Complaints by model year
Distinct federal complaints filed against each model year of the Ford Thunderbird, to date. Hover a bar for the count. Older years have had longer to accumulate filings; the rankings below correct for that.
1983
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
2002
2003
2004
2005
Highest totals within an 8-year windowAll other years
Model years compared
Ranked from the same federal record on an equal exposure window. Click any year for its full file.
Highest complaint totals
- 1993 Ford Thunderbird - 372 complaints in its first 8 years (423 to date)
- 1994 Ford Thunderbird - 275 complaints in its first 8 years (300 to date)
- 1995 Ford Thunderbird - 240 complaints in its first 8 years (261 to date)
Ranked on distinct complaints filed within eight years of the model year, so old and new years get the same exposure window. Not adjusted for sales volume; a best-selling year files more complaints at the same failure rate.
Lowest totals among mature years
- 2002 Ford Thunderbird - 49 complaints in its first 8 years (93 to date)
- 1991 Ford Thunderbird - 75 complaints in its first 8 years (112 to date)
- 1990 Ford Thunderbird - 84 complaints in its first 8 years (140 to date)
Same eight-year window, among model years old enough to have completed it and with at least 25 complaints in it. Model years before 1990 are excluded because the federal file begins in 1995. A low total is not proof of reliability.
What owners report, all years combined
Every model year
| Model year | Complaints to date | Within 8 years | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Ford Thunderbird | 27 | 11 | 1 |
| 2004 Ford Thunderbird | 34 | 19 | 1 |
| 2003 Ford Thunderbird | 33 | 19 | 0 |
| 2002 Ford Thunderbird | 93 | 49 | 1 |
| 1999 Ford Thunderbird | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1998 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 1997 Ford Thunderbird | 169 | 152 | 0 |
| 1996 Ford Thunderbird | 233 | 215 | 2 |
| 1995 Ford Thunderbird | 261 | 240 | 0 |
| 1994 Ford Thunderbird | 300 | 275 | 0 |
| 1993 Ford Thunderbird | 423 | 372 | 3 |
| 1992 Ford Thunderbird | 184 | 131 | 3 |
| 1991 Ford Thunderbird | 112 | 75 | 3 |
| 1990 Ford Thunderbird | 140 | 84 | 3 |
| 1989 Ford Thunderbird | 124 | 63 | 4 |
| 1988 Ford Thunderbird | 92 | 45 | 2 |
| 1987 Ford Thunderbird | 61 | 14 | 1 |
| 1986 Ford Thunderbird | 23 | 0 | 1 |
| 1985 Ford Thunderbird | 14 | 0 | 1 |
| 1984 Ford Thunderbird | 26 | 0 | 1 |
| 1983 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Recall campaigns, all years
Every campaign filed against this model, with the model years it covers. Safety-recall remedies are normally provided at no charge. Under US federal law the mandatory free remedy applies when the vehicle was no more than 15 years old at the time the defect was determined; manufacturers often cover older vehicles voluntarily. Canadian rules differ. Confirm eligibility with the manufacturer using the VIN.
| Campaign | Years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 05V113000 | 2005 | Fuel System, Gasoline | ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL TANK MAY HAVE A LOCALIZED THIN WALL SECTION IN THE LOWER HALF OF THE TANK. |
| 04V330000 | 2004 | Seats | CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER ADJUSTABLE SEATS MAY HAVE BEEN INADEQUATELY WELDED. |
| 02V169000 | 2002 | 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. |
| 99V275000 | 1992-1993 | 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... |
| 97V159000 | 1992-1993 | Fuel System, Gasoline | VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY,... |
| 96V071000 | 1988-1993 | Electrical System | THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT. |
| 96V070000 | 1996 | 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. |
| 96V007000 | 1996 | Equipment | UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE CLIMATE CONTROL BLOWER DOES NOT OPERATE AS INTENDED. |
| 91V076000 | 1990-1991 | Visibility | THE NUTS WHICH HOLD WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO THE WIPER MODULE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED AND MAY LOOSEN OR COME OFF. |
| 91V048000 | 1991 | 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. |
| 90V026000 | 1990 | Electrical System | BATTERY TO STARTER CABLES ARE LONGER THAN SPECIFIED; EXCESSIVE CABLE LENGTH COULD CONTACT ENGINE DAMPER PULLEY. |
| 89V081000 | 1989 | Service Brakes, Air | 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. |
| 89V080000 | 1989 | Suspension | IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLES COULD EXPERIENCE HIGH MILEAGE FATIGUE CRACKS AND EVENTUAL FRACTURE. |
| 88V165000 | 1989 | Fuel System, Gasoline | PLASTIC ROLLOVER VALVE MOUNTING PLATE MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SEALED TO THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK. |
| 88V033000 | 1988 | 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. |
| 87V139000 | 1986-1987 | Fuel System, Gasoline | SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED. |
| 85V025000 | 1985 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY HAVE IMPROPERLY ANODIZED INTERNAL SURFACES CAUSING ACCELERATED WEAR OF A PISTON SEAL. |
| 83V134000 | 1984 | 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. |
| 83V039000 | 1983 | Fuel System, Gasoline | 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. |
| 83V028000 | 1983 | Power Train | THE PARKING GEAR MAY NOT ENGAGE, EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION. |
| 83V012000 | 1983 | Fuel System, Gasoline | SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH FUEL TANKS THAT HAVE INADEQUATELY WELDED FRONT SEAMS THAT CAN LEAK. |