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1997 Ford Thunderbird

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

48 reports with mileage · 121 unknown

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 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports3 fire reports5 injury reports

Steering complaints

9 reports
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Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2007
SteeringFire

MY WIFE DROVE HER 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD TO WORK TODAY. SHE PARKED HER CAR IN THE COMPANY GARAGE AND WALKED INTO WORK. THE CAR THEN BEGAN TO BURN AND TOTALED THE CAR. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE, BASED UPON THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE MECHANIC, TO WHOM, I HAVE USED TO SERVICE MY VEHICLES FOR OVER 10 YEARS, TOLD ME THAT TH…

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MY WIFE DROVE HER 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD TO WORK TODAY. SHE PARKED HER CAR IN THE COMPANY GARAGE AND WALKED INTO WORK. THE CAR THEN BEGAN TO BURN AND TOTALED THE CAR. AFTER HAVING IT TOWED TO A LOCAL GARAGE, BASED UPON THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE MECHANIC, TO WHOM, I HAVE USED TO SERVICE MY VEHICLES FOR OVER 10 YEARS, TOLD ME THAT THE INTENSITY OF THE FIRE WAS NEAR THE STEERING COLUMN, AND AND POWER STEERING SWITCHES. UPON RESEARCHING THE ABOVE FACTS, FOUND THE RECALL ABOUT THE VARIOUS FORD TRUCKS AND THIS SIMILAR PROBLEM. WE HAVE LIABILITY INSURANCE ON THIS CAR, AND NOW WE HAVE LOST THE CAR TO NO FAULT OF OUR OWN. ARE THERE OTHER FORD CARS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM?

NHTSA ODI #10202844

Mileage unknown · Sep 5, 2002
Steering

CONSUMER STATES HIS POWER STEERING MOTOR FAILED WHILE HE WAS BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY. HE HAD HIS AUTO TOWED TO A DEALER, WHO REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP.*JB

NHTSA ODI #8018005

Mileage unknown · May 22, 2000
SteeringSuspension

WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED CONSUMER NOTICED VIBRATION IN THE STEERING WHICH CAUSED POOR STEERING CONTROL. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #862244

Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2000
Steering

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD STEERING WAS STIFF AND THEN LOOSENED UP NOTICEABLY. PROBLEM WHEN MAKING A RIGHT OR LEFT HAND TURN. CAR WOULD HESITATE AFTER TURNING. WOULD HEAR A GRINDING OR POPPING NOISE WHILE MAKING TURNS. CONTACTED DEALER AND MANUFACTURER, NOT ABLE TO HELP. *AK

NHTSA ODI #859618

Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 1999
Steering

THE SHUDDER IN THE STEERING IS BAD WHEN BRAKING FROM HIGHER SPEEDS AND CAUSES LOSS OF DIRECTIONAL CONTROL, THE REPLACEMENT OF THE PRE-LOAD SPRING IN THE RACK AS PER FORD'S TSB DID NOT WORK TO CORRECT THE SHUDDERING.*ET

NHTSA ODI #783796

Mileage unknown · Sep 30, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

HAD TO REPLACE TIRES TWICE DUE TO THE CAR CAUSING A TIRE SEPARATION ON THE FRONT, RIGHT SIDE. I'VE AGAIN, REPLACED THE TIRES 5000 MILES AGO AND THEY ARE SEVERELY FEATHERED TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS VISIBLE TO THE EYE. THE CAR IS WITH-IN THE ALIGNMENT SPECS BUT IT STILL PULLS TO THE RIGHT - THE FASTER THE SPEED, THE HARDER THE…

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HAD TO REPLACE TIRES TWICE DUE TO THE CAR CAUSING A TIRE SEPARATION ON THE FRONT, RIGHT SIDE. I'VE AGAIN, REPLACED THE TIRES 5000 MILES AGO AND THEY ARE SEVERELY FEATHERED TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS VISIBLE TO THE EYE. THE CAR IS WITH-IN THE ALIGNMENT SPECS BUT IT STILL PULLS TO THE RIGHT - THE FASTER THE SPEED, THE HARDER THE PULL. HAVE HAD 4 OR MORE FRONT END BRAKE JOBS (ROTORS & PADS) IN UNDER 40,000 MILES. THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AT 40 MPH AND THE TIRES HAVE BEEN BALANCED. THIS HAS BEEN A PROBLEM EVER SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR AND THE DEALER CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )

NHTSA ODI #712596

Mileage unknown · May 2, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicSteering

BRAKE ROTORS WARPING, NEW REPLACEMENTS WARPING ALSO. STEERING BOX WAS REPAIRED BUT FRONT END STILL SHUDDERS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AFTER 3 ATTEMPTS BY DEALER TO CORRECT.

NHTSA ODI #706172

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 1999
Steering

PRIOR TO FAILURE, CAR PULL TO THE LEFT DURING BRAKING, AND STEERING DID NOT RETURN TO CENTER AFTER LEFT OR RIGHT TURN.

NHTSA ODI #703917

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Engine And Engine CoolingSteering

HEAT INDICATOR ON DASH BOARD FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #607366

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.