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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.

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 →
33Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

2003 Ford Thunderbird

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 33 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: 7 reports
  • Power Train: 6 reports
  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 5 reports
  • Air Bags: 4 reports
  • Electrical System: 4 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

    Other model years Selected year
    93
    2002    33
    2003    34
    2004    27
    2005
    Compare all Thunderbird years →

    Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

    What owners reported most

    Engine
    7    Power Train
    6    Service Brakes, Hydraulic
    5    Air Bags
    4    Electrical System
    4
    All reported categories
    Vehicle Speed Control
    4    Engine And Engine Cooling
    3    Suspension
    3    Fuel/propulsion System
    2    Structure
    2    Equipment
    1    Exterior Lighting
    1    Fuel System, Gasoline
    1    Seat Belts
    1    Steering
    1    Unknown Or Other
    1    Visibility
    1    Wheels
    1

    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

    Vehicle Speed Control complaints

    4 reports
    Clear category filter
    102,292 miles · Sep 27, 2014
    Fuel/propulsion SystemVehicle Speed Control

    VEHICLE EXPERIENCES UNINTENDED ENGINE ACCELERATION WHEN STOPPING FOR A RED LIGHT OR PLACING THE CAR IN PARK. MOTOR HIT OVER 3500 RPM WHILE PARKING BEFORE I COULD SHUT DOWN THE IGNITION. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10639514

    36,000 miles · Mar 14, 2010
    Vehicle Speed Control

    2003 THUNDERBIRD GOES INTO "LIMP MODE" AND THE CAR SUDDENLY WILL NOT GO ABOVE 25MPH.... I AM TOLD IT IS A SAFETY FEATURE... BUT THIS IS NOT SAFE IF YOU ARE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE! I AM TOLD THIS TIME IT IS A THROTTLE BODY... WHICH I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR OVER 30 DAYS. FORD DOES NOT HAVE PARTS FOR THEIR CARS. *TR

    NHTSA ODI #10319593

    11,000 miles · Feb 23, 2004
    Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

    WHILE DRIVING AT 25 MPH DRIVER APPLIED THE BRAKES AND VEHICLE ACCELERATED. *AK

    NHTSA ODI #10059567

    200 miles · Dec 2, 2003
    Vehicle Speed Control

    WHEN BRAKING THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN PAST THE GAS PEDAL, FOOT TO HIT THEM AT THE SAME TIME. IT IS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION BECAUSE YOU ARE BRAKING AND ACCELLERATING AT THE SAME TIME. ALSO THE BRAKE PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE TO THE GAS PEDAL. I THINK THE BRAKE PEDAL SHOULD NEVER DEPRESS BELOW THE GAS PEDAL.MY WIFE AND I HAVE THE SAME…

    Read full complaint

    WHEN BRAKING THE BRAKE PEDAL GOES DOWN PAST THE GAS PEDAL, FOOT TO HIT THEM AT THE SAME TIME. IT IS A VERY UNSAFE CONDITION BECAUSE YOU ARE BRAKING AND ACCELLERATING AT THE SAME TIME. ALSO THE BRAKE PEDAL IS TOO CLOSE TO THE GAS PEDAL. I THINK THE BRAKE PEDAL SHOULD NEVER DEPRESS BELOW THE GAS PEDAL.MY WIFE AND I HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. DEALER HAS SAID IT IS NORMAL.*AK

    NHTSA ODI #10049058

    Recall campaigns

    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 ↗

    Defect investigations

    0

    No 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.