FaultScore

1985 Ford Thunderbird electrical problems

10 of the 16 complaints about the 1985 Ford Thunderbird are about the electrical system — 63% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 134,000 miles.

F

10

Complaints

0

Crashes

4

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Switch 6 60.0%
Ignition 3 30.0%
Electrical System 1 10.0%

Electrical System across every Ford Thunderbird year

1984 12 4.1%
1985 10 3.4%
1987 26 9.0%
1988 33 11.4%
1989 23 7.9%
1990 38 13.1%
1991 15 5.2%
1992 28 9.7%
1993 39 13.4%
1994 29 10.0%
1995 15 5.2%
2002 22 7.6%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 134,000 miles Spokane, WA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

UPON TURNING ON THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH A KEY, I BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING SMELL. I TURNED OFF IGNITION AND INSPECTED THE SOURCE WHICH SEEM TO COME FROM STEERING COLUMN. AFTER REMOVING THE STEERING WHEEL COVER, I NOTICE THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH UNIT HAD BLACK BURNT LOOKING PLACES ON IT. I DECIDED TO REMOVE THE UNIT AND REPLACE IT. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN THE DRIVEWAY OF OUR HOME.

NHTSA complaint #10928441 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grass Valley, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

IGNITION MODULE SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED THE SHUT OFF OF GASOLINE FLOW IMMEDIATELY WITH NO CHANCE OF RESTART.

NHTSA complaint #563897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Grass Valley, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

IGNITION MODULE SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED THE SHUT OFF OF GASOLINE FLOW IMMEDIATELY WITH NO CHANCE OF RESTART.

NHTSA complaint #563897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Delanco, NJ

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

MY FIRST COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN. WHILE ATEMPTING TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY DIED AS IF I HAD TURNED OFF THE KEY. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND JUST BARELY AVOIDED BEING HIT. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART UNLESS I JIGGLED THE KEY. I CALLED A FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL BUT THE TOLD ME HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE SWITCH AND THE CAR IS RUNNING FINE NOW. HOWEVER IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO REMOVE THE SWITCH DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT HAD MELTED TO THE WIRING HARNESS. I STILL HAVE THE PART IN MY POSSESSION. MY OTHER COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE STATOR PICK-UP ASSEMBLY UNDER THE BASE OF THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP. NOT ONCE BUT TWICE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THIS ASSEMBLY DUE THE FACT THAT IT HAD MELTED AND FELL APART. IN THIS INSTANCE MY FAMILY WAS WITH ME AT A VERY DANGEROUS INTERSECTION WHERE IT TOOK ME ROUGHLY 20 MINUTES TO GET THE CAR TO REFIRE ENOUGH TO MOVE IT OUT OF HARMS WAY. ALL THE CAR WOULD DO IS START UP RUN ENOUGH TO ROLL IT A LITTLE MORE FORWARD. I ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE CAR BUT BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC I GAVE UP RATHER THAN BEING STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AGAIN I CALLED FORD AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR PART. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS IF THERE IS SOME ORGANIZATION THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME OR PERHAPS YOU COULD PROVIDE ME WITH INFORMATION AS TO WHAT LEGAL GROUP I MIGHT BE ABLE TO CONTACT.

NHTSA complaint #751023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Monrovia, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH INTERMITTENTLY FAILS AND BLOWS FUSES.

NHTSA complaint #547272 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chadron, NE Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #516371 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Soldotna, AK Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

THE IGNITION CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED, ALL THE WIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #987129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Belford, NJ Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #503304 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Madison, NJ Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT.

NHTSA complaint #983223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Deigo, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED, SMELLED OF WIRING BURNING FOR A PERIOD OF 10 MINUTES, ELECTRICAL SHORT.

NHTSA complaint #983056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

← Full 1985 Ford Thunderbird report