Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Driver assistance 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.
17
Latest Oct 16, 2006
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.
12%
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.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
2
What this page shows
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. 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. 17 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 driver-assistance
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Oct 16, 2006
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
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 28, 2005
Crash reported
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
Driver assistance
Filed May 2, 2003
Crash reported
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
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
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 5, 2000
CRUISE CONTROL WHEN ENGAGED CAUSES VEHICLE TO INCREASE SPEED. WOULD BE GOING OVER 80MPH AT TIMES. TAPPING BRAKES OR ACCELERATOR FAILED TO DEACTIVATE CRUISE CONTROL. FINALLY, MANAGED TO VEER TO SIDE OF ROAD & TURNED VEHICLE OFF. THIS CAUSED VEHICLE TO LOCK UP, ENDANGERING VEHICLE & OTHER DRIVERS. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO LOCATE OR RESOLVE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ID
859767
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
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 16, 1997
UPON ACCELERATING THE GAS PEDAL BECOMES STUCK, DECREASING CONTROL OF STEERING AND BRAKING.
NHTSA ID
526966
Incident
Nov 13, 1997
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 7, 1997
WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH, GAS PEDAL STUCK, VEHICLE KEPT GOING. *AK
NHTSA ID
522934
Incident
Aug 1, 1997
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 6, 1997
Crash reported
VEHICLE ACCELERATED WHILE PARKING AND RAN INTO A TREE. SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. 1ST TIME FORD BLAMED OWNER. *AK
NHTSA ID
812839
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 25, 1997
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON ROAD WHEN GAS PEDAL ACCELERATED INTO HIGH MODE. AFTER KICKING GAS PEDAL, ACCELERATOR POPPED OUT OF ACCELERATOR MODE, SWITCHED MOTOR OFF, RESTARTED, VEHICLE WAS STILL STUCK IN HIGH ACCELERATED MODE. *AK
NHTSA ID
809572
Incident
Feb 27, 1997
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 18, 1996
WHEN STARTING THE CAR THE ACCELERATED, TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND DEALER TRIED TO IDLE IT DOWN , NO LUCK . *AK
NHTSA ID
801372
Incident
Aug 27, 1996
Driver assistance
Filed Sep 4, 1996
Crash reported1 injury reported
VEHICLE WAS IN PARK WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, WHEN PUT INTO REVERSE VEHICLE WENT INTO HIGH IDLE AND SURGED, AND PUT INTO PARK, AND VEHICLE WENT INTO REVERSE, IMPACT 6:00 POSITION, RPMS UNKNOWN.*AK
NHTSA ID
800941
Incident
Aug 9, 1996
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 19, 1996
DURING OPERATION OVER 70 MPH. THE GAS PEDAL SEEMS TO STICK AT THE SPEED AND, ACCELERATES ON ITS OWN.*AK
NHTSA ID
801073
Incident
Nov 15, 1993
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Nov 27, 1995
THE CAR WILL SURGE AND GO UP TO SPEEDS OF 80MPH AND WILL NOT STOP. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA ID
975468
Incident
Nov 26, 1995
Driver assistance
Filed May 15, 1995
Crash reported1 injury reported
AUTO-TRANS: WHILE COMING OUT OF GARAGE WITH FOOT ON BRAKES TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO DRIVE ENGINE ACCELERATED TO HIGH SPEED;HIT TWO PARKED CARS;NO WARNING. TT
NHTSA ID
965354
Incident
Apr 24, 1995
BrakesHeating & air conditioningDriver assistance+3 more
Filed Jan 31, 1995
SUDDEN RACING OF THE ENGINE. DRIVER HAS TO RIDE THE BRAKES UNTIL HE SHIFTS TO NEUTRAL AND TURN THE IGNITION OFF. TT
NHTSA ID
959393
Incident
Jan 29, 1995
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