Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Electrical 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.
35
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.
25%
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.
18
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
What this page shows
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. 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. 35 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 electrical
The 25 most recent of 35, in the owner's own words
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
Electrical
Filed Nov 14, 2005
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
Electrical
Filed Jul 8, 2005
Fire reported
ENGINE FIRE
NHTSA ID
10127886
Incident
Jul 7, 2005
Mileage
87,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 22, 2002
Fire reported1 injury reported
WIRES IN STEERING WHEEL CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK DURING THE FIRE THE CONSUMER SON WAS INJURED. *YH
NHTSA ID
8010346
Incident
May 21, 2002
Electrical
Filed Sep 18, 2001
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
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
Electrical
Filed Jul 17, 2001
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
Electrical
Filed Oct 31, 2000
WHILE TRAVELING AT ANY SPEED WITHOUT ANY INDICATIN VEHICLE WOULD STALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
NHTSA ID
874217
Electrical
Filed Oct 20, 2000
VEHICLE IS WAITING FOR REPAIRS TO THE IGNITION MODULE, CONSUMER IS WAITING FOR THE PARTS BEFORE THE REPAIR IS MADE. *SLC
NHTSA ID
556770
ElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 17, 2000
Fire reported
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
Electrical
Filed Oct 9, 2000
Fire reported
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA ID
733832
Incident
Aug 5, 2000
Electrical
Filed Sep 30, 2000
FORD HAS CEASED MANUFACTURE OF NEEDED PART AND HAS COLLUDED WITH AFTERMARKET MANUFACTURER TO REMOVE ALL SIMILAR PARTS FROM INDEPENDENT PARTS SUPPLIERS. THIS IS A RECALL SITUATION NEEDING IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. IT IS ALREADY THE SUBJECT OF A COURT ACTION IN CALIFORNIA WHERE A JUDGE OF THE ALAMEDA COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT IS ABOUT TO RULE ON A RECALL OF THIS PARTICULAR IGNITION MODULE. FORD'S DEALERS CLAIM THE PART WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL EARLY 2001!!! THIS SITUATION IS PREPOSTEROUS AND HAS ALREADY COST ME IN EXCESS OF $1500 IN RENTAL CAR BILLS. YOUR IMMEDIATE HELP WITH THIS ,PLEASE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
NHTSA ID
732917
Incident
Aug 6, 2000
Electrical
Filed Aug 31, 2000
DRIVING AT 65 MPH,ALL WARNING LIGHTS AND SOUNDS WENT OFF,LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL
NHTSA ID
729672
Incident
Aug 27, 2000
Electrical
Filed Aug 31, 2000
AUTO'S WARNING SYSTEM WENT OFF ALL AT ONCE,LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL
NHTSA ID
729667
Incident
Aug 27, 2000
Electrical
Filed Jul 11, 2000
SWITCH HAS FAILED CAUSING SAFETY FEATURES TO FAULT AND NOT WORK. *AK
NHTSA ID
725290
Incident
Jul 6, 2000
Electrical
Filed Nov 4, 1999
POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL FAILURE CAUSED THE ALTENATOR TO CAUGHT FIRE & OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO MALFUNCTION. THIS HAS OCCURED TWICE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *YC
NHTSA ID
852557
Electrical
Filed Dec 31, 1998
Fire reported
ALTERNATOR WIRING HARNESS OVERHEATED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE, WHILE CONSUMER WAS SITTING IN THE VEHICLE, DIDN'T NOTICE ANY SMOKE OR SMELL OF FIRE, CONSUMER HAD REPLACED ALTERNATOR 10 DAYS PRIOR TO INCIDENT. *AK
NHTSA ID
832939
Incident
Dec 29, 1998
Electrical
Filed Oct 15, 1998
BYPASS RELAY FAILED CAUSING PROBLEMS WITH STARTING VEHICLE.
NHTSA ID
542007
Incident
Dec 18, 1995
Electrical
Filed Oct 2, 1998
Fire reported
VEHICLE WAS SMOKING WHEN PULLED INTO A GARAGE, AND BURST INTO FLAMES. FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY EXTINGUISHER. FIRE DEPARTMENT MOVED THE CAR FROM GARAGE. ALSO, BRAKE LIGHT CAME ON BEFORE THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. NO WARRANTY. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER ARE AWARE, AND CANNOT TAKE THE CASE. *AK
NHTSA ID
828475
Incident
Sep 17, 1998
Electrical
Filed Jun 3, 1998
Fire reported
DROVE VEHICLE TO WORK AT 7:30 AM. SHUT THE ENGINE OFF, CAME BACK TO VEHICLE AT 10:00 AM AND DISCOVERED THAT VEHICLE HAD BEEN BURNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT THE FIRE OUT, AND NOTED IN THE REPORT THAT THE FIRE STARTED FROM THE IGNITION SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
NHTSA ID
822491
Incident
Apr 15, 1998
Electrical
Filed May 13, 1998
Fire reported
VEHICLE FIRE DUE TO FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA ID
535406
Incident
Apr 15, 1998
Electrical
Filed Sep 22, 1997
OWNER STATES THAT ECU COMPUTER TAKES OVER VEHICLE AND THAT VEHICLE ACCELERATES WITHOUT DRIVER APPLICATION OF GAS PEDAL. DEALERS HAVE REPLACED OXYGEN SENSOR, BUT PROBLEM REMAINS. OWNER ALSO NOTES OF THROTTLE LINKAGE/ BRAKING. ALSO.ONWER VERY CONCERNED FOR SAFETY. *AK
NHTSA ID
816545
Electrical
Filed Aug 18, 1997
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE ENGINE WILL SHUT OFF, AND SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WILL COME ON BY ITSELF. THE OTHER TIMES DRIVER WILL HAVE TO TURN THE IGNITION SWITCH TO GET IT BACK ON. *AK
NHTSA ID
815416
Incident
Jun 12, 1997
Electrical
Filed Jul 3, 1997
Fire reported
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL,HICH STARTED IN THE HARNESS AREA. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED. *AK
NHTSA ID
813784
Incident
Jun 13, 1997
Electrical
Filed Oct 25, 1996
Fire reported
VEHICLE HAD A RECALL FOR IGNITION SWITCH. PARKED VEHICLE AND SMOKE WAS EVERYWHERE, THEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
NHTSA ID
804071
Incident
Dec 31, 1989
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