Ford / Thunderbird / 1994
1994 Ford Thunderbird problems
Owners have filed 426 complaints about the 1994 Ford Thunderbird with NHTSA. Power train accounts for 23.9% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of service brakes, hydraulic at 20.9%.
Complaints426
Crashes27
Fires12
Injuries22
Deaths4
What owners report breaking
Power train 23.9% · 102
Service brakes, hydraulic 20.9% · 89
Engine and engine cooling 16.7% · 71
Electrical system 6.8% · 29
Vehicle speed control 5.4% · 23
Air bags 4.5% · 19
Suspension 3.5% · 15
Unknown or other 3.1% · 13
Severity
Of those complaints, 27 describe a crash, 12 describe a fire, 22 report an injury and 4 report a death.
Reading the numbers
Across the 9 model years of the Ford Thunderbird in this data, 1994 ranks 2nd by complaint volume — 1993 draws the most.
Filings have fallen off, 8 in the last three years against 25 in the three before. That is normal as a generation leaves the road.
The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 80,000 miles.
In owners' own words
The transmission slips out of gear by itself. It happens at all speeds sporadically. When it slips the car slows down,which has caused a couple of dangerous situations. More dangerous still is that when it slips the r.P.M.'S jump higher and sometimes the transmission then grabs and the car lurches suddenly forward.This has almost caused us to crash twice;once on the freeway and once on a sharp turn. Power train
Engine - makes a moaning noise and raises the idle. As a result, the care wants to accelerate, even without pressure to the accelerator. Paint - paint oxidized on all skyward facing surfaces. Spots of rust have developed. Power lock - driver's side power lock makes a noise, but does not move the lock transmission - doesn't shift when it is supposed to, and when it does, it is very jerky. Power train · reported at 80,000 miles
Transmission in these Thunderbird is terrible the person I bought it from has already had it fixed and I have too. It is starting to act up again for example I will be driving down the interstate and my car will slip gear and will cause me too tempory lose control. I feel as though this should be looked into because I have heard many other complaints from other drivers. Power train
Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.
Safety recalls
Checking NHTSA for open recalls…
Other Ford Thunderbird years
1991 130 complaints · 14.6% service brakes, hydraulic 1992 234 complaints · 19.2% exterior lighting 1993 559 complaints · 34.7% engine and engine cooling 1995 353 complaints · 33.4% service brakes, hydraulic 1996 295 complaints · 23.1% engine and engine cooling 1997 228 complaints · 25.0% engine and engine cooling