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1992 Ford Thunderbird

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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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 reports
Mileage unknown · Jan 22, 2001
Electrical System

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN A MALFUNCTION OCCURRED WITHIN IGNITION MODULE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO COMPLETELY SHUTDOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ODI #878679

Mileage unknown · Jan 1, 2001
Parking BrakeSeat BeltsStructure

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. …

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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

NHTSA ODI #738609

Mileage unknown · Dec 21, 2000
Exterior Lighting

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.

NHTSA ODI #738104

Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2000
Unknown Or Other

FORD GARAGE UNABLE TO GET PART. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #735702

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2000
Unknown Or Other

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #735129

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2000
Unknown Or Other

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #735127

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2000
Tires

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: )

NHTSA ODI #734716

Mileage unknown · Oct 11, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

SERVICE SHOP STATED THAT A HOLE DEVELOPED IN THE FUEL LINE, CAUSED BY THE FUEL LINE RUBBING AGAINST THE FRAME OF THE CAR.*AK

NHTSA ODI #734054

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2000
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL LINE HAD BEEN REPLACED 2 YEARS AGO UNDER RECALL, NOW FORD SAYS WON'T COVER TWICE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #733333

Mileage unknown · Sep 19, 2000
Electrical System

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

NHTSA ODI #870959

Official recalls

3

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

5

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