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: 15 of 261 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 92 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Power Train. Review the 41 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
25 crash reports11 fire reports14 injury reports
What owners actually said
261 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingUnknown Or Other
NOTICED LOSS OF ANTI-FREEZE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. TEMPERATURE GAUGE DIDN'T GET HOT. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON TO LET CONSUMER KNOW THAT ANTI-FREEZE WAS LOW. DROVE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT ONE MILE AND SMOKED STARTED COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE, SMELLED LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE. EVEN AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF SMOKE WAS COMING OUT O…
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NOTICED LOSS OF ANTI-FREEZE FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. TEMPERATURE GAUGE DIDN'T GET HOT. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON TO LET CONSUMER KNOW THAT ANTI-FREEZE WAS LOW. DROVE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT ONE MILE AND SMOKED STARTED COMING OUT OF THE EXHAUST PIPE, SMELLED LIKE IT WAS ON FIRE. EVEN AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF SMOKE WAS COMING OUT OF EXHAUST. HAD CAR TOWED TO MECHANIC. HE SAID THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #860720
Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
LOOKING FOR REINBURSMENT FROM MANUFACTURER DUE TO COOLANT LEAK SINCE VEHICLE WAS NEW. *AK
NHTSA ODI #721087
Mileage unknown · Apr 5, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #721042
Mileage unknown · Apr 3, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE HEDGASKET IS COMPLETELY GONE. FORD REFUSED TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE A DESIGN PROBLEM IN THE T-BIRD FOR HEADGASKETS EVEN THOUGH THE Y HAVE THIS PROBLEM IN SEVERAL OTHER MODELS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #720939
Mileage unknown · Mar 16, 2000
Power Train
FIRST PROBLEM WAS A SHUDDER IN THE TRANSMISSION OCCURRING AROUND 40MPH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. KNOWN TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. FORD REPAIRED BY CHANGING ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FLUID TYPE WITH NEW TYPE FLUID. ADDITIONALLY THEY MODIFIED THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT DESIGN BY ADDING A TRANSMISSION COOLER…
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FIRST PROBLEM WAS A SHUDDER IN THE TRANSMISSION OCCURRING AROUND 40MPH. VEHICLE TAKEN TO FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. KNOWN TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE. FORD REPAIRED BY CHANGING ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FLUID TYPE WITH NEW TYPE FLUID. ADDITIONALLY THEY MODIFIED THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT DESIGN BY ADDING A TRANSMISSION COOLER. CONTACTED FORD REGIONAL REPRESENTATIVE AND FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WITH ZERO RESPONSE. IF THEY KNOW THE WAY TO FIX THE PROBLEM IS TO ALTER THEIR OWN DESIGN, WHY DO THEY NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIR. ONLY TEMPORARY FIX. TRANSMISSION BEGAN SLIPPING ONLY 10 MONTHS AFTER FIRST REPAIR RESULTING IN THE NEED TO REBUILD THE TRANSMISSION AND REPLACE THE TORQUE CONVERTER. THIS SHOULD NOT BE ON A WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLE WITH LESS THAN 70,000 MILES. TOTAL COST FOR THESE TWO REPAIRS WAS $1,880.00. FORD SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE TO SOME DEGREE. TOO MANY CONSUMERS ARE LEFT TO PAY HIGH REPAIR BILLS FOR FORD'S POOR DESIGNS AND ENGINEERING. *AK
NHTSA ODI #720197
Mileage unknown · Mar 11, 2000
Unknown Or Other
WELL MAINTAINED VEHICLES DO NOT JUST BLOW HEAGASKETS. HOW CAN FORD PUT A RECALL OUT FOR ONLY SOME OF THEIR 3.8L V-6 ENGINES AND NOT THE OTHERS? HOW CAN THEY IGNORE THIS PROBLEM? NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED. STATEMENT OF INQUIRY. *AK
NHTSA ODI #719956
Mileage unknown · Mar 6, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
THE BRAKE ROTORS IN TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, HOWEVER CONTINUES TO HAVE BAD VIBRATION AND SHAKING ON BRAKING, DUE TO POSSIBLE DESIGN DEFECT (THUNDERBIRDS). *ET
NHTSA ODI #784541
Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 2000
Electrical SystemFire
VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK FOR TEN MINUTES, TURNED OFF WHEN VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE DASH, TOTALLING VEHICLE. FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THAT FIRE DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #856623
Mileage unknown · Feb 8, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
VEHICLE HAS BLOWN ENGINE HEADS. THIS IS CAUSES VEHICLE TO MISS, AND SPUTTER WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #856471
Mileage unknown · Jan 29, 2000
Power Train
98 SERVICED WITH TRANMISSION. TUNE UP NOT COVER UNDER WARRTANTY NOW HAVING SAME PROBLEM. SHUTTERS AT 25. 35, 45, MILES PER HOUR. TALKED TO OTHER OWERS OF SAME TYPE OF CAR THEY ARE HAVING SAME PROBLEM. NO RECALL IS LISTED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #718032
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
1995 Ford Thunderbird Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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