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2003 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

29 reports with mileage · 4 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. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports0 fire reports2 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

4 reports
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160,000 miles · Jul 21, 2016
Air BagsCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD THUNDERBIRD. WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A CONCUSS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD THUNDERBIRD. WHILE STOPPED IN TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT REAR ENDED THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION AND BACK INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A TOW YARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ODI #10887555

38,000 miles · Sep 27, 2006
Air Bags

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON A DRY, SMOOTH INTERSTATE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT A COLLISION OR IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS NO APPARENT REASON FOR THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IN FLORIDA DETERMINED A COUPLE OF…

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DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE CONTACT'S SPOUSE WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON A DRY, SMOOTH INTERSTATE, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITHOUT A COLLISION OR IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THERE WAS NO APPARENT REASON FOR THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. ANOTHER DEALERSHIP IN FLORIDA DETERMINED A COUPLE OF HAIRLINE RUSTED PLACES LOCATED ON THE UNDERCARRIAGE OF THE VEHICLE WERE TO BLAME FOR THE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF AN IMPACT. THERE WERE NO AIR BAG LIGHTS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #10169378

6,300 miles · Aug 19, 2004
Air BagsCrashInjury

ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED LEFT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, I WAS GOING APROX 50 MPH, I T-BONED THE OTHER CARS PASSENGER SIDE, MY FRONT END HIT HER AND NEITHER DRIVER OR PASS AIR BAG DEPLOYED. POLICE TOLD ME WHEN BOTH PARTIES SPEEDS FACTORED IN, IT WAS LIKE ME HITTING A BRICK WALL AT 100 MPH & THAT AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I HAVE …

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ANOTHER VEHICLE TURNED LEFT RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME, I WAS GOING APROX 50 MPH, I T-BONED THE OTHER CARS PASSENGER SIDE, MY FRONT END HIT HER AND NEITHER DRIVER OR PASS AIR BAG DEPLOYED. POLICE TOLD ME WHEN BOTH PARTIES SPEEDS FACTORED IN, IT WAS LIKE ME HITTING A BRICK WALL AT 100 MPH & THAT AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND TESTING WILL BE DONE AFTER REPAIRS ARE MADE TO VEHICLE. CAR MAY BE TOTALLED, DAMAGES GETTING CLOSE TO 20,000.00. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10088189

2,465 miles · Apr 1, 2004
Air Bags

PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED IN A PARKING LOT NEAR BELLEVIEW & QUEBEC DRIVING AT 5MPH. CAR TAKEN TO COURTESY FORD IN LITTLETON CO. MAR 31/04. SERVICE ADVISER, TIM, STATED WARRANTY WON'T FIX BECAUSE THEY FOUND YELLOW PAINT ADHERING TO THE DRIVER SIDE CROSS MEMBER. THIS SCRAPE OCCURRED AT THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THE FACT DUE TO A…

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PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED IN A PARKING LOT NEAR BELLEVIEW & QUEBEC DRIVING AT 5MPH. CAR TAKEN TO COURTESY FORD IN LITTLETON CO. MAR 31/04. SERVICE ADVISER, TIM, STATED WARRANTY WON'T FIX BECAUSE THEY FOUND YELLOW PAINT ADHERING TO THE DRIVER SIDE CROSS MEMBER. THIS SCRAPE OCCURRED AT THE DEALERSHIP AFTER THE FACT DUE TO A HIGH SPEED BUMP AT THEIR LOCATION, PAINTED "YELLOW" IN COLOR. TIM ADVISED A FORD REPRESENTATIVE THAT SPEED BUMP IS NOT YELLOW. WE HAVE TAKEN PHOTO'S SHOWING SPEED BUMP IS "YELLOW".*AK

NHTSA ODI #10064363

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.