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1991 Ford Thunderbird

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 8 of 112 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.

  • Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

7 crash reports12 fire reports5 injury reports

Equipment complaints

6 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Jun 13, 2001
Equipment

AIR CONDITIONER GETS A COOLANT-TYPE SMELL AND THEN BEGINS TO BLOW HOT AIR. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT, THE FIRST TIME BEING IN 1996. MOST OF THE TIME THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. SOMETIMES, THEY REPLACE "O" RINGS, GASKETS, FREON, ETC. BUT IT STILL DOES NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #746800

Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 1999
Equipment

AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER FOUR TIMES, AND THE DEALER CAN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #844326

Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1999
Equipment

MY AIRCONDITONER DID NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. I TOOK THE CAR BACK MANY TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE HAD TO PUT 3 NEW AIRCONDITIONERS IN THIS CAR AND IT STILL DOES NOT COOL LIKE IT SHOULD. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS.

NHTSA ODI #709389

Mileage unknown · Aug 8, 1997
EquipmentVisibility

DRIVER'S WINDOW WAS INSTALLED AT FACTORY USING APLASTIC CLIP TO HOLD WINDOW ON ITS LIFTING MECHANISM. THE MATERIAL USED TO FUSE THE TWO MATERIALS TOGETHER LOSES STRENGTH AFTER SOME USE AND WINDOW NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. ALSO, AIR CONDTIONING FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #518787

Mileage unknown · Nov 2, 1995
EquipmentPower Train

SPEEDOMETER STICKS. *SD

NHTSA ODI #487450

Mileage unknown · Aug 3, 1995
Equipment

THE AIR CONDITIONER HOSE IS TOO CLOSE TO THE MANIFOLD, CAUSING THE HOSE TO WEAR OUT, RESULTING IN FREON LEAKS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #969769

Official recalls

3

96V071000 · 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.

91V048000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Mar 18, 1991

THE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY CONTAINS A PARK CAM WITH INADEQUATE SURFACE HARDNESS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO PARK DISENGAGEMENT OR NO PARK ENGAGEMENT WHEN THE LEVER IS PLACED IN PARK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF PARK IS NOT ENGAGED AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS OFF, AVEHICLE ROLL-AWAY COULD RESULT.

Remedy: REPLACE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.

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

2

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