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1991 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: 8 of 112 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.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 15 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
7 crash reports12 fire reports5 injury reports
Electrical System complaints
13 reportsWHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING SHE SMELLED SMOKE. PUT VEHICLE IN PARK AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, AND THEY DISCONNECTED ENGINE COOLING SYSTEM FAN MOTOR . FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID THAT IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL FIRE. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT. MECHANIC STATED THAT CAR HAS HAD OVERHEATING PROBLEMS. CONSUMER ALSO INDICATED THAT MASTER CYLINDER LOCKED UP TWICE, AS WELL AS STEERING COLUMN AND ENTIRE DASHBOARD WENT OUT. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN THE ANTI- LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. THEN THE ENGINE WIRES SHORTED OUT. CAUSING BRAKE FLU…
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ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHORTED OUT. MECHANIC STATED THAT CAR HAS HAD OVERHEATING PROBLEMS. CONSUMER ALSO INDICATED THAT MASTER CYLINDER LOCKED UP TWICE, AS WELL AS STEERING COLUMN AND ENTIRE DASHBOARD WENT OUT. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT DOWN THE ANTI- LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. THEN THE ENGINE WIRES SHORTED OUT. CAUSING BRAKE FLUID TO POUR DOWN TO EXHAUST SYSTEM ONTO THE ENGINE MANIFOLD, RESULTING IN A FIRE. WAS FORCED TO SHUT DOWN VEHICLE BECAUSE CONSUMER DID NOT HAVE POWER WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. ALSO SHE WAS ALMOST KILLED TWICE. THE DEALERSKIP KOONS FORD INC STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON CAR FOR IGNITION SWITCH. THE CONSUMER WANTS HER CAR TO BE FIXED. *AK
WHILE ENTERING A PARKING LOT, NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, NEAR IGNITION, PARKED VEHICLE, EVERYONE OUT OF VEHICLE; WENT TO MAKE PHONE CALL, VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES; CALLED 911; SOMEONE WAS PUTTING FLAMES OUT BEFORE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED. *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN ALTERNATOR HARNESS WIRE CAUSEED ALTERNATOR AND WIRE HARNESS TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK *JB
IGNITION SWITCH SHORTED TWICE, FIRST TIME CAUSING FIRE. *DSH
ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION CAUSING THE STEERING WHEEL AND COLUMN AND WIRING TO BURN. *AK
SOMETIMES THE IGNITION WOULD STAY STARTED AFTER CONSUMER TAKES THE KEY OUT. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE. *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN WIRING HARNESS CAUSED FIRE. *DSH
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.
91V048000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission
Mar 18, 1991
THE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY CONTAINS A PARK CAM WITH INADEQUATE SURFACE HARDNESS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO PARK DISENGAGEMENT OR NO PARK ENGAGEMENT WHEN THE LEVER IS PLACED IN PARK.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF PARK IS NOT ENGAGED AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS OFF, AVEHICLE ROLL-AWAY COULD RESULT.
Remedy: REPLACE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.
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
2EA93033 · 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