IllustrationRECALL # 99V275000 FORD/HEADLIGHTS; DEALER WAS REFUSING TO NONOR RECALL NOTICE. CONSUMER WAS EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEM AS STATED IN RECALL. DEALER INSISTED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT RELATED TO RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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
Exterior Lighting complaints
119 reportsHIGH MOUNTED STOP LIGHT BULBS FAIL DUE TO EXCESSIVE HEAT BUILD-UP IN PLASTIC HOUSING WHICH CAUSES PLASTIC BULB SOCKETS TO MELT TO BULBS. *MJS
NHTSA RECALL 99V275000 CONCERNING HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILURE. CONSUMER HAD THIS RECALL REPAIRED ON DEC. 12, 1999, THE SWITCH HAS GONE BAD AGAIN ON 02-FEB-2000. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
RECALL 99V275000; DEALER FIXED THE RECALL, BUT VEHICLE IS STILL EXPERIENCING HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONING WHICH MAY CAUSE VISIUAL DIFFICULTY, AND RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER NEEDED TO REPLACE "OTHER SWITCHES" AND WILL CHARGE CONSUMER. *AK
HEADLAMP SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE. NLM
ONGOING PROBLEM WITH HEADLIGHT LENSES FADNG/DISCOLORATION WHICH CAUSE POOR VISIBILITY WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED ON THIS MATTER. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCE FAILURE OF THE RECALL COMPONENT PRIOR TO NOTICE, REPAIRS MADE TO WRONG COMPONENT AND CONSUMER WOULD LIKE REIMBURSEMENT FOR PRIOR WRONG REPAIRS (99V-275). *MJS
HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (99V-275) CAUSING LIGHTS TO FLICKER. PRIOR TO NOTICE DEALER REPLACED THE DIMMER SWITCH WHICH DID NOT RECTIFY THE FLICKERING PROBLEM. CONSUMER IS SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE WRONG PART THAT WAS CHANGED. NLM
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 99V275000 IN MAIL. CONTACTED DEALER & SET APPOINTMENT. WAS INFORMED BY SERVICE MANAGER THAT RECALL APPLIED ONLY TO NEW DESIGN OF HEADLIGHT SWITCH. INFORMATION IN LETTER DID NOT STATE HEADLIGHT DESIGN. OWNER HAD SWITCH REPLACED TWICE BEFORE RECEIVING NOTICE. MANUFACTURER WAS BACKING DEALERSHIP. OWNER WANT…
Read full complaint
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 99V275000 IN MAIL. CONTACTED DEALER & SET APPOINTMENT. WAS INFORMED BY SERVICE MANAGER THAT RECALL APPLIED ONLY TO NEW DESIGN OF HEADLIGHT SWITCH. INFORMATION IN LETTER DID NOT STATE HEADLIGHT DESIGN. OWNER HAD SWITCH REPLACED TWICE BEFORE RECEIVING NOTICE. MANUFACTURER WAS BACKING DEALERSHIP. OWNER WANTED AREFUND BASED ON WHAT WAS IN LETTER. OWNER UPSET. *AK
CONSUMER UNABLE TO HAVE RECALL 99V-275 REPAIRED FOR THE HEADLIGHT FLICKERING DUE TO DEALER PROBLEM. *NLM
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