IllustrationHAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 96V071000 IN THE MAIL. CONTACTED DEALER. HAD THE IGNITION REPAIRED AT DEALER. PROBLEM WITH SMOKING OCCURRED. TOOK VEHICLE BACK & PAID FOR ANOTHER IGNITION. HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SMOKING OF THE IGNITION. *AK
1988 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: 2 of 92 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 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports15 fire reports7 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
29 reportsWHILE DRIVING THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER SAID IT WAS DEFECTIVE WIRING IN THE ALTERNATOR. *AK *ML
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN THE FIRST FAILURE ON THE SWITCH OCCURRED THERE WAS NO BRAKE POWER AND INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES OR TURN SIGNALS. AFTER RECALL FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN WITH SAME CONSEQUENCES, LOSS OF BRAKES AND GAUGES, WITH OVERHEATING OF THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSES THE WIRE HARNESS IN THE STE…
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THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN THE FIRST FAILURE ON THE SWITCH OCCURRED THERE WAS NO BRAKE POWER AND INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES OR TURN SIGNALS. AFTER RECALL FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN WITH SAME CONSEQUENCES, LOSS OF BRAKES AND GAUGES, WITH OVERHEATING OF THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSES THE WIRE HARNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN TO BURN.
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL.
AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED THE CAR WOULD START CUTTING AND SPARKS IN THE STEERING COLUMN FROM THE BOTTOM HALF WAY DOWN TO THE COLUMN, OTHER DAY AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 5MINS. THE CAR STARTED CRANKING ITSELF AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE ON THE FLOOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE. *AK
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR IGNITION SWITCH, HAD IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED AUG.22, 1996. DEC 6, 1996 CAR PARKED IN GARAGE FOR HALF HOUR, HEARD A NOISE, CAR WAS IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT SEEMED TO BE ELECTRICAL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, VEHICLE IS AT A SALVAGE LOT. *AK
VEHICLE DESTROYED IN A FIRE, DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION.
WHILE DRIVING THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK *SLC
PURCHASED CAR USED, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNED UP , TOOK TO DEALER IS ONLY GOING TO REPLACE THE THE IGNITION SWITCH # 96V071000. *AK CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL AND TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD BURNED WIRES THROUGH THE STEERING COLUMN TO THE WIRE HARNESS BEHIND THE DASHBOARD, FO…
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PURCHASED CAR USED, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNED UP , TOOK TO DEALER IS ONLY GOING TO REPLACE THE THE IGNITION SWITCH # 96V071000. *AK CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL AND TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD BURNED WIRES THROUGH THE STEERING COLUMN TO THE WIRE HARNESS BEHIND THE DASHBOARD, FORD WANTED TO TOTAL VEHICLE AND OFFER CONSUMER A VERY LOW PRICE, CONSUMER OWED MUCH MORE THAN WHAT WAS OFFERED SO CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE VEHICLE REPAIRED, FORD DENIED REQUEST AND STATED THE ONLY THING THEY WOULD DO IS REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, NOT THE OTHER DAMAGES, WHEN CONSUMER RECIEVED VEHICLE FROM DEALERSHIP IT HAD 2 CRACKS IN THE DASH, BROKED ODOMETER READING FRAME, ENGINE NOISES OVER RADIO FREQUENCY, WIRES HANGING BELOW THE DASH, AND LIGHTS BEGAN FLICKERING, BATTERY HAD FAILED TWO TIMES, A MECHANICE STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT SOMEWHERE CAUSING BATTERY TO DRAIN. CLUTCH FAILED. *SLC
THE DEALERSHIP PAUL O'BAUGH STAUNTON HAS HAD THE CAR FOR 26 DAYS AND THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN WORKED ON FOR 21 DAYS AND NOW THE DEALERSHIP WILL BE TAKING THE RENTAL CAR. PLEASE GIVE MORE INFORMATION.
Official recalls
296V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
88V033000 · Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft
Mar 15, 1988
A DESIGN CHANGE TO FACILITATE CHANGEOVER IN REAR AXLE SHAFT FLANGES INADVERTENTLY PRODUCED THE POSSIBILITY FOR INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE FLANGE AND DISC BRAKE ROTOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE INTERFERENCE COULD PREVENT PROPER SEATING OF THEROTOR. ALSO AN IMPROPERLY SEATED ROTOR COULD IN TIME RESULT IN A REDUCTION INTHE CLAMPING FORCES OF THE WHEEL STUDS, POSSIBLY LEADING TO FRACTURED STUDSAND REAR WHEEL SEPARATION.
Remedy: INSPECTION OF VEHICLES AND WHERE NECESSARY REPLACE REAR AXLE SHAFTS AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS.
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
7EA95021 · 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
EA90009 · Throttle Sticking
Opened Feb 8, 1990 · Closed Feb 28, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
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
PE90001 · Throttle Sticking
Opened Oct 4, 1989 · Closed Feb 2, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
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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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