1990 FORD THUNDERBIRD

179 complaints filed with NHTSA.

179
Complaints
8
Crashes
21
Fires
8
Injuries
2
Deaths

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP20
SEAT BELTS14
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL12
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH10
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE8
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR5
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY3

Recent Complaints

20050708FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

ENGINE FIRE

Mileage: 87,000

20050128CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CAR WAS BACKED OUT OF GARAGE. WHILE IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE BEGAN RACING WIDE OPEN, WENT ACROSS 2 DRIVEWAYS AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP IT AND WOULD NOT GO OUT OF REVERSE. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS IMPACT AND TURNING THE IGNITION OFF. THIS ALL TOOK PLACE IN ABOUT 3 SECONDS.*AK

Mileage: 54,000

20030502CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE THROUGH A GARAGE SMASHING THE WALL. *NLM

20020522FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WIRES IN STEERING WHEEL CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK DURING THE FIRE THE CONSUMER SON WAS INJURED. *YH

20010221CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

YOU KNOW MY HUSBAND AND HIS FRIEND HAD NO IDEA ONT HIS CAR THAT THE BRAKES WENT OUT, UNTIL THEY WERE GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE, AND IT WAS TOO LATE. WRECKED INTO A SEMI-TRUCK, THAT GUY IS LUCKY- SO IS MY HUSBAND AND HIS FRIEND. I THINK THIS SGHOULD BE AN ISSUE OF CONCERN. THANKS. *AK

20001023FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

NO SUMMARY

20001017FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY 4 DAYS. IT CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE DEPT DISTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. INDICATION OF FIRE ORIGIN WAS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH FIXED WIRES. CONTACTED FORD. INDICATED RECALL WAS SENT OUT. BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SKIPPING & MISSING. TOOK TO SERVICE DEPT & INFORMED HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN & WATER LEAKED INTO CYLINDER. NO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THUNDERBIRD ABOUT HEAD GASKETS. *AK

20001017FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY 4 DAYS. IT CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE DEPT DISTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. INDICATION OF FIRE ORIGIN WAS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH FIXED WIRES. CONTACTED FORD. INDICATED RECALL WAS SENT OUT. BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SKIPPING & MISSING. TOOK TO SERVICE DEPT & INFORMED HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN & WATER LEAKED INTO CYLINDER. NO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THUNDERBIRD ABOUT HEAD GASKETS. *AK

19981231FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

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

19981002FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

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

19980610FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH.

19980603FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

DROVE VEHICLE TO WORK AT 7:30 AM. SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, CAME BACK TO VEHICLE AT 10:00 AM AND DISCOVERED THAT VEHICLE HAD BEEN BURNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FIRE OUT, AND NOTED IN THE REPORT THAT THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

19970703FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL,HICH STARTED IN THE HARNESS AREA. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

19970606CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES

VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE PARKING AND RAN INTO A TREE. SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. 1ST TIME FORD BLAMED OWNER. *AK

19970507CrashFatalFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

WAS DRIVING AT ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN HIT DIVIDER LEFT SIDE. CAR ALSO HIT RIGHT/FRONT THEN STOPPED AND WAS HIT IN REAR. FUEL CUTOFF SYSTEM DID NOT CUT OFF WHILE INVOLVED IN CRASH. *AK

19961025FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR IGNITION SWITCH. PARKED VEHICLE AND SMOKE WAS EVERYWHERE, THEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

19960913FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ALTERNATOR.*AK

19960904CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE VEHICLE WENT INTO HIGH IDLE AND SURGED, AND PUT INTO PARK, AND VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE, IMPACT 6:00 POSITION, RPMS UNKNOWN.*AK

19960424FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WHILE PARKED ABOUT 15 MINUTES, NEIGHBOR NOTICED VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, SMOKE WAS EVERYWHERE, OPENED HOOD, UNDERHOOD ENGULFED WITH FLAMES; NO WARNING. *AK

19960423FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE CAUSED BY THE IGNITION SWITCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK