IllustrationUPON STARTING VEHICLE GAS WILL POUR OUT ONTO THE GROUND. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE A POSSIBLE FIRE. 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
Fuel System, Gasoline complaints
15 reportsTHE CAR HESITATES WHEN GAS IS MASHED WHICH COULD, CAUSE AN ACCIDENT
THERE IS A REGIONAL RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM NHTSA RECALL 97V159 AND FORD RECALL 97S84. THE RECALL WAS LIMITED TO NORTHERN STATES AND IS NOT COVERING MY CAR THAT IS REGISTERED IN GEORGIA. WHY IS THIS ONLY A RECALL ONLY FOR THE NORTHERN STATES IF THIS PROBLEM OCCURS IN THE SAME MODELS IN OTHER AREAS. *AK
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO GASKETS, REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES AS WELL AS FUEL LINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS MALFUNCTION IN THE POWER MIRRORS AND THE POWER LOCKS, ILLUMINATION CONTROLS AS WELL AS MOTOR IN DRIVERS SIDE DOOR<POWER DOOR>, SEATBELTS WILL NOT ENGAGE AND SIGNALS FOR SEATBELT TO BE WORN , SEATBELT ALARM WILL NO…
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ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO GASKETS, REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES AS WELL AS FUEL LINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS MALFUNCTION IN THE POWER MIRRORS AND THE POWER LOCKS, ILLUMINATION CONTROLS AS WELL AS MOTOR IN DRIVERS SIDE DOOR<POWER DOOR>, SEATBELTS WILL NOT ENGAGE AND SIGNALS FOR SEATBELT TO BE WORN , SEATBELT ALARM WILL NOT SHUT OFF UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS SOLVED.COOLENT SYSTEM FAILURE AT POINT OF ENGINE FAILURE , DECREASE IN COMPRESSION AND WHITE SMOKE FROM HOOD, LEVELS READ VERY HOT!!.*AK
THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A GASOLINE LEAK; THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DEVELOPED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE OF RECALL. I JUST BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTOMOBILE SERVICE FACILITY. THEY CHARGED ME HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR REPAIR. TONIGHT, I SEARCHED THE INTERNET, AND FOUDN NHTSA CAMPAING ID NUMBER 99V15900…
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THE VEHICLE DEVELOPED A GASOLINE LEAK; THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT DEVELOPED A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE. I NEVER RECEIVED A NOTICE OF RECALL. I JUST BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO AN AUTOMOBILE SERVICE FACILITY. THEY CHARGED ME HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS FOR REPAIR. TONIGHT, I SEARCHED THE INTERNET, AND FOUDN NHTSA CAMPAING ID NUMBER 99V159000 WITH WHAT SOUNDS LIKE MY PROBLEM. HOWEVER, BECAUSE MY CAR IS REGISTERED IN VIRGINIA (NONE OF THE LISTED STATES), I NEVER WAS GIVEN NOTICE. PLEASE ADVISE HOW I WOULD OBTAIN REIMBURSEMENT/WHETHER THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE MY VEHICLE. IT IS EXTRAORDINARILY DANGEROUS, AND I AM NOT SURE THAT MY SERVICE FACILITY (NON-DEALER) KNOWS HOW TO SOLVE THIS PROBLEM (I.E., STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE IN PASSENGER CABIN PERSISTS, THOUGH LEAK WAS SUPPOSED TO HAVE BEEN FIXED.
GAS TANK IS LEAKING FLUID AT THE SEAM ONTO TO THE GROUND. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
HEATER COILS LEAKED FLUID ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR.
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#97V159000) AND CALLED DEALER. WAS INFORMED BY DEALERSHIP THEY HAD NO PARTS.
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#97V159000). TOOK TO DEALER AFTER CALLING FOR APPOINTMENT. AFTER REPAIRS, PICKED UP VEHICLE. OWNER NOT SATISFIED. THE FUMES ARE GONE, BUT GASOLINE STILL ENTERS THE VEHICLE. *AK
FUEL LEAKS OUT OF TANK WHEN FULL .
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