Faults:

The only problems that I have had with this car are things that come with mileage, such as dirty worn down plugs and wires and a battery. Other than these minor nuisances I have had no trouble with this vehicle.

General Comments:

This car is a really responsive semi-big body vehicle. The v-8 is good and with minor changes becomes much better. If you take the pinched dual exhaust off and replace them with a flow-master cat back system and buy a k and n filter you will be very pleased.

Faults:

The only problem with the car is the gas gauge doesn't work properly. It's something that is very time consuming and expensive to fix. Estimated cost of repair for the problem is 250$.

Traction control on wet roads tends to be a minor problem.

General Comments:

I've driven several Thunderbird and Cougars, which is basically the same car. Thunderbird tend to always deliver excellent performance, whether it be the 3.8L V6, 4.6L V8, or the older 1990 Thunderbird SC. All come through with power, reliability, and performance.

Faults:

Brakes are very bad. Rotors are warped. Pads go out too quickly.

Slammed on brakes and broke motor mounts. Only 1 remained. The engine shifted when they broke and broke some vacuum tees and ripped all of the vacuum hoses off of the car.

Suspension makes a clicking noise when I turn the wheel or go over a bump.

Paint is bad, I always have to wax it in order for it to look decent.

Alternator has gone out numerous times.

$500 brake job because rotors were below allowed thicknesses.

$652 to fix the motor mounts and vacuum hoses.

MAFS went back and had to get replaced. The new one went bad as well and I figured out that it was only covered in dirt and couldn't read the airflow.

General Comments:

I generally like the thunderbird. It is a fast cars. I have done some modifications to it (i.e. flow-master mufflers, 73mm C & L MAFS, K & N Filter). It can keep up with Modified Mustang GTs.

I bought the car after I totaled my truck. I miss that truck.

I have a trouble dealing with the power and spinning the tires and I go through tires about every 3 or 4 months.

Faults:

At 46,000 miles the intake manifold cracked.

Numerous problems with the cruise control shutting off when the car goes over even small bumps. Adjusted the brake light switch to fix this.

At 72,000 miles another intake manifold cracked and the dealer would not cover the cost to replace either of them.

Engine pings pretty bad when I put the hammer to it.

The only other problem that I have had with my Thunderbird is that the mode select control knob for the climate controls keeps breaking, and the only place to get another is the Ford dealer.

General Comments:

I do enjoy this car, despite its problems. The engine has great power, but could always use more.

I really wish Ford would have come up with a better design for the intake manifold problems.

During the first year of ownership, my wife and I put about 30,000 miles on the car, for the most part I would consider them trouble free with the exception of the intake and cruise problems.

The cabin is very comfortable for the long hauls that my wife and I have made and there is nothing like cruising at night with the moon roof open.

For such a big car it handles very well and seems to hold the road in corners and has a positive steering feel.

I should have bought the Thunderbird next to mine with traction control.