2002 Ford Thunderbird Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2002 Ford Thunderbird, and owners have filed 93 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
- 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
1 safety recall for the 2002 Ford Thunderbird
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
-
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…
93 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2002 Ford Thunderbird have filed 93 complaints with NHTSA; 4 describe a crash. Reports cite 4 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 38,607 miles. Complaints peaked in 2003 with 14 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2002 Ford Thunderbird. The contact stated while driving 5 MPH and attempting to make a turn, the steering wheel seized. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 5, 2023 · Steering
“The contact owns a 2002 Ford Thunderbird. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH and making a left turn, the power steering suddenly failed and the steering wheel would not turn in”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 5, 2023 · Steering
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2002 Ford Thunderbird. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 17 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15 / 22 |
| Fuel | Premium |
| EPA class | Two Seaters |
| Engine | 8 cyl, 3.9 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 5-spd |
Compare Ford Thunderbird model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Thunderbird model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 1 |
| 1965 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 1 |
| 1967 Ford Thunderbird | 4 | 0 |
| 1970 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 1 |
| 1971 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 0 |
| 1972 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 0 |
| 1973 Ford Thunderbird | 4 | 0 |
| 1974 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 Ford Thunderbird | 4 | 0 |
| 1976 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 Ford Thunderbird | 4 | 1 |
| 1978 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 1 |
| 1979 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 1 |
| 1980 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 3 |
| 1983 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 3 |
| 1984 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 26 |
| 1985 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 14 |
| 1986 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 23 |
| 1987 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 61 |
| 1988 Ford Thunderbird | 2 | 92 |
| 1989 Ford Thunderbird | 4 | 124 |
| 1990 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 140 |
| 1991 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 112 |
| 1992 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 184 |
| 1993 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 423 |
| 1994 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 300 |
| 1995 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 261 |
| 1996 Ford Thunderbird | 2 | 233 |
| 1997 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 169 |
| 1998 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 3 |
| 1999 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 2 |
| 2002 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 93 |
| 2003 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 33 |
| 2004 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 34 |
| 2005 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 27 |
Checking a specific 2002 Ford Thunderbird
How do I know if my 2002 Ford Thunderbird has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2002 Ford Thunderbird; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 02V169000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
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.