IllustrationWHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE ACCELERATES BY ITSELF AND THAT THE GAS PEDAL GOES UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN, CONSUMER STATES THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. *SLC
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.
3 crash reports17 fire reports3 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
4 reportsCONNECTERS FOR TRANSMISSION COOLING LINES ARE LEAKING DUE TO THE HEAT COMING FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
ENGINE: DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25MPH WHEN BODY MOUNTS BROKE AND ENGINE COLLAPSED. LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND RAN INTO A FIELD. HAS NOT TAKEN VEHICLE IN FOR REPAIR. *AK
INTERMITTENT STALLING.
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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