1992 FORD THUNDERBIRD Exterior Lighting Problems

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1992 FORD THUNDERBIRD. IN APRIL OF 2000, THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE REGARDING THE HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT PERFORMED AT THAT TIME BECAUSE THERE WERE NO FAILURES WITH THE VEHICLE. CURRENTLY, THE HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS FLICKER ON AND OFF AND TWO PARTS NEED TO BE REPLACED. SHE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY ADVISED HER TO CALL FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE RECALL NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 58,800.

Mileage: 58,800

CONSUMER' S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AS STATED IN NHTSA RECALLS 96V071000 AND 99V27500 CONCERNING IGNITION SYSTEM AND HEADLIGHTS. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *NM

Mileage: 98,000

THE AUTO LAMP ON/OFF DELAY SYSTEM RANDOMLY TURNS OF MY HEADLIGHTS AT NIGHT EVEN WHEN THE DELAY SYSTEM IS TURNED OFF.*AK

Mileage: 100,000

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT NIGHT, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONSUMER HAS MADE CONTACT WITH THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *PH

COMPONANT: UPPER MOUNTED TAILLIGHT REPEATED STOP AND GO TRAFFIC CREATED EXCESSVIE HEAT IN THE UNVENTED PLASTIC MOUNTING. PLASTIC MELTED AND DRIPED ONTO BULBS CAUSING THEM TO FAIL. POSSIBILITY OF FIRE.

REAR UPPER BRAKE LIGHT: IT CONTIANS TWO BULBS ONE OF THEM WAS BROKEN AND THE HOLDER WAS MELTED AND BURNT. DIDN'T CAUSE ANY DAMAGE EXCEPT FOR THE CONNECTOR. NOT SURE ON DATE JUST NOTICED WHEN I NOTICED THE LIGHT WASN'T WORKING.

MY HEADLIGHTS TURNED OFF AND TURNED BACK ON. THEY DO THIS ALL THE TIME.

SOMETIMES TURN SIGNAL WORKS AND SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT WORK. CONSUMER HAS TO WIGGLE KEY, AND SIGNALS MAY OR MAY NOT ILLUMINATE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. RECALL 96 V 071 000 DESCRIBED THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY SHUT OFF OR FLICKER ON AND OFF, REDUCING VISIBILITY FOR THE DRIVER. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT AFFECTED BY RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V275000. *AK *NLM

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

HEADLAMPS FLICKER ON AND OFF AS DESCRIBED IN NHTSA'S RECALL CAMPAIGN ID #99V275000. THE 1992 FORD THUNDERBIRD WAS MANUFACTURED IN THE PERIOD COVERED BY THE RECALL PERIOD. CHECKING WITH FORD MOTOR COMPANY RESULTED IN THEIR SAYING THE VEHICLE IS NOT COVERED BY THAT RECALL. REPEATED REQUESTS TO CONIDER THIS ISSUE SIMILAR TO THAT RECALL WERE DENIED. I WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST THAT THE RECALL DID NOT COVER ENOUGH VEHICLES. *AK

WHEN FOG LIGHTS ARE ON THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AND WON'T COME BACK ON IMMEDIATELY. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT THIS PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. FORD SAYS THE RECALL TIME HAS EXPIRED AND THEY ARE NO LONGER OBLIGATED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. RECALL WAS DATED 1999 AND ONLY THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED. I PAYED FOR THE REPAIR BEFORE THE RECALL AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM HAD ALREADY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. I AM AFRAID OF CRASHING CAUSING INJURY BECAUSE OF THIS, BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN HEAD LIGHT FAILURE WILL OCCUR. *AK

WHEN FOG LIGHTS ARE ON THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT AND WON'T COME BACK ON IMMEDIATELY. THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED, BUT THIS PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. FORD SAYS THE RECALL TIME HAS EXPIRED AND THEY ARE NO LONGER OBLIGATED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. RECALL WAS DATED 1999 AND ONLY THE SWITCH WAS REPLACED. I PAYED FOR THE REPAIR BEFORE THE RECALL AND WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM HAD ALREADY BEEN TAKEN CARE OF. I AM AFRAID OF CRASHING CAUSING INJURY BECAUSE OF THIS, BECAUSE YOU DON'T KNOW WHEN HEAD LIGHT FAILURE WILL OCCUR. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS FLICKED OFF AND ON WHICH CAUSED POOR DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. ALSO, RECALL 99V275000 DEALT WITH SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

ON 12-14-1999 THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON MY 1992 THUNDERBIRD WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL NUMBER 99S30. THE ORIGINAL SWITCH HAD EXHIBITED THE SYMPTOMS LISTED IN THE RECALL LETTER I RECEIVED (I.E. HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING OFF WHEN THE FOG LAMPS WERE USED). I AM NOW BEGINNING TO SEE SIMILAR SYMPTOMS WITH THE SWITCH THAT WAS INSTALLED LAST YEAR BY THE FORD DEALER. THIS MORNING WHEN LEAVING FOR WORK I PULLED THE LIGHT SWITCH OUT FULLY AND HAD NO HEADLIGHTS. I INSPECTED THE CONDITION OF THE HEADLIGHT FUSE AND FOUND IT TO BE GOOD. I THEN TRIED WIGGLING THE SWITCH WHILE IN THE ON POSITION (THAT HAD WORKED WITH THE ORIGINAL SWITCH) AND THE LIGHTS EVENTUALLY DID COME ON. SINCE THEN I TURNED THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT A FAILURE. I CONTACTED THE DEALER THAT DID THE RECALL WORK LAST YEAR AND FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT., AND WAS TOLD BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM BOTH THAT THERE IS NO WARRANTY ON PARTS REPLACED UNDER A RECALL AND THAT, THEREFORE, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE COST OF REPLACING THE SWITCH MYSELF. I WILL BE REPLACING THE SWITCH IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO, AND WILL RETAIN THE RECEIPT FOR REIMBURSEMENT IN THE EVENT THERE IS ANOTHER RECALL RELATED TO THE SWITCH. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT FORD IS NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THE SWITCH. APPARENTLY THEY ARE NOT UNDER A MANDATE TO DO SO, BUT THEY COULD IF THEY WANTED TO IN THE NAME OF "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION". THEY KNOW AS WELL AS I DO THAT THE SWITCH SHOULD LAST A LOT LONGER THAN ONE YEAR.

RECALL HEADLIGHTS DOES NOT EXAMINE 4-PRONG CONNECTOR TO MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH (HEADLAMPS). CONNECTOR CASING COMPLETELY BURNED THROUGH; 1/2 INCH OUTER EDGE, 3/16 INCH INNER EDGE, WITH SIGNS OF BURNING AND MELTING MULTI-FUNCTION CASING INNER AND OUTER NEXT TO SWITCH ASSEMBLY IGNITION CAUSING INSUFFICIENT OPERATION OF HEADLIGHTS. FOG LAMPS USED AT ALL TIMES DURING OPERATION OF HEADLAMPS. POSSIBILITY OF FIRE?! HEADLIGHTS FLICKER/SHUTOFF WITH OPERATION OF FOG LAMPS BUT RETURN TO NORMAL ONCE FOG LAMPS SHUTDOWN, EVEN WITH DAMAGE TO CONNECTOR. DEALERSHIP SERVICE ASSUMED MULTI-FUNCTION DEFECTIVE BUT WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE AND/OR EXAMINE THE POSSIBILITY OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH HEADLAMP SWITCH. DEALER DID NOT NOTIFY OWNER OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND DO NOT SEE THIS AS A "SAFETY ISSUE" NOR ACKNOWLEDGE ANY RESPONSIBILITY SINCE NOT COVERED IN ORIGINAL RECALL AND VEHICLE NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. (VIA FIRST CLASS MAIL: PICTURES) *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH HEADLIGHTS ON, HEADLIGHTS WILL FLICK. THEN, WILL GO OUT COMPLETELY. RECALL ISSUED FOR THE 93 MODEL FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT NOT 92. DEALER SAYS THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *AK *ML

VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH FOG LIGHTS. ALSO, HEADLIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO FLICKER ON AND OFF, AFFECTING DRIVER'S VISIBILITY AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 99V275000 ALTHOUGH IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *AK *ML

VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH FOG LIGHTS. ALSO, HEADLIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO FLICKER ON AND OFF, AFFECTING DRIVER'S VISIBILITY AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 99V275000 ALTHOUGH IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *AK *ML

VEHICLE WAS NOT EQUIPPED WITH FOG LIGHTS. ALSO, HEADLIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO FLICKER ON AND OFF, AFFECTING DRIVER'S VISIBILITY AND MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 99V275000 ALTHOUGH IT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *AK *ML

WHEN DRIVING HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF AND/OR FLICKER WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING, CAUSING POOR DRIVER VISBILITY. ALSO, RECALL 99V275000 DEALS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

HEAD LIGHT SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOITCE 99V-275 CONSUMER WANTED TO BE REIMBURSED FOR REPAIR. NLM

RECALL 99V275 000/HEADLIGHTS: HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY WOULD GO OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS WHICH WAS PROCEEDED BY BLINKING OR FLICKERING. THIS CAUSED LOSS OF VISIBILITY. DEALER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT PRIOR TO RECALL NOTIFICATION (99V-275). *MJS

RECALL # 99V275000 FORD/HEADLIGHTS; AFTER RECALL WAS PERFORMED OWNER WAS DRIVING AND THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. DEALER WAS CONTACTED. AFTER CHARGING $55.00, DEALER STATED THAT PROBLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO THE RECALL, EVEN THOUGH THIS PROBLEM HAD TO DO WITH THE WIRING AS WELL. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. *ML

NHTSA RECALL NO:99V275000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NO:99S30 CONCERNING HEADLIGHTS. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND DEALER DIDN'T SAY WHEN THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE. *AK

ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR A WHILE AND FINALLY WENT. HEARD NUMEROUS REPORTS AND READ ARTICALS RANGING FROM A SHOW BY 'MOTOR TREND ' TO DEALER COMMENTS ON THE PROBLEM WITH DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS IN 3.8L ENGINES. ALSO, KNOW NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH AN ENGINE LIKE MINE ,HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE "LIGHT BAR" INSIDE THE TAILLIGHTS ARE ANOTHER PROBLEM, YOU DON'T SEE A T-BIRD ON THE ROAD TODAY THAT DOESN'T HAVE AT LEAST PART OF THEIR TAIL LIGHTS BURNED OUT SO I KNOW ITS NOT JUST MINE AND THEY STARTED DOING THIS MANY MILES AGO! I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLES,SO I KNOW THIS IS NOT FROM ABUSE! LIKE I SAID WHEN DEALERS TELL YOU THEY'RE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN PARTS AND CAR SHOWS,MAGAZINES , AND CONSUMER REPORTS SAY THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH AHEAD GASKET ON A CERTAIN ENGINE YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT ALONE! REPLACING A HEAD GASKET IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR , I THOUGHT I WOULD CHECK INTO THIS BEFORE FOOTING THE BILL MYSELF. PLEASE LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS YOU CAN IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS AS I'M NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR ...THANKS ,LYNN. *AK

MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH FAILED. NLM

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS GO OFF UNKNOWNGLY. SOMETIMES THE HEADLIGHTS WILL COME BACK ON WITHIN A FEW SECONDS AND SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT. THERE HAS BEEN 3 DIFFERENT REPAIRS DONE TO THE HEADLIGHTS, WHICH HAVE NOT DONE ANY GOOD. WHEN CONTACTING FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE, OWNER WAS INFORMED THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL 99V275000 FORD/HEADLIGHTS DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN USING THE FOG LIGHTS THEY FLASH ON AND OFF EVERYTIME HEADLAMPS ARE CHANGED, PROBLEM OCCURS REGULARLY. *AK

NO SUMMARY

THE HEADLIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING AFTER IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED AND REPLACED. I WAS TRAVELING FROM A FUNERAL WHEN THE LIGHTS STARTED WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE AT AROUND 2300 HRS.

WIRING FOR THE HEADLIGHTS CONTAINS TOO MUCH CURRENT CAUSING FLICKERING OF LIGHTING DUE TO DESIGN. MJS

THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH GETS HEATED AND CUTS THE HEADLIGHTS OFF. *AK

WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT. PULLED OVER & TURNED OFF SWITCH & THEN BACK ON, HEADLIGHTS APPEARED. WOULD LAST ABOUT 30-40 SECONDS. HAPPENS INTERMINTTENTLY. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC SAID LIGHT SWITCH OVERHEATED. IT EFFECTED HEADLIGHTS. *AK

HEAD LIGHTS WENT OUT SEVERAL TIMES CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY DUE TO FAILURE OF THE HEAD LIGHT SWITCH.

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH WITH LIGHTS ON, THEY WOULD FLICKER ON & OFF. PROBLEM STARTED W/HIGH BEAMS & THEN W/LOW BEAMS; EVENTUALLY WENT OUT COMPLETELY; PULLED OVER & COOLED VEHICLE DOWN. LIGHTS WORKED AFTERWARDS. HAD CHANGED SAME IDENTICAL SWITCH 7 YEARS AGO. *AK

THE BRAKES SWITCH GOES OUT, CONSUMER LOSES BRAKES LIGHTS, NO CRUISE CONTROL AND IS UNABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK INTO DRIVE. THE SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED (6) TIME SINCE OWNING VEHICLE IN JULY 92. *AK

HEADLIGHTS WORK INTERMITTENTLY. *SD

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS GO OFF AND COME BACK ON, APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS GO OFF AND COME BACK ON, APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS GO OFF AND COME BACK ON, APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE HEADLIGHTS GO OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

DIMMER SWITCH SHORTS, CAUSING HEADLIGHTS TO GO OUT. *DSH

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEADLAMPS GO OUT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING DUE TO WIRING HARNESS CHAFFING AGAINST RADIATOR SUPPORTS. DEALER TWICE ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT IT. TT