IllustrationBACK WINDOW WATER LEAK. YH
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 reportsVEHICLE PERFORMING SLUGGISHLY. NLM
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED THE VEHICLE VIBRATES. ALSO, UPON APPLYING THE BRAKES AND COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE VIBRATES REAL BADLY AND JERKS/LOSS OF POWER WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. *AK
WIFE HAD A COLLISION W/NISSEN PICKUP, DOING 40 MPH, ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT END DAMAGE BUT THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE NISSEN PICK DESTROYED. I'M ATTACKING FORD FOR THIS. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW CANN'T MOVE HIS NECK DUE TO HE HIT THE WINDSHEILD, HIS SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HIM AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THIS C…
Read full complaint
WIFE HAD A COLLISION W/NISSEN PICKUP, DOING 40 MPH, ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT END DAMAGE BUT THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE NISSEN PICK DESTROYED. I'M ATTACKING FORD FOR THIS. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW CANN'T MOVE HIS NECK DUE TO HE HIT THE WINDSHEILD, HIS SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HIM AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE.
WINDSHIELD WASHER SPRAYS TO THE REAR WINDOW, FORD DEALERS CAN'T FIX. *ML
WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO FULL THROTTLE. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO FORCE VEHICLE IN PARK AND AVOID A CRASH. DEALER UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. *AK *ML
REAR TIRE LOSES CONTACT WITH ROAD SURFACE WHEN PARKING CAR IN CERTAIN AREAS, ALSO WILL ACCELERATE UNCONTROLLABLY IF WHEEL IS OFF ROAD AND MAKES CONTACT W/CURB.
UNSPECIFIED.
DRIVER HAS NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE IN RAIN, THE REAR END FISHTAILS UNLESS WEIGHT IS PLACED INTO THE REAR OF VEHICLE.
PULLED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF A GAS STATION, PUT IT IN PARK AND LEFT IT RUNNING, DRIVER WENT INSIDE, AND WITHIN A MINUTE VEHICLE LUNGED BACKWARDS. TURNED APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES AND STRUCK A TRUCK. AFTER IT STOPPED, IT WAS IN REVERSE.
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.