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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

What owners actually said

184 reports
Mileage unknown · Feb 14, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

VEHICLE IN DEALER SHOP FOR RECALL REPAIRS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WAS A BLOWN ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856866

Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2000
Exterior Lighting

NHTSA RECALL NO:99V275000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL NO:99S30 CONCERNING HEADLIGHTS. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE, AND DEALER DIDN'T SAY WHEN THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #856506

Mileage unknown · Jan 30, 2000
Electrical SystemFuel System, Gasoline

IN THE U.S. MILITARY STATIONED IN EUROPE. FUEL PUMP AND RELAY MALFUNCTIONED. WHILE INSTALLING NEW FUEL PUMP AND RELAY, THE FORD TECHNICIAN FOUND THE WIRING HARNESS PROVIDING CURRENT TO THE PUMP WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR WAS A FAULTY DESIGN. IT HAD CHAFFED THROUGH THE HARNESS CASING EXPOSING THE CHARRED AND MELTED WIRES INSIDE.…

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IN THE U.S. MILITARY STATIONED IN EUROPE. FUEL PUMP AND RELAY MALFUNCTIONED. WHILE INSTALLING NEW FUEL PUMP AND RELAY, THE FORD TECHNICIAN FOUND THE WIRING HARNESS PROVIDING CURRENT TO THE PUMP WAS IMPROPERLY INSTALLED OR WAS A FAULTY DESIGN. IT HAD CHAFFED THROUGH THE HARNESS CASING EXPOSING THE CHARRED AND MELTED WIRES INSIDE. SUBSEQUENT CHAFFING OF INNER WIRES CAUSED A SHORT IN THE CIRCUIT AND MELTING OF THE WIRES THEMSELVES. DUE TO THE PROXIMITY OF THE SHORT, AN EXPLOSION COULD OCCUR IF FUEL VAPORS ARE PRESENT. THE TECHNICIAN WAS SURPRISED IT HAD NOT EXPLODED. THIS VEHICLE HAS A CURRENT RECALL FOR OTHER FUEL SYSTEM DEFECTS. A COMBINATION OF THE 2 COULD BE DEADLY IF THE OWNER IN UNAWARE OF EITHER PROBLEM AREA. I HAVE AND WILL RETAIN THE HARNESS FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION IF NEEDED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #718052

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2000
Power Train

GAS PEDAL STICKING TO THE FLOOR. *ET

NHTSA ODI #784427

Mileage unknown · Jan 13, 2000
Power TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

THE PLASTIC TRANSMISSION CABLE END BROKE OFF THE THROTTLE BODY CAUSING THE GAS PEDAL STICKING TO THE FLOOR.*ET

NHTSA ODI #784426

Mileage unknown · Jan 4, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingExterior Lighting

ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR A WHILE AND FINALLY WENT. HEARD NUMEROUS REPORTS AND READ ARTICALS RANGING FROM A SHOW BY 'MOTOR TREND ' TO DEALER COMMENTS ON THE PROBLEM WITH DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS IN 3.8L ENGINES. ALSO, KNOW NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH AN ENGINE LIKE MINE ,HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE "LIGHT BAR"…

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ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAS BEEN LEAKING FOR A WHILE AND FINALLY WENT. HEARD NUMEROUS REPORTS AND READ ARTICALS RANGING FROM A SHOW BY 'MOTOR TREND ' TO DEALER COMMENTS ON THE PROBLEM WITH DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKETS IN 3.8L ENGINES. ALSO, KNOW NUMEROUS PEOPLE WITH AN ENGINE LIKE MINE ,HAVE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. THE "LIGHT BAR" INSIDE THE TAILLIGHTS ARE ANOTHER PROBLEM, YOU DON'T SEE A T-BIRD ON THE ROAD TODAY THAT DOESN'T HAVE AT LEAST PART OF THEIR TAIL LIGHTS BURNED OUT SO I KNOW ITS NOT JUST MINE AND THEY STARTED DOING THIS MANY MILES AGO! I TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLES,SO I KNOW THIS IS NOT FROM ABUSE! LIKE I SAID WHEN DEALERS TELL YOU THEY'RE HAVING A PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN PARTS AND CAR SHOWS,MAGAZINES , AND CONSUMER REPORTS SAY THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH AHEAD GASKET ON A CERTAIN ENGINE YOU KNOW YOU'RE NOT ALONE! REPLACING A HEAD GASKET IS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR , I THOUGHT I WOULD CHECK INTO THIS BEFORE FOOTING THE BILL MYSELF. PLEASE LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS YOU CAN IF ANYTHING CAN BE DONE ABOUT THIS AS I'M NOT ABLE TO DRIVE THE CAR ...THANKS ,LYNN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #716869

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

FILLED VEHICLE WITH FUEL & DROVE HOME. PARKED VEHICLE IN GARAGE. NOTICED AN ODOR OF GASOLINE. CHECKED VEHICLE & DISCOVERED A LEAK UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC & THE GASKETS WERE REPLACED, TWICE. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC WOULD NOT CHECK UNLESS A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS DONE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #854623

Mileage unknown · Dec 29, 1999
Fuel System, Gasoline

SEE CAMPAIGN ID 97V159000. CAMPAIGN DESCRIBES EXACT PROBLEM ENCOUNTERED, BUT DOES NOT APPLY TO MY SPECIFIC CAR. PROBLEM: NYLON FUEL LINE AT GAS TANK CHAFED TO CREATE FUEL LEAK. *AK

NHTSA ODI #716604

Mileage unknown · Dec 16, 1999
Exterior Lighting

MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH FAILED. NLM

NHTSA ODI #549984

Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 1999
Seat Belts

DRIVER SIDE MOTORIZED SEAT BELT STUCK MID CYCLE. ACCORDING TO TWO MECHANICS,FAILURE IN THE TRACK SYSTEM. THEY BOTH REPORT THAT THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS;IN FACT, THE SECOND MECHANIC COMPLETED MY COMPLAINT AFTER I GAVE HIM THE MAKE AND MENTIONED SEATBELTS. SO FAR, I'VE NOT HAD ANY INJURIES OTHER THAN A BUMPED HEAD, TRYING…

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DRIVER SIDE MOTORIZED SEAT BELT STUCK MID CYCLE. ACCORDING TO TWO MECHANICS,FAILURE IN THE TRACK SYSTEM. THEY BOTH REPORT THAT THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS;IN FACT, THE SECOND MECHANIC COMPLETED MY COMPLAINT AFTER I GAVE HIM THE MAKE AND MENTIONED SEATBELTS. SO FAR, I'VE NOT HAD ANY INJURIES OTHER THAN A BUMPED HEAD, TRYING YO GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE, BUT I DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE EFFICACY IN AN ACCIDENT SHOULD THE TRACK SYSTEM FAIL DURING AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #716014

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