2004 Ford THUNDERBIRD problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
34 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
25,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 31 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 9 of 34 complaints (26.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 23.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 6 | 17.6% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 8.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 9 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Power Train | 5 |
| Air Bags:Side/Window | 3 |
| Electrical System | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 2 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 9; Engine: 7; Power Train: 5; Air Bags:Side/Window: 3; Electrical System: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 10 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 3 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 10; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 3; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 4 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 2 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2004: 2; 2005: 4; 2006: 2; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2010: 3; 2011: 3; 2013: 4; 2014: 3; 2015: 2; 2016: 1; 2017: 2; 2020: 2; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 6 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 3 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10111737 · 2005-03-23 (March 23, 2005)
VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHEN YOU STOP IN A HURRY THE FOOT GOES DOWN TO THE FLOOR. OWNER WENT TO THE DEALER AND ASKED TO HAVE THE BRAKES ADJUSTED. OWNER WAS TOLD THERE IS NO ADJUSTING THE BRAKES OR ACCELERATOR. THE BRAKE PEDAL IS TO CLOSE TOGETHER CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE WHILE BRAKING. *NM *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 9 miles reported. Look up ODI 10111737 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10127862 · 2005-07-08 (July 8, 2005)
I WAS DRIVING IN VERY HEAVY TRAFFIC IN DOWNTOWN BEVERLY HILLS. I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN MY CAR JERKED AND RAPIDLY ACELERATED. MY CAR STARTED TO GO FASTER AND FASTER AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK THEY WERE FROZEN. THE CAR WAS GOING SO FAST AND IT WOULD NOT STOP. MY PASSENGER AND MYSELF WERE SCREAMING AND TO AVOID RUNNING OVER PEDESTRIANS I RAN UP A CURB. THIS ACCIDENT WAS SO SEVRE THAT MY CAR HIT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND IT FELL ONTO MY CAR. THERE WERE SEVERAL WITNESSES TO THIS ACCIDENT. THERE WERE SEVERAL PO…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10127862 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095550 · 2004-10-11 (October 11, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING A WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT MOVE. IT WAS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE, EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN GEAR. I HAD TO TURN THE CAR OFF, THEN RESTART THE ENGINE. AFTER DOING THIS THE CAR RAN OK FOR ABOUT 2 MILES THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THIS TIME WHEN RESTARTED THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. THE DEALER RESET THE COMPUTER. ON 10-09-04 THE SAME THING HAPPENED. THE DEALER NOW HAS THE CAR TRYING TO FIND THE TROUBLE. EACH FAILURE CAME WITHOUT WARNING, CAUSING THE POTENTIAL FOR A REAR-END COLLISION, BECAUSE THE C…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095550 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10119325 · 2005-04-26 (April 26, 2005)
CONCERNS REGARDING 2004 THUNDERBIRD AND THE CHANCE OF THE TRANSMISSION FAILING AFTER THE WARRANTY IS NO LONGER IN EFFECT.*MR THE VEHICLE WAS FILLED AT THE ASSEMBLY PLANT WITH TRANSMISSION FLUID FORMULATION THAT, OVER TIME, MAY CAUSE DELAYED/HARSH REVERSE ENGAGEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER ACKNOWLEDGED THE PROBLEM BY INITIATING A RECALL TO ADD AN ADDITIVE TO THE FLUID. THE CONSUMER FELLS THE TRANSMISSION FLUID SHOULD BE TOTALLY DRAINED AND REPLACED WITH THE PROPER FLUID. *BF *NM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10119325 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10440568 · 2011-12-20 (December 20, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE ENGINE WOULD MISFIRE AND LOSE THROTTLE RESPONSE. THE VEHICLE LATER STALLED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE MISFIRE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY ENGINE COIL. THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE COIL BUT THE REPAIR DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,500. UPDATED 01/18/12*LJ
Owner-reported narrative. 18,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10440568 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10632883 · 2014-09-12 (September 12, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION COILS WERE MISFIRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,200.
Owner-reported narrative. 34,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10632883 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11351417 · 2020-08-26 (August 26, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSIDE THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL ODOR APPEARED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO CHANGED THE OIL AND NOTICED FUEL LEAKING FROM THE FUEL TANK. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WAS CURRENTLY STILL BEING EXPERIENCED. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V113000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AS A POSSIBLE SOLUTION TO THE FAIL…
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11351417 at NHTSA ↗