10 of the 32 complaints about the 1986 Ford Thunderbird are about the engine — 31% of everything reported for this model year.
10
Complaints
1
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
2 MOTOR MOUNTS BROKEN. NLM
NHTSA complaint #560327 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #737731 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
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.
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.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
VEHICLE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #512077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM
EGR RELAY ASSEMBLY/EGR VAC CONTROL/EGR VALVE/EGR SENSOR REPLACED DUE TO VEHICLE SURGING/BUCKING.
NHTSA complaint #481484 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.