Total Complaints
147 filings
FORD THUNDERBIRD · model year
1989 FORD THUNDERBIRD
147 NHTSA complaints, 19 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1989FORDTHUNDERBIRD carries 147 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 19 crashes, 25 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1989 THUNDERBIRD is vehicle speed control with 19 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (11) and seat belts (9). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.
NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1989 THUNDERBIRD, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.
147
Complaints
19
Crashes
25
Fires
10
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
19 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 19 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 11 |
| SEAT BELTS | 9 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 9 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 8 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 6 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 6 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL | 4 |
| TIRES:TREAD/BELT | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 3 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 3 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 3 |
Recent Complaints
20161107CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
CAR ACCELERATED WHEN BRAKE PEDAL WAS FULLY DEPRESSED TO FLOOR...SMASHED INTO CORNER OF HOUSE, DAMAGING BRICKWORK AND FRONT, RIGHT CORNER OF THE CAR. VEHICLE IS INOPERABLE BUT NOT YET TOWED DUE TO FINANCIAL RESTRICTIONS (UNABLE TO ATTACH PHOTOS...PLEASE PROVIDE EMAIL ADDRESS WHERE I CAN SEND PHOTOS.)
Mileage: 86,899
20080903CrashSEAT BELTS
DRIVER WAS RESTRAINED BY SEATBELT. DURING COLLISION, SEATBELT BECAME UNANCHORED FROM THE FLOOR AND CAME LOOSE CAUSING DRIVER TO BE THROWN INTO STEERING WHEEL, UNDER DASHBOARD AND INTO WINDSHIELD. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SPEED AND MILEAGE ARE STATED AS APPROXIMATES BY COUNSEL , WILL SUPPLEMENT IF NECESSARY. THE DRIVER WAS OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT A LAWFUL SPEED WITHIN THE SPEED LIMIT. *TR
Mileage: 60,000
20050304CrashSUSPENSION:FRONT
WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH A LOUD SNAP CAME FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE WHEEL. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT TO BE ABLE TO TURN LEFT, AND THEN ENDED UP CRASHING WITH THE GUARD RAIL. THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK
20040422UNKNOWN OR OTHER
BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 1989. FIRST EARLY PROBLEMS WITH CIGARETTE LIGHTER/ELECTRICAL/HEATING UP INSIDE DASH.- SERVICED 3-4 TIMES, UNDER WARRANTY. FREON LEAKS IN AIR CONDITIONER - REPAIRED TWICE. FUEL LINE REPLACED. STEERING COLUM JAM OF SOMESORT - NO KEY ACCESS. REPLACED 3 ALTERNATORS. CANNOT SHIFT TRANSMISSION INTO OVERDRIVE. REBUILT BY AAMCO. BLEW HEAD GASKET. RADIATOR COOLANT COMMING OUT FROM MUFFLER. GOT RID OF CAR AT THIS TIME.
20040422POWER TRAIN
BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 1989. FIRST EARLY PROBLEMS WITH CIGARETTE LIGHTER/ELECTRICAL/HEATING UP INSIDE DASH.- SERVICED 3-4 TIMES, UNDER WARRANTY. FREON LEAKS IN AIR CONDITIONER - REPAIRED TWICE. FUEL LINE REPLACED. STEERING COLUM JAM OF SOMESORT - NO KEY ACCESS. REPLACED 3 ALTERNATORS. CANNOT SHIFT TRANSMISSION INTO OVERDRIVE. REBUILT BY AAMCO. BLEW HEAD GASKET. RADIATOR COOLANT COMMING OUT FROM MUFFLER. GOT RID OF CAR AT THIS TIME.
20040422ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 1989. FIRST EARLY PROBLEMS WITH CIGARETTE LIGHTER/ELECTRICAL/HEATING UP INSIDE DASH.- SERVICED 3-4 TIMES, UNDER WARRANTY. FREON LEAKS IN AIR CONDITIONER - REPAIRED TWICE. FUEL LINE REPLACED. STEERING COLUM JAM OF SOMESORT - NO KEY ACCESS. REPLACED 3 ALTERNATORS. CANNOT SHIFT TRANSMISSION INTO OVERDRIVE. REBUILT BY AAMCO. BLEW HEAD GASKET. RADIATOR COOLANT COMMING OUT FROM MUFFLER. GOT RID OF CAR AT THIS TIME.
20040422STEERING
BOUGHT BRAND NEW IN 1989. FIRST EARLY PROBLEMS WITH CIGARETTE LIGHTER/ELECTRICAL/HEATING UP INSIDE DASH.- SERVICED 3-4 TIMES, UNDER WARRANTY. FREON LEAKS IN AIR CONDITIONER - REPAIRED TWICE. FUEL LINE REPLACED. STEERING COLUM JAM OF SOMESORT - NO KEY ACCESS. REPLACED 3 ALTERNATORS. CANNOT SHIFT TRANSMISSION INTO OVERDRIVE. REBUILT BY AAMCO. BLEW HEAD GASKET. RADIATOR COOLANT COMMING OUT FROM MUFFLER. GOT RID OF CAR AT THIS TIME.
20030911VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL WAS SET ON 65 MPH. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO A SPEED OF ALMOST 85 MPH AND THE BRAKES WOULD NOT FUNCTION. THE DRIVER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, WHILE IN MOTION, AND PULLED OVER TO THE SHOULDER. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR FATALITIES. THE CONSUMER HAD THE CRUISE CONTROL DISCONNECTED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *PH *NLM
20020613SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, PEDAL BECAME HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE DUE TO MASTER CYLINDER. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. DEALER HAS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. *AK BRAKES FAIL INTERMITTENTLY, THEY ARE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AND THE FORD DEALERSHIPS CANNOT REPAIR IT. THERE ARE NO REBUILD KITS AVAILABLE FOR THIS VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED TO PURCHASE A MASTER CYLINDER FROM A JUNK YARD. CONSUMER FEELS FORDS RESPONSIBILTY IS TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE. *JG
20020514ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKETS FAILED.
20020219CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHILE BACKING OUT, VEHICLE ACCELERATED AND HIT A FENCE. CONSUMER NEVER APPLIED THE GAS PEDAL. BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP VEHICLE. *JG *AK
20020108VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, ENGINE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY. CONSUMER HAD TO STAND ON BRAKES AND SHIFT VEHICLE INTO PARK TO STOP. THIS HAS BEEN AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
20011024ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
HEAD GASKETS FAILED.
20010913TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DUNLOP, G T QUALIFIER, P215/65R15, DOT#DBBFA13047; LEFT REAR TIRE SEPARATED ON SIDE OF TREAD. DUNLOP WAS NOTIFIED. *AK ANOTHER TIRE HAD EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION PRIOR TO THIS, REPLACEMENT TIRES HAD LESS THAN 30000 MILES ON IT. *SLC
20010911TIRES:TREAD/BELT
DUNLOP GT QUALIFIER, DOT#DBBFA13047 P215/65R15; TREAD SEPARATED AT MIDDLE OF TREAD RIGHT FRONT AT 70 MPH, CAUSING DAMAGE. DUNLOP HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK TWO TIRES HAVE EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION, REPLACEMENT TIRES HAD LESS THAN 30000 MILES. *SLC
20010827WHEELS
LEFT FRONT WHEEL COLLAPSED WHILE DRIVING. *AK
20010628SEAT BELTS
PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT DOES NOT RETRACT. ALSO, NONE OF SEATBACKS STAY IN A LOCKED POSITION. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE WAY TO DRIVE A VEHICLE. *AK
20010628SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
PASSENGER'S SIDE AUTOMATIC SEATBELT DOES NOT RETRACT. ALSO, NONE OF SEATBACKS STAY IN A LOCKED POSITION. CONSUMER FEELS THIS IS A VERY UNSAFE WAY TO DRIVE A VEHICLE. *AK
20010510FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
CAR DESTROYED DUE TO A FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN-POSSIBLE IGNITION SWITCH. *AK
20010412FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Compare 1989FORDTHUNDERBIRD to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 8 Open
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionOpen
Underbody shields detachment
PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 1989 FORD THUNDERBIRD have?▼
The 1989 FORD THUNDERBIRD has 147 NHTSA complaints, 19 crashes, 25 fires, 10 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1989 FORD THUNDERBIRD?▼
The most-complained component for the 1989 FORD THUNDERBIRD is VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL with 19 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP and SEAT BELTS.
Is the 1989 FORD THUNDERBIRD safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?▼
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.
Vehicle Safety Guides
Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.