Complaints by model year
Each bar is one model year. Highlighted: 1993. The most recent years are still collecting complaints.
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026
New York safety inspections
Share of first inspections failed on safety, by model year. Older cars fail more as miles build up, so compare each year with the average car of the same year. Best against its own year: 2004.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections, initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
Year by year
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 Thunderbird | 27 | 1 |
| 2004 Thunderbird | 34 | 1 |
| 2003 Thunderbird | 33 | 0 |
| 2002 Thunderbird | 93 | 1 |
| 1999 | 2 | 0 |
| 1998 | 3 | 0 |
| 1997 Thunderbird | 169 | 0 |
| 1996 Thunderbird | 233 | 2 |
| 1995 | 261 | 0 |
| 1994 | 300 | 0 |
| 1993 ThunderbirdMost complaints | 423 | 3 |
| 1992 Thunderbird | 184 | 3 |
| 1991 Thunderbird | 112 | 3 |
| 1990 Thunderbird | 140 | 3 |
| 1989 Thunderbird | 124 | 4 |
| 1988 Thunderbird | 92 | 2 |
| 1987 Thunderbird | 61 | 1 |
| 1986 Thunderbird | 23 | 1 |
| 1985 Thunderbird | 14 | 1 |
| 1984 Thunderbird | 26 | 1 |
| 1983 Thunderbird | 3 | 3 |
| 1982 | 0 | 0 |
| 1981 | 0 | 0 |
A model year gets its own page when it has enough data for at least three sections
Most common problems
- Engine and engine cooling525
- Service brakes, hydraulic391
- Electrical system301
- Exterior lighting239
- Power train233
- Vehicle speed control178
- Seat belts162
- Fuel system, gasoline117
NHTSA ODI complaints, all model years
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 36 Thunderbird vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died, and 27 people died inside them. These are counts, not crash rates: a model with more cars on the road shows up more often, and people killed outside the vehicle are not counted here.
| Model year | Vehicles in fatal crashes | Deaths in the vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 2 | 2 |
| 2003 | 8 | 7 |
| 2002 | 2 | 1 |
| 1997 | 7 | 6 |
| 1996 | 7 | 4 |
| 1995 | 2 | 1 |
| 1993 | 3 | 2 |
| 1992 | 2 | 2 |
| 1965 | 1 | 0 |
| 1957 | 1 | 1 |
| 1955 | 1 | 1 |
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain) · how we count
Fuel consumption by year
Official Canadian test results for 7 model years, best variant per year. Combined consumption ranges from 12.2–14.1 L/100 km.
| Year | Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Thunderbird · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 14.9 | 10.6 | 13.0 |
| 2004 | Thunderbird SST · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 15.2 | 10.4 | 13.0 |
| 2003 | Thunderbird Sport · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 14.8 | 10.4 | 12.8 |
| 2002 | Thunderbird · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 16.1 | 11.7 | 14.1 |
| 1997 | Thunderbird · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 14.3 | 9.9 | 12.3 |
| 1996 | Thunderbird · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 14.2 | 9.9 | 12.3 |
| 1995 | Thunderbird · Mid-size · Regular gasoline | 14.0 | 10.1 | 12.2 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
In New Zealand
702 Thunderbird cars are on the New Zealand register; 89% arrived as used imports.
| Model year | Registered | Sold new in NZ | Used imports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2004 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| 2003 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 2002 | 13 | 0 | 13 |
| 2001 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1997 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1996 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1993 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1992 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1990 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1988 | 4 | 1 | 2 |
| 1987 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 1986 | 3 | 0 | 2 |
| 1985 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1984 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1983 | 6 | 2 | 4 |
| 1981 | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 1980 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 | 7 | 2 | 5 |
| 1978 | 4 | 0 | 3 |
| 1977 | 10 | 3 | 3 |
| 1976 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
| 1975 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1974 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 1973 | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 1972 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 1971 | 7 | 2 | 4 |
| 1970 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
In the Netherlands
415 Thunderbird cars are on Dutch roads; 94% arrived later as imports. Open a year for APK defects, odometer checks and colours.
| First registered | On the road | Median list price |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | 29 | — |
| 1978 | 23 | — |
| 1966 | 37 | — |
| 1965 | 44 | — |
| 1964 | 43 | — |
| 1963 | 30 | — |
| 1962 | 37 | — |
| 1960 | 30 | — |
| 1959 | 27 | — |
| 1957 | 32 | — |
| 1956 | 37 | — |
| 1955 | 46 | — |
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles (CC0) · list price is the manufacturer's catalogue price when new
In Finland
124 Thunderbird cars were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026: 100% petrol, 0% diesel. Mileage is the odometer reading at the last inspection.
| First registered | In use | Average mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 7 | 88,000 km |
| 1994 | 7 | 138,000 km |
| 1993 | 5 | 160,000 km |
| 1992 | 11 | 143,000 km |
| 1991 | 7 | 230,000 km |
| 1990 | 16 | 132,000 km |
| 1989 | 8 | 242,000 km |
| 1966 | 10 | 45,000 km |
| 1965 | 6 | 51,000 km |
| 1964 | 10 | 46,000 km |
| 1963 | 6 | 55,000 km |
| 1962 | 14 | 42,000 km |
| 1960 | 6 | 54,000 km |
| 1959 | 5 | 35,000 km |
| 1957 | 6 | 44,000 km |
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use, 30 Jun 2026 · CC BY 4.0
In the United Kingdom
251 Thunderbird cars were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, by year of manufacture.
| Built | Licensed | Off the road (SORN) |
|---|---|---|
| 2006 | 0 | 1 |
| 2005 | 4 | 4 |
| 2004 | 4 | 3 |
| 2003 | 2 | 4 |
| 2002 | 7 | 9 |
| 1997 | 0 | 1 |
| 1996 | 0 | 1 |
| 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| 1994 | 0 | 1 |
| 1991 | 0 | 1 |
| 1990 | 0 | 1 |
| 1989 | 0 | 1 |
| 1979 | 1 | — |
| 1978 | 3 | — |
| 1977 | 4 | 1 |
| 1976 | 4 | 3 |
| 1974 | 1 | 1 |
| 1973 | 1 | — |
| 1972 | 3 | — |
| 1971 | 1 | — |
| 1969 | 2 | 1 |
| 1968 | 2 | 1 |
| 1967 | 2 | 1 |
| 1966 | 19 | 6 |
| 1965 | 19 | 5 |
| 1964 | 19 | 10 |
| 1963 | 13 | 6 |
| 1962 | 20 | 7 |
| 1961 | 11 | 2 |
| 1960 | 12 | 3 |
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124) · Open Government Licence v3.0
New registrations in Europe
1 new Ford Thunderbird cars registered in the EU, Norway and Iceland between 2012 and 2012, from the European Environment Agency's CO₂ monitoring of every new car. In 2012 the largest markets were United Kingdom (1).
| Year | New cars | CO₂ g/km |
|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 | — |
Averages are weighted by registrations; CO₂ is the type-approval value (NEDC until the WLTP switch). European Environment Agency, CO₂ emissions from new passenger cars · re-use permitted with acknowledgement
Recalls
21 campaigns cover the Thunderbird; the latest 12 are below.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE FUEL TANK MAY HAVE A LOCALIZED THIN WALL SECTION IN THE LOWER HALF OF THE TANK. THE FUEL TANK MAY CRACK CREATING A POTENTIAL FOR A FUEL LEAK AND FUEL ODOR. THE "SERVICE ENGINE SOON" INDICATOR MAY ILLUMINATE.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER ADJUSTABLE SEATS MAY HAVE BEEN INADEQUATELY WELDED.
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT CONTACTED THE SEAT RECLINER DURING A 35 MPH NCAP FULL-FRONTAL BARRIER IMPACT TEST.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOG LIGHTS, IN WHICH THE HEADLIGHTS MAY GO OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS AND WHICH MAY BE PRECEDED BY FLICKERING OR BLINKING AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WEST VIRGINIA. MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL LINES CAUSES THE NYLON FUEL LINE JUMPER TO CHAFE AGAINST THE FLOOR PAN. THIS WEAR CAN CAUSE A PIN HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
WHEN IN THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, THE DRIVER DOOR LATCHES MAY OPEN WHEN SUBJECTED TO TRANSVERSE LOADS LESS THAN THAT SPECIFIED IN FMVSS NO. 206, "DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS."
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE CLIMATE CONTROL BLOWER DOES NOT OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE BLOWER COULD (1) STICK ON "HIGH;" (2) OPERATE ERRATICALLY WITH BLOWER OUTPUT VARYING BETWEEN NO BLOWER AND MAXIMUM BLOWER; OR (3) NOT OPERATE AT ALL DUE TO MALFUNCTION OF THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL MODULE.
THE NUTS WHICH HOLD WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO THE WIPER MODULE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED AND MAY LOOSEN OR COME OFF. THIS CAUSES CHANGED WIPER PATTERNS, OR THE WIPERS MAY JAM IF TWO OF THE THREE NUTS COME OFF.
THE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY CONTAINS A PARK CAM WITH INADEQUATE SURFACE HARDNESS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO PARK DISENGAGEMENT OR NO PARK ENGAGEMENT WHEN THE LEVER IS PLACED IN PARK.
BATTERY TO STARTER CABLES ARE LONGER THAN SPECIFIED; EXCESSIVE CABLE LENGTH COULD CONTACT ENGINE DAMPER PULLEY.
DUE TO CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE CALIPER OF THE INBOARD FRONT WHEEL AND THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR, THERE MAY BE INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL FOLLOWING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS.
NHTSA recalls