11 Mar 1998 | Service Brakes | SERVICE TIP INFORMATION REGARDING ELIMINATION OF SANDING ROTORS AND DRUMS. *YC | |
| 985A13 Mar 1998 | Service Brakes | THE USE OF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE AS A LUBRICANT IN SERVICING DISC BRAKES IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE. *YC | |
| 985A6 Mar 1998 | Service Brakes | SOME VEHICLES MAY CYCLE WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED ON ROUGH ROADS OR ON AN INCLINE WHILE MAKING A SHARP TURN. *YC | |
| 985A18 Mar 1998 | Service Brakes | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT BRAKE ROUGHNESS (BRAKE PEDAL PULSATION, STEERING WHEEL SHAKE AND / OR NIBBLE) UNDER LIGHT BRAKE APPLICATIONS FROM 105 TO 0 KM/H (65 TO 0 MPH). *YC | |
| 9845 Mar 1998 | Service Brakes | AVAILABILITY OF HUB-MOUNT BRAKE ROTOR MACHINING EQUIPMENT. *YC | |
| 9834 Feb 1998 | Engine And Engine Cooling | AIR INLET-WATER IN AIR INLET ELBOW-MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATES DUE TO WATER CONTAMINATION OF AIR FILTER AND/OR MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR (MAF)- VEHICLE SWITH 4.6L ENGINE. *AK | |
| 983224 Feb 1998 | Engine And Engine Cooling | SOME VEHICLES MAY HAVE WATER CONTAMINATION IN THE AIR FILTER AND / OR THE MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR. *TT | |
| 983108 Feb 1998 | Engine And Engine Cooling | EFFECTIVE MARCH 2, 1998M3.8L ENGINE ASSEMBLY IS ADDED TO FQR(FORD QUALITY RENEWAL) ASSEMBLY PROGRAM. *AK | |
| 9814 Jan 1998 | Service Brakes | SUBJECT REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY OF HUB-MOUNT BRAKE ROTOR MACHINING EQUIPMENT. *TT | |
| 97M91 Jan 1998 | Fuel System | INFORMATION REGARDING ADDITIONAL COVERAGE FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD MALFUNCTIONS. *TT | |
| 97111097234 Nov 1997 | Electrical System | VEHICLES EXHIBITING A "SQUEAKING" OR "CHIRPING" FROM THE BLOWER MOTOR AT LOW BLOWER MOTOR SPEEDS. *YC |
Showing 60 of 114 distinct bulletins on file for this vehicle.
Before you buy this vehicle
A test-drive checklist generated from this vehicle's own complaint and recall record.
- Cold-start it yourself and listen for the first thirty seconds.Knocking, ticking that fades as it warms, or blue or white smoke on startup are the sounds of this vehicle's engine cluster. Check the oil level and the coolant color, and ask whether the engine or its head gaskets have ever been out.
- Brake hard once from speed on an empty road.A pull to one side, a pulsing pedal, a pedal that sinks at a stop, or an ABS light that stays lit are the brake complaints on this vehicle presenting themselves.
- Drive it from a dead stop, twice, on a hill if you can.Shudder, hesitation, or a lurch under light throttle is how this vehicle's largest complaint cluster shows itself. Then ask for the transmission service history in writing; repeat repairs are a pattern, not a fluke.
- Run the VIN against open recalls before you negotiate.This vehicle has 2 recall campaigns on file. An open recall needs VIN-specific confirmation. Many are quick, no-charge fixes and worth negotiating over; an unresolved do-not-drive advisory, or a remedy the manufacturer has not yet made available, should stop the purchase until it is resolved.
- Ask for the service history in writing, then read it against this page.The complaint families above are where owners of this vehicle report trouble. Repairs in exactly those systems are evidence the car had the problem; no such repairs could mean it never developed it, or that it was never fixed. The test-drive items above are how you tell those apart.
Parts search directory
The generic parts list for this vehicle has its own page: a search launcher for every system, filtered by fuel type and era but not by engine, trim, or brake type. It is not a diagnosis and not a fitment guarantee.
Open the parts directory for this Ford Thunderbird →