Exterior Lighting. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 27 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

6 crash reports11 fire reports8 injury reports

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

27 reports

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Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

LEFT AND RIGHT OUTER AND INNER ROCKERS ROTTED. BAD DESIGN, NO VENTILATION BUILT IN TO DRY MOISTURE INSIDE ROCKER. THEREFORE THEY ROT TILL THERE IS NO MORE ROCKER, COSTING $700 PER SIDE TO HAVE A FORD BODY SHOP TO CUT OUT AND WELD IN NEW ROCKERS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #765709

Mileage unknown · Aug 15, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE - REPAIR COST OF $970. *AK

NHTSA ODI #765708

Mileage unknown · Jul 21, 2002

Engine And Engine CoolingPower Train

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HEAD GASKET- CAR BEGAN SKIPPING AND THEN WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF EXHUAST. I DROVE IT HOME (3 MILES). I PULLED THE SPARK PLUGS AND FOUND THAT THE NUMBER 3 CYLINDER PLUG CLEAN AND WET. I DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTOR AND CYLINDER. WHY WON'T FORD HELP? I HAVE YET TO BRING IT TO A GARAGE SO I DON'T KNOW IF THE HEAD OR BLOCK IS DAMAGED. I AM HOPING NOT! TRANSMISSION- AOD MODEL STARTING AT ABOUT 79,000 MILES IT BEGAN TO SHIFT FUNNY AND GOT PROGRESSIVELY WORSE AS TIME WENT ON. NOW SHIFTING ERATIC, WAS LOOKING INTO FIXING IT WHEN THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM CAME UP!!!!!*AK

NHTSA ODI #764519

Mileage unknown · Mar 1, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

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THE DAY AFTER HAVING THE WATER PUMP REPLACED AFTER A FAILURE, THE ENGINE TEMPERATURE RAISED TO THE MAXIMUM THAT THE GAUGE CAN DISPLAY (NO SPECIFIC TEMP, JUST C-NORMAL-H). TOOK CAR BACK TO THE GARAGE WHERE THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED AND THEY SAID THAT THE HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN AND REPAIR WOULD COST $1100. FOR A SECOND OPINION I LIMPED IT TO A PERSON WHO "SECIALIZES" IN SUPER COUPES AND HE CONFIRMED THE DIAGNOSIS. HE SAID HE HAD SEEN MANY TBIRD SC'S COME IN WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND MILAGE DID NOT PLAY A PART IN THE DEFECT. HE REPORTED TO ME THAT THE MAIN MALFUNCTION WAS NOT ONLY A POOR QUALITY GASKET, BUT THAT THE HEADS WERE MACHINED TO TOO HIGH OF A TOLERANCE. THE HEADS WERE MACHINED, THE GASKETS REPLACED, ETC ETC, TO THE TUNE OF $1000.*AK

NHTSA ODI #758800

Mileage unknown · Feb 25, 2002

Engine And Engine Cooling

SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN ALL FORD THUNDERBIRD SC HEADGASKETS. FACTORY MILL IS INCORRECT AND NOT DONE VERY WELL. RECALL IS NECESSARY TO HAVE FORD FIX AN ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN RECALLED FOR THE 1994/95 MODELS. FORD SHOULD RECALL THE 1989-1993 SC, SAME DRIVETRAIN.*AK

NHTSA ODI #758621

Mileage unknown · Jun 17, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

FAILED HEADGASKETS WHILE VEHICLE WAS STRAPPED TO CHASSIS DYNOMOMETER. FAILURE HAPPENED AT 3000RPMS. HEAD GASKET FAILURE CAUSED THE TOP PLASTIC RADIATOR TANK TO EXPLODE WITH MANY WITNESSES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #746954

Mileage unknown · May 23, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

WHEN A SERVICE EMPLOYEE STARTED VEHICLE AND MOVED IT INTO GARAGE WHITE SMOKE CAME OUT OF VEHICLE. UPON EXAMINATION BY DEALERSHIP, ENGINE HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWN, AND MOTOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. CONSUMER PAID APPROXIMATELY $4175.00 TO HAVE THIS DEFECT REPAIRED. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #888957

Mileage unknown · Apr 9, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND ENGINE STOPPED. GOT OUT LOOK TO SEE THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. *AK

NHTSA ODI #743754

Mileage unknown · Feb 27, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

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ENGINE MISSING. WATER IN CYLINDER. HEAD CRACKED/GASKET BLOWN. DEALER WILL DO NOTHING FOR THERE IS NO RECALL BUT STATES THIS ENGINE HAS A REPUTATION FOR CRACKING HEADS. STATES 94-95 MODELS RECALLED HEADS BUT NOT '92. DEALER UNABLE TO GET REPLACEMENT HEAD. STATES NEWLY DESIGNED HEAD WON'T BE RELEASED UNTIL MID SUMMER AND CANNOT GET THE PART TO FIX MY CAR. 3 REPAIR SHOPS REPEATED "THOSE ARE BAD TO CRACK HEADS" AND ARE UNABLE TO GET REPLACEMENTS. PARTS STORES ARE UNABLE TO GET THIS HEAD. MANUFACTURER STATED WITH NO RECALL, THEY WILL DO NOTHING. STATED THEY HAVE NO ACCESS TO PARTS INFORMATION... THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A KNOWN PROBLEM BUT FORD WILL NOT ACKNOWLEDGE IT. I HAVE A BROKEN CAR AND NO WAY TO FIX IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #741658

Mileage unknown · Jan 26, 2001

Engine And Engine Cooling

AFTER HAVING VEHICLE SERVICED IT STALLED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO DEALER . TECHNICIAN STATED THAT HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. *AK THE ENGINE FAILED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING INSPECTION MAINTENANCE. *YH

NHTSA ODI #879130

Official recalls

99V275000 · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

Oct 12, 1999

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 & remedy

Consequence: DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH INCORPORATES A CIRCUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN, AND INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, IF NEEDED.

97V159000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Sep 22, 1997

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WEST VIRGINIA. MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL LINES CAUSES THE NYLON FUEL LINE JUMPER TO CHAFE AGAINST THE FLOOR PAN. THIS WEAR CAN CAUSE A PIN HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTS IN DAMPNESS AND FUEL ODOR, AND IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PLASTIC CONVOLUTE COVERING AROUND THE FUEL LINES. IF THE LINES SHOW A LEAK, THE LINES WILL BE REPLACED FIRST.

96V071000 · Electrical System:ignition

Apr 25, 1996

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

EA99005 · Headlight Switch

Opened Jan 20, 1999 · Closed Dec 14, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting

SUBJECT VEHICLES HAVE A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WITH AN INTERNAL, BIMETAL CIRCUIT BREAKER THAT CAN OPEN DUE TO OVERHEATING DURING HEADLING OPERATION.

RQ98015 · Headlight Circuit Breaker

Opened Sep 29, 1998 · Closed Jan 22, 1999

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch

HEADLIGHT SWITCH WITH AN ITERNAL, BIMETAL CIRCUIT BREALER THAT MAY OPEN DUE TO OVERHEATING DURING HEADLIGHT OPERATION

RQ97011 · Fuel Line Jumper

Opened Sep 25, 1997 · Closed Nov 16, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF THE ALLEGED FUEL LINE FAILURES OUTSIDE OF THE RECALL GEOGRAPHIC REGION AND IF THE RECALL SHOULD BE EXPANDED NATIONALLY

EA95030 · Rear Fuel Line Interference

Opened Oct 31, 1995 · Closed Sep 30, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

THE REAR FUEL TUBE BUNDLE MAY ABRADE AND FAIL IN THE VICINITY OF THE FUEL TANK.

PE93075 · Thrttl Vlv Linkage Bushing

Opened Aug 30, 1993 · Closed Dec 30, 1993

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

There is no summary currently available