IllustrationWHILE DRIVING ENGINE OVERHEATED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. TECHNICIAN STATED ENGINE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK
1990 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: 9 of 140 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 38 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 34 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports19 fire reports6 injury reports
Engine And Engine Cooling complaints
11 reportsREPLACED DEFECTIVE ENGINE HEAD GASKET. *AK
I DID NOT KNOW WHO TO CONTACT ABOUT THIS; I HAVE ANGERED A VIGILANTE GROUP. THE GROUP, WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE THE KLAN, ARE DRIVING THEIR OPEN BED PICKUP TRUCKS IN FRONT OF ME WITH OPEN CONTAINERS OF SOMETHING, I SUSPECT TO BE A CANCER CAUSING PESTICIDE. IT IS PLUGGING UP MY AIR FILTERS, WHICH I HAVE SAVED. I WANT YOU TO TAKE…
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I DID NOT KNOW WHO TO CONTACT ABOUT THIS; I HAVE ANGERED A VIGILANTE GROUP. THE GROUP, WHICH I BELIEVE TO BE THE KLAN, ARE DRIVING THEIR OPEN BED PICKUP TRUCKS IN FRONT OF ME WITH OPEN CONTAINERS OF SOMETHING, I SUSPECT TO BE A CANCER CAUSING PESTICIDE. IT IS PLUGGING UP MY AIR FILTERS, WHICH I HAVE SAVED. I WANT YOU TO TAKE THIS COMPLAINT SERIOUSLY AND TEST THE AIR FILTERS TO DETERMINE THE AGENT THAT IS BEING USED TO ACCOST ME. IT WON'T COST YOU VERY MUCH AND IT COULD POINT OUT A PROBLEM THAT COULD SAVE MANY LIVES. *AK
VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY 4 DAYS. IT CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE DEPT DISTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. INDICATION OF FIRE ORIGIN WAS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH FIXED WIRES. CONTACTED FORD. INDICATED RECALL WAS SENT OUT. BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SKIPPING & MISSING. TOOK TO SERVICE DEPT & INFORMED HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN & WATER LEAKED INTO …
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VEHICLE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY 4 DAYS. IT CAUGHT FIRE. FIRE DEPT DISTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. INDICATION OF FIRE ORIGIN WAS IN THE IGNITION SWITCH FIXED WIRES. CONTACTED FORD. INDICATED RECALL WAS SENT OUT. BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE SKIPPING & MISSING. TOOK TO SERVICE DEPT & INFORMED HEAD GASKETS HAD BLOWN & WATER LEAKED INTO CYLINDER. NO TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FOR THUNDERBIRD ABOUT HEAD GASKETS. *AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
3.8 V6 HEAD GASKET PROBLEM. LOSING WATER. FORD IS HAVING MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS. I AM TOLD BY DEALER FORD WILL DO NOTHING ABOUT HELP WITH REPAIR COST. *AK
CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. CRANKSHAFT SENSOR CAUSES SAFETY HAZZARD BY FAILNG AND STALLING CARE MAKING IT UNABLE TO RESTART WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED. CAR MUST BE PULLED OR PUSHED OFF OF ROAD AND TOWED. THIS CAUSES DANGER TO PASSENGERS OF THIS VEHICLE AND TO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. ALSO RECALL 99S30 COVERS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AFTER 19…
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CRANKSHAFT SENSOR. CRANKSHAFT SENSOR CAUSES SAFETY HAZZARD BY FAILNG AND STALLING CARE MAKING IT UNABLE TO RESTART WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED. CAR MUST BE PULLED OR PUSHED OFF OF ROAD AND TOWED. THIS CAUSES DANGER TO PASSENGERS OF THIS VEHICLE AND TO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD. ALSO RECALL 99S30 COVERS VEHICLES MANUFACTURED AFTER 1992 EVEN THOUGH VEHICLES BUILT AFTER 1989 HAD THE SAME FAULTY SWITCHES IN THEM.
ENGINE HEAD GASKET BLEW WATER PASS BLEW INTO #3 CYL CAUSING FAILURE OF GASKET. *AK
THE HEADLIGHT COVER JUST FELL OFF SOME WHERE. THE HEAD GASKETS -- WE TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE FORD STORE AND THEY FIXED THEM FOR US UNDER OUR WARRANTY BUT THEY ARE BLOW AGAIN LESS THAN 6 MONTHES LATER. *AK
BOLT THA THOLDS TOGETHER THE HARMONIC BALANCER DISCONNECTED DUE TO DESIGN. *AK
Official recalls
396V071000 · 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.
91V076000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
May 6, 1991
THE NUTS WHICH HOLD WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO THE WIPER MODULE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED AND MAY LOOSEN OR COME OFF. THIS CAUSES CHANGED WIPER PATTERNS, OR THE WIPERS MAY JAM IF TWO OF THE THREE NUTS COME OFF.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CHANGES IN THE WIPER PATTERN OR JAMMING OF THE WIPERSWOULD RESULT IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILTY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Remedy: APPLY TORQUE RETENTION MATERIAL TO WIPER MOTOR STUDS AND NUTS AND RETORQUE.
90V026000 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery:cables
Feb 12, 1990
BATTERY TO STARTER CABLES ARE LONGER THAN SPECIFIED; EXCESSIVE CABLE LENGTH COULD CONTACT ENGINE DAMPER PULLEY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CABLE PROTECTIVE COVERING AND INSULATION COULD WEAR THROUGH AND CAUSE A DIRECT SHORT TO GROUND, RESULTING IN OVERHEATING OF THE CABLE INSULATION AND POSSIBLY A UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Remedy: REPLACE BATTERY TO STARTER CABLE WITH CORRECT LENGTH CABLE.
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
4PE95019 · 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