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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.

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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

Service Brakes, Hydraulic complaints

18 reports
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Mileage unknown · Apr 24, 2001
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD COME ON. WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTS TO SLOW/STOP VEHICLE, THERE IS NO RESISTANCE BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND IT GOES TO THE FLOOR. THIS HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES; AT 15-20 MPH RANGE/ 20-30 MPH RANGE, AND AT 40-50 MPH RANGE. A PRIVATE MECHANIC STATED THAT ON A PREVI…

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ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD COME ON. WHEN CONSUMER ATTEMPTS TO SLOW/STOP VEHICLE, THERE IS NO RESISTANCE BEHIND THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND IT GOES TO THE FLOOR. THIS HAS OCCURRED THREE TIMES; AT 15-20 MPH RANGE/ 20-30 MPH RANGE, AND AT 40-50 MPH RANGE. A PRIVATE MECHANIC STATED THAT ON A PREVIOUS VEHICLE WITH SAME DEFECT OCCURRED. THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC ON BRAKE SYSTEM AND FOUND NO DEFECTS, BUT REPLACED BRAKE SYSTEM WHICH REPAIRED DEFECT. CONSUMER HAS NOT DETERMINED WHETHER OR NOT HE WILL HAVE THIS DONE. *AK *SLC

NHTSA ODI #886602

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 2000
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

THROUGH MOUNTAINOUS REGION IN AR, THROTTLE STUCK WIDE OPEN...FOUND A LITTLE $3 PIECE THAT BROKE ON THE PART THAT HOLDS THE LINKAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION TO THE THROTTLE... CAR KEPT GOING FASTER AND FASTER... BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. HAD TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL, AND GO UP STEEP INCLINE... KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITC…

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THROUGH MOUNTAINOUS REGION IN AR, THROTTLE STUCK WIDE OPEN...FOUND A LITTLE $3 PIECE THAT BROKE ON THE PART THAT HOLDS THE LINKAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION TO THE THROTTLE... CAR KEPT GOING FASTER AND FASTER... BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED. HAD TO PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL, AND GO UP STEEP INCLINE... KEY WOULD NOT COME OUT BECAUSE THE IGNITION SWITCH IS NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY. HAD TO REPLACE THE PIECE THAT BROKE, THE TRANSMISSION, CAR STILL IDLED HIGH.. AND HAD TO REPLACE ANOTHER PART AS WELL. THE BRAKES ARE VERY SPONGY, THEY HAVE BEEN BLED NUMEROUS TIMES, AND THE MASTER CYLANDER REPLACED AND THEY STILL HAVE TO BE PRESSED DOWN 2-3 INCHES (VERY SOFT) BEFORE YOU FEEL ANY SORT OF BRAKAGE. THE CAR STILL DOES NOT RUN CORRECTLY. HAVE SPENT 650.00 + ON AIR CONDITIONER, AND IT STILL DOES NOT WORK RIGHT. APPEARS TO BE A SHORT IN IT, BECAUSE WHEN CAR IS ACCELLERATED, IT WILL START COOLING AGAIN... ONE PART HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, SO SOMETHING IS SHORTING IT OUT.

NHTSA ODI #734726

Mileage unknown · Aug 25, 1999
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME TO LET A CAR IN OUR LANE. WE WERE GOING AROUND 15 MPH. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, I JUST KEPT ON GOING AND HIT THE TRUCK IN THE REAR. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND GOT OUT AND WENT OVER TO THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK TO MAKE SURE HE WAS OK. HE TOLD ME HE WAS …

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I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK WHEN THE TRUCK IN FRONT OF ME STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME TO LET A CAR IN OUR LANE. WE WERE GOING AROUND 15 MPH. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE, I JUST KEPT ON GOING AND HIT THE TRUCK IN THE REAR. I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND GOT OUT AND WENT OVER TO THE DRIVER OF THE TRUCK TO MAKE SURE HE WAS OK. HE TOLD ME HE WAS FINE,AT WHICH POINT I TOLD HIM THE DAMAGE DONE WAS TO MY CAR AND HIS TRUCK WAS FINE. HE SAID FINE AND WENT ON HIS WAY. I GOT BACK IN MY CAR AND FOUND MY BRAKE PEDDLE HAD BROKEN OFF THE ARM AND WAS ON THE FLOOR. THE METAL PART OF PEDDLE SNAPPED RIGHT OFF THE BRAKE ARM.

NHTSA ODI #710522

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

ON 3 OCCASIONS CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE WITHIN 44,000 MILES WHEN MAKING NORMAL OR SUDDEN STOPS. PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR, RESULTING IN A SAFETY HAZARD. *AK

NHTSA ODI #845038

Mileage unknown · Sep 11, 1998
Exterior LightingService Brakes, Hydraulic

CONSUMER HAS EXPERIENCED PROBLEM WITH INTERMITTENT BRAKE FAILURE. WHEN BRAKES APPLIED VEHICLE WOULD KEEP ON GOING. ALSO, INTERMITTENTLY PARK LIGHTS AND ABS LIGHTS WOULD COME ON, AND ALL BRAKES WOULD FAIL TO STOP VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #827831

Mileage unknown · Mar 12, 1997
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DISC BRAKE ROTORS WARPED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHAKE UPON BRAKING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #515421

Mileage unknown · Dec 11, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

PADS AND ROTORS REPLACED 3 TIMES.

NHTSA ODI #512556

Mileage unknown · Nov 1, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

DRIVER EXPERIENCES A TOTAL LOSS OF ABS BRAKES WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ODI #804423

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 1996
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

REPEATED BRAKE PROBLEMS AFTER SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS, CAUSING REAR BRAKES TO OVERHEAT/MELT.

NHTSA ODI #510496

Mileage unknown · Sep 4, 1996
Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash

BRAKES FAILED, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #508216

Official recalls

3

96V071000 · 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

2

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