Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1983 Ford Thunderbird, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system1
- Vehicle speed control1
- Fuel system, other1
- Seat belts1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 1 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1983 Ford Thunderbird failed the safety check 0.00% of the time — 100% less often than the average 1983 passenger car (0.85%). Median odometer at inspection: 60,097 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
6 1983 cars are on the New Zealand register; 67% arrived as used imports, 33% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
2 Transport Canada recalls for the 1983 Ford Thunderbird.
| 1983037 7 Apr 1983 | Not Entered VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 2.3 LITRE TURBO ENGINES. iNADEQUATE CONNECTIONS ON THE FUEL SUPPLY LINES AT THE INLET TO THE PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE AND AT THE CONNECTION… |
| 1983014 9 Feb 1983 | Not Entered VEHICLES WITH 3.8 LITRE ENGINES. VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN PRODUCED WITH INADEQUATELY WELDED FRONT SEAMS ON THE FUEL TANK. A FUEL LEAK COULD DEVELOP AND IN THE P… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
FUEL LEAKS COULD DEVELOP IN EITHER OF TWO CONNECTIONS IN A FUEL SUPPLY LINE. ONE CONNECTION UNDER THE VEHICLE MAY HAVE BEEN DAMAGED OR IMPROPERLY INSTALLED. THE OTHER SUSPECT PART IS IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CONTAINS A PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE.
THE PARKING GEAR MAY NOT ENGAGE, EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER IS PLACED IN THE "PARK" POSITION. THIS OCCURS IF THE LINKAGE INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION THAT ACTUATES THE PARK GEAR WAS IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. A PIN THAT RETAINS COMPONENTS ON A LINKAGE (ACTUATING) ROD COULD BREAK AND THE LINKAGE MAY NOT ENGAGE THE PARKING GEAR.
SOME OF THESE VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH FUEL TANKS THAT HAVE INADEQUATELY WELDED FRONT SEAMS THAT CAN LEAK.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1983 Ford Thunderbird: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 616522 | SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT |
| 601238 | INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC |
| 51945 | FLUID- TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *JD |
| 39900 | ROUGHNESS CONCERN DURING BRAKE APPLICATION. *TW |
| 3010700 | UNKNOWN |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
SEATBACK FAILURE
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation