IllustrationPE00 020;VEHICLE BEGAN TO WOBBLE,AND PULLED TO LEFT/ RIGHT INTERMITTENTLY. TOOKVEHICLE TO THE THE DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC TOLD HER THAT TIRES WERE SEPARATED. SHE HAD ALL FOUR TIRES REPLACED AT HER EXPENSE. TIRES WERE FIRESTONE 205/70R15 FR710. *AK
1997 Ford Thunderbird
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.
About this comparison →169Owner complaints
Model-year median: 3
0Recall campaignsView recall details →
0InvestigationsView investigation details →
Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Inspection summary
1997 Ford Thunderbird
NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 169 owner complaints · 0 recall campaigns · 0 investigations.
Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.
Top reported categories (up to 5)
- Engine And Engine Cooling: 54 reports
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 22 reports
- Suspension: 18 reports
- Power Train: 17 reports
- Tires: 16 reports
Full reported-category list and vehicle report
Recall links
No recall campaigns in this snapshot.
Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.
Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.
How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Thunderbird years →Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure 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
00–25K
525–50K
2250–75K
1275–100K
6100–150K
3150K+
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
Tires complaints
16 reportsTREAD SEPARATED ON 2 TIRES AND BLEW OUT. FIRST TIRE WAS AT ABOUT 40 MPH AND LESS THEN 20000 MILES, 2ND TIRE WAS AT 50 MPH AND 30000 MILES. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES, IN FEAR OF MY SAFETY.( DOT NUMBER: W2M3 TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )
WHILE DRIVING HEARD A NOISE FROM RIGHT REAR TIRE. THEN, WHEN GOING HOME FOUND OUT THAT TIRE HAD ALREADY SEPARATED, AND LEFT REAR TIRE WAS STARTING TO SEPARATE. THEY WERE FIRESTONE WILDERNESS TIRES, SIZE P275/70R15. *AK
TIRE BLOWOUT-(FIRESTONE P215/70R1597 TMTS FR680). *YC
FIRESTONE FR 350 P21570R15 TIRES FAILED.
VEHICLE PERFORMING SLUGGISHLY. NLM
Recall campaigns
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 ↗
Defect investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.