WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN A MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WITHIN IGNITION MODULE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*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.
What owners actually said
184 reportsTHE DOORS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS, THEY SEEM TO BE TOO HEAVY FOR THE HINGES AS THEY SAG AND REQUIRE US TO LIFT THE DOOR TO GET THEM TO SHUT. THE FRONT SEAT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS DON'T WORK PROPERLY AT ALL AS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN TO RETRACT AND PASSENGER SIDE STAYS AT BOTTOM OF TRACK AND SHUTTERS ALL THE TIME. …
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THE DOORS HAVE BEEN A PROBLEM FOR QUITE A FEW YEARS, THEY SEEM TO BE TOO HEAVY FOR THE HINGES AS THEY SAG AND REQUIRE US TO LIFT THE DOOR TO GET THEM TO SHUT. THE FRONT SEAT AUTOMATIC SEAT BELTS DON'T WORK PROPERLY AT ALL AS THEY DO NOT KNOW WHEN TO RETRACT AND PASSENGER SIDE STAYS AT BOTTOM OF TRACK AND SHUTTERS ALL THE TIME. THE PARKING BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT STAY ELEVATED, WHICH CAUSES THE IN-DASH BRAKE LIGHT TO COME ON DURING OPERATION.*AK
ON 12-14-1999 THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON MY 1992 THUNDERBIRD WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL NUMBER 99S30. THE ORIGINAL SWITCH HAD EXHIBITED THE SYMPTOMS LISTED IN THE RECALL LETTER I RECEIVED (I.E. HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING OFF WHEN THE FOG LAMPS WERE USED). I AM NOW BEGINNING TO SEE SIMILAR SYMPTOMS WITH THE SWITCH THAT WAS INSTALLED LA…
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ON 12-14-1999 THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ON MY 1992 THUNDERBIRD WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL NUMBER 99S30. THE ORIGINAL SWITCH HAD EXHIBITED THE SYMPTOMS LISTED IN THE RECALL LETTER I RECEIVED (I.E. HEADLIGHTS FLICKERING OFF WHEN THE FOG LAMPS WERE USED). I AM NOW BEGINNING TO SEE SIMILAR SYMPTOMS WITH THE SWITCH THAT WAS INSTALLED LAST YEAR BY THE FORD DEALER. THIS MORNING WHEN LEAVING FOR WORK I PULLED THE LIGHT SWITCH OUT FULLY AND HAD NO HEADLIGHTS. I INSPECTED THE CONDITION OF THE HEADLIGHT FUSE AND FOUND IT TO BE GOOD. I THEN TRIED WIGGLING THE SWITCH WHILE IN THE ON POSITION (THAT HAD WORKED WITH THE ORIGINAL SWITCH) AND THE LIGHTS EVENTUALLY DID COME ON. SINCE THEN I TURNED THE LIGHTS ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT A FAILURE. I CONTACTED THE DEALER THAT DID THE RECALL WORK LAST YEAR AND FORD'S CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT., AND WAS TOLD BY REPRESENTATIVES FROM BOTH THAT THERE IS NO WARRANTY ON PARTS REPLACED UNDER A RECALL AND THAT, THEREFORE, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY THE COST OF REPLACING THE SWITCH MYSELF. I WILL BE REPLACING THE SWITCH IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO, AND WILL RETAIN THE RECEIPT FOR REIMBURSEMENT IN THE EVENT THERE IS ANOTHER RECALL RELATED TO THE SWITCH. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT FORD IS NOT WILLING TO REPLACE THE SWITCH. APPARENTLY THEY ARE NOT UNDER A MANDATE TO DO SO, BUT THEY COULD IF THEY WANTED TO IN THE NAME OF "CUSTOMER SATISFACTION". THEY KNOW AS WELL AS I DO THAT THE SWITCH SHOULD LAST A LOT LONGER THAN ONE YEAR.
FORD GARAGE UNABLE TO GET PART. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME RE. TIRE MODEL, SIZE, ETC. THE TREAD COMPLETELY PEELED WHILE TRAVELLING AT ~ 65 MPH, RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE BUMPER, FENDER, AND MISC. DAMAGE. THE TIRE WAS ROUGHLY 2 YEARS OLD AND HAD LESS THAN 35,000 MILES OF WEAR. PROPER ROTATION, BALANCING, AND INFLATION HAD BEEN MAINTAINED.( DOT …
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I DON'T HAVE THE INFORMATION IN FRONT OF ME RE. TIRE MODEL, SIZE, ETC. THE TREAD COMPLETELY PEELED WHILE TRAVELLING AT ~ 65 MPH, RESULTING IN EXTENSIVE BUMPER, FENDER, AND MISC. DAMAGE. THE TIRE WAS ROUGHLY 2 YEARS OLD AND HAD LESS THAN 35,000 MILES OF WEAR. PROPER ROTATION, BALANCING, AND INFLATION HAD BEEN MAINTAINED.( DOT NUMBER: )
SERVICE SHOP STATED THAT A HOLE DEVELOPED IN THE FUEL LINE, CAUSED BY THE FUEL LINE RUBBING AGAINST THE FRAME OF THE CAR.*AK
FUEL LINE HAD BEEN REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO UNDER RECALL, NOW FORD SAYS WON'T COVER TWICE. *AK
RECALL 96V-071 (FORD 95S28) WAS ORIGINALLY REPAIRED ON 12/2/97. VEHICLE IS NOW EXPERIENCING A SIMILAR PROBLEM. DEALER WILL NOT HONOR RECALL REPAIR, AND CONSUMER IS BENG CHARGED FOR EXPENSE OF INSTALLING ANOTHER NEW IGNITION SWITCH.*AK
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
Illustration