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1997 Ford ThunderbirdProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 169 owner complaints about the 1997 Ford Thunderbird, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.

47
CarFlaw IndexSolid year1.1× the Thunderbird median · #7 of 18 years by complaints
Safety recalls0None on recordOwner complaints16919 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage67kEngine and engine cooling, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through September 6, 2016. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1997 Ford Thunderbird has problems

169 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Engine and engine cooling542
Service brakes, hydraulic222
Suspension180
Power train170
Tires160
Vehicle speed control114
Fuel system, gasoline110
Steering91
Visibility70
10 other systems369

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

0 recalls

1997 Ford Thunderbird recalls and how many were fixed

No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.

Mileage at failure

When do engine and engine cooling problems start?

67kmiles, median

Based on the odometer reading in 29 engine and engine cooling complaints. 79% were reported before 100,000 miles.

Only 28% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.

median0k50k100k150k200k+
1under 30k miles23under 100k miles6100k miles or more
Best & worst years

1997 vs. every other Thunderbird year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Thunderbird median. How we score

'67'70'71'72'73'74'75'76'77'78'79'80'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'02'03'04'05
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1997 Ford Thunderbird safety ratings

1997 Ford Thunderbird 2-DR. in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

1997 Ford Thunderbird side barrier test, NHTSA
Side barrierNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
In owners' words

What Thunderbird owners report

Recent engine and engine cooling complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

I SMELL GAS WHEN DRIVING AT HIGH SPEED OF 60 AND ABOVE ON FREEWAY MOSTLY. ONCE IN A WHILE I CAN SMELL IT WHEN DRIVING AT LOWER SPEEDS OF 25 -30MPH. I USED TO THINK THAT I HAD SPILLED GAS ON THE OUTSIDE OF CAR WHEN IT FIRST STARTED HAPPENING, BUT NOW A YEAR LATER, I STILL SMELL GAS AND I DO SMOKE IN…
Complaint 10550111 · Oct 30, 2013 · 101,000 miles
THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD ON MY 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD CRACKED SPILLING OUT ALL MY COOLANT AND CAUSING MY ENGINE TO OVERHEAT, THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT SHOULD BE COVERD BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY, THIS HAPPEND WHILE DRIVING DOWN GRATIOT AVE. IN ROSEVILLE MI AT 40 MILES PER HOUR WITH NO PREVIOUS…
Complaint 10410350 · Jul 3, 2011 · 55,770 miles
I HAVE A 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD THAT HAS A MANIFOLD PROBLEM. I AM BEING TOLD BY FORD THAT IT DOESN'T FALL UNDER THE RECALL FROM 2005 BECAUSE IT WASN'T BUILT IN THE RIGHT PLANT. I HAVE READ A LOT OF INFORMATION THAT ALL OF THE 1997 T-BIRD HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND NEED TO BE FIXED. NOT ONLY IS DOES MY…
Complaint 10274375 · Jun 19, 2009

Own a 1997 Thunderbird?

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