IllustrationEACH TIME CAR IS PUT INTO PARK IT DRIFTS SIX TO EIGHT INCHES FORWARD
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 reportsFATIGUE CRACKS IN THE COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLDS MAY RESULT IN AN ENGINE COOLANT LEAK ON 4.6L SOHC ENGINES.
WATER LEAKING INTO PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR DUE TO PLUG AROUND WIRING HARNESS NOT IN PLACE.
CONSUMER EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE FRONT BRAKE SHOES AND PADS, CONSUMER ALSO STATE WHEN TRAVELING THERE IS A BURNING SMELL DUE TO THE RAKE OVERHEATING. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE BRAKES.
SEATS DO NOT LATCH. PROBLEM FOUND PREVALENT ON MOST 1997 THUNDERBIRDS. *AK
THERE IS AN EXTREME GLARE MIRRORED ON THE WINDSHIELD, CAUSED BY THE MATERIAL THE FORWARD PART OF THE DASH IS MADE OF. THE DEFROSTER VENTS FROM THE DASHBOARD ARE ALSO PRESENT CREATING BLACK SPOTS IN THE LINE OF SIGHT.
TRANSMISSION LEAK.
THE HEADREST DOES NOT RAISE TO THE LEVEL OF THE OCCUPANTS HEAD, IT ONLY COMES UP TO THE BACK OF THE NECK.
FRONT END OF VEHICLE SHAKES, HAS BEEN LOOKED OVER BY DEALER AND HAS BEEN UNABLE TO CORRECT IT. *AK
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.