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
Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
THIS THUNDERBIRD HAS THE 3.8L V6 ENGINE. HEAD GASKETS FAILED. THE LOCAL DEALER ADMITS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAMS DO NOT INCLUDED 1993 THUNDERBIRDS, ONLY 1994-1995. REPAIR COST FOR ME WAS ABOUT $1800.00. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REP IS UNWILLING TO ASSIST WITH ANY AMOUNT OF PAYME…
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THIS THUNDERBIRD HAS THE 3.8L V6 ENGINE. HEAD GASKETS FAILED. THE LOCAL DEALER ADMITS THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES. THE EXTENDED WARRANTY PROGRAMS DO NOT INCLUDED 1993 THUNDERBIRDS, ONLY 1994-1995. REPAIR COST FOR ME WAS ABOUT $1800.00. FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REP IS UNWILLING TO ASSIST WITH ANY AMOUNT OF PAYMENT. I WILL BE FILING IN SMALL CLAIMS COURT.*AK
NHTSA ODI #753558
Mileage unknown · Oct 17, 2001
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL 99V275000 ON 10 FEBRUARY, 2000. PART FAILED AGAIN ON 1 OCTOBER, 2001.*AK
NHTSA ODI #897873
Mileage unknown · Oct 4, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
EXPERIENCED LOSS OF HEAT IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. FOUND COOLANT LEVEL TO BE LOW. ADDED COOLANT ON SEVERAL OCCASIIONS. PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY. PROBLEM INCREASED TO POINT WHERE ENGINE OVERHEAT INDICATOR LIT. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC WHERE PROBLEM WAS SUSPECTED TO BE LOSS OF COOLANT BUT COULD NOT BE DEFINITIVELY PINPOINTED. AS A …
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EXPERIENCED LOSS OF HEAT IN PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. FOUND COOLANT LEVEL TO BE LOW. ADDED COOLANT ON SEVERAL OCCASIIONS. PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY. PROBLEM INCREASED TO POINT WHERE ENGINE OVERHEAT INDICATOR LIT. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC WHERE PROBLEM WAS SUSPECTED TO BE LOSS OF COOLANT BUT COULD NOT BE DEFINITIVELY PINPOINTED. AS A PRECAUTION THE WATER PUMP, THERMOSTAT, HOSES, AND COOLANT WAS REPLACED ALONG WITH TWO FREEZE PLUGS WHICH WERE SEEN TO BE WEEPING. AFTER A SHORT WHILE THE PROBLEM REAPPEARED AND I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP IN MY NEIGHBORHOOD. THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM TO BE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET WHICH WAS INTERNALLY CAUSING THE COOLANT TO ENTER THE ENGINE AND BE CONSUMED. I AUTHORIZED REPAIRS BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PROBLEM WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE TERMS OF MY WARRANTY AS THE VEHICLE WAS NOW TOO OLD.*AK (DOT NUMBER: NA TIRESIZE: NA)
NHTSA ODI #752936
Mileage unknown · Sep 20, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THE HEAD-GASKETS BLEW. ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH FIRST INCIDENT. NOW FACED WITH A SIMILAR SITUATION. ONLY ENGINE IS NOT BURNED UP THIS TIME. WHY FIX IT, IF THE SAME PROBLEM IS GOING TO SIMPLY HAPPEN AGAIN. YET I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. AL…
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ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THE HEAD-GASKETS BLEW. ENGINE WAS REPLACED WITH FIRST INCIDENT. NOW FACED WITH A SIMILAR SITUATION. ONLY ENGINE IS NOT BURNED UP THIS TIME. WHY FIX IT, IF THE SAME PROBLEM IS GOING TO SIMPLY HAPPEN AGAIN. YET I CAN'T AFFORD ANOTHER VEHICLE. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW AND TOOK VERY GOOD CARE OF IT. ALOT OF GOOD THAT DID.
NHTSA ODI #752437
Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKETS FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #563080
Mileage unknown · Aug 30, 2001
Exterior Lighting
HEAD LAMP COVERS TURNED YELLOW. AS TIME HAS PASS HEADLIGHTS GAVE POOR VISIBILITY. CONSUMER HAD TO TRAVEL WITH BRIGHT LIGHTS TO GAIN VISIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #895499
Mileage unknown · Aug 20, 2001
Exterior Lighting
HEADLIGHT REFLECTORS BURNED OUT. DEALER ADVISED THAT ENTIRE LIGHTING SYSTEM WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. DEFECT CAUSES BAD VISION AT NIGHT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #894766
Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #750042
Mileage unknown · Aug 2, 2001
Exterior Lighting
DASH HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN JUNE OF 2000 DUE TO RECALL BY FORD. APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR LATER REPLACEMENT SWITCH FAILED FOR SAME REASON ORIGINAL SWITCH WAS RECALLED FOR. BURNED CONTACTS WERE FOUND ON THE BACK OF THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH. SEEMS AS IF SWITCH USED FOR REPLACEMENT IS NO BETTER THAN ORIGINAL SWITCH RECALLED.
NHTSA ODI #749693
Mileage unknown · Jul 17, 2001
Exterior Lighting
LENS ASSEMBLY FOR LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAS DETERIORATED, TURNING CLOUDLY YELLOW, THIS HAS RESTRICTED THE LIGHT FROM THE LOW BEAM PER NIGHT DRIVING, WHICH IS A SERIOUS LOSS OF VISIBILITY . MY DEALER WILL NOT PASS THE CAR UPON INSPECTION DUE TO THE LOSS OF LIGHT . THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY UNITS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT ONCE. *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.
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