RoadVitals

1997 Ford Thunderbird Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission 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.
13
Latest Oct 12, 2009
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.
8%
of 169 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.
0
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 the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Ford Thunderbird submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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 transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Transmission
Filed Oct 12, 2009

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

NHTSA ID
10287146
Incident
Oct 5, 2008
Mileage
162,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Dec 23, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED THE FLOOR SHIFTER WAS STICKING IN PARK WHEN THE WEATHER WAS COLD. IT TOOK FIVE TO TEN MINUTES TO MOVE THE SHIFTER INTO OTHER GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION. THE DEALER SAID THE PART WAS UNAVAILABLE, AND THEY WOULD HAVE TO GO TO A JUNK YARD TO LOCATE ANOTHER SHIFTER. NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10145991
Incident
Nov 15, 2005
Mileage
68,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Oct 1, 2003

PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION OR TORQUE CONVERTER. *PH THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION SHUDDER OR A PROBLEM WITH THE TORQUE CONVERTER. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10042447
Mileage
27,296 mi
Heating & air conditioningElectricalSuspension+1 more
Filed May 30, 2003

I BOUGHT MY 1997 THUNDERBIRD 4-15-2003 W/70000 MILES, AFTER READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS PAGE I CAN ONLY RELATE TO 2 OF THEM, THE VIBERATION IN THE TRANSMISSION ON UPSHIFT,AND THE FRONT END SHAKING ABOVE 50 MPH.BUT I'M SO GLAD. *AK I BOUGHT A 2 YR.EXTENTED WARRENTY,BECAUSE IT LOOKS LIKE I'M IN FOR SOME PROBLENS. I CAN BE CONTACTED AT [email protected]

NHTSA ID
10020735
Incident
May 10, 2003
Mileage
71,568 mi
Fuel systemTransmission
Filed Feb 26, 2001

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 55MPH ON HIGHWAY, CLIMBING UP A HILL AND GOING UP A MOUNTAIN, AND WITHOUT PRIOR NOTICE THERE WAS WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. TRANSMISSION COOLANT WAS LEAKING FROM UNDERNEATH. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A GASOLINE STATION, AND MECHANIC TOLD HIM THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD IN ENGINE WAS MADE FROM PLASTIC AND CAUSING THE PROBLEM. INTAKE MANIFOLD SPLIT OPEN. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ID
881423
Incident
Feb 17, 2001
Transmission
Filed Feb 9, 2001

MAJOR SHUDDER IN DRIVE BETWEEN 30-40MPH BEFORE IT SHIFTS TO OVERDRIVE AT WHILE INCREASING AT A SLOW SPEED. TSB#97106 EXPLAINS. DEALERSHIP COULDN'T FIND PROBLEM IN NOVEMBER. DROP OFF CAR AGAIN. *AK

NHTSA ID
740653
Incident
Nov 17, 2000
Transmission
Filed Sep 4, 2000

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
730059
Incident
Mar 10, 1998
Transmission
Filed Feb 12, 2000

TOLD BY LEITH FORD'S SERVICE MANAGER THAT PROBLEM WAS INTERNAL TO THE TRANSMISSION AND NOT CAUSED BY MISUSE, NEGLECT, ETC. *AK

NHTSA ID
718651
Incident
Feb 2, 2000
Interior & seatsTransmission
Filed Nov 19, 1999

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
715009
Incident
Nov 17, 1999
Transmission
Filed Apr 20, 1999

NO SUMMER LISTED FOR THIS VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
705809
Incident
Nov 5, 1998
Transmission
Filed Apr 30, 1998

PULLED VEHICLE IN FRONT OF A GAS STATION, PUT IT IN PARK AND LEFT IT RUNNING, DRIVER WENT INSIDE, AND WITHIN A MINUTE VEHICLE LUNGED BACKWARDS. TURNED APPROXIMATELY 180 DEGREES AND STRUCK A TRUCK. AFTER IT STOPPED, IT WAS IN REVERSE.

NHTSA ID
535022
Incident
Apr 24, 1998
Transmission
Filed Apr 21, 1998

EACH TIME CAR IS PUT INTO PARK IT DRIFTS SIX TO EIGHT INCHES FORWARD

NHTSA ID
534435
BrakesTransmission
Filed Jul 22, 1997

TRANSMISSION LEAK.

NHTSA ID
520018
Incident
Jun 10, 1997

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

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .