Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 09E012000 · 2009 · reported 04/07/2009
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
1993 Ford Thunderbird Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/14/2026
High complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Engine And Engine Cooling:engine — runs 3.4× the fleet median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
423Complaints
4Recalls
10Crashes
7Fires
9Injured
1Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Engine And Engine Cooling:engine (30.3% of complaints) — has no NHTSA recall or open investigation on file.
Engine And Engine Cooling:engine complaints here are 3.4× the median for that category across the 2583 model-years tracked on this site.
2 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 4 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine | 128 · 30.3% | No official action | — |
| Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch | 47 · 11.1% | Recalled | Recall 09E012000 · Recall 99V275000 |
| Exterior Lighting:headlights | 47 · 11.1% | Recalled | Recall 09E012000 · Recall 99V275000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline | 39 · 9.2% | No official action | — |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:rotor | 14 · 3.3% | No official action | — |
| Seat Belts | 13 · 3.1% | No official action | — |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 423 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 4 campaigns
Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
NHTSA campaign 99V275000 · 1999 · reported 10/12/1999
DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
NHTSA campaign 97V159000 · 1997 · reported 09/22/1997
THIS FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTS IN DAMPNESS AND FUEL ODOR, AND IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Electrical System:ignition
NHTSA campaign 96V071000 · 1996 · reported 04/25/1996
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“TEMPERATURE NEEDLE RUNS HIGH ON THE CAR, AND BLACK SMOKE WAS COMING OUT THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. MECHANIC SAID THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW…”NHTSA complaint 834615 — filed 02/08/1999 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
“ENGINE HEAD GASKETS HAVE GONE BAD, CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC 6 MONTHS AGO THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.”NHTSA complaint 834208 — filed 01/28/1999 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
“VEHICLE RUNNING ROUGH. PULLED OVER AFTER NOTICING WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM TAILPIPE. WATER WAS GONE FROM OVERFLOW. RADIATOR DRY. TOLD WAS BLOWN HEAD GASKET.”NHTSA complaint 829997 — filed 11/03/1998 · ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1993 Ford Thunderbird?
Engine and engine cooling:engine issues are the most-reported category, cited in 128 of 423 NHTSA complaints (30.3%), followed by exterior lighting:headlights:switch (47), exterior lighting:headlights (47), engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline (39). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1993 Ford Thunderbird have?
423 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Of those, 10 involved a crash, 7 involved a fire, and 9 reported injuries. 1 deaths were reported.
Does the 1993 Ford Thunderbird have any recalls?
Yes — 4 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 09E012000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 1993 Ford Thunderbird's reported problems?
2 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
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.
