Complaints
228
Crashes
16
Fires
3
Injuries
8
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1997 Ford Thunderbird Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#118 complaints
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
Avg mileage:69,960 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:1
#211 complaints
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Avg mileage:78,819 mi
#311 complaints
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Avg mileage:86,955 mi
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Ford Thunderbird.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE | 18 | 1 | 1 | 69,960 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 11 | — | — | 78,819 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 11 | — | — | 86,955 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 10 | — | — | 61,611 mi | |
| TIRES | 10 | — | — | — | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 10 | 4 | — | 65,500 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 8 | — | — | — | |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 8 | — | — | — | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 7 | 2 | — | — | |
| SUSPENSION | 7 | — | — | 64,786 mi | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM | 6 | — | — | 98,604 mi | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM | 6 | — | — | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 5 | — | — | — | |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 5 | — | — | 81,000 mi | |
| STEERING | 4 | — | — | — | |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT | 4 | — | — | 71,568 mi | |
| AIR BAGS | 3 | 3 | — | 70,000 mi | |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 3 | 3 | — | — | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 3 | — | — | 86,467 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN | 3 | — | — | 93,500 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 3 | — | — | — | |
| STRUCTURE | 3 | — | — | 78,385 mi | |
| SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM | 3 | — | — | — | |
| SUSPENSION:REAR | 3 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 2 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 2 | — | — | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY | 2 | — | — | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 2 | — | — | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL | 2 | — | — | 33,573 mi | |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 2 | — | — | 71,568 mi |
Other Ford Thunderbird Years
Wider context: See the full Ford Thunderbird reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
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