IllustrationUNSAFE UNINTENDED ACCELERATION ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION/STEERING SHAKES CONSISTANTLY. *AK
1997 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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Thunderbird years →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
00–25K
525–50K
2250–75K
1275–100K
6100–150K
3150K+
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
What owners actually said
169 reportsDOOR HINGES FAILING BOTH DOORS. DEALER SAYS DOORS TOO HEAVY FOR HINGES BUT WILL NOT REPLACE/REPAIR.*AK
IDLE CONTROLLER CAUSE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE TO 20MPH ON ITS OWN WITHOUT DEPRESSING ACCELERATOR, HAVE TO PRESS BRAKE HARD TO KEEP VEHICLE STILL, HAZARDOUS TO OPERATE VEHICLE
THE TIRE EXPLODED AT 65MPH. WE REPLACED THE REMAINING TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 15MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN, SHE TURNIED INTO DRIVEWAY WHEN VEHICLE COLLIDED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER WANTED TO KNOW WHY AIRBAG DID NOT GO OFF. *AK
TIRE BLEW OUT THE SIDE OF WALL @ 60 MPH. TREAD FLEW OF AND PUT 7 INCH HASH IN SIDE OF BUMPER ON THE PASSENGER DIE BUMPER WHEN REAR TIE BLEW( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )
NO SUMMARY
TIRE SEPARATION CAUSES EXTREME SHAKING OF THE VEHICLE AT 30 MILES PER HOUR. I HAD THE TIRE REPLACED IMMEDIATELY.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 215/70/R15 )
PE00 020;VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE,AND PULLED TO LEFT/ RIGHT INTERMITTENTLY. TOOKVEHICLE TO THE THE DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT TIRES WERE SEPARATED. SHE HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED AT HER EXPENSE. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE 205/70R15 FR710. *AK
TREAD SEPARATED ON 2 TIRES AND BLEW OUT. FIRST TIRE WAS AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND LESS THEN 20000 MILES, 2ND TIRE WAS AT 50 MPH AND 30000 MILES. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES, IN FEAR OF MY SAFETY.( DOT NUMBER: W2M3 TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.