Most common 2004 Ford Thunderbird problems
Share of the 34 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Thunderbird complaints by model year
Best Thunderbird years: 2005, 2003, 2004. Years to avoid: 1995, 1996, 1997. Compare all years →
2004 Ford Thunderbird recalls (1)
Seats › Front assembly › Power adjust
Certain passenger vehicles equipped with power adjustable seats May have been inadequately welded.
Remedy: 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.
What 2004 Ford Thunderbird owners say
Engine & cooling
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 accelerator pedal, the vehicle began to misfire and shuddered for several minutes. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer who inspected the vehicle and diagnosed that the failure was related to TSB 05-16-2 (moisture build up on the plugs and on the cylinder) that caused the vehicle to misfire. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,526.
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 total miles. Being that this car is now over ten years old, I was told that the fomoco extended warranty (10 years and 100,000 miles) on this vehicle, for this very same problem, does not apply. What is extremely aggravating and really maddening with this is that they grossly over charged me for the parts. Much more than what Ford charges on their own parts website for both the 8 spark plugs and the 8 coil components. …
Speed control & acceleration
Coming off I-5 freeway in west washintong state. Stopped for red light and then moved into left turn lane but car kept picking up speed, applied brakes (hard) slowing down but auto not wanting to stop. Applied emergency brake, car slowed down more, could hear engine racing and feel it still wanting to go. Slipped car into neutral on the auto transmision, now forward progress slowing down greatly but still hit rear of car in front of me. Ford in body repair shop so have not been able to take to Ford to exam for any defect(s). I only use my right foot to accelrate and brake so I know I was not stepping on gas pedal & other foot using brake at same time. Car had been on cruise control prior to accident set at 60 MPH for I-5 driving.
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. .one event in a parking lot, one on the interstate and the other when approaching an intersection on a city street auto has only 10,000 miles on it. Incidents occurred 2005 20014 2016.
Transmission & drivetrain
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 and switched gears but to late and we hit the car in front of us stopped at the light.
Coming off I-5 freeway in west washintong state. Stopped for red light and then moved into left turn lane but car kept picking up speed, applied brakes (hard) slowing down but auto not wanting to stop. Applied emergency brake, car slowed down more, could hear engine racing and feel it still wanting to go. Slipped car into neutral on the auto transmision, now forward progress slowing down greatly but still hit rear of car in front of me. Ford in body repair shop so have not been able to take to Ford to exam for any defect(s). I only use my right foot to accelrate and brake so I know I was not stepping on gas pedal & other foot using brake at same time. Car had been on cruise control prior to accident set at 60 MPH for I-5 driving.
2004 Ford Thunderbird engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3.9L 8-cyl | 5-speed automatic | RWD | 15 / 21 / 18 |
EPA ratings. Class: Sports car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2004 Ford Thunderbird a good car?
Based on 34 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2004 Thunderbird rates better than average: 78% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Thunderbird at the same age. It is one of the best Thunderbird years by this measure. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2004 Ford Thunderbird?
The engine & cooling — 12 complaints, 35% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the speed control & acceleration (9) and transmission & drivetrain (7).
How many recalls does the 2004 Ford Thunderbird have?
There is 1 recall for the 2004 Ford Thunderbird, the most recent from July 8, 2004 (power adjust). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Thunderbird?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2005, 2003 and 2004. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 1995, 1996 and 1997. See the full Ford Thunderbird years comparison.
At what mileage do 2004 Ford Thunderbird problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 25,000 miles; 81% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.