IllustrationTHE BRAKES MAKE LOUD NOISE. AND THE VENTILATION DOES NOT WORK, NO AIR CONDITIONER. THE DLR HAS FIXED THE BRAKES. *AK
1989 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 124 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.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
14 crash reports24 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
124 reportsDEFECTIVE RESENT CLIP DOES NOT WORK FALLS FROM UNDERNEATH AND KILLS MOTOR RESENT EATS UP THE GLUE. RESULTING IN TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. *AK
THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY ALMOST TO 100MPH. THE BRAKES WERE RUINED TRYING TO STOP THE CAR, HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND DOWN SHIFTED IN ORDER TO STOP. *AK
RPM STAYS AT 1500 TO 2000, USUALLY OCCURS AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN/TURNED OFF/TURNED BACK ON.
OWNER STATES WHILE STARTING VEHICLE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND SHIFTED FROM PARK, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY TOOK OFF AT A HIGH RATE OFF SPEED. OWNER FURTHERS NOTES THAT THE IGNITION HAD TO BE TURNED OFF TO STOP ENGINE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH BECOMES HOT AND CAUSES THE HEADLIGHTS TO FLICKER ON AND OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHEN USING THE HIGH OR LOW POSITION. SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED BY OWNER. MECHANICS AT DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER FORD VECHICLES. *AK
LARGE NUT HOLDING REAR AXLE IN PLACE AND THE HUB THAT REAR WHEL IS MONTED ON BACKED OFF, ALMOST CAUSING REAR WHEEL TO FALL OFF.
AFTER STARTING VEHICLE WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, PUT INTO REVERSE, THROTTLE WENT INTO OPEN POSITION, IMPACT 6:00 POSITION , RPMS UNKNOW, BRAKES COULD STOP VEHICLE. *AK
WHEN THE FOG LIGHTS ARE OPERATING THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD START BLINKING AFTER AN HALF AN HOUR OF DRIVING AND AT ANY SPEED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
THE LUG NUT THAT HOLDS THE REAR AXLE IN PLACE FAILED, LEAVING THE REAR WHEEL TO FALL OFF.
Official recalls
496V071000 · 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.
89V080000 · Suspension:rear:springs
May 19, 1989
IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLES COULD EXPERIENCE HIGH MILEAGE FATIGUE CRACKS AND EVENTUAL FRACTURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE AT THEAFFECTED WHEEL WITH AN ADVERSE AFFECT ON CONTROL OF THE CAR, WHICH COULDCAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE KNUCKLES THAT HAVE THE AFFECTED LOT CODES.
89V081000 · Service Brakes, Air:disc:caliper
May 19, 1989
DUE TO CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE CALIPER OF THE INBOARD FRONT WHEEL AND THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR, THERE MAY BE INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL FOLLOWING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE A REDUCTION IN BRAKE PERFORMANCETHAT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL ACORN TYPE FRONT SUSPENSION STRUT NUTS TO ELIMINATE STABILIZER BAR TO BRAKE CALIPER CONTACT.
88V165000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting
Oct 18, 1988
PLASTIC ROLLOVER VALVE MOUNTING PLATE MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SEALED TO THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL OR VAPOR COULD LEAK, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLEFIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE FUEL TANK.
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
6PE95019 · 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
EA93033 · Thrttl Vlv Linkage Bushing
Opened Dec 30, 1993 · Closed Dec 30, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE93075 · Thrttl Vlv Linkage Bushing
Opened Aug 30, 1993 · Closed Dec 30, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA90034 · Hood Latches Fail
Opened Jun 26, 1990 · Closed Feb 25, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
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
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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