Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Brakes reportsComplaints 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.
34
Latest Jan 13, 2004
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
24%
of 140 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
1
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3
What this page shows
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1990 Ford Thunderbird submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 34 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Owner reports naming brake
The 25 most recent of 34, in the owner's own words
YOUR ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED IN RESOLVING THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM WITH A DANGEROUS AND CLAIMED UNREPAIRABLE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THIS 1990 FORD THUNDERBIRD SUPER COUPE VIN#[XXX]. THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITH AN ABS BRAKING SYSTEM THAT IS DANGEROUS UPON FAILURE. THIS ABS SYSTEM UPON FAILURE RESULTS IN THE "COMPLETE" LOSS OF BRAKING ON THIS VEHICLE AND POSES A SERIOUS THREAT OF INJURY TO UNSUSPECTING OCCUPANTS OPERATING THIS VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE EARLY TEVIS II ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WHICH HAS BEEN DESCRIBED BY FORD BRAKE TECHNICIANS AS THE "WORST" BRAKING SYSTEM EVER INSTALLED ON A VEHICLE TO REPAIR. UNLIKE OTHER ABS BRAKING SYSTEMS, WHICH ALLOW A VEHICLE'S HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM TO CONTINUE TO FUNCTION WITH A FAILURE IN THE ABS PORTION OF THE SYSTEM, THIS VEHICLE'S "ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILS" WITH THE LOSS OF ITS ABS COMPONENT. FORD WAS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THIS DEFECT AND APPARENT DANGER, BECAUSE THIS SYSTEM WAS UPGRADED ONLY AFTER APPROXIMATELY 3-YEARS OF PRODUCTION. I HAVE SPENT OVER $2,000.00 OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS ON THIS BRAKING SYSTEM. I INITIALLY TOOK IT TO A PEARSON'S FORD IN SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA IN 2001 FOR BRAKE SYSTEM REPAIR AND UPON RECEIVING THE VEHICLE FROM DEALER, I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMING ON PERIODICALLY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY SUGGESTED I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UPON PEARSON FORD'S RECOMMENDATION UNTIL I EXPERIENCED A FULL SYSTEM FAILURE. THEODORE ROBBINS FORD OF COSTA MESA CALIFORNIA HAS ATTEMPTED REPAIRS AND THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED AFTER EACH REPAIR. THEY STILL HAVE THE VEHICLE. FORD STATES THEY NO LONGER SUPPORT THIS BRAKE SYSTEM AND DID NOT SEE A NEED TO ISSUE ANY ALERTS OR RECALLS ON THIS SYSTEM, WHICH DISCONTINUED. YOUR ASSISTANCE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ID
10053138
Incident
Aug 23, 2003
Mileage
93,664 mi
Brakes
Filed Jun 3, 2002
WHEN COMING TO A STOP DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WILL LOCK UP WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ID
8010956
Incident
May 20, 2000
BrakesElectricalSteering
Filed Aug 14, 2001
MODUAL FIRST FAILED SEP 00. CAR LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AT 60 MPH. CAR WAS PARKED FROM SEP 00 TO 26 JULY 01 WHILE FORD GOT PART. NEW MODUEL WAS INSTALLED 26 JULY 01 AND FAILED 8 AUG 01 AGAIN AT 60 MPH WITHOUT POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. FORD DEALER IS NOW LOOKING FOR A NEW ONE. PART WAS LISTED AT $100.00 AT TIME OF SEP 00 FAILURE. MODUAL OBTAINED IN JUL 01 THAT FAILED IN AUG 01 COST $306.00
NHTSA ID
750455
Incident
Sep 1, 2000
Brakes
Filed Feb 21, 2001
REPORTING A SECOND REOCCURRING FAILURE WITH BRAKR MASTER CYINDER, FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AT 80,000 MILES, AND AGAIN CURRENTLY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
NHTSA ID
881035
Incident
May 25, 1997
Brakes
Filed Feb 15, 2001
Crash reported3 injuries reported
YOU KNOW MY HUSBAND AND HIS FRIEND HAD NO IDEA ONT HIS CAR THAT THE BRAKES WENT OUT, UNTIL THEY WERE GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE, AND IT WAS TOO LATE. WRECKED INTO A SEMI-TRUCK, THAT GUY IS LUCKY- SO IS MY HUSBAND AND HIS FRIEND. I THINK THIS SGHOULD BE AN ISSUE OF CONCERN. THANKS. *AK
NHTSA ID
740925
Incident
Feb 13, 2001
Brakes
Filed Nov 19, 2000
BRAKE MODULE COST $1,400 SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. *AK
NHTSA ID
736545
Incident
Jun 1, 1999
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Oct 2, 2000
THROTTLE STICKS AND CAUSES BRAKES NOTTO WORK. DRIVER HAS TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP. *AK
NHTSA ID
871945
Brakes
Filed May 22, 2000
PROCEEDING NORTH ON CA HWY 101 NEAR VENTURA. ANTILOCK AND BRAKE LIGHTS ACTIVATED. ATTEMPTED TO STOP WHILE AT 70 MPH. PEDAL "HARD" CAN WOULD NOT STOP. USED STICK SHIFT GEARS TO BRING VEHICLE SPEED DOWN, USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING CAR TO HALT AT SIDE OF FWY. SHUT OFF IGNITION. RESTARTED VEHICLE THINKING COMPUTER WAS AT FAULT AND NEEDED RESETTING. ANTILOCK AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS WENT OUT--VEHICLE COULD BE "STOPPED" BUT SYSTEM WENT OUT PERMANANTLY AFTER DRIVING APPROX. 5 MORE MILES. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER IN THOUSAND OAKS CA ( KEMP) AND INFORMED THAT THE "RELAY BANK" HAD SHORTED OUT. COSTS APPROX. $200.00 TO REPAIR. PROBLEM---ABS DID NOT FUNCTION AT ALL!!! *AK
NHTSA ID
723033
Incident
May 19, 2000
Brakes
Filed Mar 27, 2000
CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH SQUEALING FRONT DISC BRAKES. FRONT BRAKES SEEM TO BE DOING MOST OF THE BRAKING. REPLACED CALIPERS TWICE, DISC PADS SEVERAL TIMES, REBUILT REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS, REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER. REQURES A LOT OF PEDAL BEFORE BRAKES SEEM TO START TAKING EFFECT - MANUALLY ADJUSTED REAR BRAKES, SEEMED TO HELP PROBLEM WITH PEDAL TRAVEL, PEDAL TRAVEL PROBLEM RETURNED, READJUSTED REAR BRAKES AND PEDAL TRAVEL IMPROVED AGAIN. SQUEELING FRONT DISC BRAKES CONTINUE. IS THERE ANY HISTORY OF THIS WITH POSSIBLE CORRECTIVE ACTION? *AK
NHTSA ID
720651
Incident
Jan 1, 1994
Brakes
Filed Mar 14, 2000
ABS CONTROL UNIT WENT OUT. APPLIED THE BRAKES & THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. USED EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO PRIVATE MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED INSIDE CONTROL UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE & COULD NOT BE REBUILT. *AK
NHTSA ID
858527
Incident
Jan 1, 2000
Brakes
Filed Feb 1, 2000
ABS BRAKES SYSTEM COMPLETE FAILURE DUE TO MASTER CYLINDER FAILURE. *MJS
NHTSA ID
550638
Incident
May 1, 1997
BrakesHeating & air conditioningDriver assistance+3 more
Filed Dec 1, 1999
AFTER ALL THE PROBLEMS THAT I HAVE EXPERIENCED WITH MY FORD THUNDERBIRD, I NOW REFUSE TO PURCHASE ANOTHER FORD CAR AND I WOULD NEVER RECOMMEND A FORD VEHICLE TO ANYONE. BETWEEN THE POWER WINDOW FAILURES, TRANSMISSION FAILURE, AIR COMPRESSOR FAILURE, BATTER FAILURE, FUEL PUMP FAILURE, THROTTLE FAILURE, ETC... I COULD KEEP GOING ON HOW MUCH TROUBLE IT HAS PUT ME THROUGH AND WASTE OF MONEY THAT THIS CAR HAS COST ME. I AM COMPLETELY DISSATISFIED. I WANTED TO PURCHASE AN AMERICAN MADE VEHICLE FOR CERTAIN ASPECTS OF KNOWING I AM HELPING OUT THE US(JOB WISE), BUT MY VIEWS HAVE SINCE CHANGED. BESIDES THE FACT THAT I REFUSE TO BUY ANOTHER FORD CAR, I REALIZE THAT QUALITY AND SAFETY ARE NOT FORD'S STRENGTH AND MAY LEAVE TO PURCHASE A FOREIGN CAR TO WHICH I MAY FIND SOME HAPPINESS. IT HAS GOTTEN TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAR IS IN THE SHOP EVER OTHER WEEK. IF IT'S NOT ONE PROBLEM, IT IS ANOTHER. I AM TRULY FED UP. AND BY THE WAY, I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON WITH THESE PROBLEMS. I KNOW OTHERS, WHO THROUGH BAD EXPERIENCES ALSO REFUSE TO BUY FORD VEHICLES. *AK
NHTSA ID
715488
Incident
Nov 8, 1999
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jan 28, 1999
BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT GO DOWN WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. ALSO, THROTTLE WAS STUCK ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. DEALER NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. OCCURRED DURING VERY IN COLD TEMPERATURES. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA ID
834183
Incident
Jan 14, 1999
Brakes
Filed Jan 21, 1999
THE ABS BRAKES KEEP COMING ON AND OFF. CONSUMER WAS TOLD THAT WHEN ABS LIGHT BEGINS TO COME ON THE SYSTEM IS ABOUT TO FAIL. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THERE IS ALSO A PROBLEM WITH THE MASTER CYLINDER. *AK
NHTSA ID
833826
Brakes
Filed Oct 12, 1998
WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, CAUSING BRAKES TO SHIMMY UPON BRAKING. *AK
NHTSA ID
781140
Incident
Jul 1, 1998
Brakes
Filed Oct 10, 1998
LEFT FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARPED, CAUSING BRAKES TO SHIMMY WHEN APPLIED.
NHTSA ID
781090
Incident
Jul 1, 1998
Brakes
Filed Aug 17, 1998
ROTORS WERE REPLACED 3 TIMES/ PADS WERE REPLACED 4 TIMES, AND THE CALIPERS HAVE BEEN REBUILT. OWNER WILL CONTACT THE DEALER.
NHTSA ID
826844
Brakes
Filed May 15, 1998
WHILE DRIVING PEDAL SNAPPED, CAUSING TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. ALSO, THE MECHANIC SAID THAT THE ROTORS RUSTED THROUGH AND SNAPPED IN HALF. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ID
823367
Incident
May 1, 1998
Brakes
Filed Oct 2, 1997
THE ABS BRAKE BOOSTER IS LEAKING BRAKE FLUID ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK
NHTSA ID
816832
Brakes
Filed Nov 13, 1996
VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP (12) TO (15) TIMES FOR NUMEROUS BRAKING PROBLEMS, ROTORS/PADS/DRUMS OR ENTIRE BRAKING SYSTEM HAS TO BE REPLACED. VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ABS.*AK
NHTSA ID
801361
Incident
Mar 22, 1995
Brakes
Filed Oct 18, 1996
ABS BRAKES FAILED, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. *AK
NHTSA ID
509829
Incident
Sep 11, 1996
Brakes
Filed Oct 3, 1996
ABS BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LOSE CONTROL. *AK
NHTSA ID
509358
Incident
Aug 1, 1994
Brakes
Filed Sep 30, 1996
ABS: ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON, PEDAL GOT HARD, DRIVER COULD NOT STOP VEHICLE, NO BRAKING ASSIST, PUSHED PEDAL HARD, INSTEAD OF NORMAL STOPPING,VEHICLE WENT ABOUT 500 FT BEFORE STOPPING, NO ACCIDENT, HOWEVER COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.*AK
NHTSA ID
801790
Incident
Aug 23, 1996
Brakes
Filed Aug 26, 1996
BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE AND ABS WARNING LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO ELECTRONIC RELAY.*AK DEALER REPLACED HYDRAULIC ACCUMULATOR AND RELAY ASSEMBLY, HOWEVER THIS DID NOT REMEDY PROBLEM. *SLC
NHTSA ID
801306
Incident
Aug 22, 1996
Brakes
Filed May 2, 1996
ABS: FOR 3RD TIME WITHIN 4 YEARS, ABS AND BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON; BRAKES COMPLETELY INOPERATIVE; PRESSED HARD, MAY STOP WITHIN 100 YARDS. *AK
NHTSA ID
983975
Incident
Apr 15, 1996
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own