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1993 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: 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

Engine And Engine Cooling complaints

171 reports
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Mileage unknown · Dec 13, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

PROBLEM WITH ENGINE HESITATION/ LOSS OF COOLANT AND OVERHEATING WHEN DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT 3.8L ENGINE EXPERIENCED A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE AN…

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PROBLEM WITH ENGINE HESITATION/ LOSS OF COOLANT AND OVERHEATING WHEN DRIVING. VEHICLE TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT 3.8L ENGINE EXPERIENCED A HEAD GASKET FAILURE. MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #876473

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

94+UP 3.8'S REPAIRED FOR FREE BUT NOT 93 AND DOWN! SAME ENGINE WHY NOT SAME SOLUTION? *AK

NHTSA ODI #737689

Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #737489

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT REGULAR SPEED AND VEHICLE STALLED. COOLIANT WAS RUNNING VERY LOW. SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY SAID THAT HEAD GASKET BROKE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #875986

Mileage unknown · Dec 1, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

I BROUGHT THE CAR USED WITH APPROXIMATLY 73,000 MI. AFTER PUTTING ON ONLY ABOUT 10,000 MILES THE CRANKSHAFT SNAPPED. FURTHERER INVESTIGATION REVIELED A PREVIOUS BLOWN HEAD GASKET REPAIR. COOLANT CONTAMINATION OF THE CRANKCASE WHEN A HEAD GASKET BLOWS OFTEN TIMES RESULTS IN DAMAGE TO THE CRANKSHAFT AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE. I'VE CO…

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I BROUGHT THE CAR USED WITH APPROXIMATLY 73,000 MI. AFTER PUTTING ON ONLY ABOUT 10,000 MILES THE CRANKSHAFT SNAPPED. FURTHERER INVESTIGATION REVIELED A PREVIOUS BLOWN HEAD GASKET REPAIR. COOLANT CONTAMINATION OF THE CRANKCASE WHEN A HEAD GASKET BLOWS OFTEN TIMES RESULTS IN DAMAGE TO THE CRANKSHAFT AND SUBSEQUENT FAILURE. I'VE CONTACTED FORD AND THEY ARE PLAYING DUMB. THE 1993 THUNDERBIRD SC 3.8 LITER ENGINE IS THE EXACTLY THE SAME ENGINE AS IN THE 1994, 1995 THUNDERBIRDS. WHAT GIVES? I'M BUMMED THAT FORD IS NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING.

NHTSA ODI #737134

Mileage unknown · Nov 30, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKET FAILED AT AROUND 95,000 MILES PAID REPAIR SHOP $1700+ TO REPLAIN THE HEADS AND REPLACE THE GASKET. RECENTLY FOUND OUT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS 3.8L ENGINE AND FORD WILL NOT FIX IT. PROBLEM STILL NOT FIXED ENGINE STILL RUNNING POORLY AND COOLENT LEVELS STILL DROPING. WHITE CLOUD OF SMOKE WHEN ENGINE IS STA…

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HEAD GASKET FAILED AT AROUND 95,000 MILES PAID REPAIR SHOP $1700+ TO REPLAIN THE HEADS AND REPLACE THE GASKET. RECENTLY FOUND OUT THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH THIS 3.8L ENGINE AND FORD WILL NOT FIX IT. PROBLEM STILL NOT FIXED ENGINE STILL RUNNING POORLY AND COOLENT LEVELS STILL DROPING. WHITE CLOUD OF SMOKE WHEN ENGINE IS STARTED.*AK

NHTSA ODI #737105

Mileage unknown · Nov 28, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

HEAD GASKETS FAILED. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #557620

Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

GASKETS WERE LEAKING BEHIND THE TIMING CHAIN COVER DUE TO CRACKED HEADS, THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT. CONSUMER STATED THAT WHITE SMOKE WAS BLOWING OUT THE EXHAUST. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #875453

Mileage unknown · Nov 11, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

BLOWN HEAD GASKET NOT COVERED SINCE FORD WON'T COVER 1993 MODEL...OLY THE 1994 AND NEWER. *AK

NHTSA ODI #736164

Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling

TWO YEARS AGO, MY SON AND I WERE ALMOST KILLED WHEN WE WERE DRIVING IN 55 MPH TRAFFIC IN THE MIRA MESA AREA OF SAN DIEGO, AND MY 1993 FORD T-BIRD ENGINE FAILED DUE TO DEFECTIVE ENGINE GASKETS--THE EXACT SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED IN FORD RECALL #00M10. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUR CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NO ONE WAS…

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TWO YEARS AGO, MY SON AND I WERE ALMOST KILLED WHEN WE WERE DRIVING IN 55 MPH TRAFFIC IN THE MIRA MESA AREA OF SAN DIEGO, AND MY 1993 FORD T-BIRD ENGINE FAILED DUE TO DEFECTIVE ENGINE GASKETS--THE EXACT SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED IN FORD RECALL #00M10. FORTUNATELY, WE WERE ABLE TO GET OUR CAR OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NO ONE WAS HURT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #735870

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

3

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