Manifold/header/muffler/tail Pipe problems of the 1997 Ford Thunderbird

The plastic intake manifold on my 1997 Ford Thunderbird cracked spilling out all my coolant and causing my engine to overheat, this is a design flaw that should be coverd by Ford motor company, this happend while driving down gratiot Ave. In roseville mi at 40 miles per hour with no previous warning, this failure happend 7/3/2011 Saturday over the forth of July weekend, where I couldn't get it to a open Ford dealership, now I connot use my vehical for work Monday 7/4/2011. Will this repair be coverd by Ford motor company?.

I have a 1997 Ford Thunderbird that has a manifold problem. I am being told by Ford that it doesn't fall under the recall from 2005 because it wasn't built in the right plant. I have read a lot of information that all of the 1997 t-bird have this problem and need to be fixed. Not only is does my car not run right, but I also am not facing replacing my catalytic converter, as well due to the leakage. We are talking about $1700 in repair.

When I bought the car, a year ago, it ran great. One day as I as coming up a hill, my car started shaking. It was a cracked intake manifold, that of which Ford was in a class action lawsuit in 2005. Which covered a "select few" of Thunderbirds. However now that my manifold cracked, there "not at fault. " we had the car fixed, only to learn afterwards that Ford had several issues about the faulty intake.

The contact owns a 1997 Ford Thunderbird. While driving 40 mph, in heavy traffic the contact noticed smoke rising from under the hood. The temperature gauge needle shifted to the hot indicator. The vehicle was towed to the repair shop and the mechanic stated that the engine was leaking coolant and the plastic intake manifold was cracked. The powertrain was unknown. The current and failure mileages were 73,500. *updated 12/12/07 updated 12/12/07.

The contact's daughter owns a 1997 Ford Thunderbird. While driving 55 mph, the vehicle overheated and the contact noticed that antifreeze was leaking. Her daughter noticed a crack on the intake manifold, which she believed may be the cause of failure. As of August 31, 2007, the dealer has not inspected the vehicle. The failure mileage was 57,000 and current mileage was 60,000.

Intake manifold cracked causing coolant to leak out. Ford will not repair unless I pay for it. Class action law suit pending. Ford agreed to replace on vehicles 7 years old or less. My veh is 8 years old with 26000 miles. Bad design for intake.

Upper intake manifold on my 1997 4. 6 l Thunderbird cracked and blew all the coolant into the engine compartment. I had to pay Ford to replace the upper intake and the plugs that were fouled out. They refused any responsibility even with a formal written complaint to their home office. It is my understanding this is happening to a lot of their 4. 6 l engines in a variety of vehicles.

While driving approximately 40 mph consumer heard a noise, then water spilled from the engine. Vehicle was taken to the dealer for service, and it was determined that intake manifold cracked.

1997 Ford Thunderbird lx v8 4. 6 liters. 1997 Ford Thunderbird lx had a coolant leak. The plastic intake manifold overheated. Could smell antifreeze when getting out of vehicle. The antifreeze was leaking in three places. Vehicle had the original parts. The consumer was the second owner of the vehicle. Had not contacted the manufacturer. Did have someone look at vehicle , who confirmed that the intake manifold was plastic and vehicle was leaking antifreeze, and that the o rings needed to be replaced. Manufacturer was aware of this problem. The consumer found on the internet that a technical service bulletins was sent out on February 2, 2002 discussing this problem. However, the consumer was unaware of the technical service bulletin.

The intake manifold cracked, loss of all antifreeze and vehicle being towed to dealership. Vehicle only has 60,000 miles on. The letter from Ford to replace this expired in may 2004! I had complained to my dealership about loss of antifreeze, gas, they found no problems. Of course, now I have to pay for the entire repair. Even though I see that many t-bird owners are having the exact problem. This should have been a mandatory recall from Ford. Because existing problems are being reported!.

The intake manifold was defective. All of the coolant leaked and subsequently the vehicle was towed. The dealer stated the defect was outside of the seven years of the original recall.

I was driving my car to pay the power bill. I had made a complete stop and then turned left up the road about 4/10's of a mile when I pulled into the parking space I noticed white steam coming from the engine compartment. I opened the hood a the engine was covered in antifreeze. I called for a tow hoping it was a blown hose or at worst a head gasket. So I didn't drive it further to prevent further damage. The dealership looks at it and says it is a cracked intake manifold. Which leads to a $1135 bill for parts and labor. Some online research brought a concern. . . Is the intake manifold plastic? if so, why!?.

I am the original owner of a 1997 Ford thunder bird with the 4. 6 engine. The intake manifold is cracked . I have been informed this is a recalled part on some cars but it seems my car is not included in the recall. The original repair part is not available any long do to the flaw. Since this is the case it woud seem to me all vehicles with this intake manifold would be included in the recall.

Intake monifold failed to contain 220 degree f engine coolant.

Engine developed a coolant leak due to a split in the plastic intake manifold. Recall 97m91 which is only good for 7 years from the start of the original warranty was up 2 days prior to incident. Fomoco and dealer wouldn't cover, to bad for me. Recall doesn't cover replacement unless it is leaking within that 7 years. Design has been changed to an aluminum crossover that hopefully wont split and costs approx $800 to fix.

The plastic intake manifold cracked which caused coolant to leak and the vehicle over heated.

The consumer could smell anti-freeze in the cab of the vehicle. The mechanic stated that the intake manifold was cracked in two spots.

Intake manifold is leaking coolant onto the engine. Thid could result in an engine fire.

I purchased this 1997 Ford Thunderbird lx sport as a used vehicle in oct. 2002. I noticed that during the first few weeks of owning this vehicle it would intermittently leak a substantial amount of coolant onto my driveway but I could never see where it was coming from. Sometimes it would go for days without leaking and then one day there would be over a quart of coolant on the driveway. I brought the car into a shop that put the car on a lift to look for the leak but they could not find one. I continued to drive the car and add coolant every time the "low coolant" light appeared on the dash panel. In may 2005 I was on the 91 freeway and suddenly without warning the "low coolant" light came on and the temp came up quickly so I tried to change lanes to the right to exit the freeway and the back of the car broke loose and I almost turned sideways. I found out later that the rear tires and wheel wells were soaked in coolant. This was the first time that I found out that my intermittent leak that no one could find was my intake manifold at the base of the thermostat housing. I went to rancho santa margarita Ford and asked about recalls and they told me that the recall for the intake manifold had expired a couple of months ago and that there was nothing that they could do. I called Ford motor CO. Customer relations and was told the same thing. The car now sits parked unrepaired. I cannot afford to pay almost two thousand dollars to correct Fords engineering blunder.

Engine manifold cracked allowing antifreeze to escape. Took car for repair. Learned later that repair was a recall. Asked Ford for reimbursement. Reimbursment denied.

While driving heavy smoke begin coming from under the hood. The car registered hot and started to make clicking sound. Immediatedly cruise out of traffic. Told I had a cracked manifold and all fluids had spilled on the engine. I am concerned sever damage had been done to the engine when all is being repaired is the manifold. In the future I do not want to have to pay foe a new engine when a defective manifold caused the problem.

Fatigue cracks in the composite intake manifolds may result in an engine coolant leak on 4. 6l sohc engines.

Intake manifold leaks. Consumer has to put coolant in the vehicle every 2 to 3 days.

While driving vehicle started to misfire and stall. Intake manifold cracked and leaked anti freeze which caused the problem. Manufacturer had an owner notification on this issue to replace the plastic intake manifold, but this vehicle not covered for two months due to VIN.

Per consumer vehicle is not part of the owner notification for the intake manifold coolant leak # . 97m91, but vehicle is experiencing the same failure.

Intake manifold was recalled on vehicle, but owner was not informed when vehicle was at dealership. Eight days later, vehicle shutdown on highway with no warning due to loss of coolant from intake manifold cracking.