NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
What owners actually said
93 reports15,000 miles · Mar 8, 2007
Vehicle Speed Control
TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE SET THE CRUISE CONTROL IT WOULD NOT STAY ENGAGED. ALSO, THE CONTACT HAD PROBLEMS TURNING THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE CRUISE BRAKE PED…
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TL* - THE CONTACT CALLED REGARDING THE 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN HE SET THE CRUISE CONTROL IT WOULD NOT STAY ENGAGED. ALSO, THE CONTACT HAD PROBLEMS TURNING THE CRUISE CONTROL ON. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE CRUISE BRAKE PEDAL SWITCH BEING INOPERATIVE. A NEW SWITCH WAS INSTALLED AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKS PROPERLY. THE CONTACT HAS THE REPAIR INVOICE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10184549
8,000 miles · Apr 26, 2006
Exterior Lighting
THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS HAVE CRACKED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED SOON. IT IS NOT RIGHT THAT FORD WILL NOT COVER THIS AFTER THE WARRANTY. MY CAR IS A 2002 THEY CHANGED THE DESIGN IN 2003 SO IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. ALSO IT IS NOT LIKE WE TYPICALLY DRIVE THESE AS AN EVERYDAY CAR. MINE HAS ONLY 13,000 MI…
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THE FRONT HEADLIGHTS HAVE CRACKED AND WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED SOON. IT IS NOT RIGHT THAT FORD WILL NOT COVER THIS AFTER THE WARRANTY. MY CAR IS A 2002 THEY CHANGED THE DESIGN IN 2003 SO IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. ALSO IT IS NOT LIKE WE TYPICALLY DRIVE THESE AS AN EVERYDAY CAR. MINE HAS ONLY 13,000 MILES. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10156178
34,000 miles · Dec 23, 2005
Exterior Lighting
THE HEADLIGHT BRACKETS ON THE 2002 THUNDERBIRD CRACK AT THE REAR, WHERE THE HEADLIGHT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME WITH A BOLT. ALSO CRACKS IN THE ENTIRE REAR BODY OF THE HEADLIGHT... DESIGN WAS CHANGED IN 2003, FORD WILL ONLY REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY, AFTER WARRANTY FORD WILL NOT REPLACE OR ADMIT THIS IS A PROBLEM... THERE ARE OVER 280 …
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THE HEADLIGHT BRACKETS ON THE 2002 THUNDERBIRD CRACK AT THE REAR, WHERE THE HEADLIGHT ATTACHES TO THE FRAME WITH A BOLT. ALSO CRACKS IN THE ENTIRE REAR BODY OF THE HEADLIGHT... DESIGN WAS CHANGED IN 2003, FORD WILL ONLY REPLACE UNDER WARRANTY, AFTER WARRANTY FORD WILL NOT REPLACE OR ADMIT THIS IS A PROBLEM... THERE ARE OVER 280 MESSAGES AT WWW.THUNDERBIRDNEST.COM RELATED TO THIS PROBLEM. *JB
NHTSA ODI #10145968
13,217 miles · Jul 15, 2005
Vehicle Speed ControlCrashInjury
THIS COMPLAINT IS REGUARDING A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. I AM THE ORIGIANL OWNER, AND HAVE HAD THE CAR IN A FORD REPAIR SHOP 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ENGINE THROTTLE STICKS, USUALLY WHEN THE THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE LAST INCIDENT RESULTED IN THE CAR RUNNING THROUGH THE KITCHEN OF MY HOUSE. FORD CAN NOT FIND ANY REAS…
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THIS COMPLAINT IS REGUARDING A 2002 FORD THUNDERBIRD. I AM THE ORIGIANL OWNER, AND HAVE HAD THE CAR IN A FORD REPAIR SHOP 4 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE ENGINE THROTTLE STICKS, USUALLY WHEN THE THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE LAST INCIDENT RESULTED IN THE CAR RUNNING THROUGH THE KITCHEN OF MY HOUSE. FORD CAN NOT FIND ANY REASON FOR THIS REOCCURING PROBLEM
NHTSA ODI #10128841
25,500 miles · Feb 18, 2005
Vehicle Speed Control
WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD ABOUT TWO CAR LENGTHS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BACK TIRES SPIN AND THERE WAS A SMELL OF RUBBER. *JB THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *NM
NHTSA ODI #10108837
26,000 miles · Feb 16, 2005
Air BagsService Brakes, HydraulicCrash
WHEN THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKES ABRUPTLY THE VEHICLE KEPT GOING AND HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF HIM. THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *JB *NM
NHTSA ODI #10105416
12,450 miles · Nov 5, 2004
Engine And Engine Cooling
MY WIFE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF OUR 2002 THUNDERBIRD WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A COMPLETE STOP IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CAR "ROLLED" ACROSS THE ONCOMING LANE AND SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THIS FAILURE IS IDENTICAL TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES DESRIBED IN ODI ID NUM…
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MY WIFE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE SHUT DOWN OF OUR 2002 THUNDERBIRD WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN FROM A COMPLETE STOP IN FRONT OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. THE CAR "ROLLED" ACROSS THE ONCOMING LANE AND SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO START THE VEHICLE AGAIN. THIS FAILURE IS IDENTICAL TO THE CIRCUMSTANCES DESRIBED IN ODI ID NUMBER: 10014291 DATED MARCH 3, 2003. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10098309
38,000 miles · Nov 5, 2003
StructureInjury
WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE SOFT CONVERTIBLE LOCK MECHANISM BROKE. *AK THE TOP FLEW UP WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON THE FREEWAY. THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO GRAB THE LOCKING MECHANISM WHEN IT BROKE. *SCC *JB
NHTSA ODI #10040335
21,000 miles · Oct 27, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY STALLED. CONSUMER TOWED VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, TECHNICIAN COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM.*AK
NHTSA ODI #10044792
4,800 miles · Sep 1, 2003
Engine And Engine Cooling
ENGINE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING APPROX 40 MPH. SLOWED TO STOP FOR AN ANIMAL IN THE ROAD AND ENGINE FAILED. I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED W/O PROBLEM. HAD THIS OCCURED IN A BUSY INTERSECTION, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR DEATH. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND NOTIFY FORD. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST COMPLAING YOU…
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ENGINE FAILURE. WHILE DRIVING APPROX 40 MPH. SLOWED TO STOP FOR AN ANIMAL IN THE ROAD AND ENGINE FAILED. I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND RESTARTED W/O PROBLEM. HAD THIS OCCURED IN A BUSY INTERSECTION, IT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN SERIOUS INJURY AND/OR DEATH. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND NOTIFY FORD. THIS IS NOT THE FIRST COMPLAING YOU HAV RECIEVED REGARDING THIS PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #10036977
Illustration