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1992 Ford Thunderbird

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 6 of 184 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Exterior Lighting. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports11 fire reports8 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

27 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2010
Electrical System

1992 FORD THUNDERBIRD RECALLED FOR REPLACEMENT OF IGNITION SWITCH A FEW YEARS BACK (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA95002). DEFECTIVE SWITCH WAS REPLACED WITH EXACT SAME PART THAT WAS RECALLED AND FAILED AGAIN WITHIN ONE YEAR WITH TWO HALVES OF UNIT AGAIN COMING APART. I HAVE JUST REPLACED FOR THE FIFTH TIME WITH EXACT SAME DEFECTIVE U…

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1992 FORD THUNDERBIRD RECALLED FOR REPLACEMENT OF IGNITION SWITCH A FEW YEARS BACK (NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA95002). DEFECTIVE SWITCH WAS REPLACED WITH EXACT SAME PART THAT WAS RECALLED AND FAILED AGAIN WITHIN ONE YEAR WITH TWO HALVES OF UNIT AGAIN COMING APART. I HAVE JUST REPLACED FOR THE FIFTH TIME WITH EXACT SAME DEFECTIVE UNIT, THIS BEING THE ONLY THING AVAILABLE FROM FORD AND FROM AFTERMARKET SUPPLIERS. HOW DOES REPLACING DEFECTIVE PART WITH EXACTLY SAME PART ELIMINATE FIRE HAZARD ASSOCIATED WITH THIS PART WHICH PROMPTED RECALL IN THE FIRST PLACE??? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10355763

98,000 miles · Jan 24, 2005
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

CONSUMER' S VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AS STATED IN NHTSA RECALLS 96V071000 AND 99V27500 CONCERNING IGNITION SYSTEM AND HEADLIGHTS. THE DEALERSHIP INDICATED CONSUMER'S VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *NM

NHTSA ODI #10092913

Mileage unknown · Aug 24, 2004
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE COMING IN FROM THE VENTS. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, LIFTED THE HOOD UP, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10089668

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2004
Electrical System

WHILE PLACING THE KEY INSIDE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH THE KEY FAILED TO COME OUT FROM THE IGNITION. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10087910

Mileage unknown · May 12, 2004
Electrical System

WHILE PLACING THE KEY IN THE IGNITION SWITCH VEHICLE FAILED TO START. CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, AND THEN RESTARTED IT. DROVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC REPLACED SOLENOID SWITCH INSIDE THE IGNITION DUE TO A BURNT OUT WIRE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10073541

Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 2003
Electrical System

WHILE DRIVING THE EEC FUSE BLEW OUT AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STALL. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NLM

NHTSA ODI #10015869

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 2002
Electrical SystemExterior Lighting

SOMETIMES TURN SIGNAL WORKS AND SOMETIMES THEY DO NOT WORK. CONSUMER HAS TO WIGGLE KEY, AND SIGNALS MAY OR MAY NOT ILLUMINATE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. RECALL 96 V 071 000 DESCRIBED THE SAME PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ODI #8017208

Mileage unknown · Aug 21, 2002
Electrical SystemFire

THE HARNESS AT THE ALTERNATOR HAS CAUGHT FIRE TWICE AND I HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR THREE TIMES IN TWO YEARS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT STARTS SMOKING AND SUET COMES OUT AND YOU THINK THE CAR IS GOING TO BLOW UP. IT IS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. THE MECHANIC FOUND SERVICE BULLENTIN ARTICLE #96-21-4 WHICH DESC…

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THE HARNESS AT THE ALTERNATOR HAS CAUGHT FIRE TWICE AND I HAVE REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR THREE TIMES IN TWO YEARS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT STARTS SMOKING AND SUET COMES OUT AND YOU THINK THE CAR IS GOING TO BLOW UP. IT IS A VERY FRIGHTENING EXPERIENCE. THE MECHANIC FOUND SERVICE BULLENTIN ARTICLE #96-21-4 WHICH DESCRIBES THIS. IT HAS HAPPENED TO ME TWICE IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS. I AM VERY DISTRUBED. PLEASE HELP ME.*AK

NHTSA ODI #766004

Mileage unknown · Jul 9, 2002
Electrical System

VEHICLE EXHIBITS SYMPTOMS SIMILAR TO EARLIER MODELS WITH TFI; SUDDEN STALL AT ANY SPEED OR CONFIGURATION. ALWAYS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH AMBIENT/ENGINE TEMPERATURE. PROBLEM HAS OCCURED ON HIGHWAY, CREATING EXTRAORDINARILY DANGEROUS SITUATION. DEALER TECHNICIAN DISMISSED POSSIBLE IGNITION FAILURE WHEN ASKED.

NHTSA ODI #764003

Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2001
Electrical System

HEADLIGHTS GOE OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS WHICH MAY BE PRECEDED BY FLICKERING OR BLINKING AS A RESULT OF CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ODI #890264

Official recalls

3

99V275000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

Oct 12, 1999

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH INCORPORATES A CIRCUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN, AND INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, IF NEEDED.

97V159000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Sep 22, 1997

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 WEST VIRGINIA. MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL LINES CAUSES THE NYLON FUEL LINE JUMPER TO CHAFE AGAINST THE FLOOR PAN. THIS WEAR CAN CAUSE A PIN HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTS IN DAMPNESS AND FUEL ODOR, AND IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PLASTIC CONVOLUTE COVERING AROUND THE FUEL LINES. IF THE LINES SHOW A LEAK, THE LINES WILL BE REPLACED FIRST.

96V071000 · Electrical System:ignition

Apr 25, 1996

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

5

EA99005 · Headlight Switch

Opened Jan 20, 1999 · Closed Dec 14, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WITH AN INTERNAL, BIMETAL CIRCUIT BREAKER THAT CAN OPEN DUE TO OVERHEATING DURING HEADLING OPERATION.

RQ98015 · Headlight Circuit Breaker

Opened Sep 29, 1998 · Closed Jan 22, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

HEADLIGHT SWITCH WITH AN ITERNAL, BIMETAL CIRCUIT BREALER THAT MAY OPEN DUE TO OVERHEATING DURING HEADLIGHT OPERATION

RQ97011 · Fuel Line Jumper

Opened Sep 25, 1997 · Closed Nov 16, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF THE ALLEGED FUEL LINE FAILURES OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL GEOGRAPHIC REGION AND IF THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED NATIONALLY

EA95030 · Rear Fuel Line Interference

Opened Oct 31, 1995 · Closed Sep 30, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

THE REAR FUEL TUBE BUNDLE MAY ABRADE AND FAIL IN THE VICINITY OF THE FUEL TANK.

PE93075 · Thrttl Vlv Linkage Bushing

Opened Aug 30, 1993 · Closed Dec 30, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available