Vehicle Speed Control Problems of Ford Thunderbird

Sudden unintended acceleration on two occasions. Car only has 11,000 miles.

See all problems of the 2005 Ford Thunderbird 🔎.

On three occasions auto accelerated on its own. Tried to break to no avail. Kept going faster. Shifted to neutral, engine kept racing. Was very difficult to stop vehicle. Went to dealer. They could not find the cause. . One event in a parking lot, one on the interstate and the other when approaching an intersection on a city street auto has only 10,000 miles on it. Incidents occurred 2005 20014 2016.

See all problems of the 2004 Ford Thunderbird 🔎.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Thunderbird. While driving on the highway, the vehicle lunged forward and stopped accelerating. The vehicle independently began to operate normally afterwards; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that the vehicle would not operate past approximately 35 mph. After the failure recurred, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the coil on plug was defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The technician diagnosed that all eight vehicle coil on plugs needed to be replaced eventually. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 30,000.

See all problems of the 2002 Ford Thunderbird 🔎.

I went to park the car and the car went racing into the spot and it was difficult to make it stop. I through the car into park and even then I was sure it was going to stop. If I didn't have an empty parking lot I don't think it would have been possible there would have been an accident. Then I had to drive the car home which I didn't want to do, because this was very frightening. Then driving home at the stop light I just put the car in park because it was still racing and I didn't think putting my foot on the brake would have kept it in a stopped position. Then when I tried to take off it acted like it wanted to stall. Not a cood feeling at all.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Thunderbird. The contact stated that while waiting at a traffic light, there was a sudden increase in engine rpms as the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact mentioned that the brakes were engaged at the time of the failure but failed to stop the vehicle. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 32,533.

Letter from constituent regarding an ongoing throttle problem with his 2005 Ford Thunderbird; information provided to NHTSA that may be the bases of a recall of the Thunderbird. The consumer stated in early August of this year, a yellow mechanic wrench light appeared on the dashboard at the time of start up. The consumer immediately stopped the vehicle, and made an appointment at the dealer. After a complete check-up, the vehicle was released to the consumer after the computer diagnostic system failed to reveal anything wrong. The next day, while driving 70 mph on the freeway while passing a slow moving truck, the wrench light illuminated again and the vehicle went into drive safe mode and immediately slowed down to 45 mph. The consumer was able to maneuver to the side of the road. Once the consumer made it to the dealer, the vehicle was left running, so the mechanic could do a computer diagnostic check. It was determined after testing, the throttle body and motor assembly were defective and replaced at a cost of $964. 27. Updated 03/31/14.

I have a 2004 Ford Thunderbird. For the second time in the past 8 months, my car went into limp mode unexpectedly while driving. On a 50 mile an hour road, my car suddenly dropped to 20 mph. I immediately activated my hazard lights, but came very close to getting rear ended. The throttle bodies on these cars evidently go out an alarming rate. This will be the second time I have narrowly avoided being in an accident because of this problem. I had the problem addressed once already, and now it is happening all over again.

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Thunderbird. While traveling at speeds of 35 mph, the contact applied the brakes but the brakes did not engage. The contact proceeded to crash into the rear of another vehicle. A police report was filed accordingly. The vehicle was not repaired. The current and failure mileages were 10,000. Updated 08/03/10. Updated 08/04/10.

2003 Thunderbird goes into "limp mode" and the car suddenly will not go above 25mph. . . . I am told it is a safety feature. . . But this is not safe if you are driving on the interstate! I am told this time it is a throttle body. . . Which I have been waiting for over 30 days. Ford does not have parts for their cars.

See all problems of the 2003 Ford Thunderbird 🔎.

Car intermittently goes into shut down mode(decelerates, will not take gas) during driving. This has happened while trying to merge onto a highway and almost resulted in me being rear needed by an tractor trailer. This is happening during the middle of highway traffic and has placed me in sever safety situations. I am told by Ford this is a throttle body problem and apparently this is wide spread for numerous Ford automobiles (escape, Thunderbird,mustang, Lincoln, Thunderbird. . . ) of the years 2002-2005. Ford needs to be held to task for this repair! this is dangerous!!.

2002 Ford Thunderbird. Driving on the on ramp to get onto highway accelerating to get into traffic. When I took my foot of the gas pedal the car continued to accelerate a full speed. Applied brakes and the car was still doing 60 mph with the brakes on. Had to stand on brakes to get off the next exit ramp. Could not bring it to a full stop so I threw it into park. It was terrifying because I didn't have control over the accelerator. Turned off the car. Restarted it in park and the engine was still screaming. I did not have my foot on the gas and the brake. I only use my right foot for these pedals. My feet are not big enough to have one foot on both. The mat was not stuck under anything. After sitting for 5 to 10 minutes I restarted the car in park and it seemed to idle normally. I put the hazard lights on and drove home slowly and brought it to the Ford dealer (don davis auto group in arlington, TX) the next morning. They can't find anything wrong with the car and cannot "duplicate" the incident. They spoke to Ford and they want me to pick up the car because "they can't just start throwing parts on it when they can't duplicate the problem. I am now afraid to drive my car because if it recurrs someone could be killed. Please advise me.

Have replaced via Ford dealer throttle control sensor twice. First repair 2007. Second repair 2014, and now in 2020. I am facing same problem again. Obviously the control system is defective. The problem triggers vehicle limp mode while driving and in park.

On August 19, 2004 I was parking my 2004 t-bird in the parking lot at work. My foot was on the brake. As I eased in, I realized I wanted to edge forward an inch or two so I slowly began to release my foot from the brake and without warning the car lurched forward hitting the curb and flew forward 4-5 feet while I was putting extreme pressure on the brake pedal. It finally stopped as the car actually hit the company signage. The front end was damaged to the tune of ------. Not understanding how it happened, I chalked it up to human error, although I knew I had not touched the gas pedal. October 5, 2005. I am slowly pulling into my garage in the same 2004 t-bird. As I approach the curb and a 5 foot deep cement stoop, I need to edge in another 1 to 2 inches to clear the garage door. As I gingerly begin to release the pressure on my brake, the vehicle lurches forward hitting the curb and flying forward into an upright freezer in the garage on the stoop- 5 feet from where the car usually is parked. The force is so great that the freezer is t-boned and pushed into the finished wall of the garage, which in turn rearranges the cabinet in the powder room in the living quarters of my home. The counter top/sink combo is shattered. The event was most disturbing and frightening. The car was towed to the dealer service dept. Of willowbrook Ford in willowbrook, IL. After examination and finding no mechanical defects it was transferred to the body shop where I was informed over the phone that nothing was found mechanically wrong and they couldn't reproduce the incident. The insurance had approved payment for body repairs and so it was fixed. The car has been returned to me completely repaired, but I am never going to drive it again. . Read more...

The contact owns a 2002 Ford Thunderbird. When the contact depressed the brake pedal at 5 mph, the vehicle would suddenly surge forward. Four years prior to this failure, the same issue occurred and the iac control was replaced by the dealer. The vehicle was towed to another dealer, but they could not duplicate the failure. The current mileage was 64,332 and failure mileage was 61,745. Updated 07/28/09.

When the consumer attempted to apply the brakes, the vehicle surged forward about two car lengths. The consumer stated the back tires spin and there was a smell of rubber. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but they were unable to find anything wrong.

2004 Ford Thunderbird accelerator has a 1\2 to 1 second or more delay in engine response (drive by wire) when either starting from a dead stop or when passing or changing lanes. Ford claims it is by design and will not address the delay. The Lincoln LS is identical in engine and drive chain and has no delay. This delay is extremely unsafe when pulling out from a stop street or even on the highway when going to pass or changing lanes. The dealer has been helpful but must wait for Ford to respond with a computer change to rectify the problem but none has come in two years. This problem existed from date of purchase.

Idle controller cause vehicle to accelerate to 20mph on its own without depressing accelerator, have to press brake hard to keep vehicle still, hazardous to operate vehicle.

See all problems of the 1997 Ford Thunderbird 🔎.

While at a stop light the vehicle accelerated to full throttle. Driver was able to force vehicle in park and avoid a crash. Dealer unable to find a problem.

Engine idle problem.

See all problems of the 1996 Ford Thunderbird 🔎.