IllustrationBLOWN HEAD GASKET
1993 Ford Thunderbird
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Thunderbird years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 14 of 423 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 171 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 119 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports7 fire reports6 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
171 reportsI AM MAKING THIS COMPLAINT ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET I HAD TO REPLACE RECENTLY. I CALLED FORD TO COMPLAIN AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NOT GOTTEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. NOW I FIND OUT IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT. I ALSO READ THAT FORD WAS GOING TO REPLACE/PAY FOR SOME BUT NOT ALL THE 3.8 L ENGINES WITH THIS PR…
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I AM MAKING THIS COMPLAINT ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET I HAD TO REPLACE RECENTLY. I CALLED FORD TO COMPLAIN AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NOT GOTTEN MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS. NOW I FIND OUT IT SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON COMPLAINT. I ALSO READ THAT FORD WAS GOING TO REPLACE/PAY FOR SOME BUT NOT ALL THE 3.8 L ENGINES WITH THIS PROBLEM. MY 1993 THUNDERBIRD IS NOT INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. THIS SEEMS TO BE DISCRIMINATORY ON FORD'S PART. I ONLY HOPE THERE IS SOME INFLUENCE NHTSA CAN HAVE IN THIS MATTER. THANKYOU. *AK
DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET CAUSED THE ENGINE TO EASE UP & FAIL. ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED FOUR TIMES. DEALER SAID HEAD GASKETS WERE THE REASON WHY THE ENGINE HAD TO BE REPLACED SO MANY TIMES. *AK
HEAD GASKET LEAKING ON CYLINDERS 1&2. *AK
HAVE HEARD OF POSSIBLE WIDESPREAD PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKET OF THIS TYPE. WOULD LIKE INFORMATION BEFORE WE HAVE IT FIXED. IS FORD RECALLING, EXTENDING WARRANTY? *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE PREMATURELY BLOWN OUT FOUR TIMES, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO LOCK UP. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
BLEW A HEAD GASKET AT A LITTLE OVER 90000 MILES. THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST BLINDING DRIVERS BEHIND AND ON EITHER SIDE. THE CAR ALSO STALLED SEVERAL TIMES BLOCKING TRAFFIC AT MAJOR INTERSECTIONS LEADING UP TO THE ENGINE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS COVERED FOR 1994 AND 1995 T-BIRDS UP TO 100000 MILES, BUT BECAU…
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BLEW A HEAD GASKET AT A LITTLE OVER 90000 MILES. THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE EXHAUST BLINDING DRIVERS BEHIND AND ON EITHER SIDE. THE CAR ALSO STALLED SEVERAL TIMES BLOCKING TRAFFIC AT MAJOR INTERSECTIONS LEADING UP TO THE ENGINE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM IS COVERED FOR 1994 AND 1995 T-BIRDS UP TO 100000 MILES, BUT BECAUSE MINE IS A 1993, THEY ARE REFUSING TO REIMBURSE ME FOR THE COST OF THE REPAIR. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT. I CONTACTED FORD AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PROVIDE AN EXPLANATION OF ANY KIND FOR WHY THE 1994 IS COVERED, YET THE 1993 IS NOT FOR THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. *AK
ENGINE HEAD GASKET IS BLUE AT 82,00 MILES. *AK
HEAD GASKET BLOWN AT 72,000 MILES. THERE IS NO RECALL OR TSB ON THIS PROBLEM, YET IN CHECKING NHTSA COMPLAINT SECTION THERE APPEARS TO BE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. OF COURSE THESE ARE ONLY THOSE PEOPLE THAT TOOK THE TIME TO FILE A COMPLAINT. MY LOCAL DEALER, JORDAN FORD IN MISHAWAKA, IN, SAYS THAT HE WI…
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HEAD GASKET BLOWN AT 72,000 MILES. THERE IS NO RECALL OR TSB ON THIS PROBLEM, YET IN CHECKING NHTSA COMPLAINT SECTION THERE APPEARS TO BE HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. OF COURSE THESE ARE ONLY THOSE PEOPLE THAT TOOK THE TIME TO FILE A COMPLAINT. MY LOCAL DEALER, JORDAN FORD IN MISHAWAKA, IN, SAYS THAT HE WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND REFUSED TO GIVE ME A NUMBER FOR FORD THAT I COULD CALL TO REGISTER MY COMPLAINT. *AK
TALKING WITH OTHER FORD OWNERS, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTOR, YET FORD DOES NOT ACKNOWLEGDE OR ASSIST IN ANYWAY WITH THE THUNDERBIRD MODELS. *AK
Official recalls
399V275000 · 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
3EA99005 · 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