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9.2

really awful
Typical Repair Cost:
$1,030
Average Mileage:
47,900 miles
Total Complaints:
5 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. Replace cooling fan (3 reports)
  2. not sure (1 reports)
  3. replaced coils (1 reports)
2002 Ford Thunderbird cooling system problems

cooling system problem

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2002 Ford Thunderbird Owner Comments

problem #5

Sep 212011

Thunderbird

  • Automatic transmission
  • 44,594 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Ford said tough, no warranty, no policy claim, no help whatsoever, the dealer said he never saw this problem before, I must say, I have never had a problem with cooling systems on any modern vehicle, this suck and the repair was 10% of the value of the car, soon I'll have to get rid of it or face bankruptcy from the cost of repairs, I will never buy another Ford.

Update from Jan 5, 2012: Subsequent to this, we had to replace the ignition coils on top of each plug, they probably fried with the overheating, no help from the dealer or Ford, another $1600 dollars, thats over $4000.00 in 1 year, I guess Fix Or Repair Daily, is still what FORD stands for, I will certainly after 1 Explorer and 3 Thunderbirds, never, never consider buying a Ford again, the sad part is, they could tel the supplier fix this and they have the power to make it right. On my Lexus IS350, I never paid a nickel in repairs, same mileage, 7 years old.

- bosslady, Long Beach, NY, US

problem #4

Nov 192009

Thunderbird V.8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 0 miles

Texan with 2002 Ford Thunderbird. Car overheating, ford technicians replaced housing, and thermostat...after spending over $400 still overheating. Now they say it's the fan motor assembly and want $1000. Happy Holidays to you too Ford!

I've called the corporate office, the customer relations, spoke to the dealer and the service managers now I'm speaking to attorneys.

- thunderbirdtexan, San Antonio, TX, US

problem #3

Jan 112008

Thunderbird 3.9L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 62,000 miles

Seems to be a recurring problem with the 2002 Thunderbirds. After fixing the cooling fan I am now having other problems.

- Andy K., Lebanon, TN, US

problem #2

Jul 202006

(reported on)

Thunderbird

  • 116,500 miles

Our Thunderbird was an early release. Ford is aware that this is a problem and stopped production until the cooling fans were replaced but failed to recall the t-birds that were already sent out. This is the third time ours had to be towed to a dealership. They fixed other things the first two times and neither was the actual problem.

- Richard B., Fort Mill, SC, US

problem #1

May 312005

(reported on)

Thunderbird

  • 16,200 miles

Car overheated and heat and check engine light came on. Car was running poorly. Got it to the dealer and after diagnosis I was told it was 5 months out of warranty, with only 16,200 miles. Appealed to dealer who supposedly went to Ford. When the Tbird was originally reintroduced the release was delayed because of a 'cooling fan problem'. Mine was an early release, but I figured it had the problem corrected. As a long time Ford owner, I thought Ford would do the right thing and stand behind this product. To date they have not done so.

- Keith S., Waverly, NE, US

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