IllustrationELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE RESULTING IN VEHICLE FIRE.
1989 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 124 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.
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
14 crash reports24 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
124 reportsCONSUMER PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE .*AK
ALTERNATOR FIRE. *AW
THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT SHOULDER HARNESS DOES NOT MOVE. YOU CAN HEAR MOTOR RUNNING BUT IT STAYS IN ONE POSITION. *AK CONSUMER STATES THE PLASTIC TRACK THAT HARNESS RUNS ON IS NOT VISIBLE AS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, THE TRACK IS EITHER BROKEN OR STUCK DOWN INSIDE MOTOR AREA.*JB
MOTORIZED SEATBELT LOCKED IN THE OPEN POSITION, THE MOTOR CONTINUES TO GRIND. *AK
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM WIRING HARNESS UNDER THE HOOD. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY, IGNITION STARTED TO SMOKE; GOT OUT OF CAR, STEERING COLUMN CAUGHT FIRE, THEN ENTIRE DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE; VEHICLE TOTALED.*AK
AFTER AUTO WAS DRIVEN APPROX 8 MILES AND PARKED FOR APPROX 4 HOURS,THEN HORN STARTED TO BLOW ,THE DOOR WAS OPENED AND BLACK SMOKE POURED OUT. *AK
CAR WAS PARKED IN A BARN AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
Official recalls
496V071000 · 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.
89V080000 · Suspension:rear:springs
May 19, 1989
IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLES COULD EXPERIENCE HIGH MILEAGE FATIGUE CRACKS AND EVENTUAL FRACTURE.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN REAR SUSPENSION FAILURE AT THEAFFECTED WHEEL WITH AN ADVERSE AFFECT ON CONTROL OF THE CAR, WHICH COULDCAUSE AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: REPLACE KNUCKLES THAT HAVE THE AFFECTED LOT CODES.
89V081000 · Service Brakes, Air:disc:caliper
May 19, 1989
DUE TO CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE CALIPER OF THE INBOARD FRONT WHEEL AND THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR, THERE MAY BE INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL FOLLOWING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE A REDUCTION IN BRAKE PERFORMANCETHAT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy: INSTALL ACORN TYPE FRONT SUSPENSION STRUT NUTS TO ELIMINATE STABILIZER BAR TO BRAKE CALIPER CONTACT.
88V165000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:mounting
Oct 18, 1988
PLASTIC ROLLOVER VALVE MOUNTING PLATE MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SEALED TO THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: FUEL OR VAPOR COULD LEAK, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLEFIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE FUEL TANK.
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
6PE95019 · 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
EA93033 · Thrttl Vlv Linkage Bushing
Opened Dec 30, 1993 · Closed Dec 30, 1994
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE93075 · Thrttl Vlv Linkage Bushing
Opened Aug 30, 1993 · Closed Dec 30, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA90034 · Hood Latches Fail
Opened Jun 26, 1990 · Closed Feb 25, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
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
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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