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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

Visibility complaints

7 reports
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Mileage unknown · Jan 25, 2002
Engine And Engine CoolingService Brakes, HydraulicVisibility

THEY REPLACED THE MANIFOLD AND THEN THE RADIATOR MALFUNCTIONED, 18.000 MILES LATER THE HEATER CORE FAILED, WAS REPLACED IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS SINCE AUG 4 TIMES. FORD DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE AND THE DEALER IS TRYING TO FIX IT EACH TIME AT LEAKS.THE BRAKES/ROTORS HAVE BEEN A CRONIC PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THE CALIPERS HAVE BEEN…

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THEY REPLACED THE MANIFOLD AND THEN THE RADIATOR MALFUNCTIONED, 18.000 MILES LATER THE HEATER CORE FAILED, WAS REPLACED IN THE LAST 6 MONTHS SINCE AUG 4 TIMES. FORD DOES NOT HAVE A CLUE AND THE DEALER IS TRYING TO FIX IT EACH TIME AT LEAKS.THE BRAKES/ROTORS HAVE BEEN A CRONIC PROBLEM SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW. THE CALIPERS HAVE BEEN RESURFACED 3 TIMES AND FINALLY REPLACED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #757325

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2001
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

1. PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE - COVERED BY GENERAL RECALL 97M91, ALTHOUGH SIMILAR PLASTIC ENGINEERING IS APPLIED TO BOTH VALVE COVERS BUT IS NOT IS NOT COVERED BY RECALL. THE FORD SERVICE REP INFORMED ME THAT THE HEATER CORE WILL BLOW SOON TOO. 2. THE BRAKES/ROTORS HAVE BEEN A CHRONIC PROBLEM - THIS IS MY 2ND THUNDERBIRD - …

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1. PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE - COVERED BY GENERAL RECALL 97M91, ALTHOUGH SIMILAR PLASTIC ENGINEERING IS APPLIED TO BOTH VALVE COVERS BUT IS NOT IS NOT COVERED BY RECALL. THE FORD SERVICE REP INFORMED ME THAT THE HEATER CORE WILL BLOW SOON TOO. 2. THE BRAKES/ROTORS HAVE BEEN A CHRONIC PROBLEM - THIS IS MY 2ND THUNDERBIRD - BOTH CARS HAD THE SAME TYPE PROBLEMS. I HAVE REPLACED ROTORS, BRAKE PADS REPEATEDLY WITHOUT SOLVING THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS SEVERE FRONT END VIBRATION WHICH IS MAKES THE CAR UNENJOYABLE AND DANGEROUS. I HAVE CHANGED TIRE SIZES AND BRANDS 4 TIMES. THE CONSUMER REPORTS RESEARCH THAT I HAVE DONE ON THIS CAR CAUSES ME TO BE AFRAID OF IT. 3. THE CRUISE CONTROL DEFECT WAS ALSO DANGEROUTS, BUT IT WAS REPAIRED SATISFACTORY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #754545

Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2001
Visibility

CONSUMER APPLIED RAIN-X TO WINDSHIELD AND SIDE VIEW MIRRORS, A FEW MONTHS LATER CONSUMER STARTED NOTICING A HAZE, SIMILAR TO WATER SPOTS, ALL OVER WINDSHIELD AND MIRRORS, CONSUMER TRIED SEVERAL CLEANERS AND ALSO A PRODUCT BON-AMI WHICH THE MANUFACTURER OF RAIN-X STATED WOULD REMOVE ANY TRACE OF THE PRODUCT, HOWEVER NONE REMOVED …

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CONSUMER APPLIED RAIN-X TO WINDSHIELD AND SIDE VIEW MIRRORS, A FEW MONTHS LATER CONSUMER STARTED NOTICING A HAZE, SIMILAR TO WATER SPOTS, ALL OVER WINDSHIELD AND MIRRORS, CONSUMER TRIED SEVERAL CLEANERS AND ALSO A PRODUCT BON-AMI WHICH THE MANUFACTURER OF RAIN-X STATED WOULD REMOVE ANY TRACE OF THE PRODUCT, HOWEVER NONE REMOVED THE PRODUCT. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #559800

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Visibility

DRIVER SIDE AIR VENTILATION IS NOT WORKING. YH

NHTSA ODI #608730

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Visibility

WINDOW ELECTRICAL MOTOR FAILED. YH

NHTSA ODI #606357

Mileage unknown · Feb 1, 1999
Visibility

BACK WINDOW WATER LEAK. YH

NHTSA ODI #605999

Mileage unknown · Dec 15, 1998
Visibility

WINDSHIELD WASHER SPRAYS TO THE REAR WINDOW, FORD DEALERS CAN'T FIX. *ML

NHTSA ODI #701383

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.