1999 Ford Thunderbird problems

General information about Ford-Thunderbird
Overview of popular issues
Analysis of common problems
Сomplaints list

The Ford Thunderbird (colloquially called the T-Bird) is a personal luxury car manufactured and marketed by Ford Motor Company from model years 1955 to 2005 (with a 1997–2002 hiatus), across 11 generations. Introduced as a two-seat convertible, the Thunderbird was offered variously as a four-seat hardtop coupe, four-seat convertible, five-seat convertible and hardtop, four-door pillared hardtop sedan, six-passenger hardtop coupe, and five-passenger pillared coupe, with the final generation designed again as a two-seat convertible.

Ford targeted the two-seat Thunderbird as an upscale model, but the 1958 model year design introduced a rear seat and arguably marked the expansion of a market segment eventually known as personal luxury cars, positioned to emphasize comfort and convenience over handling and high-speed performance.

Overview

The Thunderbird entered production for the 1955 model year as a sporty two-seat convertible. Unlike the Chevrolet Corvette, it was not marketed as a sports car. Ford positioned the Thunderbird as an upscale model and it is credited in developing a new market segment, the personal luxury car. For 1958, the Thunderbird was redesigned with a second row of seats. Succeeding generations became larger until the line was downsized in 1977, again in 1980, and once again in 1983. Sales were good until the 1990s when large two-door coupes became unpopular. Thunderbird production ended in 1997, then briefly resumed as a two-passenger, marketed from 2002 to 2005.

From its introduction in 1955 to its final phaseout in 2005, Ford produced over 4.4 million Thunderbirds.

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Common 1999 Ford Thunderbird problems

The 1999 Ford Thunderbird has several common problems that have been reported by owners. These issues include:

Transmission problems: Transmission issues have been reported, including problems with shifting and engagement.

Paint problems: Complaints have been made about paint issues, including peeling and fading paint.

Air conditioning problems: The air conditioning system has been reported to have problems, such as the blower not operating as intended and malfunctioning temperature control modules.

Door latch problems: The driver door latch has been reported to open when subjected to transverse loads less than the specified in FMVSS NO. 206.

Windshield wiper/washer problems: Some vehicles with non-functional windshield wipers may require wiper motor replacement.

Engine and engine cooling problems: Vehicles may experience engine and engine cooling problems, such as motor failure of plastic intake manifold.

These problems have been reported by owners of the 1999 Ford Thunderbird and have been documented in various sources, including the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and RepairPal. It is important for owners of this vehicle to be aware of these common problems and to address them promptly to ensure the safety and reliability of their vehicle.

What year is the most desirable Thunderbird?

The 1963 Ford Thunderbird Sports Roadster M-Code is a rare classic car and one of the most sought-after Thunderbird versions.

What is the most valuable year Thunderbird?

A: The highest recorded sale was $495,000 for a 1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE on Jan 27 2023.

How long did the Ford Thunderbird last?

Thunderbird production ended in 1997, then briefly resumed as a two-passenger, marketed from 2002 to 2005. From its introduction in 1955 to its final phaseout in 2005, Ford produced over 4.4 million Thunderbirds.

Why did Ford stop making Thunderbirds?

Kennedy would include 50 Thunderbirds in his 1961 inaugural procession, and the car had a starring role in a few classic films including “American Graffiti'' from 1973 and “Thelma and Louise'' from 1991. Sales of the Thunderbird began to drop in the 1990s and Ford ultimately decided to discontinue the car in 1997.

Are Thunderbirds expensive to maintain?

The annual maintenance cost of a Ford Thunderbird is $433. Repair and maintenance costs vary depending on age, mileage, location and shop.

Why did the 2002 Thunderbird fail?

The driving experience didn't help much, either, as the Thunderbird was powered by a 3.9-liter V8 that made just 252 horses. That let Ford tout that the T-Bird did, in fact, have a V8 — but even by 2002 standards, that power figure was squarely in V6 territory.

Why did Ford stop the Thunderbird?

It wasn't a terrible car, but a sad interior combined with divisive styling meant that the Thunderbird's best days were behind it. According to Hagerty, sales dropped off in 2003, with under 15,000 Thunderbirds leaving the dealership lot. Its last model year was 2005.

What is the most valuable year Thunderbird?

A: The highest recorded sale was $495,000 for a 1957 FORD THUNDERBIRD CONVERTIBLE on Jan 27 2023.

1999 Ford Thunderbird car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Ford Thunderbird problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

Vehicle speed control problems
Power train problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 1999 Ford Thunderbird vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

1999 Ford Thunderbird complaints

The NHTSA has received 2 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 1999 Ford Thunderbird.

2004-04-05

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2004-04-05
VIN: 1FAHP60A12Y
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Summary: WHILE APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THE PROBLEM CAN NOT BE DUPLICATE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *NM

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2003-01-07

POWER TRAIN PROBLEM

Date Of Incident: 2024-11-24
Number Of Injuries: 1
VIN: 1FALP6242TH
Components: POWER TRAIN
Summary: CONSUMER STATES WHEN PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE UPON RELEASING THE BRAKE THE VEHICLE SURGED BACKWARDS AT HIGH SPEED CAUSING INJURIES. TS

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Additional sources

More sources of information about 1999 Ford Thunderbird problems:

Ford Thunderbird BUYER'S GUIDE (Review, Values, Common ...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7mdv6KWhrTA

Jul 11, 2023 ... Ford Thunderbird options, colors, special editions, reliability, common problems, performance, gas mileage, and yearly changes from 2002, ...

Looking into a thunderbird sc..what are common problems on a 91 ...

https://www.sccoa.com/forums/threads/looking-into-a-thunderbird-sc-what-are-common-problems-on-a-91-thunderbird-sc.90530/

Jun 24, 2007 ... A car with only 25k miles isn't likely to suffer from any of the above. GNX, The head gasket issue has to due with the inadequate exhaust Ford ...

Here's Why the 2002 Ford Thunderbird Was a Retro Failure - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luD_Lp4vjAg

Sep 5, 2019 ... Go to channel · Ford Thunderbird BUYER'S GUIDE (Review, Values, Common Problems, Yearly Changes 2002-2005). Retro Cars Forever•28K views · 26:29.