IllustrationHEADLIGHTS GOE OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS WHICH MAY BE PRECEDED BY FLICKERING OR BLINKING AS A RESULT OF CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
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
What owners actually said
184 reportsWHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SOMETHING BLACK FALLING ON DASH, HE STOPPED/ INSPECTED, AND NOTICED A PIECE OF WINDSHIELD ADHESIVE HAD FALLEN. ADHESIVE HAD NEVER HARDENED,AND WHEN CLEANING INSIDE OF IT, CONSUMER GOT STUCK ON ADHESIVE. FORD DEALER TOLD HIM UP TO 36000 MILES FORD CO. WOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT SINCE TH…
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WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SOMETHING BLACK FALLING ON DASH, HE STOPPED/ INSPECTED, AND NOTICED A PIECE OF WINDSHIELD ADHESIVE HAD FALLEN. ADHESIVE HAD NEVER HARDENED,AND WHEN CLEANING INSIDE OF IT, CONSUMER GOT STUCK ON ADHESIVE. FORD DEALER TOLD HIM UP TO 36000 MILES FORD CO. WOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT SINCE THIS VEHICLE WAS OVER THAT MILEAGE THEY WOULD DO NOTHING.*AK CONSUMER STATES PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *SLC
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
DRIVING AT 40 MPH AND ENGINE STOPPED. GOT OUT LOOK TO SEE THE HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. *AK
WHILE CLOSING DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RETRACT INTO SAFETY POSITION OFF TRACK. *AK MOTORIZED BELT IS STUCK IN THE LOCKED POSITION, SEATBELT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. *SLC
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 GE…
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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
CONSUMER HAD EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH ACTIVE SEAT BELT MOTOR ON DRIVER'S SIDE. MOTOR WON'T MOVE WHEN OPENING DOOR OR WHEN CLOSING. CONSUMER HAD TO BE USING LAP SEAT BELT IN A MANUAL WAY. *AK *SLC
IGNITION MODULE MALFUNCTIONED. FORD CANNOT PROVIDE PART, STOPPED PRODUCING THE PART. *AK
WHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS FLICKED OFF AND ON WHICH CAUSED POOR DRIVER'S VISIBILITY. ALSO, RECALL 99V275000 DEALT WITH SAME TYPE OF PROBLEM BUT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
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
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