NHTSA Safety Recalls
2002 Ford Thunderbird Recalls
The 2002 Ford Thunderbird has 2 NHTSA safety recalls on file, the newest reported on June 14, 2002.
A recall covers a range of VINs, not every 2002 Ford Thunderbird. Whether a recall on your own car is still open shows only on a VIN check; recall repairs are free.
- Recalls
- 2
- Owner complaints
- 93
- Crashes reported
- 4
- NHTSA crash test
- ★★★★☆
NHTSA campaigns
filed with NHTSA
in complaints
frontal crash, no overall star before 2011
On a 2002 Ford Thunderbird, the 17-character VIN is on the driver-side dashboard, visible through the windshield, or on the door jamb sticker.
2 recalls on the 2002 Ford Thunderbird
2002 Ford Thunderbird complaints by year
NHTSA has received 93 owner complaints about the 2002 Ford Thunderbird, the newest on September 5, 2023. Of these, 4 describe a crash (4%); owners reported 4 injuries and 1 death.
In complaints about the 2002 Ford Thunderbird, the component group named most often is the engine and engine cooling (26%), followed by the electrical system (23%) and the air bags (14%).
None of the 2002 Ford Thunderbird's 2 recalls concerns the engine and engine cooling.
Where 2002 Ford Thunderbird owners gave the mileage (73 complaints), the median was 35,000 miles.
Component groups named in complaints
- Engine And Engine Cooling24
- Electrical System21
- Air Bags13
- Engine12
- Vehicle Speed Control11
- Exterior Lighting4
Complaints received, by year
| 2002 | 2 | |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 14 | |
| 2004 | 1 | |
| 2005 | 4 | |
| 2006 | 1 | |
| 2007 | 2 | |
| 2008 | 11 | |
| 2009 | 9 | |
| 2010 | 5 | |
| 2011 | 9 | |
| 2012 | 6 | |
| 2013 | 4 | |
| 2014 | 3 | |
| 2015 | 3 | |
| 2016 | 5 | |
| 2017 | 5 | |
| 2018 | 4 | |
| 2019 | 3 | |
| 2023 | 2 |
Complaints about the 2002 Ford Thunderbird peaked in 2003, when NHTSA received 14. 23% arrived between 2001 and 2005, the model year's first years on the road.
NHTSA crash-test stars
- Overall: none before 2011
- Frontal: 4/5
- Side: 5/5
The 93 complaints about the 2002 Ford Thunderbird are unverified owner reports, and a model sold in large numbers collects more of them.
2002 Ford Thunderbird crash tests and safety technology
On the 2002 Ford Thunderbird, the driver seat scored 4 stars in the frontal barrier test, the front passenger seat 5.
For the 2002 Ford Thunderbird, NHTSA lists no electronic stability control, forward collision warning or lane departure warning.
Photos: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program, NHTSA test vehicle 4536, shown from static.nhtsa.gov. Ratings, rollover risk and technology of the 2002 Ford Thunderbird: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API, retrieved October 28, 2026; NHTSA terms of use. How the tests work
Ford Thunderbird by model year
Other 2002 Ford models
Newest record on this page: September 5, 2023. Data: NHTSA recall and owner-complaint files. How these figures are counted