THE REAR SEAT BELTS DO NOT HAVE THE ALR SYSTEM. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT FEATURE IS OPTIONAL FOR THAT YEAR. THE OWNERS MANUAL STATES THE VEHICLE MUST HAVE ALR TO PROPERLY SECURE A CHILD SAFETY SEAT. *AK
1997 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
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.
Seat Belts complaints
4 reportsFIRST PROBLEM: CAR DOOR INDICATOR LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF EVEN WHEN THE DOORS OR TIGHTLY SHUT. SECOND PROBLEM: LEFT TURNING SIGNAL LIGHT BLINKS VERY FAST AND THE RIGHT SIGNAL LIGHT BLINKS REGULARLY. THIRD PROBLEM: PASSENGER SELT BELT KEEPS GETTING STUCK EVEN AFTER PRESSING THE RED BUTTON TO RELEASE. FOURTH PROBLEM: THE SQUE…
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FIRST PROBLEM: CAR DOOR INDICATOR LIGHT WILL NOT GO OFF EVEN WHEN THE DOORS OR TIGHTLY SHUT. SECOND PROBLEM: LEFT TURNING SIGNAL LIGHT BLINKS VERY FAST AND THE RIGHT SIGNAL LIGHT BLINKS REGULARLY. THIRD PROBLEM: PASSENGER SELT BELT KEEPS GETTING STUCK EVEN AFTER PRESSING THE RED BUTTON TO RELEASE. FOURTH PROBLEM: THE SQUEAKING AND SHAKING VIBRATION WHEN DRIVING A SPEED OF 50 OR MORE MPH AND YOU BEGIN PRESSING THE BRAKES IS WHEN THE SOUNDS AND THE VIBRATIONS BEGINS. FIFTH PROBLEM: THE SERVICE LIGHT CAME ON AND I HAD IT CHECK TO THE FORD PLACE THEY STATED IT WAS A DEFECT IN A BOX THE SITS ON TOP OF THE ENGINE ( I WANT TO SAY IT HOLDS THE COMPUTER CHIP) IS GOING BAD. AT THAT PARTICULAR TIME I DID NOT ASK THEM TO DO A RECALL LIST FOR ME. I REALLY NEED ANY INFORMATION YOU CAN GIVE ME ON THIS VEHICLE.
CAR WAS INVOLVED IN COLLISION AND WHEN BRAKES WHERE APPLIED ALL WHEELS LOCKED UP AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER DOING ABOUT 40 MPH BUT CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH ABS SYSTEM - THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN WORKED ON TWICE IN 2 YEARS BOTH BY FORD DEALERS. SHOULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED WITH ABS. ALSO NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE FRONT END…
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CAR WAS INVOLVED IN COLLISION AND WHEN BRAKES WHERE APPLIED ALL WHEELS LOCKED UP AND WAS UNABLE TO STEER DOING ABOUT 40 MPH BUT CAR IS EQUIPPED WITH ABS SYSTEM - THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN WORKED ON TWICE IN 2 YEARS BOTH BY FORD DEALERS. SHOULD THIS HAVE HAPPENED WITH ABS. ALSO NEITHER AIR BAG DEPLOYED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS THE FRONT END THAT HAS SUFFERED DAMAGE (DON'T KNOW COST YET) FRONT BUMPER, HOOD, HEAD LIGHT, DRIVER SIDE FRONT QUARTER PANEL AND DRIVER DOOR ARE ALL DAMAGED. NOT ONLY DID THE AIR BAGS NOT DEPLOY, BUT AFTER ACCIDENT THE AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH FLASHED ON AND OFF REPEATEDLY, AND ALONG WITH THIS THE SHOULDER HARNESSES ON SEATS DID TIGHTEN, BUT NOT ENOUGH TO HOLD PEOPLE BACK TO WHERE ONE PASSENGER IN THE BACK HIT THEIR FACE ON THE BACK OF THE FRONT SEAT. LUCKILY THERE WERE NOT INJURIES. *AK
WIFE HAD A COLLISION W/NISSEN PICKUP, DOING 40 MPH, ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT END DAMAGE BUT THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE NISSEN PICK DESTROYED. I'M ATTACKING FORD FOR THIS. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW CANN'T MOVE HIS NECK DUE TO HE HIT THE WINDSHEILD, HIS SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HIM AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THIS C…
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WIFE HAD A COLLISION W/NISSEN PICKUP, DOING 40 MPH, ONLY THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT END DAMAGE BUT THE WHOLE FRONT END OF THE NISSEN PICK DESTROYED. I'M ATTACKING FORD FOR THIS. MY BROTHER-IN-LAW CANN'T MOVE HIS NECK DUE TO HE HIT THE WINDSHEILD, HIS SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD HIM AND NEITHER OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, THIS COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE.
Official recalls
0No 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
Illustration