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1987 Ford Thunderbird

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
61Owner complaints

Model-year median: 3

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

5Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
26
198414
198523
198661
198792
1988124
1989140
1990
Compare all Thunderbird years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System
24Seat Belts
13Vehicle Speed Control
7Service Brakes, Hydraulic
5Engine And Engine Cooling
4
All reported categories
Fuel System, Gasoline
4Exterior Lighting
3Steering
2Equipment
1Power Train
1Structure
1Tires
1Visibility
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 1 of 61 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Electrical System. Review the 24 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Seat Belts. Review the 13 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports17 fire reports3 injury reports

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

7 reports
Clear category filter
63,000 miles · Sep 13, 2005
Vehicle Speed ControlFire

DT: THIS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE THREE TIMES. IT WAS CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. CONTACTED FORD, THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONSUMER PUT TWO OF THE FIRES OUT, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT ONE OF THE FIRES OUT. ALL FIRES STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THIS HAPPENED ON JUNE 1, 1996. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF ALL T…

Read full complaint

DT: THIS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE THREE TIMES. IT WAS CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. CONTACTED FORD, THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONSUMER PUT TWO OF THE FIRES OUT, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT ONE OF THE FIRES OUT. ALL FIRES STARTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THIS HAPPENED ON JUNE 1, 1996. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF ALL THREE TIMES AND PARKED AND THAT WAS WHEN THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE REPAIR SHOP REBUILT THE WIRING ALL THREE TIMES. *AK

NHTSA ODI #10136339

Mileage unknown · Oct 13, 2000
Engine And Engine CoolingVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE ACCELERATES BY ITSELF AND THAT THE GAS PEDAL GOES UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN, CONSUMER STATES THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. *SLC

NHTSA ODI #872949

Mileage unknown · Oct 20, 1998
Vehicle Speed ControlInjury

WHILE DRIVING AT A SPEED OF 45 MPH, THE CRUISE CONTROL SHORTED, CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL TO FALL OFF, CAUSING THE DRIVER TO CRASH INTO A BARN, INJURING THREE PASSENGERS AND KILLING ONE COW.

NHTSA ODI #781471

Mileage unknown · Jan 16, 1998
Vehicle Speed Control

VEHICLE HAS EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ODI #528441

Mileage unknown · Aug 26, 1997
Vehicle Speed Control

T.P.S. SWITCH FAILURE WHICH THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON (NO.87-25-7 DATE :8712). THIS FAILURE CAUSED VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY ACCELERATE AND CAUSE ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #521437

Mileage unknown · Jun 23, 1997
Vehicle Speed ControlCrash

OWNER PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND THE VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BE INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. VEHICLE SUDDEN ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THERE WAS A INVESTIGATION PE-88097, BUT THAT INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #813361

Mileage unknown · Aug 1, 1996
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

COMPUTER FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL/ACCIDENT. *SD

NHTSA ODI #506980

Official recalls

1

87V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings

Sep 4, 1987

SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.

Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

5

EA95021 · Faulty Seat Belt Buckles

Opened Jul 31, 1995 · Closed Sep 30, 1997

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

There is no summary currently available

PE95019 · Faulty Seatbelt Buckles

Opened Mar 27, 1995 · Closed Jul 31, 1995

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:buckle Assembly

There is no summary currently available

EA90005 · Power Seat Malfunc/fire

Opened Oct 31, 1989 · Closed Mar 12, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats

There is no summary currently available

PE89125 · Pwr Seat Malfunc - Fire

Opened Jun 1, 1989 · Closed Oct 31, 1989

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

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PE88097 · Floormat/accel Pedal Intrf

Opened Aug 31, 1988 · Closed Dec 2, 1988

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

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