NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints
34 reportsClear category filter93,664 miles · Jan 13, 2004
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
YOUR ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED IN RESOLVING THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM WITH A DANGEROUS AND CLAIMED UNREPAIRABLE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THIS 1990 FORD THUNDERBIRD SUPER COUPE VIN#[XXX]. THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITH AN ABS BRAKING SYSTEM THAT IS DANGEROUS UPON FAILURE. THIS ABS SYSTEM UPON FAILURE RESULTS IN THE "COMPLETE" LOSS OF BRAK…
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YOUR ASSISTANCE IS REQUIRED IN RESOLVING THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM WITH A DANGEROUS AND CLAIMED UNREPAIRABLE BRAKING SYSTEM ON THIS 1990 FORD THUNDERBIRD SUPER COUPE VIN#[XXX]. THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITH AN ABS BRAKING SYSTEM THAT IS DANGEROUS UPON FAILURE. THIS ABS SYSTEM UPON FAILURE RESULTS IN THE "COMPLETE" LOSS OF BRAKING ON THIS VEHICLE AND POSES A SERIOUS THREAT OF INJURY TO UNSUSPECTING OCCUPANTS OPERATING THIS VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH THE EARLY TEVIS II ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM WHICH HAS BEEN DESCRIBED BY FORD BRAKE TECHNICIANS AS THE "WORST" BRAKING SYSTEM EVER INSTALLED ON A VEHICLE TO REPAIR. UNLIKE OTHER ABS BRAKING SYSTEMS, WHICH ALLOW A VEHICLE'S HYDRAULIC BRAKING SYSTEM TO CONTINUE TO FUNCTION WITH A FAILURE IN THE ABS PORTION OF THE SYSTEM, THIS VEHICLE'S "ENTIRE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILS" WITH THE LOSS OF ITS ABS COMPONENT. FORD WAS APPARENTLY AWARE OF THIS DEFECT AND APPARENT DANGER, BECAUSE THIS SYSTEM WAS UPGRADED ONLY AFTER APPROXIMATELY 3-YEARS OF PRODUCTION. I HAVE SPENT OVER $2,000.00 OVER THE LAST 2 YEARS ON THIS BRAKING SYSTEM. I INITIALLY TOOK IT TO A PEARSON'S FORD IN SAN DIEGO CALIFORNIA IN 2001 FOR BRAKE SYSTEM REPAIR AND UPON RECEIVING THE VEHICLE FROM DEALER, I EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH THE ABS WARNING LIGHT COMING ON PERIODICALLY WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE. I RETURNED IT TO THE DEALERSHIP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS AND THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM. THEY SUGGESTED I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I CONTINUED TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE UPON PEARSON FORD'S RECOMMENDATION UNTIL I EXPERIENCED A FULL SYSTEM FAILURE. THEODORE ROBBINS FORD OF COSTA MESA CALIFORNIA HAS ATTEMPTED REPAIRS AND THE SYSTEM HAS FAILED AFTER EACH REPAIR. THEY STILL HAVE THE VEHICLE. FORD STATES THEY NO LONGER SUPPORT THIS BRAKE SYSTEM AND DID NOT SEE A NEED TO ISSUE ANY ALERTS OR RECALLS ON THIS SYSTEM, WHICH DISCONTINUED. YOUR ASSISTANCE WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. UPDATED 07/26/2012 *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA ODI #10053138
Mileage unknown · Jun 3, 2002
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
WHEN COMING TO A STOP DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WILL LOCK UP WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK
NHTSA ODI #8010956
Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 2001
Electrical SystemService Brakes, HydraulicSteering
MODUAL FIRST FAILED SEP 00. CAR LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AT 60 MPH. CAR WAS PARKED FROM SEP 00 TO 26 JULY 01 WHILE FORD GOT PART. NEW MODUEL WAS INSTALLED 26 JULY 01 AND FAILED 8 AUG 01 AGAIN AT 60 MPH WITHOUT POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. FORD DEALER IS NOW LOOKING FOR A NEW ONE. PART WAS LISTED AT $100.00 AT TIME OF S…
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MODUAL FIRST FAILED SEP 00. CAR LOST POWER STEERING AND BRAKES AT 60 MPH. CAR WAS PARKED FROM SEP 00 TO 26 JULY 01 WHILE FORD GOT PART. NEW MODUEL WAS INSTALLED 26 JULY 01 AND FAILED 8 AUG 01 AGAIN AT 60 MPH WITHOUT POWER STEERING OR BRAKES. FORD DEALER IS NOW LOOKING FOR A NEW ONE. PART WAS LISTED AT $100.00 AT TIME OF SEP 00 FAILURE. MODUAL OBTAINED IN JUL 01 THAT FAILED IN AUG 01 COST $306.00
NHTSA ODI #750455
Mileage unknown · Feb 21, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
REPORTING A SECOND REOCCURRING FAILURE WITH BRAKR MASTER CYINDER, FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED AT 80,000 MILES, AND AGAIN CURRENTLY. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS ON THIS MATTER. *AK
NHTSA ODI #881035
Mileage unknown · Feb 15, 2001
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrashInjury
YOU KNOW MY HUSBAND AND HIS FRIEND HAD NO IDEA ONT HIS CAR THAT THE BRAKES WENT OUT, UNTIL THEY WERE GETTING OFF THE INTERSTATE, AND IT WAS TOO LATE. WRECKED INTO A SEMI-TRUCK, THAT GUY IS LUCKY- SO IS MY HUSBAND AND HIS FRIEND. I THINK THIS SGHOULD BE AN ISSUE OF CONCERN. THANKS. *AK
NHTSA ODI #740925
Mileage unknown · Nov 19, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
BRAKE MODULE COST $1,400 SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED. *AK
NHTSA ODI #736545
Mileage unknown · Oct 2, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control
THROTTLE STICKS AND CAUSES BRAKES NOTTO WORK. DRIVER HAS TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO STOP. *AK
NHTSA ODI #871945
Mileage unknown · May 22, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
PROCEEDING NORTH ON CA HWY 101 NEAR VENTURA. ANTILOCK AND BRAKE LIGHTS ACTIVATED. ATTEMPTED TO STOP WHILE AT 70 MPH. PEDAL "HARD" CAN WOULD NOT STOP. USED STICK SHIFT GEARS TO BRING VEHICLE SPEED DOWN, USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING CAR TO HALT AT SIDE OF FWY. SHUT OFF IGNITION. RESTARTED VEHICLE THINKING COMPUTER WAS AT FAULT A…
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PROCEEDING NORTH ON CA HWY 101 NEAR VENTURA. ANTILOCK AND BRAKE LIGHTS ACTIVATED. ATTEMPTED TO STOP WHILE AT 70 MPH. PEDAL "HARD" CAN WOULD NOT STOP. USED STICK SHIFT GEARS TO BRING VEHICLE SPEED DOWN, USED EMERGENCY BRAKE TO BRING CAR TO HALT AT SIDE OF FWY. SHUT OFF IGNITION. RESTARTED VEHICLE THINKING COMPUTER WAS AT FAULT AND NEEDED RESETTING. ANTILOCK AND BRAKE WARNING LIGHTS WENT OUT--VEHICLE COULD BE "STOPPED" BUT SYSTEM WENT OUT PERMANANTLY AFTER DRIVING APPROX. 5 MORE MILES. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER IN THOUSAND OAKS CA ( KEMP) AND INFORMED THAT THE "RELAY BANK" HAD SHORTED OUT. COSTS APPROX. $200.00 TO REPAIR. PROBLEM---ABS DID NOT FUNCTION AT ALL!!! *AK
NHTSA ODI #723033
Mileage unknown · Mar 27, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH SQUEALING FRONT DISC BRAKES. FRONT BRAKES SEEM TO BE DOING MOST OF THE BRAKING. REPLACED CALIPERS TWICE, DISC PADS SEVERAL TIMES, REBUILT REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS, REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER. REQURES A LOT OF PEDAL BEFORE BRAKES SEEM TO START TAKING EFFECT - MANUALLY ADJUSTED REAR BRAKES, SEEM…
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CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH SQUEALING FRONT DISC BRAKES. FRONT BRAKES SEEM TO BE DOING MOST OF THE BRAKING. REPLACED CALIPERS TWICE, DISC PADS SEVERAL TIMES, REBUILT REAR BRAKE CYLINDERS, REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER AND BRAKE BOOSTER. REQURES A LOT OF PEDAL BEFORE BRAKES SEEM TO START TAKING EFFECT - MANUALLY ADJUSTED REAR BRAKES, SEEMED TO HELP PROBLEM WITH PEDAL TRAVEL, PEDAL TRAVEL PROBLEM RETURNED, READJUSTED REAR BRAKES AND PEDAL TRAVEL IMPROVED AGAIN. SQUEELING FRONT DISC BRAKES CONTINUE. IS THERE ANY HISTORY OF THIS WITH POSSIBLE CORRECTIVE ACTION? *AK
NHTSA ODI #720651
Mileage unknown · Mar 14, 2000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
ABS CONTROL UNIT WENT OUT. APPLIED THE BRAKES & THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. USED EMERGENCY BRAKES TO STOP VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO PRIVATE MECHANIC & WAS INFORMED INSIDE CONTROL UNIT WAS DEFECTIVE & COULD NOT BE REBUILT. *AK
NHTSA ODI #858527
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