IllustrationNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
1993 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: 14 of 423 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.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 171 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 119 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
10 crash reports7 fire reports6 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
37 reportsVEHICLE BEGAN STALLING WHILE MAKING LEFT HAND TURNS, NOW THE CAR IS STALLING WHILE GOING UPHILL AND WHILE MAKING LEFT AND RIGHT HAND TURNS, DUE TO IGNITION SYSTEM TFI MODULE FAILURE.
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED OUT CAUSING TURN SIGNALS TO BE INOPERABLE, REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER TO BE INOPERABLE, TEMPERATURE CONTOL UNIT TO BE INOPERABLE, AND THE ALTERNATOR WAS UNABLE TO CHARGE THE BATTERY. COOLANT GAUGE STAYS AT COLD, DEALER REPLACED THERMOSTAT DUE TO IMPROPER INSTALLATION. *SLC
VEHICLE STALLS DURING AND AFTER LEFT HANDED TURNS, ALSO STALLS GOING UPHILL AND WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS, DUE TO THE TFI MODULE FAILURE. *SLC
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO GASKETS, REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES AS WELL AS FUEL LINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS MALFUNCTION IN THE POWER MIRRORS AND THE POWER LOCKS, ILLUMINATION CONTROLS AS WELL AS MOTOR IN DRIVERS SIDE DOOR<POWER DOOR>, SEATBELTS WILL NOT ENGAGE AND SIGNALS FOR SEATBELT TO BE WORN , SEATBELT ALARM WILL NO…
Read full complaint
ENGINE FAILURE DUE TO GASKETS, REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH SEVERAL TIMES AS WELL AS FUEL LINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS MALFUNCTION IN THE POWER MIRRORS AND THE POWER LOCKS, ILLUMINATION CONTROLS AS WELL AS MOTOR IN DRIVERS SIDE DOOR<POWER DOOR>, SEATBELTS WILL NOT ENGAGE AND SIGNALS FOR SEATBELT TO BE WORN , SEATBELT ALARM WILL NOT SHUT OFF UNTIL THIS PROBLEM IS SOLVED.COOLENT SYSTEM FAILURE AT POINT OF ENGINE FAILURE , DECREASE IN COMPRESSION AND WHITE SMOKE FROM HOOD, LEVELS READ VERY HOT!!.*AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND HE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. ALSO, BRAKE LIGHT IN THE MIDDLE WASN'T WORKING, AND WHEN WENT TO PULL THE SOCKETS, THE PLUGS WERE BURNED. DEALER WILL REPAIR AT OWNER'S COST. *AK *ML
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH HAS FAILED AND FALLS A FEW MONTHS OUTSIDE OF RECALL. *AK
VEHICLE KEEPS CUTTING OFF, CIRCUITING OUT, A/C DOES NOT WORK. SEEMS TO BE ELECTRICAL. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
HEADLIGHTS FAILED DUE TO A BAD ELECTRICAL SWITCH, RESULTING IN POOR VISIBILITY. ALSO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS SHORT OUT WHILE DRIVING, AND SMOKE APPEARED TO BE COMING FROM IGNITION SWITCH AREA. DEALER CONTACTED AND FAULTY PARTS WERE REPLACED. *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
3EA99005 · 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