IllustrationNO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *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 reportsRECALL 99V275000; HEADLIGHTS WOULD STILL BLINK OUT AFTER RECALL WAS SERVICED. CURRENTLY, HEADLIGHTS HAVE COMPLETELY GONE OUT.*AK CONSUMER HAD TO REPAIR TWICE PRIOR TO RECALL AND THREE TIMES SINCE HAVING THE RECALL DONE. *TT
I RECEIVED A RECALL TO NOTIFY ME OF THE PROBLEM WITH MY HEADLAMP SWITCH THIS CAUSED MY HEADLIGHTS TO TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I THEN WENT TO RODMAN FORD TO FIX THE PROBLEM . THE HEADLIGHTS SEEMED TO WORK FINE UNTIL ONE YEAR WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ONE YEAR LATER. WHEN I CALLED RODMAN TO RECTIFY THE…
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I RECEIVED A RECALL TO NOTIFY ME OF THE PROBLEM WITH MY HEADLAMP SWITCH THIS CAUSED MY HEADLIGHTS TO TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I THEN WENT TO RODMAN FORD TO FIX THE PROBLEM . THE HEADLIGHTS SEEMED TO WORK FINE UNTIL ONE YEAR WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ONE YEAR LATER. WHEN I CALLED RODMAN TO RECTIFY THE SECOND DEFECTIVE HEADLAMP SWITCH THEY REFUSED DUE TO A WARRANTY ON THEIR REPLACEMENT PARTS. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS THE SECOND FAULTY PART (HEADLAMP SWITCH) AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE RECALL, SINCE THE SECOND ONE LASTED LESS TIME THAN THE FIRST HEADLAMP SWITCH. WHILE I CAN UNDERSTAND WARRANTY LIMITATIONS ON OTHER PARTS, THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO KEEP REPLACING THIS PART YEARLY. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS SWITCH THAT THE FORD MOTOR VEHICLE COMPANY NEEDS TO LOOK INTO. I HAVE RECEIVED NO SATISFACTION FROM FORD. THIS COMPANY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HANDLE SAFETY ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLES IN SUCH A POOR MANNER. THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS IN THE FUTURE TO UNAWARE CONSUMERS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE FURTHER ACTION TAKEN ON THIS MATTER. THANK YOU CARRIE CALLAHAN. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
PREMATURE HEADGASKET FAILURE LED TO $1750 IN REPAIRS. *AK
1. HEADLIGHTS - REGULAR BEAMS COMPLETELY EXTINGUISHED ON BOTH SIDES FOLLOWING INTERMITTENT FLICKERING, FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF NORMAL HIGH BEAMS. ONLY RECOURSE IS TO USE 'PASS & GO' HIGH BEAMS TO GET HOME. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH (E9SZ-13K359-D) 4 TIMES DURING 5-YR PERIOD, PLUS SCORCHED/MELTED PLUG CONNECTOR…
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1. HEADLIGHTS - REGULAR BEAMS COMPLETELY EXTINGUISHED ON BOTH SIDES FOLLOWING INTERMITTENT FLICKERING, FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF NORMAL HIGH BEAMS. ONLY RECOURSE IS TO USE 'PASS & GO' HIGH BEAMS TO GET HOME. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH (E9SZ-13K359-D) 4 TIMES DURING 5-YR PERIOD, PLUS SCORCHED/MELTED PLUG CONNECTOR 3 TIMES. 2. HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LAMP - BOTH SOCKETS SCORCHED/MELTED & BULBS EXTINGUISHED; REPLACED 3 TIMES DURING SAME PERIOD. QUESTION: ARE THESE RELATED TO EACH OTHER OR TO RECALL# 99V275000 ? *AK
HEAD GASKET FAILURE; TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR; LEFT VEHICLE AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP. PLANNED TO BUY A NEW FORD, BUT NOT AFTER REVIEWING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE.*AK
CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, DEALER REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, FORD RECALL 99S30 COMPLIED TO REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY TO PREVENT HEADLIGHT FAILURE, DEALER SAYS CURRENT FAILURE IS NOT RECALL RELATED. *JG *AK
FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECALL NOTICE 99S30 WAS ACCOMPLISHED ON 12/27/1999 AT VARSITY FORD TO REPAIR FAULTY HEADLIGHT SWITCH POSSIBILITY. FAILURE OCCURRED LAST WEEK AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN. THE FORD FIX IN 1999 DID NOT WORK AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING A CRITICAL TIME OF DRIVING. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A CATASROPHE AND I…
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FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECALL NOTICE 99S30 WAS ACCOMPLISHED ON 12/27/1999 AT VARSITY FORD TO REPAIR FAULTY HEADLIGHT SWITCH POSSIBILITY. FAILURE OCCURRED LAST WEEK AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN. THE FORD FIX IN 1999 DID NOT WORK AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING A CRITICAL TIME OF DRIVING. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A CATASROPHE AND I WANT FORD TO FIX THIS PERMANENTLY AND COVER THE COST OF MY REPAIRS.*AK
CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT THE ENGINE STALLED AS HE WAS PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING AREA. *JG
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