1997 Chevrolet Malibu vs 1997 Ford Thunderbird
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1997 Chevrolet Malibu | 1997 Ford Thunderbird |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 443 | 169 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 119 | 107 |
| Investigations | 7 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 22 | 11 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 3 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21 | 18–19 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 85,000 mi | 71,084 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Ford Thunderbird |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 100 | 22 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 60 | 54 |
| Electrical System | 87 | 4 |
| Steering | 80 | 9 |
| Suspension | 55 | 18 |
| Visibility | 41 | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting | 40 | 4 |
| Tires | 17 | 16 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 28 | 18 |
| Stalling | 18 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 12 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 7 | 0 |
| Overheating | 7 | 13 |
| Brake problems | 6 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 6 | 0 |
1997 Chevrolet Malibu
1997 Ford Thunderbird
Compare all Chevrolet Malibu vs Ford Thunderbird years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.