RoadVitals

1995 Ford Thunderbird Brakes Problems

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.
95
Latest Apr 6, 2011
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.
36%
of 261 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.
1

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 1995 Ford Thunderbird submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 95 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 95, in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Apr 6, 2011
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND HIS FOOT SLIPPED FROM THE PEDAL DUE TO THE BRAKE COVER FRACTURING.THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FRONT END OF BOTH VEHICLES WAS DAMAGED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE COVER WAS NOT SECURED PROPERLY AND HE BELIEVED THE PEDAL SHOULD HAVE HAD MORE RUBBER TO PREVENT SLIPPAGE. HE NO LONGER OWNED THE VEHICLE AND THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,400. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ID
10394461
Incident
May 31, 1997
Mileage
2,400 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 4, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY THE REAR BRAKES SQUEAKED. THERE WAS AN INTENSE GRINDING NOISE. AT 40 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION . NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. *AK UPDATED 1/4/2006 - THE TRIES JUST NEEDED TO NE BALANCED AND ROTATED. THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS WOULD GRIND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED. *NM

NHTSA ID
10141775
Incident
Oct 15, 2005
Mileage
148,890 mi
BrakesTransmission
Filed Nov 4, 2003

CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. WHILE THE MECHANIC WAS CHECKING THE BRAKES, HE TOLD HER THAT TRANSMISSION WAS MALFUNCTIONING. CONSUMER STATED THAT WHEN STEPPING ON THE GAS PEDAL VEHICLE HESITATED AND SHOOK. THEN, MADE A FUNNY NOISE. VEHICLE HAD BEEN DOING THIS FOR A LONG TIME. CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY THE MECHANIC THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID
10046346
Incident
Nov 4, 2003
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+8 more
Filed Mar 5, 2002

ON TWO OCCASIONS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK ENGINE ROARS, CONSUMER WOULD TAP THE ACCELERATOR AND WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR, FEELS AS IF VEHICLE IS PUT IN NEUTRAL. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT SWITCH ASSEMBLY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER REPLACE 2 O2 SENSORS AND MAF SENSOR. VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT. WHEEL ALIGNMENT PERFORMED. STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. PRFORMED FRONT DISC/ REAR DRUM BRAKE SERVICE. REPLACED FRONT ROTORS AFTER BRAKE JOB DUE TO PULSATION. STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT TIMES, VEHICLE WILL NOT SHUTT OFF. RIGHT DOOR LOCK INOPERATIVE. DEALER CAN NOT DUPLICATE. CUSTOMER STATES FLUID LEAK AT REAR END. RIGHT AXLE SEAL REPLACED. PASSENGER HEAD REST RATTLES OVER BUMPS. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. CONSUMER STATES NOISE FROM SEAT WHEN NO ONE IS SITTING THERE, DEALER STATES THIS IS NORMAL. SEAT TRACK COVERS MISING ONE LAYING IN THE REAR FLOOR. SEAT TRACK COVER REINSTALLED. CONSUMER STATS THERE IS A PINGING NOISE UPON ACCELERATION. DEALER SUGGESTED HIGHER FUEL OCTANE. CUSTOMER STATES BRAKE PEDAL SEEMS LOW. BRAKES OK. FRONT END SHIMMIES AT 50 TO 60 MPH. 4 TIRES BALANCED. DOME LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON WHEN DRIVER OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE PULLED UP. TEMPERATURE AND SPEEDOMOTER LIGHT BURNED WAS INOPERATIVE. DEALER REPLACED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BULBS. COOLANT LEAK UNDER CAR AND WARNING LIGHT IS ON. DEALER FOUND NO LEAKS AND COOLANT LEVEL LOW. CONSUMER STATES MOTOR WILL ROAR AND SHIFT INTO GEAR. DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP BURNT OUT. HEADLAMP REPLACED. TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN NOT IN OVERDRIVE. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION OIL PAN AND GASKET. *TT

NHTSA ID
8004997
Incident
Oct 15, 1995
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 14, 2001

VEHICLE WILL STALL WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. WHEN AT STOP LIGHT CONSUMER WOULD PUT VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.*AK DEALER STATED IGNITION SYSTEM HAD SHORTED OUT RESULTING IN SPARK PLUGS BEING BURNED, DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH AND SPARK PLUGS, CONSUMER STATES THERE ARE STILL PROBLEMS AND NOW THE ENGINE IS MISFIRING, CONSUMER STATED THERE WAS A RECALL REGARDING THE IGNITION SWITCH PROBLEMS, HOWEVER DEALER INFORMED THAT THIS VIN IS NOT INCLUDED. FAN BELT REPLACED. FRONT AND REAR BRAKE PADS REPLACED. *SLC

NHTSA ID
894352
Incident
Jun 30, 2001
Brakes
Filed Jun 2, 2001

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
746297
Incident
Sep 10, 1996
Brakes
Filed Dec 27, 2000

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
738353
Incident
Dec 26, 2000
BrakesEngineTransmission
Filed Jul 10, 2000

CAR WOULD VIBRATE WHEN CHANGING GEARS OR TRYING TO CHANGE GEARS, PARTICULARLY FROM 3RD-4TH GEARS. VIBRATED VIOLENTLY AT HIGH SPEED WHEN EXCELERATING FOR DECELERATING. BRAKING AT HIGH SPEED CAUSED THE CAR FRONT TO SHAKE AND STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE CAUSE THE CAR TO UNCONTROLLABLE. SUDDEN BRAKING CAUSED THE CAR TO PULL STRONGLY TO THE RIGHT. FAILURE OF THE ENGINE COOLING FAN MODULE CAUSED THE FAN NOT TO SHUT OFF WHEN INGNITION WAS TURNED OFF.*AK

NHTSA ID
725221
Incident
Aug 30, 1995
Brakes
Filed Jul 4, 2000

HAD TO REPLACE FRONT ROTORS ON THIS VEHICLE 5 TIMES - SHOULD HAVE DONE IT MORE - I JUST PUT UP WITH THE SHAKING/VIBRATIONS. *AK

NHTSA ID
724909
Brakes
Filed May 21, 2000

ROTORS WARPED REPLACED 3 TIMES IN 50000 AND BAD AGAIN /EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE . IS THERE A FIX FOR THIS TROUBLE FORD DEALERS ARE NO HELP THANKS. *AK

NHTSA ID
722985
Incident
Aug 1, 1995
Brakes
Filed Mar 6, 2000

THE BRAKE ROTORS IN TWO YEARS HAVE BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, HOWEVER CONTINUES TO HAVE BAD VIBRATION AND SHAKING ON BRAKING, DUE TO POSSIBLE DESIGN DEFECT (THUNDERBIRDS). *ET

NHTSA ID
784541
Incident
Feb 2, 1998
Brakes
Filed Oct 25, 1999

BRAKES SHUTTER ON APPLICATION FIRST TIME DEALER "CUT" THE ROTORS AND TOLD US THEY WHERE A POOR COMPOSITE. WHY HAVE THEY NOT BEEN RECALLED AND WHY WILL FORD NOT REPLACE THEM? I'VE LOOKED AT THE COMPLAINTS WE ARE NOT THE ONLY ONES

NHTSA ID
713865
Incident
May 1, 1996
Brakes
Filed Oct 23, 1999

I HAVE REPLACED BRAKES AND ROTORS TWICE SINCE OWNING AND NEED TO DO IT AGAIN.THE BRAKES I HAD PUT ON 6 MONTHS AGO ARE NOW CHIPPING. THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THIS THUNDERBISD FEELS INADEQUATE.SEEING THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BRAKE SYSTEM ON THE 95 THUNDERBIRD.WHY ISN'T SOMETHING BEING DONE ABOUT IT?

NHTSA ID
713735
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
Brakes
Filed Sep 6, 1999

THE BRAKES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES BY THE DEALER BUT THEY CONTINUED TO WARP AND FINALLY MY WARRENTY AND MY PATIENCE ENDED. YOU CAN ONLY LOSE SO MUCH TIME FROM WORK TO REPAIR A CAR. IN ITS FIRST FOUR MONTHS THE DEALER HAD THE CAR AS MUCH AS I DID.

NHTSA ID
711004
Incident
Nov 23, 1995
Brakes
Filed May 9, 1999

BRAKE ROTORS FAILURE, MAKES ROARING NOISE. YH

NHTSA ID
782342
Incident
Apr 29, 1999
BrakesTransmission
Filed Apr 12, 1999

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF OVERDRIVE AND WENT INTO DRIVE. ALSO, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE IS SHAKING AND VIBRATING DUE TO WARPED ROTORS. CONSUMER HAD ROTORS REPLACED FOUR TIMES, AND THE DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
835932
Incident
Jan 1, 1996
Brakes
Filed Mar 24, 1999

I HAVE REPLACED THE FRONT BRAKE PADS, HOWEVER CAR STILL HAS NO POWER BRAKES AND STALLS AFTER BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED. EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED IN PAINT JOB!

NHTSA ID
704883
Incident
Mar 15, 1999
Brakes
Filed Mar 17, 1999

BRAKE ROTORS NEEDED TURNING SEVERAL TIMES HOWEVER CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS, DUE TO WARPING.

NHTSA ID
544425
Incident
Mar 19, 1997
Brakes
Filed Mar 2, 1999

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE CAR SLOWS DOWN,BUT WILL NOT STOP. DEALER CAN'T DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
835411
BrakesEngineSteering+1 more
Filed Feb 13, 1999

THIS VEHICLE HAS RECIEVED MAJOR SERVICE REQUIRING IN EXCESS OF 60 DAYS OF SHOP TIME, FIVE TIMES ALONE FOR THE TRANSMISSION .

NHTSA ID
703261
Incident
Dec 29, 1997
Brakes
Filed Feb 1, 1999

VEHICLE SLIDES ON SNOW WHILE USING BRAKES.

NHTSA ID
605612
BrakesVisibility
Filed Jan 31, 1999

BLOWER MOTOR STICKS ON "HIGH" OR FAILS TO WORK WHEN "AUTO" IS SELECTED ON THE SWITCH -- REF. 1996 T-BIRD RECALL.; WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED WHEN MOVING FORWARD A POPPING SOUND IS HEARD. NO OBVIOUS BRAKE PROBLEMS EXIST.

NHTSA ID
702791
Incident
Apr 21, 1998
BrakesTransmission
Filed Jan 19, 1999

TORQUE CONVERTER PISTON FAILURE. TOURQUE CONVERTER AND PISTON REPLACED

NHTSA ID
702379
Incident
Jan 9, 1999
Brakes
Filed Nov 30, 1998

BRAKE PAD MATERIAL NOT MATING TO RESPECTIVE SURFACES CAUSING THE ROTORS TO WARP AND DAMAGE RESULTING IN EXTREME VIBRATION.

NHTSA ID
542801
Incident
Apr 29, 1996
Brakes
Filed Nov 20, 1998

BRAKE ROTORS WARPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED ABOUT 4 TIMES, CAUSING SERIOUS VIBRATION AND EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

NHTSA ID
831110
Incident
Apr 1, 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.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .