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1994 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 →
300Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
112
1991184
1992423
1993300
1994261
1995233
1996169
1997
Compare all Thunderbird years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Power Train
92Service Brakes, Hydraulic
75Engine And Engine Cooling
61Electrical System
24Vehicle Speed Control
23
All reported categories
Air Bags
17Unknown Or Other
13Suspension
12Fuel System, Gasoline
10Tires
9Visibility
8Exterior Lighting
7Seat Belts
7Steering
7Equipment
3Structure
3Wheels
3Seats
2Fuel System, Other
1Latches/locks/linkages
1Parking Brake
1

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: 17 of 300 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.

  • Power Train. Review the 92 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 75 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 61 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports10 fire reports11 injury reports

Power Train complaints

92 reports
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Mileage unknown · Feb 24, 2002
Power TrainSteering

TRANSMISSION SLIPS OUT OF GEAR AND JERKS THE CAR AROUND AND THE STEERING HAS A LOT OF SLACK IN IT ABOUT AN INCH. *AK

NHTSA ODI #758549

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2002
Power Train

I THINK MY ORIGINAL TRANSMISSION WAS STOLEN BY MY DEALERSHIP. LATER, I THINK ANOTHER DEALER FRAUDUANTLY CHARGED MY EXTENDED SERVICE CONTRACT TO REMOVED AND REPLACED MY TRANSMISSION WITHOUT MY KNOWLEDGE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #757381

Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2002
Power Train

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TORQUE CONVERTER FAILURE AND 3RD GEAR CLUTCH FAILURE. *JG

NHTSA ODI #785850

Mileage unknown · Sep 9, 2001
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL GOING TO THE FLOOR WHILE SITTING, SINCE THE DATE OF PURCHASE OF VEHICLE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #785579

Mileage unknown · Sep 7, 2001
Power Train

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #751824

Mileage unknown · Aug 27, 2001
Power Train

TRANSMISSION WILL NOT GO INTO GEAR WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY AND NEIGHBORHOOD SPEEDS. SPEEDOMETER WILL RACE, BUT WILL GET IN GEAR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #895239

Mileage unknown · Jul 4, 2001
Power Train

THE TRANSMISSION OF THIS VEHICLE HAS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND MANY MILES WILL WITHOUT WARNING EITHER DOWNSHIFT FROM OD WITHOUT ANY ALTERATION IN ACCELERATOR PRESSURE OR WILL JUMP INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE RPM WILL RAPIDLY INCREASE AND THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL PULLING POWER. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN CLIMING A HILL O…

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THE TRANSMISSION OF THIS VEHICLE HAS FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS AND MANY MILES WILL WITHOUT WARNING EITHER DOWNSHIFT FROM OD WITHOUT ANY ALTERATION IN ACCELERATOR PRESSURE OR WILL JUMP INTO NEUTRAL AND THE ENGINE RPM WILL RAPIDLY INCREASE AND THE VEHICLE LOSES ALL PULLING POWER. THIS IS ESPECIALLY DANGEROUS WHEN CLIMING A HILL ON AN INTERSTATE OR IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AS THE VEHICLE DECELERATES WITHOUT ANY WARNING TO TRAFFIC TO THE REAR. REPAIR ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN FILTER AND FLUID CHANGE, FLUID LEVEL CHECKS ON A REGULAR BASIS, LINKAGE LUBRICATION, AND ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF THE VEHICLE IN GENERAL. I AM WONDERING IF THERE ARE INHERENT ISSUES WITH THIS STYLE OD TRANSMISSION. THE OTHER MAJOR FAILURES WERE LEFT SIDE HEAD GASKET AND SEVERE FRONT BRAKE PULSATION. THE DEALER FINALLY REPLACED THE BRAKE ROTORS WITH WHAT SEEMED A BETTER UNIT, AND I CONDUCTED THE REPAIRS ON BOTH SIDE HEAD GASKET REPLACEMENT. PLEASE ADVISE ME OF ANY KNOWN ISSUES REGARDING THIS TRANSMISSION AND WHAT, IF ANY, RECOURSE FOR REPAIR I MIGHT EMPLOY. I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER. GKW. *AK

NHTSA ODI #747781

Mileage unknown · May 14, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingFuel System, Gasoline

THE FOLLOWING ITEMS HAVE PREMATURELY FAILED CAUSING REPLACEMENT: ROTORS, OIL PRESSURE GAUGE AND SENDING UNIT, THERMOSTAT & GASKET, INSTRUMENT PANEL, POWER STEERING PUMP, BATTERY, ALTERNATOR, PISTON, TRANSHAFT, FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM, INTAKE MANIFOLD, SERPENTINE BELT AND NOW THE HEADGASKETS ARE BLOWN

NHTSA ODI #745330

Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2001
Electrical SystemEngine And Engine CoolingLatches/locks/linkages

ENGINE BLOWN DUE TO HEAD GASKET FAILURE, HAD TO REPLACE THE PULLEY THAT BROKE OFF RESULTING IN LOSS OF POWER. *JB

NHTSA ODI #785371

Mileage unknown · Mar 20, 2001
Power Train

TRANSMISSION LURCHES, ENGINE SOUNDS LIKE IT WILL STALL, RPMS GO UP, BUT VEHICLE WILL NOT ACCELERATE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #883454

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.