19 of the
228 complaints about the 1997 Ford Thunderbird are about the
transmission — 8% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
71,568 miles.
A
19
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Automatic Transmission
1157.9%
Power Train
315.8%
Torque Converter
15.3%
Park/Neutral Start Interlock Switch
15.3%
Axle Assembly
15.3%
Cooling Unit AND Lines
15.3%
Floor Shift
15.3%
Transmission & Drivetrain across every Ford Thunderbird year
I SMELL GAS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED OF 60 AND ABOVE ON FREEWAY MOSTLY. ONCE IN A WHILE I CAN SMELL IT WHEN DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS OF 25 -30MPH. I USED TO THINK THAT I HAD SPILLED GAS ON THE OUTSIDE OF CAR WHEN IT FIRST STARTED HAPPENING, BUT NOW A YEAR LATER, I STILL SMELL GAS AND I DO SMOKE IN MY CAR, BUT WHEN I SMELL THE GAS, I WILL PUT THE CIGARETTE OUT. IS THERE SOME KIND OF RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, THAT CAN REPAIR IT. I HAVE PUT $4000.00 INTO RESTORING THE CAR AND I AND PUTTING ANOTHER $800.00 INTO IT NEXT WEEK, NOVEMBER 2013, TO REPLACE ALL OF THE BELTS AROUND THE ENGINE. I HAVE ALREADY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION FOR $1800.00 AT AAMCO, AND PUT A $2200.00 PAINT JOB ON IT, BEFORE I KNEW OF THE GAS SMELL. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. AM I FIGHTING A LOSING BATTLE WITH THIS CAR?
NHTSA complaint #10550111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 86,000 milesLawai, HI
POWER TRAIN
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE WOULD DECELERATE WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 86,000.
NHTSA complaint #10413447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 162,000 milesFairmount, GA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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
NHTSA complaint #10287146 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sarasota, FL
POWER TRAIN
1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD WITH SHIFTING PROBLEMS. CONSUMER STATES THAT THE SHIFTER LEVER AFTER PRESSURE ON BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT RELEASE SHIFTER HANDLE. HE HAD THE BRAKE LIGHT/RELEASE SWITCH REPLACED AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *KB THE CONSUMER HAD DIFFICULTY REMOVING THE SHIFTER OUT OF PARK.
NHTSA complaint #10225048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 68,000 milesST Louis, MO
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT
DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FLOOR SHIFTER WAS STICKING IN PARK WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD. IT TOOK FIVE TO TEN MINUTES TO MOVE THE SHIFTER INTO OTHER GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER SAID THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE, AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO TO A JUNK YARD TO LOCATE ANOTHER SHIFTER. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE.
NHTSA complaint #10145991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 27,296 milesLawrenceville, GA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION OR TORQUE CONVERTER. *PH THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION SHUDDER OR A PROBLEM WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10042447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 27,296 milesLawrenceville, GA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION OR TORQUE CONVERTER. *PH THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION SHUDDER OR A PROBLEM WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10042447 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 71,568 milesMaceo, KY
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
I BOUGHT MY 1997 THUNDERBIRD 4-15-2003 W/70000 MILES, AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS PAGE I CAN ONLY RELATE TO 2 OF THEM, THE VIBERATION IN THE TRANSMISSION ON UPSHIFT,AND THE FRONT END SHAKING ABOVE 50 MPH.BUT I'M SO GLAD. *AK I BOUGHT A 2 YR.EXTENTED WARRENTY,BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE I'M IN FOR SOME PROBLENS. I CAN BE CONTACTED AT TBIRD97@INTERGATE.COM
NHTSA complaint #10020735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angeles, CA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY, CLIMBING UP A HILL AND GOING UP A MOUNTAIN, AND WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GASOLINE STATION, AND MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD IN ENGINE WAS MADE FROM PLASTIC AND CAUSING THE PROBLEM. INTAKE MANIFOLD SPLIT OPEN. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #881423 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Warwick, RI
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
MAJOR SHUDDER IN DRIVE BETWEEN 30-40MPH BEFORE IT SHIFTS TO OVERDRIVE AT WHILE INCREASING AT A SLOW SPEED. TSB#97106 EXPLAINS. DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM IN NOVEMBER. DROP OFF CAR AGAIN.
NHTSA complaint #740653 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gastonia, NC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #730059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Gastonia, NC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #730059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Franklinton, NC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TOLD BY LEITH FORD'S SERVICE MANAGER THAT PROBLEM WAS INTERNAL TO THE TRANSMISSION AND NOT CAUSED BY MISUSE, NEGLECT, ETC.
NHTSA complaint #718651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Antelope, CA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #715009 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Angele, CA
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY
REAR END CARRIER BEARING IS NOISY. YH
NHTSA complaint #606750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Camarillo, CA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
NO SUMMER LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #705809 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Erie, PA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
EACH TIME CAR IS PUT INTO PARK IT DRIFTS SIX TO EIGHT INCHES FORWARD
NHTSA complaint #534435 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ST Louis, MO
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
PULLED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF A GAS STATION, PUT IT IN PARK AND LEFT IT RUNNING, DRIVER WENT INSIDE, AND WITHIN A MINUTE VEHICLE LUNGED BACKWARDS. TURNED APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES AND STRUCK A TRUCK. AFTER IT STOPPED, IT WAS IN REVERSE.
NHTSA complaint #535022 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sacramento, CA
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION LEAK.
NHTSA complaint #520018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.