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NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and consumer complaints for the 2003 Ford Thunderbird.
| Trim | City | Hwy | Combined | Annual fuel $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.9L 8 cyl Automatic 5-spd | 16 | 22 | 18 | $3,850 |
| 3.9L 8 cyl Automatic 5-spd | 16 | 23 | 18 | $3,850 |
| Overall Rating | Not Rated |
| Frontal Crash | Not Rated |
| Side Crash | Not Rated |
| Rollover | Not Rated |
No recalls found for the 2003 Ford Thunderbird.
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!
WHEN I OPEN THE VEHICLE DOOR AT NIGHT OTHER VEHICLE DRIVERS CAN NOT SEE MY OPENED VEHICLE DOOR WHEN I ENTER OR EXIT THE VEHICLE EVEN WITH A REFLECTOR OR LIGHT ON THE VEHICLE DOOR BECAUSE IT IS BLOCKED WHEN ENTER OR EXIT THE VEHICLE BY MY BODY. I APPLIED HIGHLY REFLECTIVE TAPE TO THE LOWER FLANGE OF THE VEHICLE DOOR AND ALSO WAS GRANTED A UNITED STATES PATENT NO. 9,308,859 UNDER THE TITLE MOTOR VEHICLE DOOR HAVING REFLECTIVE LUMINANT COMPONENT ON LOWER INTERIOR EDGE. THE ADVANCEMENT ALLOWS OVER TWO THIRDS OF ANY VEHICLE DOOR TO BE SEEN AT NIGHT BY OTHER VEHICLE DRIVERS AND WILL REDUCE IN MY ESTIMATION ONE LIFE LOST PER NIGHT PER TEN MILLION VEHICLES OR GLOBALLY 35,000 LIVES A YEAR. I WOULD LIKE MY ADVANCEMENT TO BECOME A NEW FMVSS WITH CAUSE AND ENCOURAGE ACCOUNTABILITY AT NHTSA TO RESPOND TO MY GENUINE CONCERNS. PLEASE ADVISE OF WHAT ASSISTANCE YOUR AGENCY CAN PROVIDE ME WITH THE VALIDATED NEW KNOWLEDGE IN VISUAL VEHICLE ACCIDENT AVOIDANCE THAT I PROVIDE THAT IS NOW BEING APPLIED.
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. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.
The 2003 Ford Thunderbird has 0 NHTSA recalls and 72 consumer complaints on file. It received an overall safety rating of Not Rated out of 5 stars in NHTSA crash testing. The high number of complaints suggests potential reliability concerns — review the complaint details above before purchasing. For the most detailed information about a specific vehicle, decode its VIN using our free decoder above.
Enter a specific VIN to get the full report — specs, recalls, safety ratings, complaints, investigations, and technical service bulletins.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED. WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS AND TAIL LIGHTS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT A FAILURE CODE COULD NOT BE PRODUCED DUE TO THE FAILURE OCCURRING INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
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, BEING ON THE FREEWAY OR ON LOCAL STREETS. THE ENGINE STARTS TO MISFIRE AND NOT FUNCTION. AFTER THE 3RD OR SO INCIDENT, I WAS INFORMED THAT FORD RECOGNIZED THE PROBLEM AND WOULD HONOR THE REPAIR. THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH THIS, KNOWING OF THE PROBLEM, THEY REFUSED TO REPLACE ALL AT THE SAME TIME. IN OTHER WORDS, THEY WOULD ONLY REPLACE WHEN THE COIL MALFUNCTIONED, THIS NOW HAS OCCURRED 8 TIMES. NOW MY MOTOR HAS FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WHEN THE COIL MALFUNCTIONS THE CORRESPONDING CYLINDER ALSO IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. AGAIN, THE CAR ONLY HAS 65000 MILES AND HAS NEVER BEEN MISTREATED. THE COST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE IS ALMOST $10,000. THIS MOTOR IS A JAGUAR PRODUCTION 3.9 MODEL. DONE WHEN FORD HAD A BRIEF RELATION WITH JAGUAR. TO SAY THE LEAST, I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH FORD AND THEIR LACK OF TAKING RESPONSIBILITY. BY THE WAY, WHEN THEY REPLACE THE MOTOR, THE OLD COILS WILL BE REINSTALLED ON THE REBUILT ENGINE.
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 ABLE TO REPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN TWO MANUFACTURER RECALLS THAT EXPIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
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
ONE OF THE 4 BOLTS THAT HOLD THE REAR SUSPENSION TO THE VEHICLE FELL OUT OF THE CAR. THE BOLT FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND POSSIBLY OVER TORQUING AT THE FACTORY. SEVERE CORROSION INSIDE THE POCKET THAT HOUSES THIS BOLT. FORD DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT COVERED AND IS AT LEAST 10 HOURS LABOR AND IS CONCERNED THE REMAINING 3 BOLTS MAY BE CORRODED AS WELL. THEY ARE ALSO CONCERNED THAT THE FRAME RAIL ON THE BODY MAY BE AFFECTED. THIS HAS BEEN A SOUTH FLORIDA CAR ITS ENTIRE LIFE AND HAS BEEN GARAGED ITS WHOLE LIFE. IT HAS NEVER BEEN EXPOSED TO ROAD SALT OR SNOW AND HAS ONLY BEEN DRIVEN IN RAIN ON LIMITED OCCASIONS. MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE SINCE THE REAR SUSPENSION COULD FALL OUT OF THE CAR. *TR
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES UNINTENDED ENGINE ACCELERATION WHEN STOPPING FOR A RED LIGHT OR PLACING THE CAR IN PARK. MOTOR HIT OVER 3500 RPM WHILE PARKING BEFORE I COULD SHUT DOWN THE IGNITION. *TR
I WAS ACCELERATING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY AT FULL THROTTLE AND THE ENGINE SHUT ITSELF OFF. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND CONTINUED TO MY DESTINATION. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND IT IS ONLY GETTING WORSE AND MORE FREQUENT. SOMETIMES THE LIMP HOME LIGHT (WRENCH) COMES ON. I MUST TURN THE IGNITION OFF AND BACK ON TO MAKE THE CAR WORK. I HAVE HAD ALL 8 COILS REPLACED AND THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND IT STILL OCCURS TODAY. I CHECKED THE CODES AND IT DID SAY IT WAS A FORCED SHUT DOWN. I UNFORTUNATELY DO NOT REMEMBER THE CODE NUMBER. *JS
WHILE MAKING A U-TURN IN A CULD-E-SAC AT 5 MPH, THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. I CAN ONLY REACH A SPEED OF 40 MPH NOW. I AM AFRAID TO TURN THE CAR OFF UNTIL I GET HOME. *TR
THE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON 6/12/12 WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING AND MISSING AND THEN WENT INTO A "LIMP MODE" AND WOULD ONLY ACCELERATE NO MORE THAN 15 MPH. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE SHOP THEY DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION COIL ON CYLINDER #8 WAS BAD AND REPLACED IT FOR $270. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED 9/7/13 AND LEFT MY WIFE STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, I FOUND OUT THAT FORD HAD ISSUED A 10 YEAR/100,000 MILE EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR ALL 2003, 2004, AND 2005 THUNDERBIRDS TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS. FORD HAS RECOGNIZED THAT THIS PART IS DEFECTIVE AND IS A SAFETY PROBLEM, BUT SINCE IT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED, AND I DID NOT KNOW ABOUT THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, THEY ARE CHARGING ME $1,200 DOLLARS TO REPLACE 7 IGNITION COILS. LOOKING AT THE FORD THUNDERBIRD FORUMS ON THE INTERNET REVEALS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE RECALLED SO OWNERS CAN HAVE THEM REPLACED, SINCE FORD HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THERE IS A DEFECT. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP AFTER EACH FAILURE TO HAVE THE COILS AND SPARK PLUGS REPLACED. THE REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND OFFERED NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,850.
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. BECAUSE I WAS FROM OUT OF STATE HE AGREED TO WORK ME IN FOR SERVICE THAT DAY. HOWEVER, AFTER I DESCRIBED THE PROBLEM, SERVICE WRITER REFUSED MY REQUEST TO PUT CAR ON THEIR DIAGNOSTIC MACHINE. HE AGREED TO CHANGE THE FUEL FILTER ONLY. DEALER WOULD DO NO OTHER WORK. TOLD ME I WOULD HAVE TO LEAVE IT SEVERAL DAYS. I TRIED TWO TANKS OF FUEL WITH A STODDARD SOLVENT INJECTOR CLEANER. AT HOME. I RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM. THE IGNITION COILS AND THROTTLE BODY ARE INDICATED. I HAVE HAD BOTH IGNITION COILS REPLACED.18,000 MILES AGO. REPLACEMENT FOR BOTH WAS NOT FREE. THIS CONDITION IS ABSOLUTELY DANGEROUS AND HAS NO LEAD UP SYMPTOMS TO WARN YOU. I HAVE BARELY AVOIDED BEING REAR-ENDED SEVERAL TIMES AS I TRIED TO MAKE IT OFF THE EXPRESSWAY. LOCAL FORD DEALER IS TRYING TO AVOID SCHEDULING MY THUNDERBIRD FOR REPAIRS. A RECALL OF THE DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS IS NECESSARY. A CHECK OF THE INTERNET WEB SITES INDICATE THIS IS PREDOMINANT WITH ALL THUNDERBIRDS OF THIS VINTAGE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD FOCUS. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO REVERSE FROM THE PARK POSITION. IN ORDER SHIFT INTO REVERSE HE HAD TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL AND ALLOW IT TO SLOWLY ROLL BACKWARDS. UPON DRIVING THE VEHICLE HE ALSO NOTICED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO 6TH GEAR. A DIAGNOSTIC TEST WAS NOT PERFORMED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 50,000.
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