IllustrationWHEN I FIRST PURCHASED MY VEHICLE, I NOTICED THAT IT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 4TH GEAR. I AM NOT SURE WHEN THIS PROBLEM STARTED SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR USED.
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
Power Train complaints
12 reportsWHILE DRIVING 70 MPH ENGINE IDLE INCREASED SHORTLY AFTER TRANSMISSION SLIPPED OUT OF GEAR, CAUSING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER HAS NOT DETERMINED PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AND SHE NOTICED THAT ODOMETER WASN'T REGISTERING THE SPEED. ODMETER WOULDN'T MOVE AT ALL. DEALERSHIP REPAIRED IT. *AK *JB
AS TO HEAD GASKETS, HAVE HAD TWO SETS OF FAILURES, AT APPROX. 100K APART . . . . AS TO BRAKES, HAVE HAD MULTIPLE REPLACEMENTS OF ROTORS DUE TO CHRONIC WARPING . . . . AS TO TRANSMISSION, HAVE HAD TO HAVE PURCHASE LIFETIME WARRANTY TRANSMISSION FROM AAMCO DUE TO FAILURES IN 2-3 & 3-4 SHIFTS. *AK
WISH I WOULD HAVE SEEN THIS SITE BEFORE I PURCHASED MINE 2 WEEKS AGO. I AM NOW GONG TO PAY 1600 TO REPLACE MY WHOLE TRANSMISSION! AM VERY WORRIED LOOKING AT THE OTHERS ABOUT THE GASKETS GOING NEXT!*AK
HEAD GASKET FAILURE AT 57,446 MILES 3.8L ENGINE ENGULFED IS WHITE SMOKE. BETWEEN 57.446 MILE AND 58,346 ALL KINDS OF ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, E.E. MIRROR SWITCH, DOOR LOCKS, ODOMETER, TRIPOMETER, WINDOW SWITHCHES. THIRD TIME FOR DOOR LOCKS. ALL FORD MOTOR SAYS IS THEY WILL DOCUMENT THE COMPLAINT.
THROTTLE BODY LEVER GROMMET DRY ROTTED. THEREFORE, THE LEVER DISENGAGED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR CAUSING SERIOUS TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. THIS PART WAS RECALLED ON THE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR OF MY CAR IN DECEMBER 93 (RECALL #93B31). THE REPLACEMENT GROMMET WAS METAL. I HAD MY CAR AT A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR IN MAY 93 AND THIS PART WAS …
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THROTTLE BODY LEVER GROMMET DRY ROTTED. THEREFORE, THE LEVER DISENGAGED WHILE DRIVING THE CAR CAUSING SERIOUS TRANSMISSION DAMAGE. THIS PART WAS RECALLED ON THE MAKE, MODEL AND YEAR OF MY CAR IN DECEMBER 93 (RECALL #93B31). THE REPLACEMENT GROMMET WAS METAL. I HAD MY CAR AT A DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR IN MAY 93 AND THIS PART WAS NOT REPLACED OR NOTIFIED. CONTACTING FORD, I WAS TOLD THAT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL . THOUGH I HAVE HAD THE EXACT PROBLEM DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL, THEY WILL NOT EXCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR DAMAGES. DO I HAVE ANY RECOURSE?
A PLASTIC BUSHING BROKE AND ALLOWED A CABLE TO COME OFF THAT CONTROLED THE TRANSMISSIONS ABILITY TO SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE. WHEN THE CABLE IS OFF, NO PRESSURE SIGNAL IS KNOWN AT THE TRANSMISSION. SO PRESSURES ARE TOO LOW AND DIRECT CLUTCH WILL BURN UP. THIS PROBLEM WAS SUBJECT TO RECALL 93B17 THAT WAS ISSUED IN 6/93. I BOUGHT T…
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A PLASTIC BUSHING BROKE AND ALLOWED A CABLE TO COME OFF THAT CONTROLED THE TRANSMISSIONS ABILITY TO SHIFT INTO OVERDRIVE. WHEN THE CABLE IS OFF, NO PRESSURE SIGNAL IS KNOWN AT THE TRANSMISSION. SO PRESSURES ARE TOO LOW AND DIRECT CLUTCH WILL BURN UP. THIS PROBLEM WAS SUBJECT TO RECALL 93B17 THAT WAS ISSUED IN 6/93. I BOUGHT THE CAR IN 12/93 AND THE PROBLEM HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED PER THE RECALL, NOR WAS I INFORMED OF THE RECALL. THE VEHICLES VIN # WAS NOT SHOWN AS SUBJECT TO THE RECALL, ALTHOUGH THE PROBLEM ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECALL PERTAINED TO THIS PARTICULAR CAR. I HAVE BEEN INFORMED THAT THE CAR HAS A '92 TRANSMISSION WHICH IS A MANUAL TRANSMISSION VS. ELECTRONIC TRANSMISSIONS THAT WERE INSTALLED IN MOST '93 THUNDERBIRDS. THE MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS USED THE PLASTIC BUSHING SUJBECT IN THE RECALL. THUS IT IS MY ASSUMPTION THAT THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE "FELL THROUGH THE CRACKS" ON THE RECALL. I AM NOW TRYING TO GET FORD TO REIMBURSE ME OF MY EXPENSES FOR REPAIRS, BUT THEY ARE NOT COOPERATING. CAN YOU HELP? *AK
THE VEHICLE ROLLED FORWARD WHILE IN THE PARK POSITION, RESULTING IN HITTING A TREE. TT
WHEN IT IS HUMID OUTSIDE, THE VEHICLE LOSES ITS SPEEDOMETER READING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *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