IllustrationWHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE FROM RIGHT REAR TIRE. THEN, WHEN GOING HOME FOUND OUT THAT TIRE HAD ALREADY SEPARATED, AND LEFT REAR TIRE WAS STARTING TO SEPARATE. THEY WERE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES, SIZE P275/70R15. *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 reports3.8 LITER V6 FORD ENGINE HEAD GASKET DEFECT 1997. *AK
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
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
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
TOLD BY LEITH FORD'S SERVICE MANAGER THAT PROBLEM WAS INTERNAL TO THE TRANSMISSION AND NOT CAUSED BY MISUSE, NEGLECT, ETC. *AK
THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN THE PARKING LOT OF A SHOPPING PLAZA. I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 10 - 15 MPH AND NEVER EVEN HIT A BUMP OR POT HOLE. THE FRONT END MADE A LOAD POPING NOISE AND I THOUGHT THE TIRES WENT FLAT. BUT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED AND THE CAR FRAME RESTED ON THE TIRES. WEST HERR CLAIMS THEY HAD PEOPLE FROM FOR…
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THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING IN THE PARKING LOT OF A SHOPPING PLAZA. I WAS ONLY GOING ABOUT 10 - 15 MPH AND NEVER EVEN HIT A BUMP OR POT HOLE. THE FRONT END MADE A LOAD POPING NOISE AND I THOUGHT THE TIRES WENT FLAT. BUT THE LOWER CONTROL ARM SNAPPED AND THE CAR FRAME RESTED ON THE TIRES. WEST HERR CLAIMS THEY HAD PEOPLE FROM FORD COME IN AND LOOK AT IT. THE BALL JOINT POPPED OUT OF THE SOCKET . IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE THRUWAY I WOULDN'T BE WRITING THIS LETTER TODAY, I WOULD BE DEAD. THEY REPLACED BOTH SIDES AT MY REQUEST. *AK
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
STEERING SHUDDERS, DEALER AND FORD ENGINEER CAN'T FIX AFTER 7 ATTEMPTS. FORD SHOULD BE SLAPPED FOR THIS. THEY HAVE STOPPED TRYING TO FIX IT AND WILL NOT REFUND MY MONEY FOR THIS PIECE OF IGNORANTLY DESIGNED JUNK. *AK
NO SUMMARY
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.