Vehicle Safety Hub
RecallsVIN LookupZero Recalls

Vehicle Safety Hub

Free vehicle safety data powered by NHTSA government records. Recalls, complaints, and reliability information for every car, truck, and SUV.

Browse by Make

  • Toyota
  • Honda
  • Ford
  • Chevrolet
  • Nissan
  • Hyundai
  • Kia
  • BMW
  • Mercedes-Benz
  • Subaru

Tools

  • VIN Lookup
  • Recent Recalls
  • Compare Vehicles
  • Zero-Recall Vehicles

About

  • About
  • Methodology
  • Data Sources
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

© 2026 Vehicle Safety Hub. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any government agency.

Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

  1. Home
  2. >Ford
  3. >Thunderbird
  4. >2003
  5. >Engine

2003 Ford Thunderbird Engine Problems

Engine complaints and recalls from NHTSA

Summary

The 2003 Ford Thunderbird has 13 NHTSA engine complaints and 0 engine-related recalls.

Problem Areas for the 2003 Ford Thunderbird

Engine
13
Electrical
12
Powertrain
11
Brakes
10
Airbags
5
Suspension
4
Speed Control
4

13

Complaints

0

Recalls

0

Injuries Reported

Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026

All Engine Complaints

Date ↓ComponentSummary
Oct 1, 2015ENGINEI'VE OWNED MY 2003 THUNDERBIRD SINCE IT WAS NEW. IT NOW HAS 65000 MILES AND IS DRIVEN ONLY 2000 MILE...
Jun 11, 2013ENGINECAR SPUTTERED AND MISFIRED CAUSING PARTIAL POWER LOSS AND SPEED LOSS. PROBLEM IS IGNITION COILS. HA...
Jul 10, 2012ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMI WAS ACCELERATING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY AT FULL THROTTLE AND THE ENGINE SHUT ITSELF OFF. I PULL...
Jun 12, 2012ENGINETHE FIRST INCIDENT HAPPENED ON 6/12/12 WHEN THE ENGINE STARTED SPUTTERING AND MISSING AND THEN WENT ...
Oct 11, 2011ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEDRIVING ON A 1,850 MILE TRIP. CAR ENGINE REPEATEDLY SHUT OFF ON LIGHT ACCELERATION FROM COMPLETE STO...
Jul 1, 2010ENGINETL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SPUTTERED AND THE ...
Mar 15, 2007ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGWE OWN A 2003 FORD EXPEDITION WITH A 5.4 L, V-8 TRITON ENGINE. WHILE DRIVING WE HEARD A LOUD BANG AN...
Feb 15, 2007ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEMON FEBRUARY 2007 I WAS DRIVING THE EXPEDITION IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFICWHEN I NOTICED THAT CAR BEGAN TO F...
Jul 3, 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE,EQUIPMENT2003 FORD THUNDERBIRD HAD SPARK PLUGS REPLACED FOUR TIMES. VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN TO 5 MPH WITHOUT WARN...
Jun 1, 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2003 FORD EXPLORER OVERHEATED AND LOST COOLANT. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. FIRST 2 TRIPS, PROBLE...
Jul 25, 2004ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEMDRIVING DOWN INTERSTATE 91 IN MASS. MY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION BLEW OUT A SPARK PLUG. THIS WAS A FACTOR...
Oct 1, 2003ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAINDT: WHILE DRIVING AT 55-60 MPH THE ENGINE STARTED TO BOG DOWN AND SLOWLY DIED. HAD BEEN TO DEALER...
Jan 1, 1970ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGFOIA REQUEST CYS OF ALL CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN NHTSA & INTERNATIONAL ENGINE GROUP RE THE 6.0 POWERST...

Explore More

2003 Ford Thunderbird Full Report→All Ford Models→