RoadVitals

1989 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.
124
Latest Nov 7, 2016
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.
5
Latest Apr 7, 2009
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.
6
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.
38
10 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 124 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Ford Thunderbird, most frequently naming the driver assistance, brakes and electrical categories. 5 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 6 NHTSA investigations name it; and 27 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.

What owners report

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.

Safety recalls

5 campaigns cover this model year

View all 5

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
09E012000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Apr 7, 2009
16,270 units potentially affected
The defect: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
The risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
SABERSPORTView on NHTSA.gov
96V071000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

Apr 25, 1996
7,900,000 units potentially affected
The defect: THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
The risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
89V081000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER

May 19, 1989
113,200 units potentially affected
The defect: DUE TO CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE CALIPER OF THE INBOARD FRONT WHEEL AND THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR, THERE MAY BE INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL FOLLOWING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS.
The risk: THIS COULD CAUSE A REDUCTION IN BRAKE PERFORMANCETHAT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy: INSTALL ACORN TYPE FRONT SUSPENSION STRUT NUTS TO ELIMINATE STABILIZER BAR TO BRAKE CALIPER CONTACT.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE95019ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

FAULTY SEATBELT BUCKLES

Opened Mar 27, 1995
Closed Jul 31, 1995

There is no summary currently available

SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
EA93033ClosedEngineering Analysis

THRTTL VLV LINKAGE BUSHING

Opened Dec 30, 1993
Closed Dec 30, 1994

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
PE93075ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

THRTTL VLV LINKAGE BUSHING

Opened Aug 30, 1993
Closed Dec 30, 1993

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
EA90034ClosedEngineering Analysis

HOOD LATCHES FAIL

Opened Jun 26, 1990
Closed Feb 25, 1992

There is no summary currently available

STRUCTURE

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 124
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 7, 2016
Crash reported

CAR ACCELERATED WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS FULLY DEPRESSED TO FLOOR...SMASHED INTO CORNER OF HOUSE, DAMAGING BRICKWORK AND FRONT, RIGHT CORNER OF THE CAR. VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE BUT NOT YET TOWED DUE TO FINANCIAL RESTRICTIONS (UNABLE TO ATTACH PHOTOS...PLEASE PROVIDE EMAIL ADDRESS WHERE I CAN SEND PHOTOS.)

NHTSA ID
10924888
Incident
Aug 13, 2016
Mileage
86,899 mi
Seat belts
Filed Sep 3, 2008
Crash reported2 injuries reported

DRIVER WAS RESTRAINED BY SEATBELT. DURING COLLISION, SEATBELT BECAME UNANCHORED FROM THE FLOOR AND CAME LOOSE CAUSING DRIVER TO BE THROWN INTO STEERING WHEEL, UNDER DASHBOARD AND INTO WINDSHIELD. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SPEED AND MILEAGE ARE STATED AS APPROXIMATES BY COUNSEL , WILL SUPPLEMENT IF NECESSARY. THE DRIVER WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT A LAWFUL SPEED WITHIN THE SPEED LIMIT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10240760
Incident
Sep 19, 2003
Mileage
60,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 4, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH A LOUD SNAP CAME FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO BE ABLE TO TURN LEFT, AND THEN ENDED UP CRASHING WITH THE GUARD RAIL. THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

NHTSA ID
10113496
Incident
Mar 3, 2005
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed Jan 15, 2004

BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 1989. FIRST EARLY PROBLEMS WITH CIGARETTE LIGHTER/ELECTRICAL/HEATING UP INSIDE DASH.- SERVICED 3-4 TIMES, UNDER WARRANTY. FREON LEAKS IN AIR CONDITIONER - REPAIRED TWICE. FUEL LINE REPLACED. STEERING COLUM JAM OF SOMESORT - NO KEY ACCESS. REPLACED 3 ALTERNATORS. CANNOT SHIFT TRANSMISSION INTO OVERDRIVE. REBUILT BY AAMCO. BLEW HEAD GASKET. RADIATOR COOLANT COMMING OUT FROM MUFFLER. GOT RID OF CAR AT THIS TIME.

NHTSA ID
10070904
Incident
Aug 15, 1995
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 21, 2003

CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET ON 65 MPH. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO A SPEED OF ALMOST 85 MPH AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE DRIVER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, WHILE IN MOTION, AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES. THE CONSUMER HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL DISCONNECTED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *PH *NLM

NHTSA ID
10039810
Incident
Oct 31, 1994
Brakes
Filed Jun 13, 2002

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, PEDAL BECAME HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE DUE TO MASTER CYLINDER. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. DEALER HAS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. *AK BRAKES FAIL INTERMITTENTLY, THEY ARE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AND THE FORD DEALERSHIPS CANNOT REPAIR IT. THERE ARE NO REBUILD KITS AVAILABLE FOR THIS VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED TO PURCHASE A MASTER CYLINDER FROM A JUNK YARD. CONSUMER FEELS FORDS RESPONSIBILTY IS TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE. *JG

NHTSA ID
8011802
Driver assistance
Filed Feb 19, 2002
Crash reported

WHILE BACKING OUT, VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HIT A FENCE. CONSUMER NEVER APPLIED THE GAS PEDAL. BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. *JG *AK

NHTSA ID
8004201
Incident
Feb 15, 2002
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 8, 2002

WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, ENGINE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY. CONSUMER HAD TO STAND ON BRAKES AND SHIFT VEHICLE INTO PARK TO STOP. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID
8001739
Incident
Dec 15, 2001

Manufacturer communications

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

01157

INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC

01156

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC

002310

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

0015

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS

99222

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT

99196

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.

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
1989Viewing1245672.3
1988922767.2
1987611564.6
1986231158.7
1985141163.1
1984261259.5
1983342—
1982011—
1981011—
1980332—
1979140—
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.