1990 Ford Thunderbird Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 1990 Ford Thunderbird equipped with Goodyear Tire, Tire Line: Viva 3 A/S, Tire Size: 250/70/R15, DOT Number: PJ34KB1R0219. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, she became aware that the rear driver’s side tire was shaking abnormally. The contact took the vehicle to the Walmart where the tires were purchased and was informed that there were blisters on each tire and the tires needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.

NHTSA ID

11534871

Incident

Jan 1, 2020

Mileage

151,000 mi

[XXX] NEED YOUR HELP HER CAR WAS STOLEN AND NOT RETURNED WITNESS [XXX][XXX] AND WITNESS ABS ORDER[XXX] LOCATION CAMPUS POLICE FSU SBA BUILDING 1(910)672-1726 MORE INFORMATION ROBERT HASSELL CAMPUS POLICE CAR WAS PARKED AND LOCKED STUDENT[XXX] CAR WAS TAKEN NOT RETURNED ASKING FOR CAR RECALL [XXX] [XXX] TO START PROCESS VICTIM[XXX] IS WAITING FOR SETTLEMENT AT [XXX] OR [XXX] THANKS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

NHTSA ID

10598278

Incident

Jun 14, 2014

Mileage

15,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH ON DRY FLAT ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND KEPT THE VEHICLE FROM FURTHER ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE PULLED OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CONTACT LET THE VEHICLE COOL DOWN FOR AN HOUR, AND THEN DROVE TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A NHTSA RECALL#96V071000 REGARDING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT MANY FUSES HAVE BLOWN OUT DUE TO THIS IGNITION PROBLEM, AND SOMETIMES A CLICKING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN MAKING TURNS TO EITHER SIDE.

NHTSA ID

10170951

Incident

Oct 2, 2006

Mileage

155,000 mi

1. JUST SUDDENLY STARTED OCCURRING. 2. RE: CAMPAIGN ID # 96V071000, I HAVE AN IGNITION PROBLEM WITH MY 1990 FORD THUNDERBIRD BUT WAS TOLD BY FORD MY VIN DOES NOT APPLY TO RECALL. ALTHOUGH NO FIRE, I BELIEVE THERE IS SOME SORT OF SHORT CIRCUIT IN MY IGNITION SWITCH. THE AUTOMATIC SEAT-BELT WILL, AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES, NOT MOVE INTO POSITION WHEN IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED AND AT THE SAME TIME THE ENGINE WILL TURN OVER NORMALLY BUT WILL NOT START. "EVERY TIME" SEAT BELT DOESN'T WORK, ENGINE WILL NOT START. 3. HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS, YET. *JB

NHTSA ID

10142652

Incident

Sep 16, 2005

Mileage

74,000 mi

ENGINE FIRE

NHTSA ID

10127886

Incident

Jul 7, 2005

Mileage

87,000 mi

FUEL LEAK FROM FUEL TANK WHEN FULL . DANGEROUS , COULD CAUSE A FIRE . AUTO IS PARKED IN A GARAGE INSIDE OF MY HOUSE . UNABLE TO FILL TANK BECAUSE OF CONDITION . FORD WILL NOT REPAIR . AROUND 45,000 MILES , NEVER IN ACCIDENT & FUEL SYSTEM NEVER WORKED ON . I THINK THIS IS VERY NEGLIGENT ON FORD'S PART .*AK

NHTSA ID

10114317

Incident

May 17, 1993

Mileage

8,500 mi

CAR WAS BACKED OUT OF GARAGE. WHILE IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE BEGAN RACING WIDE OPEN, WENT ACROSS 2 DRIVEWAYS AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP IT AND WOULD NOT GO OUT OF REVERSE. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS IMPACT AND TURNING THE IGNITION OFF. THIS ALL TOOK PLACE IN ABOUT 3 SECONDS.*AK

NHTSA ID

10108133

Incident

Jan 26, 2005

Mileage

54,000 mi

TIRE FAILURE OF A FIRESTONE FR410, P215/70R15 97S, DOT HYME 41A 159. NO ROAD HAZARD. RF TIRE EXPLODED. 32-35 PSI CHECKED 7 DAYS PRIOR. FIRESTONE INVESTIGATION CLAIMS PUNCTURE CAUSED FAILURE. PUNCTURE OCCURRED FROM TIRE MATERIAL WHEN STOPPING.*AK

NHTSA ID

10075303

Incident

May 25, 2004

Mileage

144,780 mi

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

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE THROUGH A GARAGE SMASHING THE WALL. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10018085

Incident

May 2, 2003

THE AUTOMATIC DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE WITHOUT A SEAT BELT. *NLM

NHTSA ID

10009807

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

WIRES IN STEERING WHEEL CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK DURING THE FIRE THE CONSUMER SON WAS INJURED. *YH

NHTSA ID

8010346

Incident

May 21, 2002

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE OVERHEATED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. TECHNICIAN STATED ENGINE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

8002376

VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. STOP AND GO IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. DEALERSHIP WILL PICK IT UP.*AK

NHTSA ID

896456

Incident

Sep 1, 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

IGNITION FAILS TO SHUT VEHICLE OFF AND ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

NHTSA ID

892996

Incident

Nov 1, 2000

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

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

REPLACED DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK

NHTSA ID

875968

Incident

Nov 11, 2000

BRAKE MODULE COST $1,400 SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. *AK

NHTSA ID

736545

Incident

Jun 1, 1999

I DID NOT KNOW WHO TO CONTACT ABOUT THIS; I HAVE ANGERED A VIGILANTE GROUP. THE GROUP, WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE THE KLAN, ARE DRIVING THEIR OPEN BED PICKUP TRUCKS IN FRONT OF ME WITH OPEN CONTAINERS OF SOMETHING, I SUSPECT TO BE A CANCER CAUSING PESTICIDE. IT IS PLUGGING UP MY AIR FILTERS, WHICH I HAVE SAVED. I WANT YOU TO TAKE THIS COMPLAINT SERIOUSLY AND TEST THE AIR FILTERS TO DETERMINE THE AGENT THAT IS BEING USED TO ACCOST ME. IT WON'T COST YOU VERY MUCH AND IT COULD POINT OUT A PROBLEM THAT COULD SAVE MANY LIVES. *AK

NHTSA ID

736539

WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT ANY INDICATIN VEHICLE WOULD STALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

874217

VEHICLE IS WAITING FOR REPAIRS TO THE IGNITION MODULE, CONSUMER IS WAITING FOR THE PARTS BEFORE THE REPAIR IS MADE. *SLC

NHTSA ID

556770

VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY 4 DAYS. IT CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE DEPT DISTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. INDICATION OF FIRE ORIGIN WAS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH FIXED WIRES. CONTACTED FORD. INDICATED RECALL WAS SENT OUT. BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SKIPPING & MISSING. TOOK TO SERVICE DEPT & INFORMED HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN & WATER LEAKED INTO CYLINDER. NO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THUNDERBIRD ABOUT HEAD GASKETS. *AK

NHTSA ID

873227