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1993 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: 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

Exterior Lighting complaints

119 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2001
Exterior Lighting

PRIOR TO APRIL 8TH OF 1999 THE REACCURANCE HAS HAPPENED FREQUENTLY HEADLAMPS FLICKERIN G WHEN THE FOG LAMPS WERE IN USE . TWO PRIOR TIMES I CHANGED OUT THE HEADLAMP SWITCH AND IT WOULD SEEM TO WORK OK FOR A WHILE FINALLY I PROCEDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THIS SITUATION RESOLVED. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE VEHI…

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PRIOR TO APRIL 8TH OF 1999 THE REACCURANCE HAS HAPPENED FREQUENTLY HEADLAMPS FLICKERIN G WHEN THE FOG LAMPS WERE IN USE . TWO PRIOR TIMES I CHANGED OUT THE HEADLAMP SWITCH AND IT WOULD SEEM TO WORK OK FOR A WHILE FINALLY I PROCEDED TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE THIS SITUATION RESOLVED. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN, THE HEAD LAMPS WORKED FOR A MONTH OR SO THEN THEY BEGAN TO FAIL AGAIN IN NOVEMBER OF 1999 A RECALL NOTICE WAS SENT OUT ,I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO WHERE I GOT THE VEHICLE REPAIRED THE FIRSTR TIME , THAT REPAIRED THE HEAD LAMPS FOR APPROXIMATLY ONE YEAR .THE REACCURING FLICKERING OF THE HEADLAMPS STARTED AGAIN APPROXIMATLY THREE MONTHS AGO UNTILL FINALLY THE HEAD LAMPS STOPED WORKING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #741581

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 2001
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHT LENS COVER HAS BECOME VERY DIMMED OR CLOUDED OVER. THIS MAKES LIGHTING ALMOST NON EXISTENT WHEN IT'S DARK. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE, AND CAN NOT SEE ROAD CLEARLY. PROBLEM IS STEADY OR HAS STEADILY GOTTEN WORSE.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT RECALL 99V275 WAS COMPLETE ON VEHICLE , HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, DEALER …

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HEADLIGHT LENS COVER HAS BECOME VERY DIMMED OR CLOUDED OVER. THIS MAKES LIGHTING ALMOST NON EXISTENT WHEN IT'S DARK. IT'S VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE, AND CAN NOT SEE ROAD CLEARLY. PROBLEM IS STEADY OR HAS STEADILY GOTTEN WORSE.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT RECALL 99V275 WAS COMPLETE ON VEHICLE , HOWEVER PROBLEM STILL EXISTS, DEALER WILL ONLY DO REPAIR IF CONSUMER PAYS FOR IT. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #879620

Mileage unknown · Jan 9, 2001
Exterior LightingFuel System, Other

OWNER NOT SATISFIED WITH CORRECTIVE ACTION FOR RECALL CAMPAIGNS (99V-275 & 97V-159), DOES NOT WANT TO LEAVE VEHICLE ALL DAY FOR REPLACEMENT OF HEADLIGHT SWITCH (99V-257),VEHICLE TAKEN TO THREE DEALERSHIPS, CONSUMER EXPERIENCING HEADLIGHT FAILURE, DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO CORRECT RECALL 97V-159. *CJ

NHTSA ODI #558878

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2000
Exterior Lighting

WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS WILL START FLICKERING, THEN THEY GO OUT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #875748

Mileage unknown · Nov 18, 2000
Electrical SystemExterior LightingVisibility

I HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS PILE OF JUNK. FIRST THE HEADLIGHTS, TOOK IT IN ON RECALL BUT THE HEADLIGHTS STILL GO OUT ALSO ADDING TO ME NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE AND ALMOST KILLING MY DAUGHTER AND MYSELF, IS THE HEATER CORE WENT OUT ALL OVER THE FLOOR CAUSING US TO BREATH ANTIFREEZE MIST AND GETTING SICK ,AND CAUSES THE WIN…

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I HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS PILE OF JUNK. FIRST THE HEADLIGHTS, TOOK IT IN ON RECALL BUT THE HEADLIGHTS STILL GO OUT ALSO ADDING TO ME NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE AND ALMOST KILLING MY DAUGHTER AND MYSELF, IS THE HEATER CORE WENT OUT ALL OVER THE FLOOR CAUSING US TO BREATH ANTIFREEZE MIST AND GETTING SICK ,AND CAUSES THE WINDOWS TO STEAM UP, BECAUSE I HAD TO UNDO THE HOSES , SO THE CAR WOULD STOP OVER HEATING , BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD $700 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED SO NOW WE ARE ALSO FREEZING TO DEATH ALONG WITH THE BREAKS NOT WORKING AND THE CAR DYING AT STOP LIGHTS AND WHEN TAKING TURNS OR CORNERS WHICH CAUSES THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES TO GO OUT BECAUSE OT POWERED,OH YA DID I MENTION I SPENT 500.ON A WATER PUMP AND 1000 ON NEW BRAKES JUST FOR THE BREAKES TO STILL NOT WORK WHEN I PICKED IT UP FROM THE SHOP. I COUL D GO ON BUT I WILL GIVE YOU A BREAK, I AM JUST REALLY FRUSTRATED I CANT AFFORD TO PUT ANY MORE MONEY INTO THIS CAR BECUASE SOMETHING ELSE WILL JUST GO BESIDED IM A SINGLE MOM WORKING TO KEEP OUR HEADS UP . I WAS READING THAT A JUDGE IN CALIFORNIA MADE FORD BY BACK THESE CARS BECAUSE OF AN INCIDENT WHERE A MOTHER AND CHILD WERE ALMOST HURT WHEN HER CAR STALLED JUST LIKE MINE DOES CONSTANTLY. THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP AND I FEAR FOR MY DAUGHTERS SAFETY BUT IT THE ONLY THING I GOT TO GET HER TO THE SITTERS AND ME TO WORK . PLEASE HELP WHAT CAN BE DONE? THANK YOU SINCERELY STEPHENIE COLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #736513

Mileage unknown · Nov 17, 2000
Exterior Lighting

RECALL 99V275 000/ CONCERNING HEADLIGHT SWITCH. AFTER RECALL REPAIRS WERE DONE CONDITION BECAME WORSE. MULTI- FUNCTION SWITCH WAS BURNED OUT UPON RECEIPT FROM DEALER. CONSUMER STATED THAT SWITCH WAS WORKING PRIOR TO RECALL REPAIRS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #875161

Mileage unknown · Sep 21, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingEquipmentExterior Lighting

HEAD GASKETS FAILED,HEAD LIGHTS FAILED,A/C FAILED,THROTTLE CABLE FAILED,THERMOSTAT FAILED,CLUTCH FAN FAILED,TAPE PLAYER NEVER WORKED

NHTSA ODI #732094

Mileage unknown · Sep 1, 2000
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHTS BLEW OUT WHEN THE FOG LIGHTS WERE ON. DEALER HAS REPAIRED VEHICLE UNDER A RECALL; HOWEVER THE PROBLEM HAS REOCCURRED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #869321

Mileage unknown · Aug 18, 2000
Exterior Lighting

HEADLIGHT LENSES HAVE WORN OUT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #868126

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2000
Exterior Lighting

HAD #99S30 DONE WELL B4 RECALL;HEADLIGHTS STILL GO OFF & ON EVEN WHEN FOG LIGHTS ARE NOT ON,FORD SAYS NOT RESPONSIBLE,PART OUT OF WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #727981

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

3

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