2005 Ford Thunderbird problems
Owners have filed 35 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Ford Thunderbird. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 17% of complaints. Next are electrical system (14%) and fuel system (14%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 35 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 17% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 0 and 0
- Injuries and deaths
- 0 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 40,000 miles 27 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 | 4 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 11 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 6 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 0 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 4 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 0 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 2 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 0 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 0 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 27 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 40,000 miles.
None of these complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 100% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2005 ranks 12th most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the Ford Thunderbird with enough data (10 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 1 safety recall campaign.
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.
While driving to work at approx. 65 MPH, my drivers side, side airbag deployed. Thankfully I didn't lose control of my vehicle. I pulled to the side of the road and exited my vehicle. I checked my car, although I knew I didn't hit anything or run over anything. There were no signs of impact and nothing in the road behind me. I took my vehicle to the dealership where I bought it. They said they'd never seen anything like it. That was 2/17/06.
Dt*: the contact stated the audible warning that alerts the occupants the seat belts are not secured works intermittently. The dealership is aware of the problem, but has not inspected the vehicle.
On september 6, 2006 while traveling on an 8-lane highway at a speed of approximately 70 MPH the drivers side airbag on my 2005 ford thunderbird deployed with a very loud noise and considerable force. There was no impact or accident involved with this incident. The air bag simply deployed for no apparent reason. Fortunately, the vehicle was able to be controlled and pulled off the highway safely.
1. I was accelerating from a stop position and the "wrench icon" came on and the car went on :"limp mode". 2. Has occurred twice, once, a week after they installed a new electronic throttle control. 3. I am afraid the throttle could jam on the major highway that I travel everyday to work. 4. I did a search on this problem and so far I have counted 20 complaints and I stopped searching. 5. This happen on a 2005 ford thunderbird that I just purchased.
On nov 24,2009, the throttle body motor failed and caused my 2005 ford thunderbird to cut off in traffic. I took the car to metro ford for repair. They said the part would take several weeks. Metro said I could drive my car until they repair my car because ford could not provide me with a loaner. I later found out that there are others with the same problem since july 2009. After several promises to no avail, I decided to write several executives. I have not heard from anyone yet.