IllustrationWHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON THE STREET IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK WHILE PARKED IN A PARKING LOT OF A FOOD STORE. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION PRIOR TO FIRE. *SCC *JB
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
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
What owners actually said
169 reportsFATIGUE CRACK IN INTAKE MANIFOLD OF 4.6 L ENGINE THAT THAT CAUSED LOOSE OF COOLANT AND THE ENGINE TO OVER HEAT. MY 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL EVEN THOUGHT IT HAS THE SAME ENGINE AND DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD. REPAIR COST IS $600.00. FORD ALREADY HAS A RECALL AND THE FOLLOW WAS COPED FROM SOURCE: FORD MOTOR COMPA…
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FATIGUE CRACK IN INTAKE MANIFOLD OF 4.6 L ENGINE THAT THAT CAUSED LOOSE OF COOLANT AND THE ENGINE TO OVER HEAT. MY 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL EVEN THOUGHT IT HAS THE SAME ENGINE AND DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD. REPAIR COST IS $600.00. FORD ALREADY HAS A RECALL AND THE FOLLOW WAS COPED FROM SOURCE: FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOCUMENTS FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL EXTEND THE RECALL (01M02) ON 4.6L V8 EQUIPPED VEHICLES WITH PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLDS. SOME OF THE COMPOSITE INTAKE MANIFOLDS USED ON 4.6L SOHC ENGINES MAY DEVELOP FATIGUE CRACKS AT THE COOLANT CROSSOVER DUCT. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN ENGINE COOLANT LEAKAGE WHICH, IF NOT SERVICED, MAY CAUSE ENGINE OVERHEATING. COMPLETE LOSS OF COOLANT MAY RESULT IN ENGINE DAMAGE OR ENGINE FAILURE. THE UPDATED RECALL NOW INCLUDES: " CERTAIN 1996 THROUGH 2001 MODEL YEAR CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR " CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2001 MODEL YEAR CROWN VICTORIA WITH TAXI " CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE AND LIVERY PREP PACKAGE " CERTAIN 1996-2001 CROWN VICTORIA TAXIS, POLICE CARS AND LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE AND LIVERY CARS. " CERTAIN 1996 THROUGH 1997 CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR VEHICLES WITH 4.6L SOHC ENGINES BUILT AT THE ST. THOMAS ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM THE BEGINNING OF PRODUCTION FOR THE 1996 MODEL YEAR THROUGH JANUARY 28, 1997. " CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2001 CROWN VICTORIA POLICE INTERCEPTOR VEHICLES WITH 4.6L SOHC ENGINES BUILT AT THE ST. THOMAS ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM NOVEMBER 22, 1997 THROUGH DECEMBER 15, 2000. " CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2001 CROWN VICTORIA TAXI VEHICLES WITH 4.6L SOHC ENGINES BUILT AT THE ST. THOMAS ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM NOVEMBER 22, 1997 THROUGH DECEMBER 15, 2000. " CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2001 LINCOLN TOWN CAR LIMOUSINE PREP PACKAGE AND LIVERY VEHICLES WITH 4.6L SOHC ENGINES BUILT AT THE WIXOM ASSEMBLY PLANT FROM NOVEMBER 22, 1997 THROUGH DECEMBER 15, 2000.
PER CONSUMER VEHICLE IS NOT PART OF THE OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD COOLANT LEAK # .97M91, BUT VEHICLE IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE.*AK
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
INTAKE MANIFOLD IS LEAKING COOLANT ONTO THE ENGINE. THID COULD RESULT IN AN ENGINE FIRE.*AK
THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED WHICH CAUSED COOLANT TO LEAK AND THE VEHICLE OVER HEATED. *JB
I BOUGHT MY 1997 THUNDERBIRD 4-15-2003 W/70000 MILES, AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS PAGE I CAN ONLY RELATE TO 2 OF THEM, THE VIBERATION IN THE TRANSMISSION ON UPSHIFT,AND THE FRONT END SHAKING ABOVE 50 MPH.BUT I'M SO GLAD. *AK I BOUGHT A 2 YR.EXTENTED WARRENTY,BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE I'M IN FOR SOME PROBLENS. I CAN B…
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I BOUGHT MY 1997 THUNDERBIRD 4-15-2003 W/70000 MILES, AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS PAGE I CAN ONLY RELATE TO 2 OF THEM, THE VIBERATION IN THE TRANSMISSION ON UPSHIFT,AND THE FRONT END SHAKING ABOVE 50 MPH.BUT I'M SO GLAD. *AK I BOUGHT A 2 YR.EXTENTED WARRENTY,BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE I'M IN FOR SOME PROBLENS. I CAN BE CONTACTED AT TBIRD97@INTERGATE.COM
FUEL FILTER LEAKS GAS DUE TO CORROSION FROM ROAD SALTS. FILTER LASTS ONLY 1-2 YEARS. *TT
THE CONSUMER COULD SMELL ANTI-FREEZE IN THE CAB OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE INTAKE MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED IN TWO SPOTS. *NLM
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION, AND CRASHED INTO A BUILDING. *JB *TS
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.