VehicleVerdict

1992 Ford Thunderbird fuel system problems

The 1992 Ford Thunderbird has 27 fuel system complaints filed with NHTSA — 12% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.

27

Fuel System complaints

12%

Share of year

0

Crash-involved

1

Related recalls

Fuel System complaints by year

Related recalls

97V159000Fuel SystemSeptember 22, 1997 · 125,000 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, DELAWARE, IOWA, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, KENTUCKY, MASSACHUSETTS, MARYLAND, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WISCONSIN, AND WEST VIRGINIA. MOVEMENT OF THE FUEL LINES CAUSES THE NYLON FUEL LINE JUMPER TO CHAFE AGAINST THE FLOOR PAN. THIS WEAR CAN CAUSE A PIN HOLE IN THE FUEL LINE RESULTING IN FUEL LEAKAGE.

Consequence

THIS FUEL LEAKAGE RESULTS IN DAMPNESS AND FUEL ODOR, AND IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WAS PRESENT, A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A PLASTIC CONVOLUTE COVERING AROUND THE FUEL LINES. IF THE LINES SHOW A LEAK, THE LINES WILL BE REPLACED FIRST.

What owners report

FILLED VEHICLE WITH FUEL & DROVE HOME. PARKED VEHICLE IN GARAGE. NOTICED AN ODOR OF GASOLINE. CHECKED VEHICLE & DISCOVERED A LEAK UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO MECHANIC & THE GASKETS WERE REPLACED, TWICE. THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC WOULD NOT CHECK UNLESS A…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System

Common questions

How many fuel system complaints does the 1992 Ford Thunderbird have?

NHTSA has 27 complaints about the 1992 Ford Thunderbird fuel system — 12% of all complaints filed for that model year.

Are there recalls for the 1992 Ford Thunderbird fuel system?

Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the fuel system: 97V159000.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.