IllustrationDEFECTIVE TAIL SHAFT ON TRANSMISSION. NEW SEAL DID NOT SOLVE PROBLEM. MR
1992 Ford Thunderbird
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Thunderbird years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 6 of 184 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- 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
Power Train complaints
10 reportsHEAD 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 GARA…
Read full complaint
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
VEHICLE SLIPPED OUT OF PARK KNOCKING CONSUMER OVER AND RUNNING OVER HER ANKLE/LEG.
GAS PEDAL STICKING TO THE FLOOR. *ET
THE PLASTIC TRANSMISSION CABLE END BROKE OFF THE THROTTLE BODY CAUSING THE GAS PEDAL STICKING TO THE FLOOR.*ET
VEHICLE DID NOT GO INTO DRIVE OR REVERSE. THE OWNER CHANGED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID AND FILTER, WHICH IS RECOMMENDED IN THE OWNER MANUAL. VEHICLE CURRENTLY WILL NOT GO INTO REVERSE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN MAKING LANE CHANGES THE REAR END GOES TO THE OPPOSITE OF THE DIRECTION IT IS TRAVELING DUE TO AXLE BEARING FAILURE. *AK
THE BRAKES SWITCH GOES OUT, CONSUMER LOSES BRAKES LIGHTS, NO CRUISE CONTROL AND IS UNABLE TO SHIFT FROM PARK INTO DRIVE. THE SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED (6) TIME SINCE OWNING VEHICLE IN JULY 92. *AK
THE ORGINAL SPEEDOMETER WAS REPLACED AT 7,000 MILES, THE SECOND ONE WAS REPLACED AT 5,000 MILES AND THE THIRD ONE AT 8,000 MILES. PLEASE DESCRIBE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK THE NEEDLE WILL NOT PROGRAM PAST 38 MPH ALSO HEATER NOT WORKING PROPERLY LOW HEAT AND ALSO A/C LOW..*JB
TURNED ROTORS.
Official recalls
399V275000 · 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
5EA99005 · 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