Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Thunderbird, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine7
- Power train6
- Service brakes, hydraulic5
- Vehicle speed control4
- Air bags4
- Electrical system4
- Engine and engine cooling3
- Suspension3
- Fuel/propulsion system2
- Structure2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 8 2003 Thunderbird vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 7 people died inside them, and 1 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2003 Ford Thunderbird failed the safety check 0.67% of the time — 68% less often than the average 2003 passenger car (2.11%). Median odometer at inspection: 48,069 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
2 cars built in 2003 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 4 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
2 2003 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 2 variants: combined 12.8–13.1 L/100 km (about 18 mpg US), CO₂ 294–301 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thunderbird Sport · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 14.8 | 10.4 | 12.8 |
| Thunderbird · Two-seater · Premium gasoline | 15.0 | 10.7 | 13.1 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
No recall campaigns cover the 2003 Ford Thunderbird.
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 2003 Ford Thunderbird: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 636096 | EXCESSIVE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CURRENT DRAW WHICH COULD RESULT IN A DISCHARGED BATTERY AND A NO CRANK CONDITION. *TT SERVICE TIPS. *TT |
| 612260 | DRIVELINE VIBRATION (A HIGH FREQUENCY BUZZ) THAT IS FELT THROUGH THE SEAT AND FLOORPAN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. *TT |
| 10048099 | FORD/LINCOLN/MERCURY: MAY HAVE SLUDGE BUILDUP IN THROTTLE BODY LEADING TO LESS AIRFLOW OR ENGINE IDLING RPM FLUCTUATION AND HARD STARTS OR BATTERY DISCONNECT OR DEAD BATTERY AFTER KEEP ALIVE MEMORY (KAM) CLEAR. MODELS 2003-05 THUNDERBIRD, 05-06 MUSTANG, 06-08 FUSION, 04-05 EXPLORER, 05-06 EXPEDITION, 05-07 F-150; 2003-06 LS, 06 ZEPHYR, 05-06 NAVIGATOR; 06-08 MILAN. *PE |
| 10026402 | FORD/LINCOLN MERCURY: CERTAIN 2003-2005 MODEL YEAR LINCOLN LS AND FORD THUNDERBIRD VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.9L ENGINE WITH EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE ON IGNITION COIL ASSEMBLIES AND ON 2003 MY VEHICLES ONLY , ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKETS. *PE |
| 10023293 | CERTAIN 2003 MODEL YEAR LINCOLN LS AND FORD THUNDERBIRD VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.9L ENGINE - EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE ON IGNITION COIL ASSEMBLIES AND ENGINE VALVE COVER GASKETS. ALSO HAVE AN OWNER'S LETTER. *NJ |
| 10022290 | AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SOLENOID EMISSIONS WARRANTY EXTENSION. SAMPLE CONSUMER LETTER ATTACHED. *KB |
| 10017925 | WATER/MOISTURE IN COP WELLS - DTC P0301-P0308 - 3.9L ENGINE - VEHICLES BUILT THROUGH 5/1/2004. *TT |
| 10017917 | UNUSUAL ENGINE NOISE OR ENGINE KNOCK CONCERNS DUE TO REGULAR FUEL. *TT |
| 10014703 | MOISTURE IN STORAGE COMPARTMENT. *EH |
| 10014594 | VIBRATION FELT FOR A FEW MILES OF DRIVING AFTER PARKING. *EH |
| 10014086 | GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT |
| 10013401 | DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) C1145 AND/OR C1155 STORED IN ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) MODULE. *TT |
| 10013371 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) AND ELECTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL (ETC) LAMPS ON WITH BOTH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P2106 AND P2135. *TT |
| 10013116 | MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ILLUMINATED - SYSTEM LEAN DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTC'S) - SERVICE TIPS. VARIOUS MODELS INCLUDING 2004 F-SERIES. *TT |
| 10013060 | CLIMATE CONTROL A/C SERVICE TECH TIPS. *EH |
| 10011162 | ENGINE MISFIRE OR RUNNING - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIPS. TO INCLUDE VARIOUS 2005 MODELS. * AR THIS ARTICLE 04161 SUPERSEDES TSB 03-14-04. |
| 10011159 | REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER GRID/INTEGRAL ANTENNA DIAGNOSIS AND REPAIR - TERMINAL TAB REPAIR. *TT |
| 10009344 | ABS WARNING INDICATOR ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE C1145 AND/OR C1155. *TT |
| 10009342 | KEY-IN-IGNITION WARNING CHIME SOUND WHENEVER THE DRIVER'S DOOR IS OPEN (EVEN WITH NO KEY IN THE IGNITION), THE EASY EXIT FEATURE INOPERATIVE WHEN THE KEY IS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION, OR THE STEERING COLUMN (AND SEAT IF APPLICABLE) MOVING BACK AND FORTH WHEN THE KEY IS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION ON VEHICLES WITH A FORD ACCESSORY REMOTE START KIT. *TT |
| 10009321 | INOPERATIVE ELECTRIC REAR WINDOW DEFROSTER (HEATED BACKLITE) GRID LINES, INTEGRAL ANTENNA CONCERNS. *TT |
| 10008991 | STEERING GEAR SQUEAK WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL, ESPECIALLY DURING LOW SPEED PARKING MANEUVERS. *TT |
| 10008580 | LAMP-BRAKE-INVADVERTENT DISABLING OF BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. *MJ |
| 10008246 | STEERING GEAR NOISE. *TT |
| 10008239 | ELECTTRONIC THROTTLE CONTROL WARNING MESSAGE OR LAMP ON - MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP (MIL) ON WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P2106 - POSSIBLE DRIVEABILITY SYMPTOMS. *TT |
| 10008194 | DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE (DTC) P0300-P0308 OR P0350-P0358. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)