14 of the
559 complaints about the 1993 Ford Thunderbird are about the
glass, mirrors and wipers — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
96,000 miles.
D
14
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Exterior
321.4%
Heater Core
214.3%
Windshield Wiper/Washer
17.1%
Power Window Devices AND Controls
17.1%
Windshield
17.1%
Sun/Moon Roof Assembly
17.1%
Glass, Side/Rear
17.1%
Interior
17.1%
Rearview Mirrors/Devices
17.1%
Switch/Wiring
17.1%
What owners said
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
at 96,000 milesOregon City, ORFire
VISIBILITY
THIS IS THE RECALL. MY CAR DID EXACTLY THIS. MY CAR IS A 93 THUNDERBIRD SUPER COUPE WITH FACTORY FOG LIGHTS AND THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR IS BURNT AND NEEDS REPLACED. HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AFTER FLICKERING. RECALLS FOR THE 1993 FORD THUNDERBIRD ELECTRICAL & LIGHTS: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V275000 DATES MANUFACTURED: 06/1991 TO 09/1993 NUMBER OF VEHICLES AFFECTED: 164,731 MODEL YEARS AFFECTED: 1992, 1993 DATE OWNER NOTIFIED: 11/1999 DEFECT SUMMARY: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOG LIGHTS, IN WHICH THE HEADLIGHTS MAY GO OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS AND WHICH MAY BE PRECEDED BY FLICKERING OR BLINKING AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. CONSEQUENCE SUMMARY: DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. CORRECTIVE SUMMARY: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH INCORPORATES A CIRCUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN, AND INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, IF NEEDED. RECALL NOTES: FORD RECALL NO. 99S30.OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 15, 1999. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
NHTSA complaint #10327593 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LAS Vegas, NV
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
WHEN TRYING TO WASH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD IT CRACKED.
NHTSA complaint #8009165 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
Baldwin, MICrash
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
THIS 93 THUNDERBIRD HAS A LOT OF PROBLEMS . LEAKS IN BODY (WHEN NEW 12MI) DOOR HINGES , SEATBELTS, SEAT COVERS RIP OUT, FOG LAMPS AND SWITCH RECALL, CAN'T KEEP BREAKS AND ROTORS ON FRONT, WINDSHILD WIPERS BROKE (WHEN NEW) HAD TO HAVE NEW TIE ROD ENDS REPLACED , AT ABOUT 40.000 MI. THE STRUTS WERE BAD FROM THE FIRST DAY NEVER COULD GET THEM FIXED. (TIRESIZE: P235/75R15)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
NHTSA complaint #735368 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Conroe, TX
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 57,446 MILES 3.8L ENGINE ENGULFED IS WHITE SMOKE. BETWEEN 57.446 MILE AND 58,346 ALL KINDS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, E.E. MIRROR SWITCH, DOOR LOCKS, ODOMETER, TRIPOMETER, WINDOW SWITHCHES. THIRD TIME FOR DOOR LOCKS. ALL FORD MOTOR SAYS IS THEY WILL DOCUMENT THE COMPLAINT.
NHTSA complaint #725519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stanton Island, NYFire
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR
WHILE DRIVING OUTSIDE REARVIEW MIRRIORS BEGAN SMOKING, AND THEN IGNITED INTO A FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT FIRE OUT. FIRE CAUSED BY A SHORT CIRCUIT. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK DURING THE FIRE THE ALARM IS NOT WORKING.
NHTSA complaint #867586 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Eastpointe, MI
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES
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.
Sewickley, PA
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR
REAR VIEW MIRROR FAILED. YH
NHTSA complaint #549853 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Palm Habor, FL
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
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.
North Roya, OH
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
POWER MOONROOF MAKES A CLICKING NOISE WHEN OPENING OR CLOSING.
NHTSA complaint #535792 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.