Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA about the 2004 Ford Thunderbird, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 21% |
| Engine | 6 | 18% |
| Power train | 4 | 12% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 4 | 12% |
| Air bags | 3 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 2 | 6% |
| Fuel system | 1 | 3% |
| Power train | 1 | 3% |
| Power train | 1 | 3% |
| Power train | 1 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The contact owns a 2004 Ford Thunderbird. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact approached a stop sign and the vehicle stopped as needed; however, after the contact depressed on the accele
NHTSA complaint: Engine
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
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE INSIDE THE VEHICLE, AN ABNORMAL ODOR APPEARED AS THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WH
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE IGNITION COILS CAUSES ENGINE TO MIS-FIRE, DEALERSHIP REPLACED DEFECTIVE COILS UNDER EXTENDED ONE-TIME WARRANTY REPAIR. CONSUMER STATES ENGINE MIS-FIRE STI
NHTSA complaint: Engine
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 AG
NHTSA complaint: Engine
ON THREE OCCASIONS AUTO ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. TRIED TO BREAK TO NO AVAIL. KEPT GOING FASTER. SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL, ENGINE KEPT RACING. WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP VEHICLE. WENT TO DEALER. THEY COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. .O
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
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 KEP
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY WAS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN OVER TO START THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STALLED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE
NHTSA complaint: Power train
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2004 Ford Thunderbird. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH POWER ADJUSTABLE SEATS MAY HAVE BEEN INADEQUATELY WELDED.
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.
| Reliability raw | 81 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 77 | good |
| Maintenance | 63 | average |
| Depreciation | 59 | average |
| Performance | 65 | good |
| Efficiency | 32 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other sports & two-seaters in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 34 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and vehicle speed control is the most reported area with 7 of them (21%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 81/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 77/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2004 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 67/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.