There are no safety recalls for the 2003 Ford Thunderbird, but owners have filed 33 complaints with NHTSA.
2003 Ford Thunderbird problems reported by owners
| Problem area | Reports | |
|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 7 | |
| Engine | 7 | |
| Power Train | 6 | |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | |
| Air Bags | 4 | |
| Electrical System | 4 | |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 3 | |
| Suspension | 3 | |
| Structure | 2 | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 | |
| Seat Belts | 1 | |
| Wheels | 1 | |
Most reported parts
- Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 3
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip — 2
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Caliper — 2
- Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator Pedal — 1
- Air Bags › Side/Window — 1
- Wheels › Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs — 1
- Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine — 1
- Power Train › Driveline › Differential Unit — 1
Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 27,000 miles (median of owner reports).
Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.
Recent 2003 Ford Thunderbird complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.
Suspension · at 46,713 miles · reported Aug 10, 2018
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!
Unknown or Other · at 14,000 miles · reported Aug 11, 2016
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…
Air Bags · at 160,000 miles · reported Jul 21, 2016
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.
Exterior Lighting · at 48,000 miles · reported Feb 23, 2016
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.
Engine · at 65,000 miles · reported Oct 30, 2015
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…
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2003 Ford Thunderbird have any recalls?
No. NHTSA has no safety recalls for the 2003 Ford Thunderbird as of this update. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the latest status.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Ford Thunderbird?
Owners report service brakes, hydraulic problems most often (7 reports), followed by engine (7). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 27,000 miles.
Are Ford recall repairs free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Ford dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.