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
What owners actually said
112 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 10, 1999
Seat Belts
THE FRONT SEAT BELTS(BOTH SHOULDER AND LAP) DO NOT LOCK AT ANY TIME. THEY ARE ALWAYS LOOSE. EVEN IF YOU JERK THEM, THEY DO NOT LOCK. WE JUST REPLACED THE DRIVER'S LAP BELT AND IT ALSO DOES NOT LOCK. FORD COMPANY HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT THEY DO NOT RESPOND FOR THE PAST MONTH. WE ONLY WANT TO KNOW IF THE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYST…
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THE FRONT SEAT BELTS(BOTH SHOULDER AND LAP) DO NOT LOCK AT ANY TIME. THEY ARE ALWAYS LOOSE. EVEN IF YOU JERK THEM, THEY DO NOT LOCK. WE JUST REPLACED THE DRIVER'S LAP BELT AND IT ALSO DOES NOT LOCK. FORD COMPANY HAS BEEN CONTACTED, BUT THEY DO NOT RESPOND FOR THE PAST MONTH. WE ONLY WANT TO KNOW IF THE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM ONLY LOCKS IN A "REAL" ACCIDENT AND THEY ARE MEANT TO BE LOOSE DURING NORMAL CONDITIONS. THANK YOU.
NHTSA ODI #709831
Mileage unknown · Aug 4, 1999
Equipment
AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM IS BLOWING OUT HOT AIR. VEHICLE HAS BEEN AT DEALER FOUR TIMES, AND THE DEALER CAN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK
NHTSA ODI #844326
Mileage unknown · Jul 29, 1999
Equipment
MY AIRCONDITONER DID NOT WORK PROPERLY WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW. I TOOK THE CAR BACK MANY TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. I HAVE HAD TO PUT 3 NEW AIRCONDITIONERS IN THIS CAR AND IT STILL DOES NOT COOL LIKE IT SHOULD. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL ON THIS.
NHTSA ODI #709389
Mileage unknown · Jun 14, 1999
Electrical SystemFire
WHILE 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
NHTSA ODI #839791
Mileage unknown · May 12, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling
WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY. 70MPH WHEN ENGINE HEAD GASKETS BLEW AT 50K (1ST TIME). SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED WAS AT 70K. DEFECT IS STILL OCCURRING WHEN THE ANTI-FREEZE DROWNS THE ENGINE & IT STALLS OUT. THIS ALSO CAUSES THE ENGINE TO BACKFIRE. *AK
NHTSA ODI #837787
Mileage unknown · May 5, 1999
Seat Belts
SHOULDER BELT ON DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE. WHENEVER THE DOOR IS OPENED, SEAT BELT IS SUPPOSE TO RETRACT. BUT IT'S STUCK HALF WAY. THE RETRACTOR MOTOR HAS MALFUNCTIONED & THE BELT FAILED TO WORK. *AK
NHTSA ODI #837484
Mileage unknown · Apr 15, 1999
Seat BeltsVisibility
MOTOR SEAT BELT FAILED.
NHTSA ODI #545015
Mileage unknown · Feb 22, 1999
Vehicle Speed Control
VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AS WE WERE LEAVING A REST STOP, AND WE WERE FORCED TO ULTIMATELY TURN OFF THE IGNITION BEFORE IT COULD BE BROUGHT TO A STOP. SPEEDS EXCEEDED 100 MPH - BRAKES WERE APPLIED, AND WERE HEATED TO THE POINT THAT ONE OF THE FRONT STRUTS ACTUALLY "BLEW OUT". MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME, AND S…
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VEHICLE RAPIDLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN AS WE WERE LEAVING A REST STOP, AND WE WERE FORCED TO ULTIMATELY TURN OFF THE IGNITION BEFORE IT COULD BE BROUGHT TO A STOP. SPEEDS EXCEEDED 100 MPH - BRAKES WERE APPLIED, AND WERE HEATED TO THE POINT THAT ONE OF THE FRONT STRUTS ACTUALLY "BLEW OUT". MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AT THE TIME, AND SHE QUICKLY REACHED A STATE OF PANIC, NOT REALIZING THAT THE IGNITION COULD BE SWITCHED OFF AND THE STEERING WOULD BE MAINTAINED - IF I HAD NOT BEEN WITH HER, THIS MAY WELL HAVE BEEN AN INCIDENT INVOLVING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH. I SPOKE TO FORD ABOUT THIS, BUT THEY STATE "IT DOESN'T HAPPEN" AND REFUSED TO PROVIDE ME WITH A WRITTEN DENIAL OF MY REQUEST FOR AN INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE.
NHTSA ODI #703600
Mileage unknown · Feb 9, 1999
Seat BeltsInjury
DURING VEHICLE COLLISION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE MOTORELT FAILED TO RESTRAIN CAUSING DRIVER TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD.
NHTSA ODI #543835
Mileage unknown · Jan 20, 1999
Seat Belts
THE MOTORIZED PASSIVE RESTRAINT SHOULDER BELT GOT STUCK IN THE RAIL DUE TO A PLASTIC GEAR WHICH DISINTEGRATED. *AK
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.
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
1991 Ford Thunderbird Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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