Major Problems with Ford Thunderbird Derived from Complaints & Recalls

Learn about the common problems with a used Ford Thunderbird to avoid purchasing a bad year of the model.

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Best and Worst Years for Ford Thunderbird

Explore the chart showing how many complaints have been filed for each year of Ford Thunderbird.

Model Year	Complaints
2005 Thunderbird	22
2004 Thunderbird	31
2003 Thunderbird	32
2002 Thunderbird	91

Worst 3 Ford Thunderbird complaints

2003 Ford Thunderbird AIR BAGS Victims: 2 Mileage: 6300 miles

2004 Ford Thunderbird ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Victims: 2 Mileage: 9500 miles

2002 Ford Thunderbird AIR BAGS Victims: 1 Mileage: 50 miles

Browse Ford Thunderbird complaints by category

Problems with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL are the most frequent issues recorded by the NHTSA from Ford Thunderbird owners.

Problem Category	Number of Problems
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM dt*: the contact stated the audible warning that alerts the occupants the seat belts are not secured works intermittently. the	30 ~ 33620 miles
ENGINE letter from constituent regarding an ongoing throttle problem with his 2005 ford thunderbird information provided to nhtsa that may be...	27 ~ 35314 miles
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL on nov 24 2009 the throttle body motor failed and caused my 2005 ford thunderbird to cut off in...	22 ~ 29630 miles
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford thunderbird. the contact was driving approximately 40 mph when the engine stalled. the...	17 ~ 30961 miles
AIR BAGS on september 6 2006 while traveling on an 8-lane highway at a speed of approximately 70 mph the drivers side...	15 ~ 46876 miles
ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING on nov 24 2009 the throttle body motor failed and caused my 2005 ford thunderbird to cut off in...	14 ~ 22792 miles
POWER TRAIN tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford thunderbird. the contact stated intermittently the vehicle would lose transmission power. the vehicle...	10 ~ 48486 miles
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford thunderbird. while driving various speeds the engine warning light illuminated continuously. the vehicle...	7 ~ 45570 miles
SIDE/WINDOW > AIR BAGS while driving to work at approx. 65 mph my drivers side side airbag deployed. thankfully i didn't lose control of...	5 ~ 15893 miles
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION > POWER TRAIN concerns regarding 2004 thunderbird and the chance of the transmission failing after the warranty is no longer in effect.*mr the...	5 ~ 2125 miles
SUSPENSION tl* the contact owns a 2004 ford thunderbird. the contact stated that upon inspection it was determined that the suspension...	4 ~ 34611 miles
STRUCTURE 2003 ford thunderbird had spark plugs replaced four times. vehicle slowed down to 5 mph without warning and would not...	4 ~ 9750 miles
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC vehicle is experiencing brake problems. when you stop in a hurry the foot goes down to the floor. owner went...	4 ~ 14676 miles
UNKNOWN OR OTHER when i open the vehicle door at night other vehicle drivers can not see my opened vehicle door when i...	3 ~ 37433 miles
STEERING tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford thunderbird. while driving 15 mph the vehicle made a loud whining noise. the...	3 ~ 35333 miles
EXTERIOR LIGHTING tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford thunderbird. the contact stated that the headlights failed. while driving 50 mph the...	3 ~ 25004 miles
WHEELS corrosion of the aluminum wheels causing separation of the chrome plating on the wheel inner bead and resulting in air	3 ~ 81780 miles
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL 1. i was accelerating from a stop position and the "wrench icon" came on and the car went on :"limp...	3 ~ 26562 miles
FRONTAL > AIR BAGS vehicle drifted off the road and hit an object and neither air bag deployed. driver died from chest injuries. *mr	3 ~ 39526 miles
SEAT BELTS the seat belt locked up when a turn was made also the abs did not work. *jb...	3 ~ 10836 miles
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford thunderbird. while driving approximately 35 mph the vehicle lost power without warning. the...	2 ~ 49204 miles
BODY > STRUCTURE one of the 4 bolts that hold the rear suspension to the vehicle fell out of the car. the bolt...	2 ~ 26025 miles
FUEL PUMP > DELIVERY > FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford thunderbird. the contact stated while driving 70 mph the vehicle suddenly shut off. the...	2 ~ 25066 miles
GASOLINE > ENGINE > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING wrench light comes on and vehicle comes to a stop....	2 ~ 59500 miles
HEADLIGHTS > EXTERIOR LIGHTING the headlight brackets on the 2002 thunderbird crack at the rear where the headlight attaches to the frame with a...	2 ~ 21000 miles
CALIPER > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS complaint received via e-mail. front right brake caliper came off and locked up wheel and slid my car sideways when...	2 ~ 7150 miles
ACCELERATOR PEDAL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL when braking the brake pedal goes down past the gas pedal foot to hit them at the same time. it...	2 ~ 6709 miles
CRUISE CONTROL > VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL the cruise control was inoperative. *jb...	2 ~ 7500 miles
ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP > SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC the seat belt locked up when a turn was made also the abs did not work. *jb...	2 ~ 27000 miles
SEATS consumer received a recall notice advising that ford is conducting a safety recall to install an insert behind the driver...	2
TIRES tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford thunderbird equipped with a firestone tempa spare tire size: t185-60-r17 (na). while cleaning...	1 ~ 3500 miles
SERVICE BRAKES tl* the contact owns a 2002 ford thunderbird. the contact stated that while waiting at a traffic light there was...	1 ~ 32533 miles
WIRING > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM had the vehicle tuned-up. after a few driven miles the airbag light came on and stays lit. the problem "driver...	1 ~ 92578 miles
RIM > WHEELS tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford thunderbird. the contact stated that the factory rims on the vehicle are beginning to...	1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES the most recent problem started in june 2009 when the airbag indicator light came on for no reason and wouldn't...	1 ~ 26000 miles
COOLING SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING my temperature gauge has risen to hot three times while driving with no prior warning. the first was 12/29/2008. they...	1 ~ 35673 miles
MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE > EXHAUST SYSTEM > ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford thunderbird. while driving 5 mph the service engine light illuminated after the vehicle had...	1 ~ 76000 miles
WEBBING > FRONT > SEAT BELTS tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford thunderbird. immediately after purchasing the vehicle he contact noticed that the driver's side seat...	1 ~ 53000 miles
IGNITION > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM tl*the contact owns a 2002 ford thunderbird. while driving 10 mph the vehicle jerked forward and the contact heard a...	1 ~ 51000 miles
INSTRUMENT CLUSTER/PANEL > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM wrench light comes on and vehicle comes to a stop....	1 ~ 55000 miles
RACK AND PINION > STEERING tl* - the contact owns a 2003 ford thunderbird. the contact heard a loud noise when steering or turning the...	1 ~ 13999 miles
ROTOR > DISC > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS dt*: the contact stated while applying the brake pedal there was a noise as though the wheel was going to...	1 ~ 14000 miles
SHOES/LININGS > DRUM > FOUNDATION COMPONENTS dt*: the contact stated while applying the brake pedal there was a noise as though the wheel was going to...	1 ~ 14000 miles
ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT > WINDSHIELD > DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM 2003 ford thunderbird had spark plugs replaced four times. vehicle slowed down to 5 mph without warning and would not...	1
RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC. > ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT 2003 ford thunderbird had spark plugs replaced four times. vehicle slowed down to 5 mph without warning and would not...	1
DIFFERENTIAL UNIT > DRIVELINE > POWER TRAIN the vehicles rearend (differential) develops a howling noise noticable at 40+ mph. this same problem has occurred twice before. the...	1 ~ 8525 miles
LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS > WHEELS complaint received via e-mail. front right brake caliper came off and locked up wheel and slid my car sideways when...	1 ~ 300 miles
VISIBILITY the vehicles visor(s) did not move to the side window(s). the dealer has been notified. *nlm scc ...	1 ~ 4900 miles
ELECTRICAL > EQUIPMENT a couple of months after the car was purchased the battery light comes on and when it does no other...	1 ~ 1000 miles
STARTER ASSEMBLY > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM the starter dragged every time the vehicle was started. *jb...	1
INDICATOR LIGHT > PARKING BRAKE the brake light illuminated on the vehicle however the dealer was unable to duplicate the problem. *jb...	1
HORN > ELECTRICAL SYSTEM the vehicle's horn is very stiff consumer stated a lot of force had to be applied in order for the	1

FAQ

What year Ford Thunderbird is the most reliable?

Speaking of the models produced in the last 4 years, Ford Thunderbird models of 2005, 2004, 2003 year of manufacture have had the least number of complaints.

What year was a bad year for Ford Thunderbird?

Ford Thunderbird models of 2002 and 2003 are probably the years to be avoided like the plague due to a higher than an average number of issues reported.

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