IllustrationDRIVER'S SIDE SEATBELT STOPPED WORKING, CONSUMER IS NOT ABLE TO BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.*AK
1991 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: 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
Seat Belts complaints
15 reportsTHE FRONT SEAT BELTS(BOTH SHOULDER AND LAP) DO NOT LOCK AT ANY TIME. THEY ARE ALWAYS LOOSE. EVEN IF YOU JERK THEM, THEY DO NOT LOCK. WE JUST REPLACED THE DRIVER'S LAP BELT AND IT ALSO DOES NOT LOCK. FORD COMPANY HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT THEY DO NOT RESPOND FOR THE PAST MONTH. WE ONLY WANT TO KNOW IF THE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYST…
Read full complaint
THE FRONT SEAT BELTS(BOTH SHOULDER AND LAP) DO NOT LOCK AT ANY TIME. THEY ARE ALWAYS LOOSE. EVEN IF YOU JERK THEM, THEY DO NOT LOCK. WE JUST REPLACED THE DRIVER'S LAP BELT AND IT ALSO DOES NOT LOCK. FORD COMPANY HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT THEY DO NOT RESPOND FOR THE PAST MONTH. WE ONLY WANT TO KNOW IF THE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM ONLY LOCKS IN A "REAL" ACCIDENT AND THEY ARE MEANT TO BE LOOSE DURING NORMAL CONDITIONS. THANK YOU.
SHOULDER BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE. WHENEVER THE DOOR IS OPENED, SEAT BELT IS SUPPOSE TO RETRACT. BUT IT'S STUCK HALF WAY. THE RETRACTOR MOTOR HAS MALFUNCTIONED & THE BELT FAILED TO WORK. *AK
MOTOR SEAT BELT FAILED.
DURING VEHICLE COLLISION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE MOTORELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD.
THE MOTORIZED PASSIVE RESTRAINT SHOULDER BELT GOT STUCK IN THE RAIL DUE TO A PLASTIC GEAR WHICH DISINTEGRATED. *AK
MORTORIZED SHOULDER BELT DRIVER'S SIDE-INTERNAL BELT COMES OUT OF TRACK AND FAILS TO WORK.
DRIVER'S SIDE MOTORBELT RETRACTOR FELL OFF TRACK.
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE GETS SUCKED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RETRACTOR AND SOMETIMES THE BELT SHUDDERS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TRACK BEFORE GOING IN THE OPEN OR CLOSE POSITION . VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED BY DEALER TWICE FOR THIS PROBLEM, SYSTEM NEEDS REPLACING AGAIN. *AK
THE AUTOMATIC SHOULDER BELT ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE DOES NOT ALWAYS RETRACT. *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.
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
2EA93033 · 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