RoadVitals

1993 Ford Thunderbird Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
117
Latest Apr 26, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
28%
of 423 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1993 Ford Thunderbird submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 117 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

The 25 most recent of 117, in the owner's own words

Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Apr 26, 2010
Fire reported

THIS IS THE RECALL. MY CAR DID EXACTLY THIS. MY CAR IS A 93 THUNDERBIRD SUPER COUPE WITH FACTORY FOG LIGHTS AND THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR IS BURNT AND NEEDS REPLACED. HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AFTER FLICKERING. RECALLS FOR THE 1993 FORD THUNDERBIRD ELECTRICAL & LIGHTS: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 99V275000 DATES MANUFACTURED: 06/1991 TO 09/1993 NUMBER OF VEHICLES AFFECTED: 164,731 MODEL YEARS AFFECTED: 1992, 1993 DATE OWNER NOTIFIED: 11/1999 DEFECT SUMMARY: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH FOG LIGHTS, IN WHICH THE HEADLIGHTS MAY GO OUT FOR VARIOUS INTERVALS AND WHICH MAY BE PRECEDED BY FLICKERING OR BLINKING AS A RESULT OF THE CIRCUIT BREAKER OPENING. CONSEQUENCE SUMMARY: DRIVER'S COULD EXPERIENCE A LOSS OF VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH. CORRECTIVE SUMMARY: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HEADLIGHT SWITCH WHICH INCORPORATES A CIRCUIT BREAKER OF REVISED DESIGN, AND INSTALL A WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR, IF NEEDED. RECALL NOTES: FORD RECALL NO. 99S30.OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 15, 1999. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236). *TR

NHTSA ID
10327593
Incident
Apr 19, 2010
Mileage
96,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 17, 2008

1993 FORD THUNDERBIRD WITH HEADLIGHTS THAT FAIL WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. FAILURE STARTS WITH FLICKERING AND BLINKING CAUSING LOSS OF VISIBILITY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10245758
Incident
Jul 3, 2008
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 30, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 99V275000 CONCERNING THE HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH. THIS VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. THE CONSUMER FIRST EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM IN LATE 1997, AND HAD IT REPAIRED AT THE HER EXPENSE. THE HEADLIGHTS FAILED A SECOND TIME THE DEALERSHIP STATED THE SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN.*AK UPDATED 01/11/06. *JB

NHTSA ID
10144017
Incident
Nov 30, 1997
Exterior lighting
Filed Jan 11, 2005

WHILE DRIVING SMOKE STARTED TO COME OUT OF THE STEERING COLUMN, AND THE HEADLIGHT STOPPED WORKING. CONSUMER STATES IT IS THE VERY SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL NUMBER 99V275000/HEADLIGHTS.*AK

NHTSA ID
10107160
Incident
Jan 10, 2005
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 6, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT HEAD LIGHTS FLASHED ON AND OFF. DEALER STATED THEATHEAD LIGHT SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10081373
Incident
Jul 6, 2004
Mileage
120,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 29, 2004

WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY WENT OUT. SMOKE BEGAN TO COME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN NEAR THE SIGNAL LIGHT. CONSUMER PULLED OVER, THEN SMOKE CLEARED, BUT THE DRIVER HAD TO HOLD THE HIGH BEAM SWITCH WHILE DRIVING. *AK *LA

NHTSA ID
10061601
Mileage
112,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 14, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10027212
Incident
Jul 14, 2003
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 3, 2003

THE VEHICLE HEAD LAMPS FLICKERED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE (99S30). THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REPLACED SWITCH. *MR *SCC *NLM

NHTSA ID
10021557
Incident
Mar 23, 1999
Mileage
140,786 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 19, 2002

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE HEADLIGHT WILL GO OFF AND THE FOG LIGHT WILL STAY ON. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.TS

NHTSA ID
8023011
Incident
Oct 15, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 26, 2002

WHILE SWITCHING TO HIGH BEAM, HIGH AND LOW BEAMS GO OUT. *AK *SCC

NHTSA ID
8017249
Incident
Aug 25, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 28, 2002

CONSUMER STATES THAT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT CONSUMERS HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT AND CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS COULD CATCH FIRE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND PARKED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. NLM

NHTSA ID
8006595
Incident
Mar 14, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 6, 2002

RECALL 99V275000; HEADLIGHTS WOULD STILL BLINK OUT AFTER RECALL WAS SERVICED. CURRENTLY, HEADLIGHTS HAVE COMPLETELY GONE OUT.*AK CONSUMER HAD TO REPAIR TWICE PRIOR TO RECALL AND THREE TIMES SINCE HAVING THE RECALL DONE. *TT

NHTSA ID
8005052
Incident
Oct 1, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 28, 2002

I RECEIVED A RECALL TO NOTIFY ME OF THE PROBLEM WITH MY HEADLAMP SWITCH THIS CAUSED MY HEADLIGHTS TO TURN OFF INTERMITTENTLY WHILE I WAS DRIVING. I THEN WENT TO RODMAN FORD TO FIX THE PROBLEM . THE HEADLIGHTS SEEMED TO WORK FINE UNTIL ONE YEAR WHEN THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED ONE YEAR LATER. WHEN I CALLED RODMAN TO RECTIFY THE SECOND DEFECTIVE HEADLAMP SWITCH THEY REFUSED DUE TO A WARRANTY ON THEIR REPLACEMENT PARTS. MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS THE SECOND FAULTY PART (HEADLAMP SWITCH) AND SHOULD BE CONSIDERED UNDER THE RECALL, SINCE THE SECOND ONE LASTED LESS TIME THAN THE FIRST HEADLAMP SWITCH. WHILE I CAN UNDERSTAND WARRANTY LIMITATIONS ON OTHER PARTS, THIS IS AN EXTREME SAFETY ISSUE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT. I CAN NOT AFFORD TO KEEP REPLACING THIS PART YEARLY. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THIS SWITCH THAT THE FORD MOTOR VEHICLE COMPANY NEEDS TO LOOK INTO. I HAVE RECEIVED NO SATISFACTION FROM FORD. THIS COMPANY SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO HANDLE SAFETY ISSUES WITH THEIR VEHICLES IN SUCH A POOR MANNER. THIS PROBLEM COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS IN THE FUTURE TO UNAWARE CONSUMERS. I WOULD LIKE TO SEE FURTHER ACTION TAKEN ON THIS MATTER. THANK YOU CARRIE CALLAHAN. *AK

NHTSA ID
758743
Incident
Nov 3, 2000
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 22, 2002

1. HEADLIGHTS - REGULAR BEAMS COMPLETELY EXTINGUISHED ON BOTH SIDES FOLLOWING INTERMITTENT FLICKERING, FOLLOWED BY LOSS OF NORMAL HIGH BEAMS. ONLY RECOURSE IS TO USE 'PASS & GO' HIGH BEAMS TO GET HOME. REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH (E9SZ-13K359-D) 4 TIMES DURING 5-YR PERIOD, PLUS SCORCHED/MELTED PLUG CONNECTOR 3 TIMES. 2. HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LAMP - BOTH SOCKETS SCORCHED/MELTED & BULBS EXTINGUISHED; REPLACED 3 TIMES DURING SAME PERIOD. QUESTION: ARE THESE RELATED TO EACH OTHER OR TO RECALL# 99V275000 ? *AK

NHTSA ID
758505
Incident
Feb 15, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 11, 2002

CONSUMER STATED THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT, DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED, DEALER REPLACED THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, FORD RECALL 99S30 COMPLIED TO REPLACE HEADLIGHT SWITCH ASSEMBLY TO PREVENT HEADLIGHT FAILURE, DEALER SAYS CURRENT FAILURE IS NOT RECALL RELATED. *JG *AK

NHTSA ID
8003882
Incident
Jan 30, 2002
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 8, 2002

FORD MOTOR COMPANY RECALL NOTICE 99S30 WAS ACCOMPLISHED ON 12/27/1999 AT VARSITY FORD TO REPAIR FAULTY HEADLIGHT SWITCH POSSIBILITY. FAILURE OCCURRED LAST WEEK AS DESCRIBED IN THE RECALL BULLETIN. THE FORD FIX IN 1999 DID NOT WORK AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING A CRITICAL TIME OF DRIVING. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A CATASROPHE AND I WANT FORD TO FIX THIS PERMANENTLY AND COVER THE COST OF MY REPAIRS.*AK

NHTSA ID
757964
Incident
Jan 30, 2002
EngineExterior lighting
Filed Jan 8, 2002

CONSUMER COMPLAINS THAT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT GOES ON AND OFF WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE. *JG

NHTSA ID
563925
Incident
Dec 1, 1994
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 12, 2001

99 V 275 000/ HEADLIGHT: SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH AND LOSS OF HEAD LIGHTS. LIGHT SWITCH WIRING AND CONNECTOR WERE BURNING AND MELTING MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THERE WA S NO SUCH RECALL. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS CONCERNING THIS MATTER.*AK

NHTSA ID
8000663
Incident
Oct 15, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed Nov 6, 2001

HEADLAMP SWITCH THAT HAD A RECALL ON IT HAS WENT OUT FOR THE 3RD TIME. *AK

NHTSA ID
754174
Incident
Nov 5, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 17, 2001

HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER RECALL 99V275000 ON 10 FEBRUARY, 2000. PART FAILED AGAIN ON 1 OCTOBER, 2001.*AK

NHTSA ID
897873
Incident
Oct 1, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 30, 2001

HEAD LAMP COVERS TURNED YELLOW. AS TIME HAS PASS HEADLIGHTS GAVE POOR VISIBILITY. CONSUMER HAD TO TRAVEL WITH BRIGHT LIGHTS TO GAIN VISIBILITY. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
895499
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 20, 2001

HEADLIGHT REFLECTORS BURNED OUT. DEALER ADVISED THAT ENTIRE LIGHTING SYSTEM WILL HAVE TO BE REPLACED. DEFECT CAUSES BAD VISION AT NIGHT. *AK

NHTSA ID
894766
Incident
Jan 1, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 2, 2001

DASH HEADLIGHT SWITCH WAS REPLACED IN JUNE OF 2000 DUE TO RECALL BY FORD. APPROXIMATELY 1 YEAR LATER REPLACEMENT SWITCH FAILED FOR SAME REASON ORIGINAL SWITCH WAS RECALLED FOR. BURNED CONTACTS WERE FOUND ON THE BACK OF THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH. SEEMS AS IF SWITCH USED FOR REPLACEMENT IS NO BETTER THAN ORIGINAL SWITCH RECALLED.

NHTSA ID
749693
Incident
Jul 31, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed Jul 17, 2001

LENS ASSEMBLY FOR LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS HAS DETERIORATED, TURNING CLOUDLY YELLOW, THIS HAS RESTRICTED THE LIGHT FROM THE LOW BEAM PER NIGHT DRIVING, WHICH IS A SERIOUS LOSS OF VISIBILITY . MY DEALER WILL NOT PASS THE CAR UPON INSPECTION DUE TO THE LOSS OF LIGHT . THE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLY UNITS NEED TO BE REPLACED AT ONCE. *AK

NHTSA ID
748587
Incident
Jun 10, 2000
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 29, 2001

HEADLIGHT SWITCH HAD TO BE REPLACED. LIGHTS ARE VERY DIM. *AK

NHTSA ID
891743
Incident
Jun 1, 1999

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .