1992 Ford Thunderbird Engine And Engine Cooling:engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

22Engine And Engine Cooling:engine complaints

12%Of all 184 complaints

#2Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine and engine cooling:engine ranks on this vehicle

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS23 · 12.5%

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE22 · 12%

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP14 · 7.6%

SEAT BELTS12 · 6.5%

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS9 · 4.9%

Share of the 184 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 1992 Ford Thunderbird overview page.

What owners report

“THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED AND WOULD NOT START AFTER IT HAD BEEN TURNED OFF. ONCE IT DID GET STARTED IT WAS BLOWING SMOKE FROM THE EXHAUST…”NHTSA complaint 725101 — filed 07/07/2000

“FORD MOTOR CO. HAS RECALLED MANY 3.8L V6 BECAUSE OF HEAD GASKET. WHEN I CALLED THEM THEY WERE ONLY RECALLING FWD CARS. I CALLED THREE…”NHTSA complaint 720612 — filed 03/26/2000

“WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE MADE A POPPING NOISE, THEN SMOKE CAME OUT OF EXHAUST CAUSED BY A BLOWN OUT HAD GASKET.”NHTSA complaint 858802 — filed 03/20/2000

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 1992 Ford Thunderbird have engine and engine cooling:engine problems?

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine is the #2 most-reported problem area on the 1992 Ford Thunderbird: 22 of 184 complaints on file (12%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 1992 Ford Thunderbird have in total?

184 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 6 involved a crash, 11 involved a fire, 10 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine and engine cooling:engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.