RoadVitals

1991 Ford Thunderbird Electrical Problems

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.
12
Latest Mar 30, 2000
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.
11%
of 112 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.
8
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

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 1991 Ford Thunderbird submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Electrical
Filed Mar 30, 2000

HEADLIGHTS COME ON/OFF. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.

NHTSA ID
859428
Incident
Mar 26, 2000
Electrical
Filed Jun 14, 1999
Fire reported

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING SHE SMELLED SMOKE. PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, AND THEY DISCONNECTED ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FAN MOTOR . FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
839791
Incident
Jun 14, 1999
Electrical
Filed Oct 5, 1998
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT. MECHANIC STATED THAT CAR HAS HAD OVERHEATING PROBLEMS. CONSUMER ALSO INDICATED THAT MASTER CYLINDER LOCKED UP TWICE, AS WELL AS STEERING COLUMN AND ENTIRE DASHBOARD WENT OUT. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN THE ANTI- LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. THEN THE ENGINE WIRES SHORTED OUT. CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO POUR DOWN TO EXHAUST SYSTEM ONTO THE ENGINE MANIFOLD, RESULTING IN A FIRE. WAS FORCED TO SHUT DOWN VEHICLE BECAUSE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO SHE WAS ALMOST KILLED TWICE. THE DEALERSKIP KOONS FORD INC STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON CAR FOR IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONSUMER WANTS HER CAR TO BE FIXED. *AK

NHTSA ID
828589
Incident
Oct 4, 1998
ElectricalSteering
Filed Mar 4, 1998

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED UP THE WIRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN WHILE TRAVELING, TOTALED, RECALL #95S28 RECEIVED.

NHTSA ID
511932
Incident
Jul 5, 1994
Electrical
Filed Mar 13, 1997
Fire reported

WHILE ENTERING A PARKING LOT, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, NEAR IGNITION, PARKED VEHICLE, EVERYONE OUT OF VEHICLE; WENT TO MAKE PHONE CALL, VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES; CALLED 911; SOMEONE WAS PUTTING FLAMES OUT BEFORE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED. *AK

NHTSA ID
809986
Incident
Mar 11, 1997
Electrical
Filed Jun 12, 1996
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN ALTERNATOR HARNESS WIRE CAUSEED ALTERNATOR AND WIRE HARNESS TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK *JB

NHTSA ID
985558
Incident
Jun 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed May 5, 1996
Fire reported

IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED TWICE, FIRST TIME CAUSING FIRE. *DSH

NHTSA ID
504097
Incident
Mar 28, 1995
Electrical
Filed Apr 19, 1996
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN AND WIRING TO BURN. *AK

NHTSA ID
983071
Incident
Apr 15, 1996
Electrical
Filed Apr 18, 1996

SOMETIMES THE IGNITION WOULD STAY STARTED AFTER CONSUMER TAKES THE KEY OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
982971
Electrical
Filed Apr 18, 1996
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
982903
Incident
Jun 1, 1994
Electrical
Filed Feb 1, 1996
Fire reported

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WIRING HARNESS CAUSED FIRE. *DSH

NHTSA ID
501268
Incident
Jan 7, 1996
BrakesElectrical
Filed Jul 26, 1995

THE ROTOR HAD TO BE REPLACE EVERY THREE MONTH AND THE FUSE KEEP BLOWING OUT . TT

NHTSA ID
969453

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

Brakes19Seat belts15Engine14Fuel system11Driver assistance10Exterior lighting10Visibility8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .