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U.S. public vehicle records

Ford THUNDERBIRD problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,586 owner complaints analyzed

50 distinct recall campaigns

60,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1960 to 2005 model years. Data snapshot: . 317 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 252 of 1,586 complaints (15.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior25516.1%
Transmission and shifting885.5%
Steering behavior865.4%
Electrical and battery issues704.4%
Engine operation694.4%
Fuel system concerns362.3%

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.

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
252
Vehicle Speed Control
92
Power Train:Automatic Transmission
77
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
67
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
66
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
59
Electrical System:Ignition
53
Engine And Engine Cooling
52
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine252
Vehicle Speed Control92
Power Train:Automatic Transmission77
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline67
Exterior Lighting:Headlights66
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip59
Electrical System:Ignition53
Engine And Engine Cooling52

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 252; Vehicle Speed Control: 92; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 77; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 67; Exterior Lighting:Headlights: 66; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 59; Electrical System:Ignition: 53; Engine And Engine Cooling: 52

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
65
25,000 to 49,999
66
50,000 to 74,999
75
75,000 to 99,999
57
100,000 to 149,999
37
150,000 and above
17
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00065
25,000 to 49,99966
50,000 to 74,99975
75,000 to 99,99957
100,000 to 149,99937
150,000 and above17

Under 25,000: 65; 25,000 to 49,999: 66; 50,000 to 74,999: 75; 75,000 to 99,999: 57; 100,000 to 149,999: 37; 150,000 and above: 17

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (75). 1,269 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.

1995
226
1996
213
2000
400
2001
197
2002
111
2003
95
2004
79
2005
55
2006
19
2007
15
2008
23
2009
16
2010
19
2011
20
2012
10
2013
12
2014
14
2015
9
2016
24
2017
8
2018
5
2019
5
2020
2
2021
3
2022
1
2023
3
2024
1
2026
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
1995226
1996213
2000400
2001197
2002111
200395
200479
200555
200619
200715
200823
200916
201019
201120
201210
201312
201414
20159
201624
20178
20185
20195
20202
20213
20221
20233
20241
20261

1995: 226; 1996: 213; 2000: 400; 2001: 197; 2002: 111; 2003: 95; 2004: 79; 2005: 55; 2006: 19; 2007: 15; 2008: 23; 2009: 16; 2010: 19; 2011: 20; 2012: 10; 2013: 12; 2014: 14; 2015: 9; 2016: 24; 2017: 8; 2018: 5; 2019: 5; 2020: 2; 2021: 3; 2022: 1; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2026: 1

Pattern summary

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 255 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 88 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 86 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 960546 · 1995-02-24 (February 24, 1995)

DEFECTIVE MARKET BRAKE PADS, DYNACRAFT CORP MANUFACTURED PADS MODEL MX 152. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960546 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 962359 · 1995-03-22 (March 22, 1995)

DYNACRAFT SEMI METALIC BRAKE PAD MODEL MX152. CLAMP ON OUTSIDE ROTOR DISC SHEARED OFF SLID FORWARD RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 962359 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 982956 · 1996-04-18 (April 18, 1996)

PURCHASED CAR USED WITH A WARRANTY ON TRANSMISSION, CONSUMER IS ON THE SECOND TRANSMISSION.PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 982956 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10070904 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 1989. FIRST EARLY PROBLEMS WITH CIGARETTE LIGHTER/ELECTRICAL/HEATING UP INSIDE DASH.- SERVICED 3-4 TIMES, UNDER WARRANTY. FREON LEAKS IN AIR CONDITIONER - REPAIRED TWICE. FUEL LINE REPLACED. STEERING COLUM JAM OF SOMESORT - NO KEY ACCESS. REPLACED 3 ALTERNATORS. CANNOT SHIFT TRANSMISSION INTO OVERDRIVE. REBUILT BY AAMCO. BLEW HEAD GASKET. RADIATOR COOLANT COMMING OUT FROM MUFFLER. GOT RID OF CAR AT THIS TIME.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10070904 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 736784 · 2000-11-22 (November 22, 2000)

WHEN I TURNED THE KEY IT WOULD NOT MOVE. THE STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, AND I COULD NOT DO ANYTHING. THE KEY WILL NOT EVEN MOVE AT ALL. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 736784 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10069318 · 2004-01-15 (January 15, 2004)

CAR STALLS AFTER IT WARMS UP.RUNS WELL WHILE DRIVING WHEN CAMING TO A STOP CALL STALLS AND CAUSES CAR TO NOT HAVE POWER BRAKES OR POWER STEERING WITCH MAY CAUSE A VERY BAD ACCIDENT.

Owner-reported narrative. 111,948 miles reported. Look up ODI 10069318 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10012139 · 2003-03-20 (March 20, 2003)

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE DASH BOARD. THE DEALER INDICATED IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *NLM THE VEHICLE TURNED OVER BUT WOULDN'T START. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE. METAL SHAVINGS WERE FOUND IN THE FUEL PUMP RELAY SWITCH. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PICKED UP AND DRIVEN HOME, IT SEEMED FINE, BUT WHEN THE CONSUMER HAD GOTTEN OUT OF THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED SMOKE ON THE INSIDE AND FIRE COMING FROM THE DASH. SCC

Owner-reported narrative. 24,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10012139 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 504284 · 1996-05-01 (May 1, 1996)

WIRING HARNESS UNDER DASH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE. *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 504284 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 550575 · 2000-01-27 (January 27, 2000)

VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO IGNITION MODULE OVERHEATING FROM ENGINE HEAT. *MJS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 550575 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 737337 · 2000-12-05 (December 5, 2000)

BOUGHT CAR FRM OLD LADY WHO RARELY DROVE IT. AFTER BOUGHT NOTICED FRNT END CLUNK ALL SPEEDS REPLACED STRUTS CLUNK STILLTHERE REPLACED STRUT BEARINGS AND ALL BUSHINGS IN FRONT END. CLUNKING STILL THERE REAR END CLUNKING BAD WHEN PUT INTO GEAR AND WHEN CAR SHIFTS REPLACED REAR SHOCKS....STILL THERE ....AT FRONT ALSO ...WAS TOLD BY SANTA MARIA FORD THE FRONT CLUNK IS FROM THE REAR SOMEWHERE?...I FINALLY FOUND IT IN STEERING RACK THE ROD ENDS WERE DRY (NO LUBE FROM FACTORY) THE BALL SOCKETS IN THEM WERE JUST SHORT OF A WRECK WEAR WISE ....REPLA…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 737337 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

1989
4
1990
3
1991
3
1992
3
1993
3
1994
0
1995
0
1996
2
1997
0
1998
0
1999
0
2002
1
2003
0
2004
1
2005
1
Recall campaigns data
CategoryCount
19894
19903
19913
19923
19933
19940
19950
19962
19970
19980
19990
20021
20030
20041
20051

1989: 4; 1990: 3; 1991: 3; 1992: 3; 1993: 3; 1994: 0; 1995: 0; 1996: 2; 1997: 0; 1998: 0; 1999: 0; 2002: 1; 2003: 0; 2004: 1; 2005: 1

Year-by-year records

Ford THUNDERBIRD model-year comparison
Model yearComplaintsRecallsChange in recalls
196010Not available
196510Not available
196704Not available
197011Not available
1971010
197203+2
197304+1
197401-3
197504+3
197601-3
197714+3
197813-1
1979030
198031-2
198333Not available
1984181-2
19851010
19861510
19873410
1988622+1
1989704+2
1990883-1
19917230
199212430
199330030
19941940-3
199515600
19961242+2
19971170-2
1998300
1999200
2002931Not available
2003330-1
2004341+1
20052710