Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 92 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Ford Thunderbird, most frequently naming the electrical, seat belts and exterior lighting categories. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 7 NHTSA investigations name it; and 24 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Feb 1995 | 1 | 2 |
| Mar 1995 | 2 | 4 |
| Apr 1995 | 1 | 5 |
| May 1995 | 2 | 7 |
| Jun 1995 | 3 | 10 |
| Aug 1995 | 2 | 12 |
| Sep 1995 | 5 | 17 |
| Oct 1995 | 1 | 18 |
| Nov 1995 | 1 | 19 |
| Dec 1995 | 1 | 20 |
| Jan 1996 | 1 | 21 |
| Apr 1996 | 5 | 26 |
| May 1996 | 4 | 30 |
| Jun 1996 | 2 | 32 |
| Jul 1996 | 4 | 36 |
| Aug 1996 | 3 | 39 |
| Sep 1996 | 4 | 43 |
| Oct 1996 | 1 | 44 |
| Nov 1996 | 1 | 45 |
| Dec 1996 | 3 | 48 |
| Jan 1997 | 3 | 51 |
| Feb 1997 | 1 | 52 |
| Mar 1997 | 1 | 53 |
| May 1997 | 1 | 54 |
| Jul 1997 | 1 | 55 |
| Aug 1997 | 2 | 57 |
| Sep 1997 | 1 | 58 |
| Oct 1997 | 1 | 59 |
| Apr 1998 | 1 | 60 |
| Nov 1998 | 1 | 61 |
| Jan 1999 | 2 | 63 |
| Mar 1999 | 2 | 65 |
| Apr 1999 | 1 | 66 |
| Jun 1999 | 1 | 67 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 68 |
| Oct 1999 | 3 | 71 |
| Jul 2000 | 1 | 72 |
| Aug 2000 | 1 | 73 |
| Oct 2000 | 2 | 75 |
| Nov 2000 | 1 | 76 |
| Dec 2000 | 1 | 77 |
| Jan 2001 | 1 | 78 |
| Mar 2001 | 1 | 79 |
| May 2001 | 2 | 81 |
| Aug 2001 | 1 | 82 |
| Jan 2002 | 1 | 83 |
| Jul 2002 | 1 | 84 |
| Sep 2002 | 3 | 87 |
| Mar 2003 | 1 | 88 |
| Jan 2004 | 1 | 89 |
| Jun 2004 | 1 | 90 |
| Sep 2005 | 1 | 91 |
| Oct 2016 | 1 | 92 |
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.
2 campaigns 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.govELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
FAULTY SEAT BELT BUCKLES
There is no summary currently available
FAULTY SEATBELT BUCKLES
There is no summary currently available
THROTTLE STICKING
There is no summary currently available
POWER SEAT MALFUNC/FIRE
There is no summary currently available
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD THUNDERBIRD EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR ASSURANCE FUEL MAX TIRES, SIZE: P225/60R16. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE TIRES MADE AN ABNORMAL RUMBLING NOISE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE AND BOTH PASSENGER SIDE TIRES WERE GETTING FLAT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT THE VALVE STEMS WERE THE REASON FOR THE TIRE FAILURE. THE TIRES WERE REPLACED. THE TIRES WERE REPLACEMENT TIRES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE DOT NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 290,000 AND THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000. *TR
DT: THIS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE DRIVING. CONTACTED FORD, AND THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. IT CAUGHT FIRE ON OCTOBER 1, 2000. THERE WAS NO FOREWARNING. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. HAD MECHANIC LOOK AT VEHICLE TO REPAIR IT, AND THEY SAID IT WAS TO FAR GONE.*AK
WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING. THIS WAS DUE TO THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE IGNITION RECALL 96V071000. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
NO REPAIRS YET...HAHA..JUST WEAK BRAKES,BAD PAINT AND WIERD SPEED CONTROL...LOOK TO THE CRUISE CONTROL..TO MUCH ELECTRIONICS IN THIS CAR MAN!
THE VEHICLE LURCHED FOWARD, WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED. *JB
IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED IN 1999. CAR WAS RETURNED TO TED BRITT FORD FOR COMPLIANCE.INVOICE STATES PN F29Z-11572D INSTALLED.IGNITION SWITCH FAILED 8/17/02 ENGINE RUNNING FINE BUT ABS INOP-LOSS OF BRAKE POWER BOOST NOT JUST ANTI LOCK.DEFECTIVE SWITCH FOUND TO BE PN F29A11572DA NOT F29Z11572D AS STATED ON RECALL INVOICE.PER JERRY'S FORD PARTS DEPT THESE PART NUMBERS INTERCHANGE.THE REMOVED PART SHOWED SIGNS OF MELTING AND CHARRING.*AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED.CONTACTED DEALER. REASON UNKNOWN.*AK
CAR OFF. FIRE UNDER HOOD DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT-PER FIRE DEPT.
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
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 REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT
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 |
| 1988Viewing | 92 | 2 | 7 | 67.2 |
| 1987 | 61 | 1 | 5 | 64.6 |
| 1986 | 23 | 1 | 1 | 58.7 |
| 1985 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 63.1 |
| 1984 | 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.