Ford Thunderbird years to avoid
More than twice the Thunderbird's typical complaint count for a model year.
Best Ford Thunderbird years
Not enough model years on the road yet to compare.
Ford Thunderbird complaints by model year
Owner complaints by model year. Newer years have had less time on the road, so expect them to grow.
Most common Ford Thunderbird problems
All model years combined.
- Engine519
- Brakes363
- Lights223
- Transmission222
- Electrical201
- Acceleration130
- Fuel system113
- Seat belts106
- Airbags81
- Visibility72
- Suspension65
- Steering58
Most reported problems on the Ford Thunderbird
Ford Thunderbird problems year by year
Tap a year to see its problems, recalls and what owners say.
| Year | Score | Complaints | Top problem | Typical mileage | Recalls | Crashes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 80 | 27 | Engine | 39,789 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 69 | 34 | Engine | 25,000 | 1 | 5 | |
| 2003 | 75 | 33 | Engine | 27,000 | 0 | 2 | |
| 2002 | 39 | 93 | Engine | 35,000 | 1 | 4 | Avoid |
| 1999 | - | 2 | Acceleration | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1998 | - | 3 | Acceleration | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1997 | - | 169 | Engine | 71,568 | 0 | 11 | |
| 1996 | - | 233 | Engine | 86,000 | 2 | 12 | |
| 1995 | - | 261 | Brakes | 68,000 | 0 | 25 | |
| 1994 | - | 299 | Transmission | 80,000 | 0 | 22 | |
| 1993 | - | 423 | Engine | 98,000 | 3 | 10 | |
| 1992 | - | 184 | Lights | 126,300 | 3 | 6 | |
| 1991 | - | 111 | Brakes | 87,500 | 3 | 7 | |
| 1990 | - | 140 | Electrical | 87,000 | 3 | 8 |
Recalls 11
Questions about the Ford Thunderbird
What years of the Ford Thunderbird should you avoid?
2002. It has more than twice the Ford Thunderbird's typical number of owner complaints for a model year; 2002 alone has 93, mostly about engine and electrical.
What is the best year for a used Ford Thunderbird?
There are not enough model years on the road yet to compare.
What is the most common problem with the Ford Thunderbird?
Engine, with 519 complaints across all years, followed by brakes (363) and lights (223).
How many recalls does the Ford Thunderbird have?
11 recalls between 1990 and 2005. The 1993 model year has the most, with 3.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used Ford Thunderbird?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history