IllustrationSTEAM COMES OUT OF ALL AIR VENTS AFTER FIVE MINUTES OF RUNNING, ALONG WITH A BAD SMELL; WATER COMES OUT ONTO PASSENGER FLOOR; ENGINE GETS VERY HOT AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES; COOLANT CONSTANTLY LEAKS. DRIVER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEAT BELT DOES NOT WORK. *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
What owners actually said
423 reportsWHILE DRIVING HEADLIGHTS BLINK ON AND OFF FOR PERIODS OF TIME. DLR HAS REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, AND PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *AK
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 …
Read full 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 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?
GAS TANK IS LEAKING FLUID AT THE SEAM ONTO TO THE GROUND. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING A FIRE IGNITED AT THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICL., WHEN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME AND PUT THE FIRE OUT, IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM A SHORTIN THE HEADLAMP. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK
REAR RUNNING LIGHTS THAT GO ACROSS THE BACK OF THE CAR DO NOT LIGHT UP. WHEN DRIVING IN RAIN OR SNOW THE BACK OF THE CAR IS NOT VISABLE. *AK
WHEN SWITCHING FROM BRIGHT TO DIM LIGHTS THE LIGHTS GO COMPLETELY OUT. COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT BUT WAS FORTUNATE. I CALLED THE DEALERSHIP. THEY SAID THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THIS.
SEAT BELT LIGHT DOES NOT GO OUT, UNABLE TO BE FIXED. MJS
WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH THE VEHICLE TOOK OFF TO ABOUT 70 TO 80 MPH . CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES, AND THE PEDAL WAS HARD, AND DID NOT STOP VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAD TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF IN ORDER TO BRING THE VEHICLE TO A STOP. *AK
NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS ON THIS PROBLEM APPEAR TO HAVE BEEN REPORTED. THIS IS MOST DEFINATELY A SAFETY ISSUE AND WHY IS THERE NO RECALL? LAST FAILURE WAS AT A RATE OF OVER 60MPH AROUND A CURVE WITH NO AMBIENT LIGHTING ON THE ROADWAY. THERE WAS VIRTUALLY NO VISIBILITY AFTER THE INCIDENT.
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