IllustrationVEHILCE STOPS WHILE DRIVING AS IF THE IGNITION HAS BEEN TURNED OFF, NO STUDDER, NOT ROUGH RIDE IT JUST TURNS OFF AND WHEN IT STARTS ROUGH LIKE FIRING ORDER IS INCORRECT THEN IDLES WITH A SLIGHT MISS EVERY 5-10 SECONDS. NLM
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
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
171 reportsIGNITION 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
DAMAGED DURING ASSEMBLY
HEAD GASKET AND NOISE IN BOTTOM OF ENGINE, RUNNING ROUGH WITH CHECK GUAGE LIGHT COMING ON AND OVERHEATING,THIS HAPPENED WHILE ON THE FREEWAY IMMEDIALTELY GOT OFF AND TOOK IT OVER TO RICE AND HOLMAN THE NEXT DAY.
VEHICLE STALLS/OVERHEATS, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON. DEALER WILL NOT REPAIR AT CONSUMERS COST BECAUSE RECALL THAT WAS FOUND FOR THE PROBLEM WAS TOWARDS A LATER MODEL.*AK THE HEAD GASKET IS BLOWN. HEAVY WHITE SMOKE COMES FROM EXHAUST PIPE AND VEHICLE OVERHEATS. *YH
THIS IS THE SECOND FORD VEHICLE WITH 3.8L THAT WE HAVE OWNED. BOTH VEHICLES SUFFERED FROM THE SAME PROBLEM OF PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE FIRST VEHICLE WAS A 1993 MERCURY SABLE WITH THE 3.8L ENGINE. EVERY MECHANIC I HAVE TALKED TO KNOWS THAT THESE HEAD GASKETS FAIL AT OR ABOUT 60,000 MILES. IS FORD GOING TO DO ANY THING A…
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THIS IS THE SECOND FORD VEHICLE WITH 3.8L THAT WE HAVE OWNED. BOTH VEHICLES SUFFERED FROM THE SAME PROBLEM OF PREMATURE HEAD GASKET FAILURE. THE FIRST VEHICLE WAS A 1993 MERCURY SABLE WITH THE 3.8L ENGINE. EVERY MECHANIC I HAVE TALKED TO KNOWS THAT THESE HEAD GASKETS FAIL AT OR ABOUT 60,000 MILES. IS FORD GOING TO DO ANY THING ABOUT IT? IT HAS COSTED US 2000.00 NOW BETWEEN THE TWO VEHICLES.
BLOWN HEADGASKET,DAMAGED ENGINE REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF ENGINE. WHY DOESN'T FORD PLAY FAIR?
IT SEEMS LIKE FORD HAS A PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THERE 3.8L ENGINS AND NEEDS TO DO SOMTHING ABOUT THIS IF THEY WANT TO KEEP HAPPY CUSTOMERS. *AK
ENGINE OVERHEATING SINCE 36797 MILES DEALER EXAMINED, SAME PROBLEM 36813 MILES DEALER EXAMINED AGAIN 41803 AGAIN COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING. SAID THAT HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND THAT FORD WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKET BOLTS AND NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL BOLTS ON HEAD GASKET OR NEW HEAD GASKET WOULD FAIL. FORD MOTOR…
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ENGINE OVERHEATING SINCE 36797 MILES DEALER EXAMINED, SAME PROBLEM 36813 MILES DEALER EXAMINED AGAIN 41803 AGAIN COOLING SYSTEM PROBLEMS WITH OVERHEATING. SAID THAT HEAD GASKET FAILURE AND THAT FORD WAS HAVING PROBLEMS WITH HEAD GASKET BOLTS AND NEEDED TO REPLACE ALL BOLTS ON HEAD GASKET OR NEW HEAD GASKET WOULD FAIL. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WAS NO HELP AND UPSET WITH DEALER ALSO. RECENT RECALLS OF 1994 VEHICLES WITH SAME ENGINE WITH SAME PROBLEMS ARE ALSO FRUSTRATING. WHY DO THEY NOT LOOK AT NUMBER OF FAILURES OF THIS ENGINE AND INCLUDE THEM IN THE RECALL IF THEY EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. *AK
HAD HEAD GASKET, CRANKSHAFT, AND ROD BEARINGS REPLACED AT 67,000 AND 68,000 MILES, AND AT 83,000 BOTH ARE SHOT AGAIN.
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