RoadVitals

1979 Ford Thunderbird

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest Oct 27, 1999
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
4
Latest Mar 6, 2008
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1979 Ford Thunderbird, most frequently naming the fuel system category. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Fuel system1100.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
08E019000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Mar 6, 2008
1,937 units potentially affected
The defect: INTERCONTINENTAL AUTO PARTS IS RECALLING 1,937 FUEL FILTERS, P/NOS ALG 44/1 AND PUROLATOR F10024, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 14 AND FEBRUARY 13, 2008, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FILTER'S OUTLET CAP MAY NOT BE SECURELY CRIMPED TO THE HOUSING. THIS COULD RESULT IN A SEPARATION OF FILTER'S OUTLET CAP FROM THE HOUSING.
The risk: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, A NO START CONDITION MAY RESULT AND FUEL MAY BE PUMPED ONTO THE GROUND. IF THIS OCCURS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION, THE ENGINE MAY STOP DUE TO INADEQUATE FUEL SUPPLY. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, FUEL LEAKAGE MAY RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy: INTERCONTINENTAL WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING MARCH 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT INTERCONTINENTAL AT 800-451-2593.
INTERCONTINENTAL AUTO PARTSView on NHTSA.gov
79V117000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

May 15, 1979
82,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH BRAKE PUSH-ROD TO BRAKE PEDAL RETAINING PINS WHICH WERE NOT HEAT-TREATED AS SPECIFIED. THIS COULD ALLOW THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BECOME DISENGAGED FROM THE PUSH-ROD.
The remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE SUSPECT BRAKE RETAINING PIN.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
79V013000

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

Jan 9, 1979
4,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH INCORRECT WELD NUTS THAT ATTACH THE REAR PORTION OF THE FRONT OUTBOARD SEAT TRACK TO THE FLOOR PAN. THE INCORRECT NUTS HAVE AN OVERSIZE DIAMETER AND THREAD, AND UPON FRONT SEAT TRACK ANCHOR BOLT INSTALLATION, THE THREADS MAY HAVE BEEN STRIPPED.
The remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPAIR ANY STRIPPED WELD NUTS AND INSTALL LARGER SIZE BOLTS TO ANCHOR THE SEAT TRACK TO THE FLOOR AT NO COST TO OWNER.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Fuel system
Filed Oct 27, 1999

FUEL LINE BURSED CAUSING THE VEHICEL TO CATICH FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA ID
851902

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

80-3-10-S

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

UNKNOWN

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford Thunderbird by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005271030.8
2004341045.6
2003330038.0
2002932045.6
1999200—
1998300—
19971692048.2
19962334051.3
19952611046.8
19943001045.3
19934234357.2
19921844561.8
19911124262.3
19901404465.8
19891245672.3
1988922767.2
1987611564.6
1986231158.7
1985141163.1
1984261259.5
1983342—
1982011—
1981011—
1980332—
1979Viewing140—
1978140—
1977150—
1976020—
1975050—
1974010—
1973040—
1972030—
1971010—
1970110—
1967040—
1965100—
1960100—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.