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2004 Ford Thunderbird Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Ford Thunderbird, most often about the engine (35% of complaints, typically around 34,000 miles). It is the 2nd most complained-about Thunderbird model year since 2000 and has 1 recall.
Most common 2004 Ford Thunderbird problems
Engine
12 complaints · 35%Half of these problems showed up before 34,000 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Thunderbird. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 60 MPH, there was an abnormal noise coming from the vehicle. The contact also stated that the vehicle stalled and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that…
Vehicle unexpectedly lost power upon mild acceleration on a city street and developed a rough, skipping and hesitant idle upon warm up. We immediately brought the car in for evaluation at the sarat Ford dealership in agawam, ma. They diagnosed the dreaded Thunderbird coil on plug failure in this vehicle at only 33,165…
Speed control
9 complaints · 27%Half of these problems showed up before 15,000 miles.
Car intermittently goes into shut down mode(decelerates, will not take gas) during driving. This has happened while trying to merge onto a highway and almost resulted in me being rear needed by an tractor trailer. This is happening during the middle of highway traffic and has placed me in sever safety situations. I am…
Have replaced via Ford dealer throttle control sensor twice. First repair 2007. Second repair 2014, and now in 2020. I am facing same problem again. Obviously the control system is defective. The problem triggers vehicle limp mode while driving and in park.
Transmission
7 complaints · 21%Half of these problems showed up before 45,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Thunderbird. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the transmission would not shift correctly and exhibited a severe hesitation. The vehicle was driven to a nearby transmission center where the contact was informed that the transmission would need to be replaced. The…
Driving on a highway at 50mph coming to a town and a red light I removed my foot from the gas pedal and applied the brakes the car did not slow I applied more pressure on the brakes the car slowed some but the engine kept reving the transmission was not down shifting the car was not stopping I grabbed the shift lever…
Electrical
4 complaints · 12%Parts named most often: instrument cluster/panel.
I was driving in very heavy traffic in downtown beverly hills. I was stopped at a traffic light and when the light turned green my car jerked and rapidly acelerated. My car started to go faster and faster and the brakes would not work they were frozen. The car was going so fast and it would not stop. My passenger and…
As I was parking my car, it suddenly accelerated at a very high rate of speed. I was parking by a wooded area, and was propelled about 2 car lengths into the bushes in the woods (barely missing a tree) before I was able to stop the car. Not certain if the car stopped because of my braking, or because the thick bushes…
Air bags
3 complaints · 9%Parts named most often: side/window.
- the contact called regarding the 2004 Ford Thunderbird. The contact was traveling 55-60 MPH on a highway with dry road conditions and the passenger's side airbag, which was located in the seat, deployed. The driver sustained minor injuries. The vehicle was towed to the Ford dealer, and after examining the vehicle…
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Thunderbird. The contact stated the rear side air bag on the driver side deployed abnormally while the contact was driving. The vehicle was inspected by the dealer and the door was removed but the dealer could not provide a reason for the air bag failure. The failure and current mileage…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2004 Ford Thunderbird recalls
Seats: power adjust
Risk: The seat may not perform as intended during a crash which could increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the upper support assembly on the power seats. The recall began on july 20, 2004. Owners should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Full defect summary
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with power adjustable seats may have been inadequately welded.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
Questions about the 2004 Ford Thunderbird
- What are the most common problems with the 2004 Ford Thunderbird?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (12 complaints, typically around 34,000 miles); speed control (9 complaints, typically around 15,000 miles); transmission (7 complaints, typically around 45,000 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2004 Ford Thunderbird have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from July 8, 2004 (seats). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2004 a bad year for the Ford Thunderbird?
- It is the 2nd most complained-about Thunderbird model year since 2000, with 34 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.