1989 Ford Thunderbird Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1989 Ford Thunderbird, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Driver assistance2619.0%
- Brakes2316.8%
- Electrical2216.1%
- Seat belts1712.4%
- Engine139.5%
- Fuel system64.4%
- Steering42.9%
- Tires & wheels42.9%
- Interior & seats42.9%
- Other / unspecified32.2%
- Transmission32.2%
- Visibility32.2%
- Suspension32.2%
- Exterior lighting21.5%
- Powertrain (other)21.5%
- Body & structure10.7%
- Heating & air conditioning10.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.)
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
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
CAR DESTROYED DUE TO A FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN-POSSIBLE IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT DOES NOT RETRACT. ALSO, NONE OF SEATBACKS STAY IN A LOCKED POSITION. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE WAY TO DRIVE A VEHICLE. *AK
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
HEAD GASKETS FAILED.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
DESIGN OF FUEL INJECTION LINES CREATED CHAFING AGAINST BODY, CAUSING LEAKAGE, RECALL ISSUED (97S84), HOWEVER VEHICLE DENIED DUE TO YEAR BUILT. *YC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
DUNLOP, G T QUALIFIER, P215/65R15, DOT#DBBFA13047; LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED ON SIDE OF TREAD. DUNLOP WAS NOTIFIED. *AK ANOTHER TIRE HAD EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION PRIOR TO THIS, REPLACEMENT TIRES HAD LESS THAN 30000 MILES ON IT. *SLC
DUNLOP GT QUALIFIER, DOT#DBBFA13047 P215/65R15; TREAD SEPARATED AT MIDDLE OF TREAD RIGHT FRONT AT 70 MPH, CAUSING DAMAGE. DUNLOP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK TWO TIRES HAVE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, REPLACEMENT TIRES HAD LESS THAN 30000 MILES. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT DOES NOT RETRACT. ALSO, NONE OF SEATBACKS STAY IN A LOCKED POSITION. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE WAY TO DRIVE A VEHICLE. *AK
DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHEN SUDDENDLY HOOD FLEW OPEN, CAUSING WINDSHIELD TO SHATTER AND BREAK. HOOD HAS OPENED ONCE PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
LEFT FRONT WHEEL COLLAPSED WHILE DRIVING. *AK
LARGE NUT HOLDING REAR AXLE IN PLACE AND THE HUB THAT REAR WHEL IS MONTED ON BACKED OFF, ALMOST CAUSING REAR WHEEL TO FALL OFF.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
TRANSMISSION PASSING GEARS ENGAGED, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION/ACCIDENT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE BRAKES MAKE LOUD NOISE. AND THE VENTILATION DOES NOT WORK, NO AIR CONDITIONER. THE DLR HAS FIXED THE BRAKES. *AK
DEFECTIVE RESENT CLIP DOES NOT WORK FALLS FROM UNDERNEATH AND KILLS MOTOR RESENT EATS UP THE GLUE. RESULTING IN TOTAL ENGINE FAILURE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
WHEEL BEARING FAILED. NLM
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH BECOMES HOT AND CAUSES THE HEADLIGHTS TO FLICKER ON AND OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHEN USING THE HIGH OR LOW POSITION. SWITCH HAS BEEN REPLACED BY OWNER. MECHANICS AT DEALERSHIP STATED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH OTHER FORD VECHICLES. *AK
WHEN THE FOG LIGHTS ARE OPERATING THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD START BLINKING AFTER AN HALF AN HOUR OF DRIVING AND AT ANY SPEED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
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.
TRANSMISSION PASSING GEARS ENGAGED, CAUSING SUDDEN ACCELERATION/ACCIDENT.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Heating & air conditioning
Reports naming the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system.
From owner reports, verbatim
THE BRAKES MAKE LOUD NOISE. AND THE VENTILATION DOES NOT WORK, NO AIR CONDITIONER. THE DLR HAS FIXED THE BRAKES. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .