Model year record

1993 Ford Thunderbird

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 559 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 99V275000

Exterior lighting: headlights: switch

Component
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
164,731
Reported to NHTSA
1999-10-12
Owners notified
1999-11-15

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH INCORPORATES A CIRCUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN, AND INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, IF NEEDED.

Recall campaignNHTSA 97V159000

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
125,000
Reported to NHTSA
1997-09-22
Owners notified
1997-10-27

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

THIS FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTS IN DAMPNESS AND FUEL ODOR, AND IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PLASTIC CONVOLUTE COVERING AROUND THE FUEL LINES. IF THE LINES SHOW A LEAK, THE LINES WILL BE REPLACED FIRST.

Recall campaignNHTSA 96V071000

Electrical system: ignition

Component
Electrical system: ignition
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
7,900,000
Reported to NHTSA
1996-04-25
Owners notified
1996-06-07

Defect description

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Safety risk

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Engine and engine cooling: engine12880,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights47120,000 mi
Exterior lighting: headlights: switch4796,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline3958,075 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor14
Seat belts13
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system12
Unknown or other1193,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition: switch10
Exterior lighting: turn signal: switch10
Electrical system: ignition993,000 mi
Exterior lighting: back up lights9
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers8
Exterior lighting: headlights: high/low beam dimmer switch8112,000 mi
Seat belts: front: retractor8
Vehicle speed control8
Exterior lighting: fog lights: switch7
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components7
Structure: body: door7
Power train: automatic transmission6
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip6
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: radiator assembly5
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc5
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system4
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner4
Exterior lighting: fog lights4
Fuel system, gasoline4
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings4
Power train4
Seat belts: front: anchorage4
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads4
Air bags: frontal3
Electrical system: wiring3
Electrical system: wiring: front underhood3
Electrical system: wiring: interior/under dash3
Engine and engine cooling3
Exterior lighting3
Seats: front assembly: recliner3
Steering: steering wheel/handle bar3
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal3111,700 mi
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior3
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe2
Exterior lighting: brake lights2
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery2
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: auxillary tank: selector devices2
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly2
Interior lighting2
Seat belts: front286,400 mi
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly2
Seats2
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder2
Structure: body2
Tires2
Vehicle speed control: linkages2
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: heater core2
Air bags1
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery1
Electrical system: ignition: module1
Electrical system: wiring: rear compartment/trunk1
Engine198,485 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor1
Equipment: mechanical: accessory scissor/screw/bottle jack/lift1
Exterior lighting: brake lights: switch1
Exterior lighting: headlights: concealment devices1
Exterior lighting: tail lights1
Exterior lighting: tail lights: switch1
Exterior lighting: turn signal: flasher unit1
Fuel system, gasoline: carburetor system1
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system1
Fuel system, other: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings1
Parking brake: conventional1
Power train: automatic transmission: lever and linkage: column shift1
Power train: manual transmission1
Seat belts: front: warning light/devices1
Seat belts: front: webbing1
Seats: front assembly: power adjust1
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper1
Steering: gear box (other than rack and pinion)1
Steering: rack and pinion1
Steering: rack and pinion: rack1
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments1
Structure: body: hood1
Suspension: front1
Suspension: front: control arm198,000 mi
Suspension: front: control arm: lower ball joint1
Suspension: front: control arm: upper ball joint1
Suspension: front: macpherson strut1
Suspension: front: stabilizer bar1
Suspension: multiple axle1
Tires: sidewall1
Vehicle speed control: cables1
Visibility196,000 mi
Visibility: glass, side/rear1
Visibility: power window devices and controls1
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices1
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: interior1
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly1
Visibility: windshield1
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer1
Visibility: windshield wiper/washer: switch/wiring1

The 1992 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. The 1994 model has about 1.5 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.