Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Ford Thunderbird, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine and engine cooling24
- Electrical system21
- Air bags13
- Engine12
- Vehicle speed control11
- Steering4
- Structure4
- Exterior lighting4
- Seat belts3
- Seats2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 4 injuries and 1 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2002 Ford Thunderbird failed the safety check 0.55% of the time — 73% less often than the average 2002 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 40,995 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
29 first registered in 2002 are on Dutch roads; 97% arrived later as imports.
Most common APK defects
- Bandenspanning niet op juiste waarde17
- Dimlicht onjuist afgesteld12
- Band onvoldoende profiel9
- Stofhoes stuurinrichting beschadigd, dicht niet af7
- Waarschuwingsinrichting airbag- / gordelsysteem geeft defect7
- Stofhoes fuseekogel beschadigd en dicht niet af7
- Stuur- of fuseekogel met slijtage kleiner of gelijk 1,0 mm6
- Mistachterlicht werkt niet (goed)4
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In the United Kingdom
7 cars built in 2002 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 9 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In New Zealand
13 2002 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 1 variant: combined 14.1 L/100 km (about 17 mpg US), CO₂ 324 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderbird · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 16.1 | 11.7 | 14.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
1 Transport Canada recall for the 2002 Ford Thunderbird.
| 2002111 19 Jun 2002 | Seats And Restraints On certain vehicles the driver's side seat belt contacted the seat recliner during a 35 mph NCAP full-frontal barrier impact test. The edge of the recliner mech… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES, THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT CONTACTED THE SEAT RECLINER DURING A 35 MPH NCAP FULL-FRONTAL BARRIER IMPACT TEST.
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 2002 Ford Thunderbird: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637842 | SUBJECT REGARDING SUPPLEMENTAL PARKING LAMPS INSTALLATION FOR VEHICLES NOT ORIGINALLY EQUIPPED. *TT |
| 637828 | CONCERNS REGARDING PAINT PROTECTION FROM REMOVABLE TOP. *TT |
| 637785 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A WHISTLING OR BUZZING NOISE ORIGINATING FROM THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM WHEN THE BLOWER MOTOR IS RUNNING AT 2 OR 3 BAR SPEED. *TT |
| 637739 | SUBJECT REGARDING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P1129 DURING KEY ON ENGINE RUNNING (KOER) - NO MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP. *TT |
| 637567 | SOME VEHICLES, BUILT BETWEEN 10/1/01 AND 1/31/02, WITH A 5R55N TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A TRANSMISSION FLUID LEAK AT THE CONVERTER HOUSING. *TT |
| 637532 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT SMALL AMOUNTS OF MOISTURE ENTERING THE CONVERTIBLE TOP STOWAGE COMPARTMENT EVEN THOUGH THE REMOVABLE HARD TOP ROOF IS INSTALLED. *TT |
| 637466 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A ENGINE MISSING OR ROUGH RUNNING CONDITION. *TT |
| 636378 | VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE 3.9L 4V MAY EXHIBIT AN OIL LEAK FROM THE ENGINE OIL FILTER. *TT |
| 636283 | INFORMATION ON PASSENGER SEAT BELTS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A PLASTIC BUTTON. *TT |
| 636243 | SOME 3.9L V8 ENGINES MAY EXHIBIT A MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0340 (CAMSHAFT POSITION SENSOR) STORED. *TT |
| 636176 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A SQUEAK OR RUBBING NOISE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL. *TT |
| 636096 | EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CURRENT DRAW WHICH COULD RESULT IN A DISCHARGED BATTERY AND A NO CRANK CONDITION. *TT SERVICE TIPS. *TT |
| 636051 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT CALIBRATION LOSS OF ERRATIC OPERATION OF THE POWER WINDOW SHORT DROP GLASS FUNCTION. *TT |
| 636049 | THIS BULLETIN INVOLVES PROPER PROCEDURES FOR PREPARATION OF SERVICE SHEET METAL PARTS COATED WITH ELECTRO DEPOSITION PRIMER (E-COAT). *TT |
| 636035 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION MAY EXHIBIT A FLUID LEAK AROUND THE FLUID PAN DRAIN PLUG. *TT |
| 635972 | ENGINE FLOODING, EXTENDED ENGINE CRANKING TIME REQUIRED TO START, OR HARD START CONDITION. *TT |
| 633571 | SUBJECT REGARDING CATALYST MONITOR SENSOR CONNECTOR INSPECTION. *JG |
| 630661 | CONCERNS WITH DRIVELINE VIBRATION. *TT |
| 630659 | SOME VEHICLE OWNERS MAY QUESTION THE OPERATION AND/OR FUNCTION OF THE SUPPLEMENTAL PARKING LAMPS. *TT |
| 630572 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT INACCURATE FUEL LEVEL CONDITION WITH APPROXIMATELY 1/4 TANK READING ON THE FUEL GAUGE. *TT |
| 630515 | ENGINE OIL SYSTEM PRIMING PROCEDURES, SERVICE TIPS FOR REPORTS OF PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TT |
| 630405 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION OF DUAL AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL (DATC) OPERATING AT FULL HEAT IN ALL MODES, AND/OR NO TEMPERATURE CONTROL FROM SIDE TO SIDE. *TT |
| 630174 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A DIFFICULT TO PULL DOWN, AND LATCH CONVERTIBLE TOP. *TT |
| 630144 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.9L V8 ENGINE ONLY, MAY EXHIBIT A RATTLING NOISE FROM THE HYDRAULIC COOLING FAN PUMP. *TT |
| 627927 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VACUUM OR AIR LEAKS IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND / OR ENGINE SYSTEM CAUSING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0171 AND OR P0174. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)