39 of the 559 complaints about the 1993 Ford Thunderbird are about the electrical system — 7% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 93,000 miles.
39
Complaints
0
Crashes
3
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VOLTAGE INDICATOR WOULD DECREASE AND THE TURN SIGNALS, RADIO, AND DEFROST WOULD BE INOPERABLE. THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL, # 96V071000, REGARDING THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE HAS THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL; HOWEVER, IT IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10154985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE IGNITION RECALL 96V071000, BUT THE VEHICLE'S VIN DIDN'T INCLUDE THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE IGNITION BUT THE PROBLEM FAILURE RECURRED.
NHTSA complaint #10076246 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN ACTING UP AND NOW THE KEY WILL NOT START THE CAR THE KEY WILL NOT TURN AT ALL AS OF THIS DATE 12/14/2001.
NHTSA complaint #755662 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #753817 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
WOULD LIKE A REFUND OF $1619.01 FOR HEAD GASKET REPAIR. WOULD LIKE VOLT METER AND CRUIZ CONTROL FIXED.
NHTSA complaint #737916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING: REAR COMPARTMENT/TRUNK
REAR DECK LIGHT ASSY BULBS ARE OVERHEATING/FAILING. SOCKETS ARE MELTING DOWN AS IS THE MODULE THAT HOLDS THE SOCKETS. THE TRUNK LIGHT IS ALSO OUT. THIS CAR ALSO HAD THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS FAIL. FORD SHOULD BE MADE ACCOUNTABLE FOR ALL ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILURES, NOT JUST 94 AND LATER. IS THERE DATA ON THE OVERHEATING/MELTING OF THE REAR DECK HARNESS ASSY AND IS FORD CORRECTING THE PROBLEM OR THE DOES THE OWNER TAKE IT ALL?
NHTSA complaint #746897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
THE IGNITION MODULE FAILED DAMAGING THE ENGINE, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING BECAUSE THE IGNITION MODULE HAS BEEN HARD TO FIND. NLM
NHTSA complaint #560998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WIRING HARNESS ON ALT. MELTED AND THE HOUSING ON ALT. MELTED. LOST HALF POWER TRAVELING AT 65 MPH AT NIGHT ALL LIGHTS DIMMED.
NHTSA complaint #743495 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
I HAVE NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THIS PILE OF JUNK. FIRST THE HEADLIGHTS, TOOK IT IN ON RECALL BUT THE HEADLIGHTS STILL GO OUT ALSO ADDING TO ME NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE AND ALMOST KILLING MY DAUGHTER AND MYSELF, IS THE HEATER CORE WENT OUT ALL OVER THE FLOOR CAUSING US TO BREATH ANTIFREEZE MIST AND GETTING SICK ,AND CAUSES THE WINDOWS TO STEAM UP, BECAUSE I HAD TO UNDO THE HOSES , SO THE CAR WOULD STOP OVER HEATING , BECAUSE I CANT AFFORD $700 DOLLARS TO GET IT FIXED SO NOW WE ARE ALSO FREEZING TO DEATH ALONG WITH THE BREAKS NOT WORKING AND THE CAR DYING AT STOP LIGHTS AND WHEN TAKING TURNS OR CORNERS WHICH CAUSES THE STEERING AND THE BRAKES TO GO OUT BECAUSE OT POWERED,OH YA DID I MENTION I SPENT 500.ON A WATER PUMP AND 1000 ON NEW BRAKES JUST FOR THE BREAKES TO STILL NOT WORK WHEN I PICKED IT UP FROM THE SHOP. I COUL D GO ON BUT I WILL GIVE YOU A BREAK, I AM JUST REALLY FRUSTRATED I CANT AFFORD TO PUT ANY MORE MONEY INTO THIS CAR BECUASE SOMETHING ELSE WILL JUST GO BESIDED IM A SINGLE MOM WORKING TO KEEP OUR HEADS UP . I WAS READING THAT A JUDGE IN CALIFORNIA MADE FORD BY BACK THESE CARS BECAUSE OF AN INCIDENT WHERE A MOTHER AND CHILD WERE ALMOST HURT WHEN HER CAR STALLED JUST LIKE MINE DOES CONSTANTLY. THIS CAR IS A DEATH TRAP AND I FEAR FOR MY DAUGHTERS SAFETY BUT IT THE ONLY THING I GOT TO GET HER TO THE SITTERS AND ME TO WORK . PLEASE HELP WHAT CAN BE DONE? THANK YOU SINCERELY STEPHENIE COLE.
NHTSA complaint #736513 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 50MPH ON HIGHWAY AND VEHICLE JUST SHUT DOWN WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE. HE WAS ABLE TO PULL IT OVER TO SHOULDERS. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART, AND VEHICLE STARTED LATER. HE TOOK IT TO DEALER. DEALER CLAIMED IGNITION SWITCH HAD A DEFECT.
NHTSA complaint #875255 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE BEGAN STALLING WHILE MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS, NOW THE CAR IS STALLING WHILE GOING UPHILL AND WHILE MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT HAND TURNS, DUE TO IGNITION SYSTEM TFI MODULE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #556057 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #735138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
VEHICLE STALLS DURING AND AFTER LEFT HANDED TURNS, ALSO STALLS GOING UPHILL AND WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS, DUE TO THE TFI MODULE FAILURE. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #555325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT CAUSING TURN SIGNALS TO BE INOPERABLE, REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER TO BE INOPERABLE, TEMPERATURE CONTOL UNIT TO BE INOPERABLE, AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS UNABLE TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. COOLANT GAUGE STAYS AT COLD, DEALER REPLACED THERMOSTAT DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #872970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO GASKETS, REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES AS WELL AS FUEL LINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS MALFUNCTION IN THE POWER MIRRORS AND THE POWER LOCKS, ILLUMINATION CONTROLS AS WELL AS MOTOR IN DRIVERS SIDE DOOR<POWER DOOR>, SEATBELTS WILL NOT ENGAGE AND SIGNALS FOR SEATBELT TO BE WORN , SEATBELT ALARM WILL NOT SHUT OFF UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS SOLVED.COOLENT SYSTEM FAILURE AT POINT OF ENGINE FAILURE , DECREASE IN COMPRESSION AND WHITE SMOKE FROM HOOD, LEVELS READ VERY HOT!!.
NHTSA complaint #725366 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND HE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. ALSO, BRAKE LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE WASN'T WORKING, AND WHEN WENT TO PULL THE SOCKETS, THE PLUGS WERE BURNED. DEALER WILL REPAIR AT OWNER'S COST. *AK
NHTSA complaint #865113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #724787 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH HAS FAILED AND FALLS A FEW MONTHS OUTSIDE OF RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #721830 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
VEHICLE KEEPS CUTTING OFF, CIRCUITING OUT, A/C DOES NOT WORK. SEEMS TO BE ELECTRICAL. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #844659 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
HEADLIGHTS FAILED DUE TO A BAD ELECTRICAL SWITCH, RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS SHORT OUT WHILE DRIVING, AND SMOKE APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM IGNITION SWITCH AREA. DEALER CONTACTED AND FAULTY PARTS WERE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #841906 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER OFF & ON. DEALER SAID WIRING HAD MELTED TO DUE EXTREME HEAT. WHAT CAUSED EXTREME HEAT?
NHTSA complaint #705702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
THE HEADLAMPS TURN THEMSELVES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING, DUE TO ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEM FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #535792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
IN ALL CASES, THE HEAD LIGHTS WILL FLASH OFF AND ON AFTER BEING ON FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE DRIVER SIDE WILL BURN OUT REPEATEDLY. THE PARK LIGHTS AND INDICATOR LIGHTS WILL FAIL REPEATEDLY. THE RADIO WILL FAIL ALL AT DIFFERENT TIMES. THESE ELECTRICAL/LIGHT FAILURES HAPPEN MORE OFTEN BUT NOT AT THE SAME TIME, WHEN I TURN THE GROUND LIGHTS ON.
NHTSA complaint #704333 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
ELECTRICAL HARNESS CONNECTOR BURNED CAUSING LOSS OF LIGHTING.
NHTSA complaint #535688 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH SPEEDS THE HEADLIGHTS WILL GO OFF. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #826112 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILED 3 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #534030 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WIRING TO THE HEAD LIGHTS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #531040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHILE TAKING KEY OUT OF IGNITION VEHICLE CONTINUED TO RUN.OWNER HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER.OWNER IS VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY.
NHTSA complaint #818856 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
WHILE DRIVING DEFECTIVE WIRING HARNESS CAUSED THE HEADLIGHTS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #816959 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
ELECTRICAL SHORT, , PARKING LIGHTS AND HEADLIGHTS INTERMITTENTLY FAILED FOR PERIOD 1TO 10 SECONDS, WHILE DRIVING
NHTSA complaint #810518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.