2003 Ford Thunderbird problems
Owners have filed 50 complaints with NHTSA about the 2003 Ford Thunderbird. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 20% of complaints. Next are brakes (14%) and air bags (8%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 50 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 20% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 2 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 3 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 27,000 miles 40 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 18 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 8 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 9 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 2 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 0 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 2 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 0 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 40 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 27,000 miles.
Safety-related details: 2 complaints mention a crash; 3 injuries reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2003 ranks 10th most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the Ford Thunderbird with enough data (23 complaints in that window).
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Another vehicle turned left right in front of me, I was going aprox 50 MPH, I t-boned the other cars passenger side, my front end hit her and neither driver or pass air bag deployed. Police told me when both parties speeds factored in, it was like me hitting a brick wall at 100 MPH & that air bags should have deployed. I have contacted ford and testing will be done after repairs are made to vehicle. Car may be totalled, damages getting close to 20,000.00.
Tl* the contact owns a 2003 ford thunderbird. While stopped in traffic, the contact's vehicle was rear ended by another vehicle. As a result, the contact rear ended the preceding vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained neck and back injuries that required medical attention. The passenger sustained a concussion and back injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure.
When braking the brake pedal goes down past the gas pedal, foot to hit them at the same time. It is a very unsafe condition because you are braking and accellerating at the same time. Also the brake pedal is too close to the gas pedal. I think the brake pedal should never depress below the gas pedal.my wife and I have the same problem. Dealer has said it is normal.
Driving on a 1,850 mile trip. Car engine repeatedly shut off on light acceleration from complete stop. Motor light and wrench light illuminated. Put can in neutral and re-started. Wrench light de-illuminated, motor light stayed on. Acceleration could barely be attained to keep engine running up to 45 MPH. After that speed, can ran somewhat normally,. Entering an expressway at very low speed with minimum acceleration became the only way to continue the trip. Very dangerous. Went to a ford dealer on route.
Basically, all suspension rusted out, including both front suspensions, spindle rods, sway bar, outer tie rods, both rear tie rod links, rear lower and upper control arms , front upper control arms, rear shocks. All the work was performed by the local ford dealer. I was told this was not a unique problem to this vehicle. Driving the vehicle made squeeky noises all the time!