1997 ford thunderbird. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle VIN# not listed on defective brake pads/rotors recall notice.
The worst 1997 Ford Thunderbird problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Engine54
- Brakes22
- Suspension18
- Transmission17
- Tires16
- Fuel system13
- Acceleration11
- Steering9
- Visibility7
- Airbags6
- Body6
- Electrical4
- Lights4
- Seat belts4
- Seats4
- Locks2
- Wheels2
Specific symptoms reported on the 1997 Ford Thunderbird
Recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Technical service bulletins for the 1997 Ford Thunderbird 107
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Some 1997-2008 vehicles equipped with a 4.6L 2V, 5.4L 2V, or 6.8L 2V engine--spark plug thread repair...
- Extended coverage program 05N04 - extended coverage for composite intake manifold. this program is being...
- General (PCM) power train control module programming procedures. tt
- Remote keyless entry (rke) - service tips. tt
- New service part - number 5 needle bearing and race kit - 4R70W transmission - service tip. tt
- Engine-gear driven synchronizers-incorrect installation-camshaft position synchronizer (cmp) installation...
- Incorrectly installed gear driven camshaft position (cmp) sensor synchronizer assemblies causing surge,...
- Climate control a/c service tech tips. eh
- Lamp-brake-invadvertent disabling of brake shift interlock. mj
- Some vehicles may exhibit an intake manifold crossover (first runner) coolant seepage condition. tt
1997 Ford Thunderbird fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.8L 6‑cyl | RWD | 16 | 24 | 19 |
| 4.6L 8‑cyl | RWD | 15 | 23 | 18 |
What 1997 Ford Thunderbird owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I smell gas when driving at high speed of 60 and above on freeway mostly. Once in a while I can smell it when driving at lower speeds of 25 -30mph. I used to think that I had spilled gas on the outside of car when it first started happening, but now a year later, I still smell gas and I do smoke in my car, but when I smell the gas, I will put the cigarette out. Is there some kind of recall on this problem, that can repair it. I have put $4000.00 into restoring the car and I and putting another $800.00 into it next week, november 2013, to replace all of the belts around the engine. I have already rebuilt the transmission for $1800.00 at aamco, and put a $2200.00 paint job on it, before I knew of the gas smell. I have also replaced alternator and battery. Am I fighting a losing battle with this car?
In the middle of august I smelt gas when I drove. And the smell has become stronger and stronger. Today (10/10/2011) I went to a vehicle repair shop and was told the leaking is on the top of fuel tank and could not be repaired in the shop. I checked online and found many people have experienced this very dangerous leak. Please click the link: http://www.cargurus.com/cars/discussion-t872_ds478881. This car must be recalled for fuel leaking.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford thunderbird. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start. The vehicle was towed home and was not taken to have the failure diagnosed. The contact also stated that prior to the failure, the vehicle would decelerate while driving at various speeds. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.
The plastic intake manifold on my 1997 ford thunderbird cracked spilling out all my coolant and causing my engine to overheat, this is a design flaw that should be coverd by ford motor company, this happend while driving down gratiot ave. In roseville mi at 40 miles per hour with no previous warning, this failure happend 7/3/2011 saturday over the forth of july weekend, where I couldn't get it to a open ford dealership, now I connot use my vehical for work monday 7/4/2011. Will this repair be coverd by ford motor company?
I was curious about how to get the thunderbird (1994-1997) transmission recalled? Please note that this only affects the 4.6 v8 thunderbirds and not the v6. This can result of control loss of the automobile and can result in a crash. For whatever the reason may be, my 97 thunderbird transmission is "shuttering" as it shifts between 3rd and 4th gear and I have used the correct fluid and had it serviced. The mechanic said there was nothing wrong with it, however it continues to shutter. I have done some research and it seems that many of the 4.6 v8 are affected by this issue. What would you do to fix this potential safety issue? I have contacted ford and they said that you and ford work together.
I have a 1997 ford thunderbird that has a manifold problem. I am being told by ford that it doesn't fall under the recall from 2005 because it wasn't built in the right plant. I have read a lot of information that all of the 1997 t-bird have this problem and need to be fixed. Not only is does my car not run right, but I also am not facing replacing my catalytic converter, as well due to the leakage. We are talking about $1700 in repair.
When I bought the car, a year ago, it ran great. One day as I as coming up a hill, my car started shaking. It was a cracked intake manifold, that of which ford was in a class action lawsuit in 2005. Which covered a "select few" of thunderbirds. However now that my manifold cracked, there "not at fault." we had the car fixed, only to learn afterwards that ford had several issues about the faulty intake.
Engine idle racing. Can't stop unless placed in neutral, where car would run over 2000 RPM. Dealer replaced idle air control and power control module. Dealer stated that idle air control burns out the power train control modules on many v-6 ford engines. Car had only 34,518 miles checked other surges that this is a safety issue of racing engines in accidents of v-6 motors and ford refusing any recalls for possible fire of idle air control and the burning out of power train control module.
1997 ford thunderbird with shifting problems. Consumer states that the shifter lever after pressure on brake pedal does not release shifter handle. He had the brake light/release switch replaced and problem still exists. *kb the consumer had difficulty removing the shifter out of park.
Compare the 1997 Ford Thunderbird
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Questions about the 1997 Ford Thunderbird
Is the 1997 Ford Thunderbird reliable?
Owners have filed 169 complaints about the 1997 Ford Thunderbird, 5.0 times a typical Thunderbird model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1997 Ford Thunderbird?
Engine and cooling, with 54 complaints, typically around 67,452 miles. Next is brakes (22).
How many recalls does the 1997 Ford Thunderbird have?
No recalls on record.
What gas mileage does the 1997 Ford Thunderbird get?
Official estimates for the 1997 Ford Thunderbird range from 18 to 19 mpg combined. The most efficient version (3.8L 6-cyl, RWD) gets 16 city and 24 highway.
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