FORD THUNDERBIRD · model year

1990 FORD THUNDERBIRD

179 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1990FORDTHUNDERBIRD carries 179 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 8 crashes, 21 fires, 8 injuries, and 2 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 1990 THUNDERBIRD is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 20 filings, followed by seat belts (14) and vehicle speed control (12). 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 1990 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.

179
Complaints
8
Crashes
21
Fires
8
Injuries
2
Deaths

Total Complaints

179 filings

Crashes Reported

8 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP20
SEAT BELTS14
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL12
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH10
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE8
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION6
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR5
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR4
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY3

Recent Complaints

20230727TIRES

The contact owns a 1990 Ford Thunderbird equipped with Goodyear Tire, Tire Line: Viva 3 A/S, Tire Size: 250/70/R15, DOT Number: PJ34KB1R0219. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, she became aware that the rear driver’s side tire was shaking abnormally. The contact took the vehicle to the Walmart where the tires were purchased and was informed that there were blisters on each tire and the tires needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.

Mileage: 151,000

20140614EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

[XXX] NEED YOUR HELP HER CAR WAS STOLEN AND NOT RETURNED WITNESS [XXX][XXX] AND WITNESS ABS ORDER[XXX] LOCATION CAMPUS POLICE FSU SBA BUILDING 1(910)672-1726 MORE INFORMATION ROBERT HASSELL CAMPUS POLICE CAR WAS PARKED AND LOCKED STUDENT[XXX] CAR WAS TAKEN NOT RETURNED ASKING FOR CAR RECALL [XXX] [XXX] TO START PROCESS VICTIM[XXX] IS WAITING FOR SETTLEMENT AT [XXX] OR [XXX] THANKS. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

Mileage: 15,000

20061016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH ON DRY FLAT ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND KEPT THE VEHICLE FROM FURTHER ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE PULLED OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CONTACT LET THE VEHICLE COOL DOWN FOR AN HOUR, AND THEN DROVE TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A NHTSA RECALL#96V071000 REGARDING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT MANY FUSES HAVE BLOWN OUT DUE TO THIS IGNITION PROBLEM, AND SOMETIMES A CLICKING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN MAKING TURNS TO EITHER SIDE.

Mileage: 155,000

20061016VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE TRAVELING 30 MPH ON DRY FLAT ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNCONTROLLABLY. THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED AND KEPT THE VEHICLE FROM FURTHER ACCELERATING. THE VEHICLE PULLED OVER WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE CONTACT LET THE VEHICLE COOL DOWN FOR AN HOUR, AND THEN DROVE TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT NOTICED A NHTSA RECALL#96V071000 REGARDING ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION ON THE NHTSA WEBSITE. THE SERVICE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND DETERMINED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO THE VIN. THE CONTACT EXPRESSED THAT MANY FUSES HAVE BLOWN OUT DUE TO THIS IGNITION PROBLEM, AND SOMETIMES A CLICKING SOUND WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN MAKING TURNS TO EITHER SIDE.

Mileage: 155,000

20051114ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

1. JUST SUDDENLY STARTED OCCURRING. 2. RE: CAMPAIGN ID # 96V071000, I HAVE AN IGNITION PROBLEM WITH MY 1990 FORD THUNDERBIRD BUT WAS TOLD BY FORD MY VIN DOES NOT APPLY TO RECALL. ALTHOUGH NO FIRE, I BELIEVE THERE IS SOME SORT OF SHORT CIRCUIT IN MY IGNITION SWITCH. THE AUTOMATIC SEAT-BELT WILL, AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES, NOT MOVE INTO POSITION WHEN IGNITION SWITCH IS TURNED AND AT THE SAME TIME THE ENGINE WILL TURN OVER NORMALLY BUT WILL NOT START. "EVERY TIME" SEAT BELT DOESN'T WORK, ENGINE WILL NOT START. 3. HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS, YET. *JB

Mileage: 74,000

20050708FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

ENGINE FIRE

Mileage: 87,000

20050319FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

FUEL LEAK FROM FUEL TANK WHEN FULL . DANGEROUS , COULD CAUSE A FIRE . AUTO IS PARKED IN A GARAGE INSIDE OF MY HOUSE . UNABLE TO FILL TANK BECAUSE OF CONDITION . FORD WILL NOT REPAIR . AROUND 45,000 MILES , NEVER IN ACCIDENT & FUEL SYSTEM NEVER WORKED ON . I THINK THIS IS VERY NEGLIGENT ON FORD'S PART .*AK

Mileage: 8,500

20050128CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CAR WAS BACKED OUT OF GARAGE. WHILE IN REVERSE, THE ENGINE BEGAN RACING WIDE OPEN, WENT ACROSS 2 DRIVEWAYS AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. BRAKES WOULD NOT STOP IT AND WOULD NOT GO OUT OF REVERSE. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT WAS IMPACT AND TURNING THE IGNITION OFF. THIS ALL TOOK PLACE IN ABOUT 3 SECONDS.*AK

Mileage: 54,000

20040613TIRES:TREAD/BELT

TIRE FAILURE OF A FIRESTONE FR410, P215/70R15 97S, DOT HYME 41A 159. NO ROAD HAZARD. RF TIRE EXPLODED. 32-35 PSI CHECKED 7 DAYS PRIOR. FIRESTONE INVESTIGATION CLAIMS PUNCTURE CAUSED FAILURE. PUNCTURE OCCURRED FROM TIRE MATERIAL WHEN STOPPING.*AK

Mileage: 144,780

20040113SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

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 PRO

Mileage: 93,664

20030502CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED SUDDEN ACCELERATION WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED FROM PARK TO DRIVE WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO DRIVE THROUGH A GARAGE SMASHING THE WALL. *NLM

20030304SEAT BELTS

THE AUTOMATIC DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT AND THE CONSUMER HAD TO DRIVE WITHOUT A SEAT BELT. *NLM

20020603SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHEN COMING TO A STOP DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WILL LOCK UP WHEN APPLYING ABS BRAKES. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

20020522FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WIRES IN STEERING WHEEL CAUGHT ON FIRE.*AK DURING THE FIRE THE CONSUMER SON WAS INJURED. *YH

20020117ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING ENGINE OVERHEATED. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED. TECHNICIAN STATED ENGINE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

20010918ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE WILL SHUT OFF WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. STOP AND GO IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC. DEALERSHIP WILL PICK IT UP.*AK

20010820ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

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

20010820SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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

20010820STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM

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

20010717ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

IGNITION FAILS TO SHUT VEHICLE OFF AND ENGINE CONTINUES TO RUN. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

Compare 1990FORDTHUNDERBIRD to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1990 FORD THUNDERBIRD have?
The 1990 FORD THUNDERBIRD has 179 NHTSA complaints, 8 crashes, 21 fires, 8 injuries, and 2 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1990 FORD THUNDERBIRD?
The most-complained component for the 1990 FORD THUNDERBIRD is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP with 20 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SEAT BELTS and VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL.
Is the 1990 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.