FaultScore report
Owners have filed 426 complaints about the 1994 Ford Thunderbird with NHTSA between 1995 and 2016. The largest single group is the transmission & drivetrain. Across this model's run it ranks 1 of 9 worst.
FaultScore 66/100
Higher is worse. Measured against the other years of the Ford Thunderbird.
How this is worked out426
Complaints
27
Crashes reported
12
Fires reported
13
Injuries reported
2 complaints report a death.
80,000 mi
Median mileage at failure
Half of reported failures happened before this
4%
Failed under 36,000 miles
Inside a typical bumper-to-bumper warranty
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
Click any bar to open that year's report.
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Median failure at 97,500 miles
3 crashes, 0 fires · median 219,895 mi
1 crashes, 0 fires
NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all complaints include one.
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
MY SON AND HIS GIRL FRIEND HAD A WRECK IN MY WIFE'S CAR, REARENDING ANOTHER CAR WHILE WEARING THEIR SEATBELTS, BUT THE BELTS DIDN'T LOCK, ALLOWING THEM TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD. SEATBELTS WILL NOT LOCK AND HOLD WHEN THROWN FORWARD IN CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #10102253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
NO SXUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #764844 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
FIRE DEVELOPED FROM THE THUNDERBIRD WHICH WAS SITTING IN THE CARPORT ATTACHED TO THE HOUSE, THE FIRE ADVANCED FROM THE CAR TO THE HOUSE AND KILLED BOTH THE CONSUMERS WIFE AND HER FATHER, CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT FIRE WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #563174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
FIRE DEVELOPED FROM THE THUNDERBIRD WHICH WAS SITTING IN THE CARPORT ATTACHED TO THE HOUSE, THE FIRE ADVANCED FROM THE CAR TO THE HOUSE AND KILLED BOTH THE CONSUMERS WIFE AND HER FATHER, CONSUMER BELIEVES THAT FIRE WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA complaint #563174 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
PARKED VEHICLE UNDER SOME TREES AND WALKED AWAYAND SUDDENLY HEARD A LOUD BOOM. FRIEND THOUGHT TIRE BLEWOUT. WENT TO CHECK, AND NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDER HOOD. FRIEND CALLED FIRE DEPARTMENT. THEY PUT OUT FLAMES. FIRE INSPECTOR INDICATED CAUSE OF PROBLEM WAS BATTERY CABLE WHICH ALSO CAUSED ELECTRICAL WIRES ON DRIVER'S SIDE TO MELT.
NHTSA complaint #893473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS A STOP LIGHT AND WAS APPROACHING ANOTHER LIGHT. CONSUMER WENT TO APPLY BRAKES, AND THERE WAS A COKE BOTTLE THAT ROLLED UNDERNEATH BRAKES, AND VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP. WAS TRYING TO GET ATTENTION OF OTHER DRIVER, BUT SHE WAS A 16 YEAR OLD NEW DRIVER. A VEHICLE HIT HER DEAD CENTER, AND AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. SHE SUFFERED INJURIES. CONSUMER WANTS TO NO WHY AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY.
NHTSA complaint #868585 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
AIR BAGS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD THUNDERBIRD. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE AIR BAG INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND BLINKED A "13" CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR BAG CLOCK SPRING WAS FAULTY. THE PART (PART NUMBER: F4SZ14A664A) WAS DISCONTINUED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
NHTSA complaint #10929563 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD THUNDERBIRD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL HE COASTED ONTO THE EMERGENCY LANE. UPON EXAMINATION, HE NOTICED THAT THERE WAS NO RUBBER COATING OVER THE STEEL BRAKE LINES WHICH LED TO SEVERE RUSTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE EXAMINED FOR THE CAUSE OF FAILURE AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 197,000.
NHTSA complaint #10352686 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION:FRONT
FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURE,, FRONT COIL SPRINGS ARE BOTH BROKEN NEAR BASE OF SPRING.
NHTSA complaint #10352615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SUSPENSION
FRONT COIL SPRING FRACTURE,, FRONT COIL SPRINGS ARE BOTH BROKEN NEAR BASE OF SPRING.
NHTSA complaint #10352615 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
1994 FORD THUNDERBIRD, COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. ALL BRAKE LINES RUSTED AND LEAKING, AREA NEXT TO BRAKE LINES ARE NOT RUSTED. BRAKE LINES PRONE TO RUST. ALL BRAKE LINES NEED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10352611 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION WOULD SHIFT IN AND OUT OF OVERDRIVE FOR NO APPARENT REASON. THIS WAS CORRECTED BY REPLACING TWO SPEED SENSING SWITCHES. THIS IS NORMALLY DONE WHEN EVER THE TRANSMISSION IS WORKED ON BY FORD.
NHTSA complaint #10245500 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE A 1994 FORD THUNDERBIRD THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL CONTINUOUSLY LURCHES OR LUNGES WHILE ENGAGED. I CAN NO TRUST IT SO I MUST SHUT THE CRUISE CONTROL OFF IN ORDER TO PREVENT A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT. THIS STARTED SOMETIME AGO AND CONTINUES TO THIS DATE.
NHTSA complaint #10244681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY
I HAVE A 1994 FORD THUNDERBIRD THAT THE CLIMATE CONTROL SUDDENLY STARTED WORKING ERRATICALLY AND WILL NOT WORK RIGHT. I HAVE SEEN A RECALL IN THE 1996 MODEL FOR THE VERY SAME THING REGARDING THE CLIMATE CONTROL. THIS IS A VERY SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH BEING ABLE TO DEFROST THE WINDOWS IN THE CAR SO I CAN SEE. THIS COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE A ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS. THERE IS NO WAY OF CONTROLLING THE TEMPERATURE.
NHTSA complaint #10244679 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I WAS DRIVING AT A STEADY 60 MPH WHEN A SUDDEN LOSS OF OIL PRESSURE AND LOSS OF POWER OCCURRED. TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY AND FOUND A BLOWN HEAD GASKET TO BE THE PROBLEM. CAR HAS 101,000 MILES. CONTRARY TO MANY OTHERS, THIS IS A 4.6 V8.
NHTSA complaint #10142743 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
DT: THE CONSUMER SUSPECTED THERE WAS ODOMETER FRAUD. WHEN HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IT SHOWED 91,000 MILES ON IT. AFTER HE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE HE GOT A CARFAX REPORT WHICH SHOWED THAT IN 9-20-99 IT SHOWED 118,090 WHEN TAKEN TO THE TN DMV. ALSO, THE REPORT SHOWED ON 4-20-00 THAT THERE WAS 125,035 MILES ON A SERVICE RECORD. ANOTHER RECORD INDICATED THAT IT HAD BEEN TAKEN TO THE TN DMV BUT THE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE AS A RESULT OF THE HIGH MILEAGE . THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM AN INDEPENDENT PERSON ON E-BAY.
NHTSA complaint #10132882 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I OWN A 1994 FORD T-BIRD WITH A 5.0 V8 AND AS I AM DRIVING(NOT ACCELERATING, ETC.) THE CAR IT UNEXPECTLY DOWN SHIFTS FOR NO REASON. IT APPEARS TO HAPPEN MORE DURING THE SUMMER MONTHS WHEN IT IS HOTTER. I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO LAKE CITY FORD IN COEUR D'ALENE AT LEAST 4 OR 5 TIMES OVER THE LAST 4 OR 5 YEARS AND THEY KEEP TELLING ME THAT SOME PART "JUST NEEDS CLEANING" THE PROBLEM KEEPS COMING BACK. I FEEL THAT IT IS A DANGER AND COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
NHTSA complaint #10123771 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
I WAS AN ORIGINAL VICTIM OF FORD 3.8 HEAD GASKET FAILURE. I HAD THE WORK DONE PRIOR TO THE LETTER THEY SENT. I HAD GOTTEN REIMBURSED. MY CAR HAS APPROX 120.000 AND THE HEAD GASKETS HAVE GONE AGAIN. I AM TERMINALLY ILL AND HAVE A DAUGHTER GETTING READY FOR COLLEGE AND CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP PAYING FOR FORDS ORG. DEFECTS.
NHTSA complaint #10118244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
EQUIPMENT
I WAS AN ORIGINAL VICTIM OF FORD 3.8 HEAD GASKET FAILURE. I HAD THE WORK DONE PRIOR TO THE LETTER THEY SENT. I HAD GOTTEN REIMBURSED. MY CAR HAS APPROX 120.000 AND THE HEAD GASKETS HAVE GONE AGAIN. I AM TERMINALLY ILL AND HAVE A DAUGHTER GETTING READY FOR COLLEGE AND CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP PAYING FOR FORDS ORG. DEFECTS.
NHTSA complaint #10118244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS
I WAS AN ORIGINAL VICTIM OF FORD 3.8 HEAD GASKET FAILURE. I HAD THE WORK DONE PRIOR TO THE LETTER THEY SENT. I HAD GOTTEN REIMBURSED. MY CAR HAS APPROX 120.000 AND THE HEAD GASKETS HAVE GONE AGAIN. I AM TERMINALLY ILL AND HAVE A DAUGHTER GETTING READY FOR COLLEGE AND CANNOT AFFORD TO KEEP PAYING FOR FORDS ORG. DEFECTS.
NHTSA complaint #10118244 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
MY SON AND HIS GIRL FRIEND HAD A WRECK IN MY WIFE'S CAR, REARENDING ANOTHER CAR WHILE WEARING THEIR SEATBELTS, BUT THE BELTS DIDN'T LOCK, ALLOWING THEM TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD. SEATBELTS WILL NOT LOCK AND HOLD WHEN THROWN FORWARD IN CRASH.
NHTSA complaint #10102253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TIRES:SIDEWALL
IN DECEMBER OF 2003 MY WIFE HAD A MICHELIN X RADIAL PLUS SIDEWALL BLOWOUT ON HER 94 T-BIRD. WE REPLACED TWO TIRES A THAT TIMES SO THEY WOULD BE EQUAL ON THE AXLE. THEN YESTERDAY ANOTHER MICHELIN X RADIAL PLUS SIDEWALL BLEW ON THE SAME CAR ONLY IN THE FRONT THIS TIME. TIRE PRESSURE WAS CHECKED LAST WEEK AND THE TREAD WEAR WAS EVEN IN BOTH CASES. WE REPLACED BOTH THE REMAIN TWO LAST NIGHT. THE ORIGINAL SET AS WELL AS THE REPLACEDMENT TIRES WERE PURCHASED AT COSTCO. THE FIRST INCIDENT OCCURED WITH 50% OF THE TREAD REMAINING THE SECOND TIME THERE WAS 25% TREAD LEFT. THE TIRES WERE APPROXIMATELY 3 YEARS OLD. IF EVERYONE WHO BOUGHT THESE HAS HAD A 2 OUT OF 4 FAILURE RATE, THERES A PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10086582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
ENGINE - MAKES A MOANING NOISE AND RAISES THE IDLE. AS A RESULT, THE CARE WANTS TO ACCELERATE, EVEN WITHOUT PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR. PAINT - PAINT OXIDIZED ON ALL SKYWARD FACING SURFACES. SPOTS OF RUST HAVE DEVELOPED. POWER LOCK - DRIVER'S SIDE POWER LOCK MAKES A NOISE, BUT DOES NOT MOVE THE LOCK TRANSMISSION - DOESN'T SHIFT WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO, AND WHEN IT DOES, IT IS VERY JERKY.
NHTSA complaint #10068811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
ENGINE - MAKES A MOANING NOISE AND RAISES THE IDLE. AS A RESULT, THE CARE WANTS TO ACCELERATE, EVEN WITHOUT PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR. PAINT - PAINT OXIDIZED ON ALL SKYWARD FACING SURFACES. SPOTS OF RUST HAVE DEVELOPED. POWER LOCK - DRIVER'S SIDE POWER LOCK MAKES A NOISE, BUT DOES NOT MOVE THE LOCK TRANSMISSION - DOESN'T SHIFT WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO, AND WHEN IT DOES, IT IS VERY JERKY.
NHTSA complaint #10068811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
ENGINE - MAKES A MOANING NOISE AND RAISES THE IDLE. AS A RESULT, THE CARE WANTS TO ACCELERATE, EVEN WITHOUT PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR. PAINT - PAINT OXIDIZED ON ALL SKYWARD FACING SURFACES. SPOTS OF RUST HAVE DEVELOPED. POWER LOCK - DRIVER'S SIDE POWER LOCK MAKES A NOISE, BUT DOES NOT MOVE THE LOCK TRANSMISSION - DOESN'T SHIFT WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO, AND WHEN IT DOES, IT IS VERY JERKY.
NHTSA complaint #10068811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PAINT STARTED FADING WITHEN TWO YEARS AFTER PURCHASE DEALER STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT A DEFECT WITH THE MANUFACTURER THEY ASKED ME IF I HAD A GARAGE OR IF I PARKED MY CAR IN THE SUN AT WORK. AND TOLD ME IT WAS THE ELEMMENTS. AND NOT THE FAULT OF THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER. I GAVE UP AFTER SEVERAL ATTMPS TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10069597 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
ENGINE - MAKES A MOANING NOISE AND RAISES THE IDLE. AS A RESULT, THE CARE WANTS TO ACCELERATE, EVEN WITHOUT PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR. PAINT - PAINT OXIDIZED ON ALL SKYWARD FACING SURFACES. SPOTS OF RUST HAVE DEVELOPED. POWER LOCK - DRIVER'S SIDE POWER LOCK MAKES A NOISE, BUT DOES NOT MOVE THE LOCK TRANSMISSION - DOESN'T SHIFT WHEN IT IS SUPPOSED TO, AND WHEN IT DOES, IT IS VERY JERKY.
NHTSA complaint #10068811 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION BEGINS SHIFTING FROM OD TO LOWER GEARS FOR NO APPARENT REASON. A TRANSMISSION FLUSH SEEMS TO CLEAR UP THE ISSUE FOR APPROX. 6,000 MILES AND THEN THE PROBLEM IS BACK. THE PAST WEEK HAS BEEN VERY BAD. THIS MORNING ON MY DRIVE TO WORK (3 MILES) THE ISSUE OCCURED 6 TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #10060229 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I NOTICED IMMEDIATLY AFTER BUYING THIS CAR THAT THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED THAT WAS 11/98 IT TOOK SEVERAL CALLS TO THE DEALER AND A COARSE OF A YEAR FOR THEM TO FINALLY FIX IT. SECOND TIME I BROUGHT IN TO SHOP REPLACED WHOLE TRANSMISSION THAT WAS 12/99. NOW IN 6/03 THE TRANSMISSION IS STARTING TO SLIP AGAIN. ALSO HAD RECALL LETTER ABOUT HEAD GASKETS, FORD REFUSED TO WORK WITH ME ON REPLACEMENTS, HAD TO BE REPLACED OUT OF MY OWN POCKET. PRIVATE DEALER LIED ABOUT CONDITION OF VEHICLE, IT HAD TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS WHEN I BOUGHT IT. FORD MADE NO ATTEMPS TO HELP RESOLVE PROBLEMS.
NHTSA complaint #10048796 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE JERKING FORWARD WHILE AT STOP LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY THREE CERTIFIED MECHANICS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WORE OUT. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *AK THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH IT'S POWER WINDOW'S, AIR CONDITIONER AND TRANSMISSION. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10044226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
CONSUMER HAD PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE JERKING FORWARD WHILE AT STOP LIGHTS. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY THREE CERTIFIED MECHANICS. THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE HEAD GASKETS WORE OUT. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. *AK THE VEHICLE ALSO EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS WITH IT'S POWER WINDOW'S, AIR CONDITIONER AND TRANSMISSION. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10044226 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.