Ford Thunderbird Recalls & Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA lists 50 safety recalls and 2,366 owner complaints across 35 model years of the Ford Thunderbird (1960–2005). The most-complained-about year is 1993.
Pick your Ford Thunderbird model year
- 1960
- 1965
- 1967
- 1970
- 1971
- 1972
- 1973
- 1974
- 1975
- 1976
- 1977
- 1978
- 1979
- 1980
- 1983
- 1984
- 1985
- 1986
- 1987
- 1988
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 1999
- 2002
- 2003
- 2004
- 2005
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 27 |
| 2004 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 34 |
| 2003 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 33 |
| 2002 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 93 |
| 1999 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 2 |
| 1998 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 3 |
| 1997 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 169 |
| 1996 Ford Thunderbird | 2 | 233 |
| 1995 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 261 |
| 1994 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 300 |
| 1993 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 423 |
| 1992 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 184 |
| 1991 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 112 |
| 1990 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 140 |
| 1989 Ford Thunderbird | 4 | 124 |
| 1988 Ford Thunderbird | 2 | 92 |
| 1987 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 61 |
| 1986 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 23 |
| 1985 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 14 |
| 1984 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 26 |
| 1983 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 3 |
| 1980 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 3 |
| 1979 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 1 |
| 1978 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 1 |
| 1977 Ford Thunderbird | 4 | 1 |
| 1976 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 Ford Thunderbird | 4 | 0 |
| 1974 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 Ford Thunderbird | 4 | 0 |
| 1972 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 0 |
| 1971 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 0 |
| 1970 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 1 |
| 1967 Ford Thunderbird | 4 | 0 |
| 1965 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 1 |
| 1960 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 1 |
What Ford Thunderbird owners complain about
Across all model years, owners have filed 2,366 complaints with NHTSA. The 1993 model year has the most, with 423.
All Ford Thunderbird recalls (50)
Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Ford Thunderbird, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.
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Storage (fuel system)
On certain passenger vehicles, the fuel tank may have a localized thin wall section in the lower half of the tank. The fuel tank may crack creating a potential for a fuel leak and fuel odor. The "service engine soon" indicator may illuminate.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel tank free of charge. The recall began on april 4, 2005. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673, lincoln at 1-800-521-4140.
Model years: 2005
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Power adjust (seats)
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with power adjustable seats may have been inadequately welded.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the upper support assembly on the power seats. The recall began on july 20, 2004. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Model years: 2004
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Webbing (seat belts)
On certain passenger vehicles, the driver's side seat belt contacted the seat recliner during a 35 MPH ncap full-frontal barrier impact test.
Remedy: Dealers will install an insert behind the driver side seat lower trim panel. Owner notification began june 21, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not…
Model years: 2002
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Switch (exterior lighting)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles equipped with fog lights, in which the headlights may go out for various intervals and which may be preceded by flickering or blinking as a result of the circuit breaker opening.
Remedy: Dealers will install a headlight switch which incorporates a circuit breaker of revised design, and install a wiring harness connector, if needed.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles originally sold or currently registered in the states of connecticut, district of columbia, delaware, iowa, illinois, indiana, kentucky, massachusetts, maryland, maine, michigan, minnesota, missouri, new hampshire, new jersey, new york, ohio, pennsylvania, rhode island, vermont, wisconsin, and…
Remedy: Dealers will install a plastic convolute covering around the fuel lines. If the lines show a leak, the lines will be replaced first.
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Ignition (electrical system)
The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
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Latch (latches/locks/linkages)
When in the secondary latched position, the driver door latches may open when subjected to transverse loads less than that specified in FMVSS no. 206, "door locks and door retention components."
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the driver door latch.
Model years: 1996
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Air conditioner (equipment)
Under certain conditions, the climate control blower does not operate as intended. The blower could (1) stick on "high;" (2) operate erratically with blower output varying between no blower and maximum blower; or (3) not operate at all due to malfunction of the temperature control module.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the semi-automatic temperature control modules with modules containing revised software.
Model years: 1996
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Motor (visibility)
The nuts which hold windshield wiper motor to the wiper module may not have been sufficiently tightened and may loosen or come off. This causes changed wiper patterns, or the wipers may jam if two of the three nuts come off.
Remedy: Apply torque retention material to wiper motor studs and nuts and retorque.
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Automatic transmission (power train)
The park rod assembly contains a park cam with inadequate surface hardness, which could lead to park disengagement or no park engagement when the lever is placed in park.
Remedy: Replace park rod assembly on automatic transmissions.
Model years: 1991
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Cables (electrical system)
Battery to starter cables are longer than specified; excessive cable length could contact engine damper pulley.
Remedy: Replace battery to starter cable with correct length cable.
Model years: 1990
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Springs (suspension)
Improperly heat treated rear suspension knuckles could experience high mileage fatigue cracks and eventual fracture.
Remedy: Replace knuckles that have the affected lot codes.
Model years: 1989
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Caliper (service brakes)
Due to contact between the brake caliper of the inboard front wheel and the front stabilizer bar, there may be increased brake pedal travel following low speed turning maneuvers.
Remedy: Install acorn type front suspension strut nuts to eliminate stabilizer bar to brake caliper contact.
Model years: 1989
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Mounting (fuel system)
Plastic rollover valve mounting plate may not be properly sealed to the plastic fuel tank.
Remedy: Replace fuel tank.
Model years: 1989
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Axle shaft (power train)
A design change to facilitate changeover in rear axle shaft flanges inadvertently produced the possibility for interference between the flange and disc brake rotor.
Remedy: Inspection of vehicles and where necessary replace rear axle shafts and rear brake rotors.
Model years: 1988
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
Spring lock fuel line coupling may not be properly engaged.
Remedy: Install retainer clips over the couplings to prevent coupling separation and fuel leakage.
Model years: 1986, 1987
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Master cylinder (service brakes)
Brake master cylinders may have improperly anodized internal surfaces causing accelerated wear of a piston seal. Consequence of defect: one portion of the split brake system would become ineffective resulting in increased stopping distance which may cause an accident. Driver would be warned by increased pedal travel and the brake…
Remedy: Master cylinders built on january 9, 1985 will be replaced.
Model years: 1985
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Fan (engine and engine cooling)
Blades may crack and may, over a period of time, loosen from fan assembly.
Remedy: Fan assembly will be replaced without charge.
Model years: 1977
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Anchorage (seat belts)
The bolts that attach the d-shaped ring for the shoulder belt are inadequately supported by the material in which they are mounted. The attachment does not comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages".
Remedy: Dealers will install new attaching hardware to improve the strength of the mounting.
Model years: 1984
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
Fuel leaks could develop in either of two connections in a fuel supply line. One connection under the vehicle may have been damaged or improperly installed. The other suspect part is in the engine compartment and contains a pressure relief valve.
Remedy: The dealer will install a revised design fuel line valve assembly with new hose clamps and replace the fuel supply hose clamp, if it is damaged or incorrect. Notification was made to dealers prior to any recorded…
Model years: 1983
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Automatic transmission (power train)
The parking gear may not engage, even though the gear shift lever is placed in the "park" position. This occurs if the linkage inside the transmission that actuates the park gear was improperly manufactured. A pin that retains components on a linkage (actuating) rod could break and the linkage may not engage the parking gear.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the parking pawl actuating rod assembly.
Model years: 1983
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Tank assembly (fuel system)
Some of these vehicles may have been built with fuel tanks that have inadequately welded front seams that can leak.
Remedy: The dealer will determine if the vehicle was corrected at the factory; if not, the fuel tank will be replaced at no charge to the owner.
Model years: 1983
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Fan (engine and engine cooling)
Some of the flexible five-blade engine cooling fans may be subject to high blade stresses that can result from resonant vibration inputs occurring during normal vehicle operation. This can lead to fatigue cracking of the blades. Portions of the blade may separate from the fan assembly without prior warning.
Remedy: Dealer will replace fan with an improved five-bladed version without charge to owner.
Model years: 1977
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Wheel cylinders (service brakes)
The involved vehicles do not conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 105, "hydraulic brake systems". Rear axle assemblies intended for other vehicles may have been installed in the involved vehicles. The wheel cylinders may not be the correct size. This could affect braking performance.
Remedy: Dealer will replace any incorrect wheel cylinders without charge to owner.
Model years: 1980
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Pedals and linkages (service brakes)
The involved vehicles were produced with brake push-rod to brake pedal retaining pins which were not heat-treated as specified. This could allow the brake pedal to become disengaged from the push-rod.
Remedy: Dealer will replace the suspect brake retaining pin.
Model years: 1979
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Mid/rear assembly (seats)
The involved vehicles may have been built with incorrect weld nuts that attach the rear portion of the front outboard seat track to the floor pan. The incorrect nuts have an oversize diameter and thread, and upon front seat track anchor bolt installation, the threads may have been stripped.
Remedy: The dealer will inspect and, if necessary, repair any stripped weld nuts and install larger size bolts to anchor the seat track to the floor at no cost to owner.
Model years: 1979
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Shaft sector (steering)
The steering gears on the involved vehicles may have been built with improperly manufactured sector shafts from which the threaded portions of the shafts may fracture and separate. Should the sector shaft fracture, the pitman arm may disengage from the splined portion of the sector shaft.
Remedy: The dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the steering gear assembly or install a new sector shaft in the steering gear assembly.
Model years: 1979
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Retractor (seat belts)
The involved vehicles are equipped with shoulder harness retractors that may not lock. Should the vehicle experience a sudden deceleration or impact, the front seat occupant may not be restrained by the shoulder harness portion of the three-point seat belt system. Furthermore, the shoulder harness retractors may not allow extraction of…
Remedy: The dealer will replace the seat belt assemblies if necessary, without charge to owner.
Model years: 1978
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Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (wheels)
The involved vehicles may have been equipped with cast aluminum wheels with inadequate lug nut counterbore depths. This condition may not provide sufficient lug nut thread engagement. The lug nuts may loosen and fall off, allowing the wheel to separate from the vehicle.
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if neessary, will replace the wheels without charge to owner.
Model years: 1978
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Column shift (power train)
On the involved vehicles, the park actuation support plates are defective due to their susceptibility to cracking due to improper heat treatment during manufacture. As a result, fragments from a broken plate can become lodged in the transmission parking pawl mechanism. This could prevent the transmission parking pawl from engaging when…
Remedy: The dealer will replace the park actuation cam support plates, free of charge, on all affected vehicles.
Model years: 1978
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Column shift (power train)
The involved vehicles were fitted with tilt steering columns containing transmission control inserts intended for trucks rather than passenger vehicles. This may cause the transmission selector pointer to be misaligned and the possibility of starting the engine when the selector is between the neutral (n) and drive (d) detents and the…
Remedy: Dealer will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transmission shift control insert, without charge to owner.
Model years: 1977
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (fuel system)
The involved vehicles may experience fuel leakage at the rubber hose connecting the fuel inlet tube to the carburetor filter. This leakage condition is due to insufficient insertion of the fuel tube into the hose or improper positioning of the hose clamp, causing the clamp to be crimped directly over the fuel tube bead.
Remedy: Dealer will replace the existing fuel hose clamp with a spring-type clamp at the hose-to-fuel inlet tube connection, and adjust the connection where necessary, without charge.
Model years: 1977
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Cables (vehicle speed control)
Model years: 1976
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Suspension: rear
Model years: 1975
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Carburetor system (fuel system)
Model years: 1975
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Carburetor system (fuel system)
Model years: 1975
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Carburetor system (fuel system)
Model years: 1975
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Vehicle speed control
Model years: 1974
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Starter assembly (electrical system)
Model years: 1973
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Tires
Model years: 1973
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Carburetor system (fuel system)
Model years: 1973
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Gear box (other than rack and pinion) (steering)
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Seat belts: rear/other
Model years: 1972
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Anchorage (seat belts)
Model years: 1972
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Anchorage (seat belts)
Model years: 1971
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Retractor (seat belts)
Model years: 1970
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Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)
Model years: 1967
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Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)
Model years: 1967
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Vacuum (service brakes)
Model years: 1967
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Power adjust (seats)
Model years: 1967
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.