62 of the 3,081 complaints filed about the Ford Thunderbird are about the body and structure — 2% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1995.
62
Complaints
2%
Share of all complaints
3
Crashes
1
Fires
STRUCTURE:INTERIOR PANELS:DASHBOARD
Dash board cracked few places by Windshield. It's really Between WINDSHIELD AND DASHBOARD. ANY RECALLS OR COMPLAINTS? [XXX] THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
NHTSA complaint #11466232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
MY DAUGHTER WAS IN A ROLLOVER ACCIDENT ON 09 -06 -2016 IN A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE. THE AIR BAG DID NOT SUFFICIENTLY DEPLOY & SHE WAS SEVERELY INJURED AS A RESULT. SHE WAS ON INTERSTATE 95N NEAR MANNING, SC WHEN A SEMI TRUCK DID NOT SEE HER & CAME INTO HER LANE GRAZING THE CAR. SHE HAD TO GO OFF THE ROAD OR THE TRUCK WOULD HAVE CRUSHED HER. THE THUNDERBIRD ROLLED OVER & SHE WAS SEVERELY INJURED.
NHTSA complaint #11182303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
ONE OF THE 4 BOLTS THAT HOLD THE REAR SUSPENSION TO THE VEHICLE FELL OUT OF THE CAR. THE BOLT FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND POSSIBLY OVER TORQUING AT THE FACTORY. SEVERE CORROSION INSIDE THE POCKET THAT HOUSES THIS BOLT. FORD DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT COVERED AND IS AT LEAST 10 HOURS LABOR AND IS CONCERNED THE REMAINING 3 BOLTS MAY BE CORRODED AS WELL. THEY ARE ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE FRAME RAIL ON THE BODY MAY BE AFFECTED. THIS HAS BEEN A SOUTH FLORIDA CAR ITS ENTIRE LIFE AND HAS BEEN GARAGED ITS WHOLE LIFE. IT HAS NEVER BEEN EXPOSED TO ROAD SALT OR SNOW AND HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN IN RAIN ON LIMITED OCCASIONS. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE REAR SUSPENSION COULD FALL OUT OF THE CAR.
NHTSA complaint #10640755 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
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.
STRUCTURE
THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD CRACKED SPILLING OUT ALL MY COOLANT AND CAUSING MY ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD BE COVERD BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY, THIS HAPPEND WHILE DRIVING DOWN GRATIOT AVE. IN ROSEVILLE MI AT 40 MILES PER HOUR WITH NO PREVIOUS WARNING, THIS FAILURE HAPPEND 7/3/2011 SATURDAY OVER THE FORTH OF JULY WEEKEND, WHERE I COULDN'T GET IT TO A OPEN FORD DEALERSHIP, NOW I CONNOT USE MY VEHICAL FOR WORK MONDAY 7/4/2011. WILL THIS REPAIR BE COVERD BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY?
NHTSA complaint #10410350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
OPENING DOORS FROM THE INSIDE, LITTLE BY LITTLE, BOTH DOORS FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, HAD TO LEAVE WINDOW OR WINDOWS OPEN TO STICK HAND OUT TO OPEN DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. FAILURE OF THESE DOORS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AT SOME POINT IF BATTERY WOULD GIVE OUT WOULD LEAVE US LOCKED IN, BUT FORTUNATELY THAT DID NOT HAPPEN DUE TO US REMEMBERING TO LEAVE AT LEAST ONE WINDOW OPEN. AFTER SOME MINOR REPAIR, FOUND OUT PLASTIC PARTS WORE OUT AND ONLY ONE DOOR CAN BE UNLOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE.
NHTSA complaint #10221392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
INTAKE (PLASTIC) CRACKS ;LEAVING FAMILY AND I STRANDED ON 30 MILE STRETCH OF HIGHWAY WITH NO HOUSES OR BUSINESS. TOWED TO STATION AND FIXED RECALLED INTAKE. TAXI COST HOME AND BACK 2 DAYS LATER TO RETRIEVE CAR SOON STARTED HAVING HEATER COIL LEAKS AND OVERHEATING;ANTIFREEZE CAUSING HEADACHES. ALMOST $1000.00 TO REPLACE 30 DOLLAR PART(DASH BOARD AND CONSOLE REMOVED AND AIR CONDITION UNIT DISCONNECTED AND RECHARGED) DEALER TOOK COST OF NEXT 2 REPLACEMENT HEATER COILS AND IT STILL NEEDS 4TH;NO HEAT;STILL LEAKS ANTIFREEZE INSIDE CAR. INTAKE MANIFOLD(PLASTIC) CRACKED AGAIN;OVERHEATED AND BURNT ME THIS TIME ALSO CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO CAR;VERY COSTLY WHICH I GUESS WE THE CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO BEAR. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE?
NHTSA complaint #10196345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
2003 FORD THUNDERBIRD HAD SPARK PLUGS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO 5 MPH WITHOUT WARNING AND WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED, AND NUMEROUS ENGINE PROBLEMS. *KB WATER LEAKED INSIDE THE VEHICLE, THE DEALER FOUND CRACKS AND A TEAR AROUND THE WEATHER STRIP AND SEAL. THE A/C CONTROL HEAD ASSEMBLY WAS REPLACED. THE RADIO HAD TO BE SENT OUT FOR REPAIRS. THE ALARM WOULD SOUND ON ITS OWN. THE LIGHT LOCATED ON THE REAR VIEW MIRROR WOULD NOT GO OUT. THE IGNITION COILS WERE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #10164742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
COMPLIANT IS THAT THROUGH MY INSURANCE PROVIDER I WAS ALERTED TO TWO RECALLS THAT SHOULD BE AT LEAST LOOKED INTO ON MY AUTO. THE FIRST IS THE BLOWER ON THE CLIMATE CONTROL BEGAN TO WORK ERRATICALLY AND NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. MEANING THAT MY DEFROSTING DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. THE OTHER AND MORE SERIOUS IS THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH STICKS AT SMACKS AGAINST THE PEG AND DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY OR AT ALL, UNLESS THE LATCH IS MANUALLY LIFTED. BOTH OF THESE ARE RECALLS FOR OTHER T-BIRDS BUT SOMEHOW MINE SLIPPED THROUGH. VIN IS [XXX]. IF THESE ARE SUCH COMMON PROBLEMS WHY WEREN'T ALL THE T-BIRDS RECALLED? I AM LOOKING AT OVER 600.00 TO REPLACE THESE PARTS. WHICH IS IRRITATING WHEN FORD SHOULD BE FIXING IT'S KNOWN PROBLEMS. *NM UPDATED 07/16/2012 * JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #10155041 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
UNSAFE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IN CONSUMER'S 1995 FORD THUNDERBIRD.
NHTSA complaint #10114872 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DUE TO A UNSAFE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, CONSUMER BELIEVED THE DEALERSHIP PUT USED PARTS ON HIS NEW VEHICLE. (NAR) *PH
NHTSA complaint #10064951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE SOFT CONVERTIBLE LOCK MECHANISM BROKE. *AK THE TOP FLEW UP WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE FREEWAY. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO GRAB THE LOCKING MECHANISM WHEN IT BROKE. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #10040335 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HINGE MALFUNCTIONED WHICH MADE THE DOOR INOPERATIVE. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10016079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
THE SUN VISORS COULD NOT BE TILTED TOWARD THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER WINDOWS. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED BUT THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE. *JB *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10014770 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE
WATER LEAKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, WITH THE HARDTOP INSTALLED, PASSENGER SEAT AND FLOOR WERE VERY WET. CONSUMER WAS CONCERN ABOUT THE AIR BAG IN PASSENGER SEAT AS WELL AS ELECTRONICS UNDER PASSENGER SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10000996 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MANUAL DOOR LATCHES WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA complaint #8022434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
FIRST PROBLEM: CAR DOOR INDICATOR LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF EVEN WHEN THE DOORS OR TIGHTLY SHUT. SECOND PROBLEM: LEFT TURNING SIGNAL LIGHT BLINKS VERY FAST AND THE RIGHT SIGNAL LIGHT BLINKS REGULARLY. THIRD PROBLEM: PASSENGER SELT BELT KEEPS GETTING STUCK EVEN AFTER PRESSING THE RED BUTTON TO RELEASE. FOURTH PROBLEM: THE SQUEAKING AND SHAKING VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING A SPEED OF 50 OR MORE MPH AND YOU BEGIN PRESSING THE BRAKES IS WHEN THE SOUNDS AND THE VIBRATIONS BEGINS. FIFTH PROBLEM: THE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD IT CHECK TO THE FORD PLACE THEY STATED IT WAS A DEFECT IN A BOX THE SITS ON TOP OF THE ENGINE ( I WANT TO SAY IT HOLDS THE COMPUTER CHIP) IS GOING BAD. AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME I DID NOT ASK THEM TO DO A RECALL LIST FOR ME. I REALLY NEED ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE ME ON THIS VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #766218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY
DUE TO THE LOCATION OF CUP HOLDERS SPILLAGE FROM CUPS GET INTO GEAR SHIFT. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT DUE TO DESIGN AND LOCATION OF THE CUP HOLDER ANY SPILL OF LIQUIDS GETS INTO THE GEAR SHIFT AREA CAUSING THE GEAR SHIFT TO GET HARD AND ALSO, HARD TO REMOVE KEY FROM IGNITION WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN PARK. ENGINE LEAKS OIL DUE TO ROCKER ARM COVER FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #8000986 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
DOOR HINGES HAVE WORN OUT ON THE DOORS OF MY CAR. THE DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE. IT WILL BE 350 DOLLARS TO REPAIR THEM, AND IT IS A DESIGN FLAW, AS PER MY MECHANIC. IT IS DANGEROUS AND POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING.
NHTSA complaint #737938 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS:UNDERBODY SHIELDS
RUBBER SHIELD OF THE STEEL ACCELERATOR CABLES BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR WORE OFF, THIS CAUSED A SHORT CIRCUIT FROM THE ALTERNATOR TO THE GROUND, THE HOT POST OF THE ALTERNATOR ARCED ON THE CABLES AND MELTED THE MAIN LEAD TO THE BATTERY AND FRIED THE AREAS AROUND THE POST. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #785308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.