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Ford Thunderbird 2003

The 2003 Ford Thunderbird has a 3.9 L engine. It gets 18 MPG combined (16 city, 22 highway), per the EPA. 40 owner complaints are on record.

Two Seaters Rear-wheel (RWD)
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Ford Thunderbird
Representative photo of the Thunderbird. It may show a different year or version. Photo: Greg Gjerdingen from Willmar, USA · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons · resized and cropped

Specs

Engine
3,900 cc
8
Cylinders8
TransmissionAutomatic · 5 speeds
DrivetrainRear-wheel (RWD)
Dimensions (L × W × H)4,730 × 1,830 × 1,320 mm (186.2 × 72.0 × 52.0 in)
Wheelbase2,720 mm (107.1 in)
Curb weight1,633 kg (3,600 lb)
Body styleTwo Seaters

Dimensions and weight: Canada's official specifications (NHTSA vPIC).

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Safety

Crash-test results across markets. They can vary by version and equipment.

NHTSA NCAP
Results · 2003 Ford Thunderbird 2-DR Convertible w/SAB
🇺🇸 Local data

Fuel economy (MPG)

🇺🇸 Local data
City
16 MPG
Highway
22 MPG
Combined
18 MPG
Emissions
307 g/km
COâ‚‚

By version

EngineTransmissionDrivetrainCityHighwayCombined
3.9 L 8-cylinder Automatic · 5 speeds Rear-wheel (RWD) 16 MPG 22 MPG 18 MPG
3.9 L 8-cylinder Automatic · 5 speeds Rear-wheel (RWD) 16 MPG 23 MPG 18 MPG

EPA figures for each version sold in the U.S.

Recalls

No recalls on record in our sources.

Common problems

40 reports🇺🇸 Local data

Reported by owners to the source below. It is not a verdict on this car: it is what people wrote.

SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN 2026-06-28 · NHTSA

Rattle in my front end E code for transmission

SUSPENSION 2018-08-10 · NHTSA

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 VEHIC…

UNKNOWN OR OTHER 2016-08-11 · NHTSA

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 A…

AIR BAGS Crash 1 injured 2016-07-21 · NHTSA

TL* 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 SUSTAINE…

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 2016-02-23 · NHTSA

TL* 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 MANUFACT…

ENGINE 2015-10-30 · NHTSA

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 …

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 2015-01-14 · NHTSA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE DRASTICALLY REDUCED SPEED AND HESITATED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO WAS NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE …

ENGINE 2014-10-29 · NHTSA

CAR SPUTTERED AND MISFIRED CAUSING PARTIAL POWER LOSS AND SPEED LOSS. PROBLEM IS IGNITION COILS. HAVE NOW HAD TO REPLACE A TOTAL OF THREE DURING TWO SIMILAR EVENTS. TWO DEALERS FAILED TO INFORM ME OF EXTENDED WARRANTY ON THIS KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR

SUSPENSION,STRUCTURE 2014-10-02 · NHTSA

ONE OF THE 4 BOLTS THAT HOLD THE REAR SUSPENSION TO THE VEHICLE FELL OUT OF THE CAR. THE BOLT FAILED DUE TO CORROSION AND POSSIBLY OVER TORQUING AT THE FACTORY. SEVERE CORROSION INSIDE THE POCKET THAT HOUSES THIS BOLT. FORD DEALER SAYS IT IS NOT COVERED AND IS AT LEAST 10 HOURS LABOR AND IS CONCERNED THE REMAINI…

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2014-09-27 · NHTSA

VEHICLE EXPERIENCES UNINTENDED ENGINE ACCELERATION WHEN STOPPING FOR A RED LIGHT OR PLACING THE CAR IN PARK. MOTOR HIT OVER 3500 RPM WHILE PARKING BEFORE I COULD SHUT DOWN THE IGNITION. *TR

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2014-06-15 · NHTSA

I WAS ACCELERATING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY AT FULL THROTTLE AND THE ENGINE SHUT ITSELF OFF. I PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER AND TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND RESTARTED IT AND CONTINUED TO MY DESTINATION. THIS HAS OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS, AND IT IS ONLY GETTING WORSE AND MORE FREQUENT. SOMETIMES TH…

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE 2014-03-28 · NHTSA

WHILE MAKING A U-TURN IN A CULD-E-SAC AT 5 MPH, THE WRENCH LIGHT CAME ON. I CAN ONLY REACH A SPEED OF 40 MPH NOW. I AM AFRAID TO TURN THE CAR OFF UNTIL I GET HOME. *TR

All 40 reports, grouped by component

Questions

What engine does the 2003 Ford Thunderbird have?
The 2003 Ford Thunderbird has a 3.9 L engine.
What is the fuel economy of the 2003 Ford Thunderbird?
It gets 18 MPG combined (16 city, 22 highway), per the EPA.
What are the common problems of the 2003 Ford Thunderbird?
40 owners have filed complaints, most often about Electrical System.

Other years

Which Ford Thunderbird year to buy? Recalls and complaints by year

Other models by Ford

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