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1997 Ford Thunderbird

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

48 reports with mileage · 121 unknown

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 54 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Suspension. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

11 crash reports3 fire reports5 injury reports

Fuel System, Gasoline complaints

11 reports
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101,000 miles · Oct 30, 2013
Engine And Engine CoolingFuel System, GasolinePower Train

I SMELL GAS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED OF 60 AND ABOVE ON FREEWAY MOSTLY. ONCE IN A WHILE I CAN SMELL IT WHEN DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS OF 25 -30MPH. I USED TO THINK THAT I HAD SPILLED GAS ON THE OUTSIDE OF CAR WHEN IT FIRST STARTED HAPPENING, BUT NOW A YEAR LATER, I STILL SMELL GAS AND I DO SMOKE IN MY CAR, BUT WHEN I SMELL THE G…

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I SMELL GAS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED OF 60 AND ABOVE ON FREEWAY MOSTLY. ONCE IN A WHILE I CAN SMELL IT WHEN DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS OF 25 -30MPH. I USED TO THINK THAT I HAD SPILLED GAS ON THE OUTSIDE OF CAR WHEN IT FIRST STARTED HAPPENING, BUT NOW A YEAR LATER, I STILL SMELL GAS AND I DO SMOKE IN MY CAR, BUT WHEN I SMELL THE GAS, I WILL PUT THE CIGARETTE OUT. IS THERE SOME KIND OF RECALL ON THIS PROBLEM, THAT CAN REPAIR IT. I HAVE PUT $4000.00 INTO RESTORING THE CAR AND I AND PUTTING ANOTHER $800.00 INTO IT NEXT WEEK, NOVEMBER 2013, TO REPLACE ALL OF THE BELTS AROUND THE ENGINE. I HAVE ALREADY REBUILT THE TRANSMISSION FOR $1800.00 AT AAMCO, AND PUT A $2200.00 PAINT JOB ON IT, BEFORE I KNEW OF THE GAS SMELL. I HAVE ALSO REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY. AM I FIGHTING A LOSING BATTLE WITH THIS CAR? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10550111

69,400 miles · Oct 10, 2011
Fuel System, Gasoline

IN THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST I SMELT GAS WHEN I DROVE. AND THE SMELL HAS BECOME STRONGER AND STRONGER. TODAY (10/10/2011) I WENT TO A VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE LEAKING IS ON THE TOP OF FUEL TANK AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED IN THE SHOP. I CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS VERY DANGEROUS LEAK. PLEASE C…

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IN THE MIDDLE OF AUGUST I SMELT GAS WHEN I DROVE. AND THE SMELL HAS BECOME STRONGER AND STRONGER. TODAY (10/10/2011) I WENT TO A VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP AND WAS TOLD THE LEAKING IS ON THE TOP OF FUEL TANK AND COULD NOT BE REPAIRED IN THE SHOP. I CHECKED ONLINE AND FOUND MANY PEOPLE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS VERY DANGEROUS LEAK. PLEASE CLICK THE LINK: HTTP://WWW.CARGURUS.COM/CARS/DISCUSSION-T872_DS478881. THIS CAR MUST BE RECALLED FOR FUEL LEAKING. *KB

NHTSA ODI #10429371

103,000 miles · Sep 9, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING FUEL LINE PROBLEMS. THE FUEL LINE THAT COMES OUT OF THE GAS TANK AND RUBS AGAINST THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE LEAKS GAS UNDER THE VEHICLE GOING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ENGINE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. DEALER …

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CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT HAVING FUEL LINE PROBLEMS. THE FUEL LINE THAT COMES OUT OF THE GAS TANK AND RUBS AGAINST THE BODY OF THE VEHICLE LEAKS GAS UNDER THE VEHICLE GOING IN THE DIRECTION OF THE ENGINE. MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, AND FIXED THE PROBLEM BY REMOVING THE WHOLE FUEL LINE SYSTEM AND REPLACING IT.*AK

NHTSA ODI #10038509

89,000 miles · May 27, 2003
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL FILTER LEAKS GAS DUE TO CORROSION FROM ROAD SALTS. FILTER LASTS ONLY 1-2 YEARS. *TT

NHTSA ODI #10020553

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

VEHICLE IS EQUIP WITH A PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. WHILE DRIVING THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND LEAK COOLANT ONTO THE ENGINE. WHICH COULD OF RESULTED IN VEHICLE FIRE. DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. MR

NHTSA ODI #8022064

Mileage unknown · Oct 25, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

WHILE IN SHOP FOR UNRELATED REPAIR, MECHANIC NOTICED THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS LEAKING COOLANT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

NHTSA ODI #8021605

Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE WITH COOLANT LEAK TO ENGINE COMPARTMENT.. CAR WAS SUBJECT TO A FORD SERVICE BULLETIN RECALL IN 1998 FOR INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACEMENT TO PREVENT FUTURE FAILURE. UNFORTUNEATELY, THE REPLACEMENT INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED AT THE SAME GLUED SEAM THAT WAS THE BASIS FOR THE RECALL BY FORD.*AK

NHTSA ODI #760998

Mileage unknown · Mar 17, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

ACCORDING TO HOLMAN FORD SERVICE TECHNICIAN, THE FORD THUNDERBIRD INTAKE MANIFOLD WILL CRACK AT THE SEAM NEXT TO ENGINE TOP, CAUSING A COOLING FLUID LOSS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #759468

Mileage unknown · Feb 26, 2002
Fuel System, Gasoline

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #758670

Mileage unknown · Nov 14, 2001
Fuel System, GasolineService Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

1. PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE - COVERED BY GENERAL RECALL 97M91, ALTHOUGH SIMILAR PLASTIC ENGINEERING IS APPLIED TO BOTH VALVE COVERS BUT IS NOT IS NOT COVERED BY RECALL. THE FORD SERVICE REP INFORMED ME THAT THE HEATER CORE WILL BLOW SOON TOO. 2. THE BRAKES/ROTORS HAVE BEEN A CHRONIC PROBLEM - THIS IS MY 2ND THUNDERBIRD - …

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1. PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE - COVERED BY GENERAL RECALL 97M91, ALTHOUGH SIMILAR PLASTIC ENGINEERING IS APPLIED TO BOTH VALVE COVERS BUT IS NOT IS NOT COVERED BY RECALL. THE FORD SERVICE REP INFORMED ME THAT THE HEATER CORE WILL BLOW SOON TOO. 2. THE BRAKES/ROTORS HAVE BEEN A CHRONIC PROBLEM - THIS IS MY 2ND THUNDERBIRD - BOTH CARS HAD THE SAME TYPE PROBLEMS. I HAVE REPLACED ROTORS, BRAKE PADS REPEATEDLY WITHOUT SOLVING THE PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS SEVERE FRONT END VIBRATION WHICH IS MAKES THE CAR UNENJOYABLE AND DANGEROUS. I HAVE CHANGED TIRE SIZES AND BRANDS 4 TIMES. THE CONSUMER REPORTS RESEARCH THAT I HAVE DONE ON THIS CAR CAUSES ME TO BE AFRAID OF IT. 3. THE CRUISE CONTROL DEFECT WAS ALSO DANGEROUTS, BUT IT WAS REPAIRED SATISFACTORY.*AK

NHTSA ODI #754545

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.