2003 Ford ThunderbirdProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 33 owner complaints about the 2003 Ford Thunderbird, most often about the engine. It has no vehicle safety recalls on record.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through June 28, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA, CC BY 2.0.
Where the 2003 Ford Thunderbird has problems
33 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 7 | 0 |
| Power train | 6 | 0 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 5 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 4 | 0 |
| Air bags | 4 | 2 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 0 |
| Suspension | 3 | 0 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 |
| 8 other systems | 9 | 0 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
2003 Ford Thunderbird recalls and how many were fixed
No vehicle safety recalls are on record for this model year.
2003 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
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
2003 Ford Thunderbird safety ratings
2003 Ford Thunderbird 2-DR Convertible w/SAB in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Stability control: No
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
What Thunderbird owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I'VE OWNED MY 2003 THUNDERBIRD SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT NOW HAS 65000 MILES AND IS DRIVEN ONLY 2000 MILES A YEAR, OVER THE LAST 5 YEARS. DURING THIS PERIOD, I HAVE HAD ALL 8 COILS REPLACED, ONE AT A TIME. THE FIRST TIME WAS WITHIN THE FIRST 1000 MILES. GENERALLY IT OCCURS WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC,…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DRASTICALLY REDUCED SPEED AND HESITATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS NOT…
CAR SPUTTERED AND MISFIRED CAUSING PARTIAL POWER LOSS AND SPEED LOSS. PROBLEM IS IGNITION COILS. HAVE NOW HAD TO REPLACE A TOTAL OF THREE DURING TWO SIMILAR EVENTS. TWO DEALERS FAILED TO INFORM ME OF EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR
Own a 2003 Thunderbird?
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