NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Gasoline
420.0%
Switch
315.0%
Engine
315.0%
Buckle Assembly
315.0%
Exhaust System
210.0%
Ignition
210.0%
Anchorage
210.0%
Accessory Scissor/Screw/Bottle Jack/Lift
15.0%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
May 1995peak 7Jul 2002
NHTSA investigations into the 1986 Ford Thunderbird
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
EA86010Opened 26 Mar 1986Closed 28 Jul 1989SEATS
SEATBACK FAILURE
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:FORD BELIEVES THAT THE AL-LEGED DEFECT ONLY OCCURS IN A SMALL NUMBER OF THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ANDRECALLED ABOUT 195,732 1984 TEMPO/TOPAZ VEHICLES IN JUNE 1986.ANALYSIS: VEHICLES POTENTIALLY INVOLVED INCLUDE TEMPO/TOPAZ, ESCORT/LYNX/EXP, MUSTANG/CAPRI, LTD/MARQUIS, AND THUNDERBIRD/COUGAR.FORD SOLD ABOUT 110,000 REPLACEMENT MIO BOLTS, MAINLY FOR 1983 AND 1984MODELS. LOW CLAMPING FORCE APPEARS TO BE A LARGE PART OF THE PROBLEM.FORD INCREASED THE TORQUE REQUIREMENTS AND REQUIRED THE USE OF A MANUALTORQUE TOOL IN MARCH AND SEPTEMBER 1985 PRODUCTION CHANGES. 1...
Recalls on the 1986 Ford Thunderbird
A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which
the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous
enough to fix for free — however old the car is.
United States — NHTSA
87V139000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Risk: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 199209818,869 units in Canada
Emissions
NOTE: VEHICLES WITH 3.8 LITRE ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. THE SUBSTRATE MATERIAL IN THE CATALYSTS MAY RATTLE AND BREAK UP DURING NORMAL USE CAUSING EXHAUST EMISSIONS TO EXCEED THE STANDARD. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND CATALYST WILL BE REPLACED WHERE NECESSARY.
Recall 1987098295,731 units in Canada
Fuel System
ON VEHICLES WITH EFI OR CFI, THE SPRING-LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING USED TO CONNECT THE FUEL SUPPLY AND RETURN LINES TO THE EFI FUEL RAILS OR TO THE CFI THROTTLE BODIES AS WELL AS OTHER FUEL LINE CONNECTIONS NEAR THE DASH PANELS ON SOME VEHICLES, COULD DISENGAGE DURING VEHICLE USE. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, LOSS OF FUEL WILL RESULT, PROVIDING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE. CORRECTION: COUPLING RETAINER CLIPS WILL BE INSTALLED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES. NOTE: ESCORT VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH EFI AND CFI. LYNX VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH CFI ONLY. EFI - ELECTRONIC FUEL INJECTION CFI - CENTRAL FUEL INJECTION
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
SAN Bernardino, CACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE THREE SEPARATE INCIDENCES. FIRST OCCURRING IN 1997 WHILE TAKING MY GRANDSON TO HIGH SCHOOL: WHILE COMPLETING THE TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT AT HIS SCHOOL, MY 1986 THUNDERBIRD SUDDENLY SURGED AS IF I HAD FULLY PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR. FORTUNATELY, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND NEITHER OF US WERE INJURED NOR WAS THERE ANY PROPERTY DAMAGE. INCEDENT#2- WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM SHOPPING, I WAS DRIVING IN THE LANE CLOSEST TO THE CURB ON A 4 LANE STREET WHEN SUDDENLY, AGAIN, MY CAR ACCELERATED AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHERE I JUST BARELY GLANCED OFF A SMALL STATIONERY POLL THAT WAS POSITIONED BASICALLY ON THE SIDEWALK. AGAIN, THANK GOD, NO ONE WAS HURT AND THERE WAS NO PROPERTY DAMAGE. FINAL INCEDENT #3: NOT SO LUCKY THIS TIME. I WAS GOING THROUGH THE MCDONALD'S DRIVE-THRU, AFTER PLACING MY ORDER, MY CAR SUDDENLY TAKES OFF AGAIN, VEERS RIGHT, AND MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE LITERALLY DRIVES UP ONE OF THE 5 VERY HEAVY-DUTY GUARD POLES SURROUNDING THE MAIN ELECTRICAL BOX THUS IMPAILING MY CAR AND SERIOUSLY BENDING THE POLE. IN RETROSPECT, I FEEL I WAS PRETTY BLESSED; NO ONE WAS EVER HURT...EXCEPT FOR ME, NOW, AFTER MORE THAN 45YEARS CLASSIFIED AS A "GOOD DRIVER" NOW IPAYING AN EXTRA$60.00 PER MONTH FOR MY AUTO INSURANCE FOR SOMETHING THAT I KNOW FOR SURE WAS NOT MY FAULT(PLUS THE FACT I HAD TO DISH OUT FOR A NEW CAR...AND ALL THIS COULD NOT HAVE COME AT A WORSE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #763620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonville, NCCrash
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #737731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonville, NCCrash
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #737731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonville, NCCrash
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #737731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Allentown, PAFire1 killed
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A CLAMP FOR FUEL LINE, WHICH THEN CAUSED LINE TO BECOME LOOSE AND IGNITE A FIRE, RESULTING IN FATALITY(DRIVER).
NHTSA complaint #856543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tucson, AZ1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT FAILED TO SECURE PASSENGER DURING COLLISION RESULTING IN INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #539879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
SAN Bernardino, CACrash
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
I HAVE THREE SEPARATE INCIDENCES. FIRST OCCURRING IN 1997 WHILE TAKING MY GRANDSON TO HIGH SCHOOL: WHILE COMPLETING THE TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT AT HIS SCHOOL, MY 1986 THUNDERBIRD SUDDENLY SURGED AS IF I HAD FULLY PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR. FORTUNATELY, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND NEITHER OF US WERE INJURED NOR WAS THERE ANY PROPERTY DAMAGE. INCEDENT#2- WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM SHOPPING, I WAS DRIVING IN THE LANE CLOSEST TO THE CURB ON A 4 LANE STREET WHEN SUDDENLY, AGAIN, MY CAR ACCELERATED AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHERE I JUST BARELY GLANCED OFF A SMALL STATIONERY POLL THAT WAS POSITIONED BASICALLY ON THE SIDEWALK. AGAIN, THANK GOD, NO ONE WAS HURT AND THERE WAS NO PROPERTY DAMAGE. FINAL INCEDENT #3: NOT SO LUCKY THIS TIME. I WAS GOING THROUGH THE MCDONALD'S DRIVE-THRU, AFTER PLACING MY ORDER, MY CAR SUDDENLY TAKES OFF AGAIN, VEERS RIGHT, AND MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE LITERALLY DRIVES UP ONE OF THE 5 VERY HEAVY-DUTY GUARD POLES SURROUNDING THE MAIN ELECTRICAL BOX THUS IMPAILING MY CAR AND SERIOUSLY BENDING THE POLE. IN RETROSPECT, I FEEL I WAS PRETTY BLESSED; NO ONE WAS EVER HURT...EXCEPT FOR ME, NOW, AFTER MORE THAN 45YEARS CLASSIFIED AS A "GOOD DRIVER" NOW IPAYING AN EXTRA$60.00 PER MONTH FOR MY AUTO INSURANCE FOR SOMETHING THAT I KNOW FOR SURE WAS NOT MY FAULT(PLUS THE FACT I HAD TO DISH OUT FOR A NEW CAR...AND ALL THIS COULD NOT HAVE COME AT A WORSE TIME.
NHTSA complaint #763620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Westbury, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
TFI MODULE, DISTRIBUTOR, STARTER AND DIRTY THROTTLE BODY CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL WHEN THE KEY WAS RELEASED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #560327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Westbury, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2 MOTOR MOUNTS BROKEN. NLM
NHTSA complaint #560327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Westbury, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
TWO CRACKED BELTS REPLACED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #560327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Westbury, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
TFI MODULE, DISTRIBUTOR, STARTER AND DIRTY THROTTLE BODY CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL WHEN THE KEY WAS RELEASED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #560327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Westbury, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING FROM THE DEALERSHIP FROM HAVING THE VEHICLE SERVICED, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BLEW CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO COME TO A SUDDEN STOP DUE TO AN OIL LEAK, THE VEHICLE REMAINED ON THE DEALERS LOT FROM JUNE-NOVEMBER 1997 WHILE A DECISION WAS BEING MADE ABOUT WHO WAS GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. MLM
NHTSA complaint #560327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Westbury, NY
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY
TFI MODULE, DISTRIBUTOR, STARTER AND DIRTY THROTTLE BODY CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL WHEN THE KEY WAS RELEASED. NLM
NHTSA complaint #560327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Westbury, NY
POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT:SEAL
THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A LEAK AT THE TRANSMISSION TAILSHAFT SEAL. NLM
NHTSA complaint #560327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chattanooga, TN
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
BOTH FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BROKEN INTO, THE TORQUE OF THE ENGINE HAS CAUSED IT TO ROTATE CAUSING THE FAN TO CUT INTO THE RADIATOR SHROUD. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #558123 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonville, NCCrash
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #737731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonville, NCCrash
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #737731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Jacksonville, NCCrash
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #737731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lenora City, TN
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WAS DRIVING IN RUSH HOUR TRAFFIC WHEN VEHICLE STALLED FOR NO REASON. VEHICLE TOWED TO NEAREST MECHANIC. INFORMED THAT DISTRIBUTOR MODULE WAS DESIGNED TO FAIL & WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #874474 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Simi Valley, CA
TIRES
THE TREADS HAVE COME OFF TWO OF MY TIRES IN THE LAST YEAR. I HAVE A THIRD TIRE WITH IT'S TREAD ALMOST COMING APART. BOTH TIMES WE WERE ON THE FREEWAY DOING 65. WILL THESE TIRES BE RECALLED. THE LAST TIME THE TREAD CAME OFF I SAVED THE TIRE AND TREAD. WE HAVE THREE KIDS AND WE DON'T FEEL SAVE DRIVING THEM IN THE CAR.( DOT NUMBER: W2HY TIRE SIZE: 215/70R/14 )
NHTSA complaint #731376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Norfolk, VA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH, EVERY MONTH, FOR THE LAST YEAR I WOULD GO OUT AND GET IN THE VEHICLE TO START IT UP. WHEN I TURNED ON THE IGNITION THE MOTOR WOULD CRANK AND CRANK BUT IT WOULD NEVER FIRE. I WOULD LET THE VEHICLE SET A FEW MINUTES THEN TRY AGAIN WITH THE SAME RESULTS. IF I LET THE VEHICLE SIT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY IT WOULD FINALLY START. THE VEHICLE AGAIN DUMP ME A PARKING LOT IN PORTMOUTHS, VA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO JOHN KOOL LINCOLN/MERCURY. THE VEHICLE STARTED FOR THEM THE NEXT DAY AND AGAIN AFTER MANY TRYS. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM AT THIS TIME SO I CAME TO PICK THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE THEN WOULD CRANK BUT WOULD NOT FIRE. THE DEALER SERVICE TECH. THEN RAN A FEW MANUAL & EQUIP. TEST AND DETERMINED THE IGNITION MODULE AND DISTRIBUTOR STATOR ASSY. HAVE A INTERNAL SHORT. THE DEALER REPLACED THEM AND RE TESTED TO VERIFY OPERATION.
NHTSA complaint #730350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Norfolk, VA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH, EVERY MONTH, FOR THE LAST YEAR I WOULD GO OUT AND GET IN THE VEHICLE TO START IT UP. WHEN I TURNED ON THE IGNITION THE MOTOR WOULD CRANK AND CRANK BUT IT WOULD NEVER FIRE. I WOULD LET THE VEHICLE SET A FEW MINUTES THEN TRY AGAIN WITH THE SAME RESULTS. IF I LET THE VEHICLE SIT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY IT WOULD FINALLY START. THE VEHICLE AGAIN DUMP ME A PARKING LOT IN PORTMOUTHS, VA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO JOHN KOOL LINCOLN/MERCURY. THE VEHICLE STARTED FOR THEM THE NEXT DAY AND AGAIN AFTER MANY TRYS. THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM AT THIS TIME SO I CAME TO PICK THE VEHICLE UP FROM THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE THEN WOULD CRANK BUT WOULD NOT FIRE. THE DEALER SERVICE TECH. THEN RAN A FEW MANUAL & EQUIP. TEST AND DETERMINED THE IGNITION MODULE AND DISTRIBUTOR STATOR ASSY. HAVE A INTERNAL SHORT. THE DEALER REPLACED THEM AND RE TESTED TO VERIFY OPERATION.
NHTSA complaint #730350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Christiana, PA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
ENGINE REVS WITHOUT ACCELERATION.
NHTSA complaint #782860 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Allentown, PAFire1 killed
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A CLAMP FOR FUEL LINE, WHICH THEN CAUSED LINE TO BECOME LOOSE AND IGNITE A FIRE, RESULTING IN FATALITY(DRIVER).
NHTSA complaint #856543 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE SCISSOR JACK SCREW STRIPPED UPON JACKING UP THE VEHICLE, CONSUMER DISPOSED OFF. DEALER CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #826814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tucson, AZ1 injured
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
SEAT BELT FAILED TO SECURE PASSENGER DURING COLLISION RESULTING IN INJURIES.
NHTSA complaint #539879 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Oakland, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN THE OWNER WARMS THE CAR, HE SHIFTS THE GEAR TO DRIVE AND THE CAR STALLS. HE STARTS THE CAR AGAIN, SHIFTS TO DRIVE AND THE CAR STALLS WHEN HE COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE DRIVER WAS IN AN CRASH BUT DID NOT DESCRIBE IT.
NHTSA complaint #541767 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Carson City, NV
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
RESTRAINT BUCKLE WILL NOT LOCK. OWNER WILL NOTIFY THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #821701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Carmel, CAFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DRIVING 50-55 MPH; DRIVER SMELLED SMOKE & PULLED OFF ROAD. TURNED VEHICLE OFF & EXITED. VEHICLE SUDDENLY BURST INTO FLAMES. INSURANCE AGENT/INSPECTOR COULD NOT LOCATE CAUSE OF FIRE. VEHICLE TOTALED.
NHTSA complaint #818289 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Washington, DC
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
TIRE TREAD SEPARATED, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT. (NEW JERSEY STATE POLICE REPORT)
NHTSA complaint #602449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Thompsonvi, ILFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #512077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.