WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING. THIS WAS DUE TO THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE IGNITION RECALL 96V071000. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK
1988 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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Thunderbird years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
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: 2 of 92 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 29 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Exterior Lighting. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
29 reportsIGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED IN 1999. CAR WAS RETURNED TO TED BRITT FORD FOR COMPLIANCE.INVOICE STATES PN F29Z-11572D INSTALLED.IGNITION SWITCH FAILED 8/17/02 ENGINE RUNNING FINE BUT ABS INOP-LOSS OF BRAKE POWER BOOST NOT JUST ANTI LOCK.DEFECTIVE SWITCH FOUND TO BE PN F29A11572DA NOT F29Z11572D AS STATED ON RECALL INVOICE.PER JE…
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IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED IN 1999. CAR WAS RETURNED TO TED BRITT FORD FOR COMPLIANCE.INVOICE STATES PN F29Z-11572D INSTALLED.IGNITION SWITCH FAILED 8/17/02 ENGINE RUNNING FINE BUT ABS INOP-LOSS OF BRAKE POWER BOOST NOT JUST ANTI LOCK.DEFECTIVE SWITCH FOUND TO BE PN F29A11572DA NOT F29Z11572D AS STATED ON RECALL INVOICE.PER JERRY'S FORD PARTS DEPT THESE PART NUMBERS INTERCHANGE.THE REMOVED PART SHOWED SIGNS OF MELTING AND CHARRING.*AK
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED.CONTACTED DEALER. REASON UNKNOWN.*AK
CAR OFF. FIRE UNDER HOOD DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT-PER FIRE DEPT.
IGNITION SWITCH IS CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL OUT IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS.*AK
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT AND THERE WAS A BURN/ ELECTRICAL SMELL, BUT NO SMOKE. CONSUMER TURNED TO START VEHICLE BACK UP, AND NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. A MECHANIC FOUND THAT IGNITION SWITCH BURNED OUT FROM OVERHEATING. RECALL 96V071000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 95S28 WAS SERVICED IN JANUARY 1997. *AK
ALTERNATOR OVERHEATED, AND HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE WITHIN IGNITION SWITCH. *AK TWO DEALERS HAD DIFFERING OPENION ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES SOMETHING WITHIN THE VEHICLE'S DESIGN EXCITES THE ELECTRICAL CHANGING SYSTEM. *YH
BOUGHT CAR FRM OLD LADY WHO RARELY DROVE IT. AFTER BOUGHT NOTICED FRNT END CLUNK ALL SPEEDS REPLACED STRUTS CLUNK STILLTHERE REPLACED STRUT BEARINGS AND ALL BUSHINGS IN FRONT END. CLUNKING STILL THERE REAR END CLUNKING BAD WHEN PUT INTO GEAR AND WHEN CAR SHIFTS REPLACED REAR SHOCKS....STILL THERE ....AT FRONT ALSO ...WAS TOL…
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BOUGHT CAR FRM OLD LADY WHO RARELY DROVE IT. AFTER BOUGHT NOTICED FRNT END CLUNK ALL SPEEDS REPLACED STRUTS CLUNK STILLTHERE REPLACED STRUT BEARINGS AND ALL BUSHINGS IN FRONT END. CLUNKING STILL THERE REAR END CLUNKING BAD WHEN PUT INTO GEAR AND WHEN CAR SHIFTS REPLACED REAR SHOCKS....STILL THERE ....AT FRONT ALSO ...WAS TOLD BY SANTA MARIA FORD THE FRONT CLUNK IS FROM THE REAR SOMEWHERE?...I FINALLY FOUND IT IN STEERING RACK THE ROD ENDS WERE DRY (NO LUBE FROM FACTORY) THE BALL SOCKETS IN THEM WERE JUST SHORT OF A WRECK WEAR WISE ....REPLACED THEM AND BEHOLD NO CLUNK FROM FRONT....REAR STILL CLUNKS TO THIS DAY.RECALL FOR ING SWITCH AFTER THIS WAS REPLACED THE ENGING SURGES AND SOMETIMES STALLS AT SPEED AND IDLE THE DEALER (JIM BURKE IN BAKERSFIELD) SAYS ITS MY PROBLEM AND THEY COULD CHECK IT OUT FOR $$$$$ I HAD PAYED THEM FOR DIAGNOSES AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED INJECTOR CLEANED @495.00FOR #4 INJ. WELL I INSTALLED NEW ONE FOR $40.00 AND PRICE OF GASKETS CAR PASSED SMOG BUT STILL SURGES AT ALL SPEEDS..........THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE STOPPED LATCHING ABOUT THE TIME OF INGNITION RECALL FORD SAID TUFF LUCK GO TO A JUNKYARD
HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY: IMMEDIATELY, OR UP TO 20-30 MINUTES AFTER TURNING THEM ON, HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS.. HAVE REPLACED 3 TURN SIGNAL/BRIGHT LIGHT SWITCHES, DUE TO THEM OVERHEATING AND MELTING. WHEN HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, INTERIOR FILLS WITH BURNING PLASTIC SMELL, BUT NO FIRE. ALMOST EVERY P…
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HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY: IMMEDIATELY, OR UP TO 20-30 MINUTES AFTER TURNING THEM ON, HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS.. HAVE REPLACED 3 TURN SIGNAL/BRIGHT LIGHT SWITCHES, DUE TO THEM OVERHEATING AND MELTING. WHEN HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, INTERIOR FILLS WITH BURNING PLASTIC SMELL, BUT NO FIRE. ALMOST EVERY POWER ACCESSORY INSIDE CAR DOESN'T WORK, OR ONLY WORKS SOMETIMES. DRIVER'S POWER SEAT SOMETIMES SHORTS OUT AND HAS A BURNING SMELL: NO FIRE DETECTED. AT TIMES, INTERIOR OF CAR FILLS WITH BURNING PLASTIC SMELL SO STRONG THAT YOU HAVE TO EXIT THE CAR: HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF OVERHEATING/SMOLDERING, NO FIRES. ABS BRAKES FAIL WHEN STOPPING SUDDENLY. BRAKES LOCK AND CAR SKIDS, STEERING VERY DIFFICULT WHEN BRAKES LOCK. *AK
THIS SWITCH WAS REPLACED W/ RECALL @ DEALER! CALLED DEALER, WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE OF TIME LAPSE. SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL! THEY REPLACED A FAULTY ELECTRICAL ELEMENT WITH ANOTHER FAULTY ELECTRICAL ELEMENT (I HAVE SWITCH) AND LET ME DRIVE AWAY, 7 MONTHS PREGNANT! (PLUS, MY BABY & I WERE ON THE ROAD LATE WHEN EVENT OCCURRED.…
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THIS SWITCH WAS REPLACED W/ RECALL @ DEALER! CALLED DEALER, WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE OF TIME LAPSE. SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL! THEY REPLACED A FAULTY ELECTRICAL ELEMENT WITH ANOTHER FAULTY ELECTRICAL ELEMENT (I HAVE SWITCH) AND LET ME DRIVE AWAY, 7 MONTHS PREGNANT! (PLUS, MY BABY & I WERE ON THE ROAD LATE WHEN EVENT OCCURRED. SHORTED EVERYTHING, SMOKED US OUT, DISCONNECTED BATTERY TO STOP FIRE IGNITION, BY MYSELF W/ ONLY LIGHTING A SPARKING COLUMN INSIDE!CONNECTED AGAIN & IT RESET SO WE COULD GET HOME, BUT HAD NO BRAKES (BOOSTER IS ELECTRONIC) CALLED DEALER AFTER RECALL INSTALL BECAUSE WHEN I'D TURN THE KEY, WOULDN'T "SEAT" PROPERLY IN IGNITION. SAID, "DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, IT'S JUST BREAKING IN" EXACT WORDS--"IT WILL LEARN YOUR KEY ASSEMBLY" WAS THAT SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN BEFORE OR AFTER IT BURNED TO THE GROUND?? I GOT NO HELP FROM THE DEALER HERE IN PLANT CITY, FLORIDA. *AK
Official recalls
296V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
88V033000 · Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft
Mar 15, 1988
A DESIGN CHANGE TO FACILITATE CHANGEOVER IN REAR AXLE SHAFT FLANGES INADVERTENTLY PRODUCED THE POSSIBILITY FOR INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE FLANGE AND DISC BRAKE ROTOR.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE INTERFERENCE COULD PREVENT PROPER SEATING OF THEROTOR. ALSO AN IMPROPERLY SEATED ROTOR COULD IN TIME RESULT IN A REDUCTION INTHE CLAMPING FORCES OF THE WHEEL STUDS, POSSIBLY LEADING TO FRACTURED STUDSAND REAR WHEEL SEPARATION.
Remedy: INSPECTION OF VEHICLES AND WHERE NECESSARY REPLACE REAR AXLE SHAFTS AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS.
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
7EA95021 · 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
EA90009 · Throttle Sticking
Opened Feb 8, 1990 · Closed Feb 28, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
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
PE90001 · Throttle Sticking
Opened Oct 4, 1989 · Closed Feb 2, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
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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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