IllustrationMileage unknown · Oct 9, 2000
Electrical SystemFire
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ODI #733832
1990 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: 9 of 140 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 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports19 fire reports6 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
38 reportsNO SUMMARY
FORD HAS CEASED MANUFACTURE OF NEEDED PART AND HAS COLLUDED WITH AFTERMARKET MANUFACTURER TO REMOVE ALL SIMILAR PARTS FROM INDEPENDENT PARTS SUPPLIERS. THIS IS A RECALL SITUATION NEEDING IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. IT IS ALREADY THE SUBJECT OF A COURT ACTION IN CALIFORNIA WHERE A JUDGE OF THE ALAMEDA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT IS ABOUT TO R…
Read full complaint
FORD HAS CEASED MANUFACTURE OF NEEDED PART AND HAS COLLUDED WITH AFTERMARKET MANUFACTURER TO REMOVE ALL SIMILAR PARTS FROM INDEPENDENT PARTS SUPPLIERS. THIS IS A RECALL SITUATION NEEDING IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. IT IS ALREADY THE SUBJECT OF A COURT ACTION IN CALIFORNIA WHERE A JUDGE OF THE ALAMEDA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT IS ABOUT TO RULE ON A RECALL OF THIS PARTICULAR IGNITION MODULE. FORD'S DEALERS CLAIM THE PART WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL EARLY 2001!!! THIS SITUATION IS PREPOSTEROUS AND HAS ALREADY COST ME IN EXCESS OF $1500 IN RENTAL CAR BILLS. YOUR IMMEDIATE HELP WITH THIS ,PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DRIVING AT 65 MPH,ALL WARNING LIGHTS AND SOUNDS WENT OFF,LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL
AUTO'S WARNING SYSTEM WENT OFF ALL AT ONCE,LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL
SWITCH HAS FAILED CAUSING SAFETY FEATURES TO FAULT AND NOT WORK. *AK
POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSED THE ALTENATOR TO CAUGHT FIRE & OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO MALFUNCTION. THIS HAS OCCURED TWICE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *YC
MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH SHORTED CAUSING WIRING HARNESS TO FRY AND LIGHTS TO GO OUT ON VEHICLE. CAR WAS BEING DRIVEN AT NIGHT AT THE TIME.
ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS OVERHEATED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE, WHILE CONSUMER WAS SITTING IN THE VEHICLE, DIDN'T NOTICE ANY SMOKE OR SMELL OF FIRE, CONSUMER HAD REPLACED ALTERNATOR 10 DAYS PRIOR TO INCIDENT. *AK
BYPASS RELAY FAILED CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH STARTING VEHICLE.
VEHICLE WAS SMOKING WHEN PULLED INTO A GARAGE, AND BURST INTO FLAMES. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY EXTINGUISHER. FIRE DEPARTMENT MOVED THE CAR FROM GARAGE. ALSO, BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON BEFORE THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. NO WARRANTY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ARE AWARE, AND CANNOT TAKE THE CASE. *AK
Official recalls
396V071000 · 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.
91V076000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
May 6, 1991
THE NUTS WHICH HOLD WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO THE WIPER MODULE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED AND MAY LOOSEN OR COME OFF. THIS CAUSES CHANGED WIPER PATTERNS, OR THE WIPERS MAY JAM IF TWO OF THE THREE NUTS COME OFF.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CHANGES IN THE WIPER PATTERN OR JAMMING OF THE WIPERSWOULD RESULT IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILTY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Remedy: APPLY TORQUE RETENTION MATERIAL TO WIPER MOTOR STUDS AND NUTS AND RETORQUE.
90V026000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables
Feb 12, 1990
BATTERY TO STARTER CABLES ARE LONGER THAN SPECIFIED; EXCESSIVE CABLE LENGTH COULD CONTACT ENGINE DAMPER PULLEY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CABLE PROTECTIVE COVERING AND INSULATION COULD WEAR THROUGH AND CAUSE A DIRECT SHORT TO GROUND, RESULTING IN OVERHEATING OF THE CABLE INSULATION AND POSSIBLY A UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE BATTERY TO STARTER CABLE WITH CORRECT LENGTH CABLE.
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
4PE95019 · 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