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 · Jul 10, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingPower TrainService Brakes, Hydraulic
CAR WOULD VIBRATE WHEN CHANGING GEARS OR TRYING TO CHANGE GEARS, PARTICULARLY FROM 3RD-4TH GEARS. VIBRATED VIOLENTLY AT HIGH SPEED WHEN EXCELERATING FOR DECELERATING. BRAKING AT HIGH SPEED CAUSED THE CAR FRONT TO SHAKE AND STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE CAUSE THE CAR TO UNCONTROLLABLE. SUDDEN BRAKING CAUSED THE CAR TO PULL STRONGL…
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CAR WOULD VIBRATE WHEN CHANGING GEARS OR TRYING TO CHANGE GEARS, PARTICULARLY FROM 3RD-4TH GEARS. VIBRATED VIOLENTLY AT HIGH SPEED WHEN EXCELERATING FOR DECELERATING. BRAKING AT HIGH SPEED CAUSED THE CAR FRONT TO SHAKE AND STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE CAUSE THE CAR TO UNCONTROLLABLE. SUDDEN BRAKING CAUSED THE CAR TO PULL STRONGLY TO THE RIGHT. FAILURE OF THE ENGINE COOLING FAN MODULE CAUSED THE FAN NOT TO SHUT OFF WHEN INGNITION WAS TURNED OFF.*AK
NHTSA ODI #725221
Mileage unknown · Jul 4, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
HAD TO REPLACE FRONT ROTORS ON THIS VEHICLE 5 TIMES - SHOULD HAVE DONE IT MORE - I JUST PUT UP WITH THE SHAKING/VIBRATIONS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #724909
Mileage unknown · Jun 15, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
THE SAFETY CONCERN AT STAKE IS WHEN YOU HYDRO-LOCK A MOTOR AT 50 M.P.H. ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, AND THE MASSIVELY THICK PLUME OF WHITE SMOKE THAT SUCCEEDS THE BLOWN HEADGASKET. MY VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE TO PREVENT THIS SHY OF REPLACING THE CHEAP PAPER GASKET THAT THE MANUFACTU…
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THE SAFETY CONCERN AT STAKE IS WHEN YOU HYDRO-LOCK A MOTOR AT 50 M.P.H. ON A BUSY HIGHWAY, AND THE MASSIVELY THICK PLUME OF WHITE SMOKE THAT SUCCEEDS THE BLOWN HEADGASKET. MY VEHICLE WAS REGULARLY MAINTAINED AND THERE WAS NOTHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN DONE TO PREVENT THIS SHY OF REPLACING THE CHEAP PAPER GASKET THAT THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED WITH A QUALITY FELPRO GASKET OR THE LIKE AT THE ORIGINAL PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE. THE QUESTION THAT I HAVE IS WHY AM I FINDING HUNDREDS INTO THE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET ABOUT FORD 3.8L ENGINES IN THE RANGE OF 1995 FOR EVERY MODEL OF VEHICLE, BUT YET FORD ONLY ACKNOWLEDGES A FEW CHOICE MODELS FOR A RECALL. (ALL MUSTANGS, THUNDERBIRDS, COUGARS, AEROSTARS, ETC. HAD IDENTICAL 3.8 L ENGINES.) I CAN PROVIDE A LIST OF WITNESSES TO THE EVENT, ALONG WITH A LIST OF MECHANICS WHO I HAVE INTERVIEWED CONCERNING 3.8 L HEAD GASKET DEFECTS. THEY ALL AGREE.... IT'S SPREAD OUT AMONG ALL MODELS... NOT JUST THE FEW THAT FORD SPECIFIES. WHY DOES PROPERTY DAMAGE OR LOSS OF LIFE HAVE TO OCCUR TO PRODUCE A JUSTIFIED RECALL? ESPECIALLY WHEN THE MANUFACTURER SEMI-CONFESSES TO A HEADGASKET PROBLEM WITH A PARTICULAR MOTOR. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME... MY ENGINE ISN'T THE ONLY THING THAT IS STEAMED! *AK
NHTSA ODI #724080
Mileage unknown · May 21, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ROTORS WARPED REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 50000 AND BAD AGAIN /EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE . IS THERE A FIX FOR THIS TROUBLE FORD DEALERS ARE NO HELP THANKS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722985
Mileage unknown · May 14, 2000
Power Train
TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS IN SLOW ACCELERATION 0-35. TRANSMISSION FLUID REPLACEMENT REPLACEMENT FIXED, BUT THEN STARTED HAPPENING AGAIN. *AK
NHTSA ODI #722656
Mileage unknown · May 11, 2000
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash
WHILE AT A DRIVE-IN WINDOW LEFT TIRE WAS ON THE WALKWAY. CONSUMER BACKED UP TO GET STRAIGHT IN THE DRIVEWAY. THEN PUT CAR IN DRIVE, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. CONSUMER PRESSED GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR , BUT CAR WOULD NOT STOP. HIT ANOTHER CAR THEN STOPPED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #861750
Mileage unknown · May 10, 2000
Power Train
AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFTS TO LOWER GEAR UNEXPECTEDLY, AND FREE WHEELS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #861723
Mileage unknown · Apr 28, 2000
Power Train
FORD SAYS, REAR WHEEL DRIVE ARE NOT COVERED. WHY IT'S THE SAME 3.8L IN THE OTHERS!
NHTSA ODI #722073
Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
OVERHEATING AND WHITE SMOKE CAME FROM TAIL PIPE. INDEPENDENT MECHANIC INFORMED CONSUMER OF A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ANY FRONT WHEEL VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MANUFACTURER'S RECALL. *AK
NHTSA ODI #860775
Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2000
Engine And Engine Cooling
I FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD PAY THE ENTIRE REPAIR BILL DUE TO THE KNOWN 3.8L HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. I ALSO HAD TO RENT A CAR WHILE THE REAPIR WAS DONE, FOR A WEEK IN THE AMOUNT OF $277.00 THANK YOU PATRICIA PATTERSON EMAIL ADDRESS: PPATTER102@AOL.COM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #721836
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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