IllustrationNO REPAIRS YET...HAHA..JUST WEAK BRAKES,BAD PAINT AND WIERD SPEED CONTROL...LOOK TO THE CRUISE CONTROL..TO MUCH ELECTRIONICS IN THIS CAR MAN!
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
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
8 reportsIGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED IN 1999. CAR WAS RETURNED TO TED BRITT FORD FOR COMPLIANCE.INVOICE STATES PN F29Z-11572D INSTALLED.IGNITION SWITCH FAILED 8/17/02 ENGINE RUNNING FINE BUT ABS INOP-LOSS OF BRAKE POWER BOOST NOT JUST ANTI LOCK.DEFECTIVE SWITCH FOUND TO BE PN F29A11572DA NOT F29Z11572D AS STATED ON RECALL INVOICE.PER JE…
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IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED IN 1999. CAR WAS RETURNED TO TED BRITT FORD FOR COMPLIANCE.INVOICE STATES PN F29Z-11572D INSTALLED.IGNITION SWITCH FAILED 8/17/02 ENGINE RUNNING FINE BUT ABS INOP-LOSS OF BRAKE POWER BOOST NOT JUST ANTI LOCK.DEFECTIVE SWITCH FOUND TO BE PN F29A11572DA NOT F29Z11572D AS STATED ON RECALL INVOICE.PER JERRY'S FORD PARTS DEPT THESE PART NUMBERS INTERCHANGE.THE REMOVED PART SHOWED SIGNS OF MELTING AND CHARRING.*AK
HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY: IMMEDIATELY, OR UP TO 20-30 MINUTES AFTER TURNING THEM ON, HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS.. HAVE REPLACED 3 TURN SIGNAL/BRIGHT LIGHT SWITCHES, DUE TO THEM OVERHEATING AND MELTING. WHEN HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, INTERIOR FILLS WITH BURNING PLASTIC SMELL, BUT NO FIRE. ALMOST EVERY P…
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HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY: IMMEDIATELY, OR UP TO 20-30 MINUTES AFTER TURNING THEM ON, HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS.. HAVE REPLACED 3 TURN SIGNAL/BRIGHT LIGHT SWITCHES, DUE TO THEM OVERHEATING AND MELTING. WHEN HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, INTERIOR FILLS WITH BURNING PLASTIC SMELL, BUT NO FIRE. ALMOST EVERY POWER ACCESSORY INSIDE CAR DOESN'T WORK, OR ONLY WORKS SOMETIMES. DRIVER'S POWER SEAT SOMETIMES SHORTS OUT AND HAS A BURNING SMELL: NO FIRE DETECTED. AT TIMES, INTERIOR OF CAR FILLS WITH BURNING PLASTIC SMELL SO STRONG THAT YOU HAVE TO EXIT THE CAR: HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF OVERHEATING/SMOLDERING, NO FIRES. ABS BRAKES FAIL WHEN STOPPING SUDDENLY. BRAKES LOCK AND CAR SKIDS, STEERING VERY DIFFICULT WHEN BRAKES LOCK. *AK
THE FRONT BRAKES ARE NOT CATCHING REGULARLY, THE REAR BRAKES CATCH EVERYTIME. FORD SAYS CONSUMER HAS WEAR AND TEAR PROBLEMS, THE PUMP MOTOR IS DEFECTIVE. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED INTERMITENTLY FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS. *AK
AIR CONDITIONER LEAKS.
FAILURE ON THE BRAKES, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE A ACCIDENT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE COMPUTER SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE WENT DOWN. *AK
THE VEHICLE LOST ALL BRAKES AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP.THE VEHICLE HAS ABS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
BRAKES FAILED 3 TIMES, ONCE RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK
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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