VehicleVerdict

1997 Ford Thunderbird engine problems

The 1997 Ford Thunderbird has 57 engine complaints filed with NHTSA — 25% of the year's total, and roughly flat versus the prior model year.

57

Engine complaints

25%

Share of year

1

Crash-involved

0

Related recalls

Engine complaints by year

Thunderbird engine complaints by model year195 complaints1984: 7 complaints1985: 1 complaints1986: 10 complaints1987: 4 complaints1988: 8 complaints1989: 15 complaints1990: 11 complaints1991: 15 complaints1992: 29 complaints1993: 195 complaints1994: 71 complaints1995: 53 complaints1996: 68 complaints1997: 57 complaints2002: 36 complaints2003: 10 complaints2004: 12 complaints2005: 7 complaints
Thunderbird engine complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

What owners report

“I WAS DRIVING MY CAR TO PAY THE POWER BILL. I HAD MADE A COMPLETE STOP AND THEN TURNED LEFT UP THE ROAD ABOUT 4/10'S OF A MILE WHEN I PULLED INTO THE PARKING SPACE I NOTICED WHITE STEAM COMING FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I OPENED THE HOOD A THE ENGINE WAS COVERED IN ANTIFREEZE. I CALLED FOR A TOW…”

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · July 6, 2004 · crash · fire

Common questions

How many engine complaints does the 1997 Ford Thunderbird have?

NHTSA has 57 complaints about the 1997 Ford Thunderbird engine — 25% of all complaints filed for that model year.

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.