THE ELECTRIC WIRES ON THE VEHICLE MELTED AND BURNED. *BF *TC
1987 Ford Thunderbird
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Thunderbird years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 61 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
24 reportsALL OF THE INCIDENTS THAT I HAVE REPORTED IN THIS FORM ARE RELATED! OUR CAR KEPT WANTING TO DIE AT STOPLIGHTS AND WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES TO GET IT FIXED, BUT, THEY NEVER COULD QUITE GET IT RIGHT. AT 3:30 AM. ON 07/06/2000, I SMELLED SMOKE IN THE HOUSE AND IT AWOKE ME FROM A SOUND SLEEP! I GOT UP TO SEE WERE THE…
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ALL OF THE INCIDENTS THAT I HAVE REPORTED IN THIS FORM ARE RELATED! OUR CAR KEPT WANTING TO DIE AT STOPLIGHTS AND WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES TO GET IT FIXED, BUT, THEY NEVER COULD QUITE GET IT RIGHT. AT 3:30 AM. ON 07/06/2000, I SMELLED SMOKE IN THE HOUSE AND IT AWOKE ME FROM A SOUND SLEEP! I GOT UP TO SEE WERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM AND IT WAS COMING FROM OUR ATTACHED GARAGE! MY 1987 FORD THUNDERBIRD WAS ON FIRE! I HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL FOR SMOKE INHALATION AND MY WIFE AND STEP-SON WERE TREATED AT THE SCENE FOR THE SAME. WE HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO OUR GARAGE AND EXTENSIVE SMOKE DAMAGE TO OUR HOUSE. WE HAD TO LEAVE OUR HOUSE FOR 4 AND ONE-HALF WEEKS WHILE OUR HOUSE WAS BEING REPAIRED. THE CAR WAS TOTALLED AND MY 1984 CHEVY VAN, WHICH WAS RIGHT NEXT TO THE CAR, HAD &5,000.00 DOLLARS WORTH OF DAMAGE. THE CONTENTS OF THE GARAGE WERE DISTROYED! WE ARE STILL TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THIS DISASTER! ITOOK EXCELLENT CARE OF MY CAR AND THERE IS NO REASON, BESIDES DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT, THAT THIS TERRIBLE THING COULD HAVE HAPPENED. JESSE STOREY, THE STATE FIRE INSPECTOR, CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DEFINITELY ELECTRICAL IN NATURE, ACCORDING TO HIM AND ALSO OUR MECHANIC. I SENT AN E-MAIL TO THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY TELLING THEM OF MY INCIDENT AND SUPPLYING THEM WITH THE V.I.N. AND OTHER INFORMATION AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD NO RECALL ITEMS ON THAT CAR. FROM WHAT I READ IN THE PAPER RECENTLY, THEY OUT-RIGHT LIED TO ME! A JUDGE IN CALIFORNIA HAS ORDERED FORD TO RECALL 1.7 MILLION VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE LIST OF RECALLS INCLUDES OUR CAR(THUNDERBIRD, 1983-88). I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN TRUTHFUL WITH ME WHEN I QUESTIONED THEM BY WAY OF E-MAIL! I ALSO FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR LOSES AND ALL OF THE MISERY THAT THIS INCIDENT HAS PUT US THROUGH. I WOULD SETTLE FOR $100,000.00. I FEEL THAT IF THEY WOULD HAVE FIXED THIS PROBLEM, WHICH APPEARS TO BE THEIR FAULT, WE WOULD NOT OF HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS TO.*A
OUR CAR KEPT WANTING TO DIE AT STOPLIGHTS AND WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES TO GET IT FIXED, BUT, THEY NEVER COULD QUIT GET IT RIGHT. AT 3:30AM ON 07/06/2000 I SMELLED SMOKE IN THE HOUSE AND IT WOKE ME UP FROM A SOUND SLEEP. I GOT UP TO SEE WERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM AND IT WAS COMING FROM THE GARAGE. MY 1987 THU…
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OUR CAR KEPT WANTING TO DIE AT STOPLIGHTS AND WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES TO GET IT FIXED, BUT, THEY NEVER COULD QUIT GET IT RIGHT. AT 3:30AM ON 07/06/2000 I SMELLED SMOKE IN THE HOUSE AND IT WOKE ME UP FROM A SOUND SLEEP. I GOT UP TO SEE WERE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM AND IT WAS COMING FROM THE GARAGE. MY 1987 THUNDERBIRD WAS ON FIRE! I HAD TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL FOR SMOKE INHALATION AND MU WIFE AND STEP-SON WERE TREATED AT THE SCENE. WE HAD EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO OUR GARAGE AND EXTENSIVE SMOKE DAMAGE TO OUR HOUSE. WE HAD TO LEAVE OUR HOUSE FOR 4 AND ONE-HALF WEEKS WHILE OUR HOUSE WAS BEING REPAIRED. WE ARE STILL TRYING TO RECOVER FROM THIS DISASTER. I TOOK EXCELLENT CARE OF MY CAR AND THERE IS NO REASON BESIDES, DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT, THAT THIS TERRIBLE THING COULD HAVE HAPPENED. JESSE STOREY, THE STATE FIRE INSPECTOR CHECKED THE CAR OUT AND THE THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS DEFINITELY ELECTRICAL IN NATURE. I SENT AN E-MAIL TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY TELLING THEM OF MY INCIDENT AND SUPPLYING THEM WITH THE V.I.N. AND OTHER INFORMATION AND THEY SAID THAT THEY HAD NO RECALL ITEMS ON THIS CAR. FROM WHAT I READ IN THE PAPER RECENTLY, THEY OUT-RIGHT LIED TO ME . A JUDGE IN CALIFORNIA HAS ORDERED FORD TO RECALL 1.7 MILLION VEHICLES WITH SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THE LIST OF RECALLS INCLUDES OUR CAR(THUNDERBIRD,1983-88). I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN TRUTHFUL WITH ME WHEN I QUESTIONED THEM BY WAY OF E-MAIL. I ALSO FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR LOSES AND ALL OF THE MISERY THAT THIS INCIDENT HAS PUT US THROUGH. I FEEL THAT IF THEY WOULD HAVE FIXED THIS PROBLEM, WHICH APPEARS TO BE THEIR FAULT, WE WOULD NOT OF HAD TO GO THROUGH THIS TORTURE MENTALLY AND FINANCIALLY! PLEASE RESPOND TO THIS PLEA FOR HELP SO THAT WE CAN HAVE SOME CLOSURE ON THIS INCIDENT. THANK YOU, SINCERELY, STEPHEN SCHNUR
ON GOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING; VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR REPAIRS AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH THE PLUG THAT GOES TO THE ALTENATOR BEGAN TO MELT AND CAUSED AN UNDERHOOD FIRE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
AFTER DRIVING HEADLIGHTS WERE SUPPOSE TO TURN THEMSELVES OFF. BUT THEY DID NOT. THEN WHEN CONSUMER BEGAN TO DRIVE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE. AFTERWARDS, DROVE VEHICLE AGAIN, IT THEN STOPPED AND WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. *AK
WHILE PARKED IN PARKING LOT NEXT TO RESTAURANT, VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE; ELECTRICAL FIRE; WHOLE FRONT END BURNED UP; ALL WIRES BURNED. *AK
WHEN PUTTING THE ADJUSTABLE STEERING WHEEL IN THE DOWN POSITION, THE ELECTRICAL POWER IS DISCONNECTED IN THE VEHICLE. THE IGNITION KEY ALSO GETS WARM, AND THE POWER WILL GO OFF AND ON IF WIGGLING THE KEY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN THE ON POSITION. *AK
IGNITION SWITCH FAILED.
THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH PLASTIC CONNECTOR TO THE POWER SYSTEM MELTED, CAUSING LOSS OF BRAKING ABILITY. HEAT CONTROL. PROBLEM OCCURRED 3 TIMES. RECALL ON IGNITION SWITCH FOR 88 THUNDERBIRD FOR THE SAME IGNITION PART AS THIS VEHICLE. *AK
Official recalls
187V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Sep 4, 1987
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
5EA95021 · Faulty Seat Belt Buckles
Opened Jul 31, 1995 · Closed Sep 30, 1997
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts
There is no summary currently available
PE95019 · Faulty Seatbelt Buckles
Opened Mar 27, 1995 · Closed Jul 31, 1995
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly
There is no summary currently available
EA90005 · Power Seat Malfunc/fire
Opened Oct 31, 1989 · Closed Mar 12, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
There is no summary currently available
PE89125 · Pwr Seat Malfunc - Fire
Opened Jun 1, 1989 · Closed Oct 31, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
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PE88097 · Floormat/accel Pedal Intrf
Opened Aug 31, 1988 · Closed Dec 2, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
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Illustration