Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 26 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1984 Ford Thunderbird, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and interior & seats categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 2 NHTSA investigations name it; and 13 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Feb 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Apr 1995 | 1 | 2 |
| Jan 1996 | 1 | 3 |
| Apr 1996 | 2 | 5 |
| May 1996 | 3 | 8 |
| Jun 1996 | 2 | 10 |
| Jul 1996 | 1 | 11 |
| Aug 1996 | 1 | 12 |
| Oct 1996 | 1 | 13 |
| Sep 1997 | 1 | 14 |
| May 1998 | 1 | 15 |
| Aug 1998 | 1 | 16 |
| Sep 1998 | 1 | 17 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 18 |
| Dec 1999 | 1 | 19 |
| Jan 2000 | 1 | 20 |
| Sep 2000 | 1 | 21 |
| Oct 2000 | 1 | 22 |
| Dec 2000 | 1 | 23 |
| Jul 2001 | 1 | 24 |
| Nov 2002 | 1 | 25 |
| Jan 2004 | 1 | 26 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
1 campaign cover this model year
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.govSEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
SUMMARY:THE SPRING UNDER INVESTIGATION CAUSES THE LATCHING PAWL TOENGAGE THE TEETH OF THE RATCHET WHEREBY THE PARKING BRAKE IS RETAINEDIN THE APPLIED POSITION.IF THE SPRING FAILS, THE PEDAL FOLLOWS THEOPERATORS FOOT BACK UP INTO THE RELEASED POSITION.FORD STATES THAT IT ISSUED THE BULLETIN IN ORDER TO INFORM DEALERSTHAT THE SPRING WAS NEWLY AVAILABLE AS A SEPARATE PART.PREVIOUSLY,IT WAS NECESSARY TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL ASSEMBLY INORDER TO OBTAIN A NEW SPRING.SINCE THE FAILURE OF THE SPRING WILL NOT CAUSE THE PARKING BRAKE TOSUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY RELEASE AND SINCE THERE IS ADEQUATE WARNINGOF THE FAILURE, NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND WAS FOUND.===
SEATBACK FAILURE
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:FORD BELIEVES THAT THE AL-LEGED DEFECT ONLY OCCURS IN A SMALL NUMBER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ANDRECALLED ABOUT 195,732 1984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986.ANALYSIS: VEHICLES POTENTIALLY INVOLVED INCLUDE TEMPO/TOPAZ, ESCORT/LYNX/EXP, MUSTANG/CAPRI, LTD/MARQUIS, AND THUNDERBIRD/COUGAR.FORD SOLD ABOUT 110,000 REPLACEMENT MIO BOLTS, MAINLY FOR 1983 AND 1984MODELS. LOW CLAMPING FORCE APPEARS TO BE A LARGE PART OF THE PROBLEM.FORD INCREASED THE TORQUE REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED THE USE OF A MANUALTORQUE TOOL IN MARCH AND SEPTEMBER 1985 PRODUCTION CHANGES. 1987 MODELSWILL BE PRODUCED WITH A LONGER M10 BOLT AND A NUT TO INCREASE AND MAIN-TAIN CLAMPING FORCE. BOLTS WERE FORMERLY SELF TAPPING. REPORTS LISTEDABOVE SPECIFICALLY STATE THAT THE BOLT BROKE. NONE REFER SIMPLY TOSEAT BACK COLLAPSE ALONE.STATUS:FORD REPLY TO ODI IR DATED 2/2/87.FORD RECALLED 195,7321984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986 (86V-082). ANALYZING REPONSE,MONITORING CANADIAN PROGRESS. RESPONSE TO 4/6/87 LETTER TO FORDRECEIVED 7/15/87. WILL PROBABLY CLOSE AFTER CANADA COMPLETES THEIRACTIONS.===
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
CAR STALLS AFTER IT WARMS UP.RUNS WELL WHILE DRIVING WHEN CAMING TO A STOP CALL STALLS AND CAUSES CAR TO NOT HAVE POWER BRAKES OR POWER STEERING WITCH MAY CAUSE A VERY BAD ACCIDENT.
THE SPOKES HAVE COME LOOSE CAUSING THE WHEELS TO WOBBLE WHICH COULD CAUSE A WHEEL COLLAPSE. DT
CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING ON TURNPIKE, THE HOOD FLEW UP, STRIKING AND SHATTERING THE SUN ROOF GLASS, THE POLICE OFFICER INSPECTED THE HOOD LATCH AND IT APPEARED TO BE OLD, WHICH POSSIBLY MALFUNTIONED, CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.(OHIO TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT #10-90-356)*JB
AIR CONDITIONER, HEATER, AND DEFROSTER WILL NOT WORK, CONSUMER SOMETIMES CAN NOT SEE WHILE DRIVING DUE TO WINDOWS FOGGING UP. *SLC
WHILE DRIVING AT 40MPH VEHICLE WOULD STALL OUT WITHOUT WARNING. HAS HAPPENED WHILE MAKING TURNS ONTO AND OFF ON/OFF RAMPS. TOOK TO DEALER & MECHANIC COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF STALLING. TOOK VEHICLE TO INDEPENDENT MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED THAT CAUSE WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH MODULE & HAD IT REPLACED.*AK
SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR I HAVE HAD DOZENS OF STALLING INCEDENTS BOTH WHILE DRIVING AND AT STOP LIGHTS.I HAVE HAD IT AT FORD DEALERSHIPS AND THEY TELL ME THEY CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. SAWGRASS FORD IN FLORIDA TOLD ME THAT THEY DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM IS I'M HAVING AND THE GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $1040.00 TO FIX THE CAR. I TOOK IT TO INDEPENDENT AUTO REPAIR SHOPS AND THEY DON'T KNOW WHY IT STALLS ALL THE TIME. I READ AN ARTICLE FROM CALIFORNIA THAT NAMES THE TFI MODULE AS THE PROBABLE CAUSE. FORD HAS KNOWN OF THIS PROBLEM WITH CARS MADE FROM 1983 TO 1995. A RECALL ORDER SHOULD BE GIVING TO FORD FOR THESE CARS IN ORDER TO FIX THESE CARS. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET BUT I'M HERE TO TELL YOU THAT I HAVE HAD MANY CLOSE CALLS.TOO CLOSE AND I AM AFRAID THAT MY LUCK MAY NOT HOLD OUT MUCH LONGER. THE LAW OF AVERAGES IS GETTING CLOSE. PLEASE HELP US IF YOU CAN..
VEHICLE STALLS DUE TO IGNITION MODULE OVERHEATING FROM ENGINE HEAT. *MJS
THE DRIVE GEAR ON THE DISTRIBUTOR SHAFT IS CUT IN THE WRONG DIRECTION TO MATCH THE GEAR ON THE CRANKSHAFT. NLM
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC
TIRES
INFORMATION ON TIRE COMPANY TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. *YC
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
A NEW SILICONE GASKET AND SEALANT. *YC
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC
THE USE OF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE AS A LUBRICANT IN SERVICING DISC BRAKES IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE. *YC
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.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 30.8 |
| 2004 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 45.6 |
| 2003 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 38.0 |
| 2002 | 93 | 2 | 0 | 45.6 |
| 1999 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 169 | 2 | 0 | 48.2 |
| 1996 | 233 | 4 | 0 | 51.3 |
| 1995 | 261 | 1 | 0 | 46.8 |
| 1994 | 300 | 1 | 0 | 45.3 |
| 1993 | 423 | 4 | 3 | 57.2 |
| 1992 | 184 | 4 | 5 | 61.8 |
| 1991 | 112 | 4 | 2 | 62.3 |
| 1990 | 140 | 4 | 4 | 65.8 |
| 1989 | 124 | 5 | 6 | 72.3 |
| 1988 | 92 | 2 | 7 | 67.2 |
| 1987 | 61 | 1 | 5 | 64.6 |
| 1986 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 58.7 |
| 1985 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 63.1 |
| 1984Viewing | 26 | 1 | 2 | 59.5 |
| 1983 | 3 | 4 | 2 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1980 | 3 | 3 | 2 | — |
| 1979 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 1 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1970 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1965 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1960 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
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.