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
What owners actually said
423 reports
98,485 miles · Mar 26, 2016
Engine
NEVER GOT A NOTICE OF RECALL FOR THE FAULTY ENGINE HEAD GASKET ON A FORD THUNDERBIRD 1993 MODEL.. I HAVE CHECKED WITH THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HE NEVER GOT A LETTER TELLING OF THE FAULTY HEAD GASKET AND THAT THE 3.8 V6 ENGINE WAS BEING RECALLED TO REPLACE IT, THE CAR HAS 98 THOUSAND ORIGINAL MILES. AND I BOUGHT THE CAR USED.. I WO…
Read full complaint
NEVER GOT A NOTICE OF RECALL FOR THE FAULTY ENGINE HEAD GASKET ON A FORD THUNDERBIRD 1993 MODEL.. I HAVE CHECKED WITH THE ORIGINAL OWNER AND HE NEVER GOT A LETTER TELLING OF THE FAULTY HEAD GASKET AND THAT THE 3.8 V6 ENGINE WAS BEING RECALLED TO REPLACE IT, THE CAR HAS 98 THOUSAND ORIGINAL MILES. AND I BOUGHT THE CAR USED.. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF I CAN GET THE HEAD GASKET STILL REPLACE UNDER FORD WARRANTY. I HAVE NOT DRIVEN THE CAR SINCE IT STARTED OVERHEATING
NHTSA ODI #10851797
Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2012
Seat Belts
THE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT THAT IS LOCATED AROUND THE TOP OF THE WINDOW FAILED TO MOVE BACK TO THE SAFE DRIVING POSITION. (DRIVERS SIDE). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10479704
96,000 miles · Apr 26, 2010
Exterior LightingVisibilityFire
THIS IS THE RECALL. MY CAR DID EXACTLY THIS. MY CAR IS A 93 THUNDERBIRD SUPER COUPE WITH FACTORY FOG LIGHTS AND THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR IS BURNT AND NEEDS REPLACED. HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AFTER FLICKERING. RECALLS FOR THE 1993 FORD THUNDERBIRD ELECTRICAL & LIGHTS: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V27…
Read full complaint
THIS IS THE RECALL. MY CAR DID EXACTLY THIS. MY CAR IS A 93 THUNDERBIRD SUPER COUPE WITH FACTORY FOG LIGHTS AND THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR IS BURNT AND NEEDS REPLACED. HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AFTER FLICKERING. RECALLS FOR THE 1993 FORD THUNDERBIRD ELECTRICAL & LIGHTS: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V275000 DATES MANUFACTURED: 06/1991 TO 09/1993 NUMBER OF VEHICLES AFFECTED: 164,731 MODEL YEARS AFFECTED: 1992, 1993 DATE OWNER NOTIFIED: 11/1999 DEFECT SUMMARY: 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 SUMMARY: DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. CORRECTIVE SUMMARY: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH INCORPORATES A CIRCUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN, AND INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, IF NEEDED. RECALL NOTES: FORD RECALL NO. 99S30.OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 15, 1999. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236). *TR
NHTSA ODI #10327593
Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2008
Exterior Lighting
1993 FORD THUNDERBIRD WITH HEADLIGHTS THAT FAIL WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. FAILURE STARTS WITH FLICKERING AND BLINKING CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VOLTAGE INDICATOR WOULD DECREASE AND THE TURN SIGNALS, RADIO, AND DEFROST WOULD BE INOPERABLE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 96V071000, REGARDING THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
NHTSA ODI #10154985
Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2005
Exterior Lighting
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V275000 CONCERNING THE HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH. THIS VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE CONSUMER FIRST EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM IN LATE 1997, AND HAD IT REPAIRED AT THE HER EXPENSE. THE HEADLIGHTS F…
Read full complaint
DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V275000 CONCERNING THE HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH. THIS VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE CONSUMER FIRST EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM IN LATE 1997, AND HAD IT REPAIRED AT THE HER EXPENSE. THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED A SECOND TIME THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10144017
Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2005
Unknown Or Other
COMPLAINT REGARDING TWO STOLEN VEHICLES 1987 BMW AND A 1993 FORD THUNDERBIRD.*MR *NM
NHTSA ODI #10137736
Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 2005
Tires
DT: CONSUMER BOUGHT TIRES FROM A LOCAL DEALER ON JUNE 15, 2005. WHILE DRIVING ON I 85 BETWEEN NEWNAN AND FAYETVILLE ONE OF THE PASSENGER REAR TIRES BLEW OUT. THE TIRE RIPPED APART, THE SIDE WALL CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE TIRE. THIS HAPPENED ON JULY 30, 2005. THEN, HE CHANGED THE TIRE IN THE RAIN AND CONTINUED ON THE TRIP. CONSU…
Read full complaint
DT: CONSUMER BOUGHT TIRES FROM A LOCAL DEALER ON JUNE 15, 2005. WHILE DRIVING ON I 85 BETWEEN NEWNAN AND FAYETVILLE ONE OF THE PASSENGER REAR TIRES BLEW OUT. THE TIRE RIPPED APART, THE SIDE WALL CAME COMPLETELY OFF THE TIRE. THIS HAPPENED ON JULY 30, 2005. THEN, HE CHANGED THE TIRE IN THE RAIN AND CONTINUED ON THE TRIP. CONSUMER HAD TO BUY A NEW RIM DUE TO THE RIM ON THE TIRE BEING BENT OUT OF SHAPE. HE PULLED CAR OVER AS SOON AS BLOW OUT HAPPENED. CONTACTED THE LOCAL DEALER WHO SOLD HIM THE TIRES, AND DEALER REFUSED TO PRODUCE A COPY OF THE WARRANTY, AND TOLD HIM THAT TIRE WAS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY BECAUSE HE DID NOT BUY AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. ALSO, DEALER REFUSED TO REPLACE TIRE. FUTURA GLS SUPER SPORT. P215/65/R15. DOT U9VFXBH1505.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10131454
Mileage unknown · Jan 11, 2005
Exterior Lighting
WHILE DRIVING SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN, AND THE HEADLIGHT STOPPED WORKING. CONSUMER STATES IT IS THE VERY SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL NUMBER 99V275000/HEADLIGHTS.*AK
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.
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.
Illustration