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 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 27, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
HEAD GASKET BLEW 3 TIMES, CAUSING CAR TO STALL UP IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY JUST STOPPED. ALSO BLOWING WHITE STEAM THRU BACK END MAKING IMPOSSIBLE FOR DRIVERS BEHIND TO HAVE A CLEAR VISION, ALSO STEAM WHITE SMOKE IN FRONT END, BLOWING ANIFREEZE THRU THE EXHUAST. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG FORDS 3.8L ENGINES. I GET NO HE…
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HEAD GASKET BLEW 3 TIMES, CAUSING CAR TO STALL UP IN MIDDLE OF HIGHWAY JUST STOPPED. ALSO BLOWING WHITE STEAM THRU BACK END MAKING IMPOSSIBLE FOR DRIVERS BEHIND TO HAVE A CLEAR VISION, ALSO STEAM WHITE SMOKE IN FRONT END, BLOWING ANIFREEZE THRU THE EXHUAST. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AMONG FORDS 3.8L ENGINES. I GET NO HELP FROM MANUFACTURE OR DEALER. I AM VERY DISAPOINTED IN FORD CO.*AK
NHTSA ODI #756099
Mileage unknown · Dec 18, 2001
Fuel System, Gasoline
UPON STARTING VEHICLE GAS WILL POUR OUT ONTO THE GROUND. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND COULD CAUSE A POSSIBLE FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8000895
Mileage unknown · Dec 14, 2001
Electrical System
THE IGNITION SWITCH HAS BEEN ACTING UP AND NOW THE KEY WILL NOT START THE CAR THE KEY WILL NOT TURN AT ALL AS OF THIS DATE 12/14/2001. *AK
NHTSA ODI #755662
Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE WOULD OVERHEAT AND EXPERIEINCE LOSS OF COOLANT WHILE DRIVING. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. ALSO FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE US WITH ANY FURTHER INFORMATION OR DETAILS CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8000664
Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 2001
Exterior Lighting
99 V 275 000/ HEADLIGHT: SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH AND LOSS OF HEAD LIGHTS. LIGHT SWITCH WIRING AND CONNECTOR WERE BURNING AND MELTING MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WA S NO SUCH RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8000663
Mileage unknown · Nov 24, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
FROM WHAT I HEAR FROM MY MECHANIC AND OTHER OWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF THUNDERBIRD HAS A HISTORY OF A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 93000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BLOWN THE HEAD GASKET. OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE AS EARLY AS 65K MILES. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WHICH SHO…
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FROM WHAT I HEAR FROM MY MECHANIC AND OTHER OWNERS ACROSS THE COUNTRY THIS YEAR AND MODEL OF THUNDERBIRD HAS A HISTORY OF A DEFECTIVE HEAD GASKET. MY VEHICLE HAS ONLY 93000 MILES ON IT AND HAS BLOWN THE HEAD GASKET. OTHER OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS EXPERIENCE AS EARLY AS 65K MILES. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT WHICH SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY.*AK
NHTSA ODI #754840
Mileage unknown · Nov 6, 2001
Exterior Lighting
HEADLAMP SWITCH THAT HAD A RECALL ON IT HAS WENT OUT FOR THE 3RD TIME. *AK
NHTSA ODI #754174
Mileage unknown · Nov 3, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
CAR BLEW HEAD GASKET AT 94500.00 MILES OTHER FORD MODELS WERE RECALLED BUT THE THUNDERBIRD 1993 WAS NOT AND IT USES THE SAME ENGINE AS THE WINSTAR 94 WHICH WAS RECALLED FOR THE HEAD GASKET. *AK
NHTSA ODI #754047
Mileage unknown · Oct 29, 2001
Electrical System
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #753817
Mileage unknown · Oct 26, 2001
Engine And Engine Cooling
CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH ON A SIDE STREET AND VEHICLE STARTED TO OVERHEAT. IT WAS CAUSED BY A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. ALSO, VEHICLE SHUTDOWN. *AK
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.
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.
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