10 of the 116 complaints about the 1988 Ford Thunderbird are about the braking system — 9% of everything reported for this model year.
10
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
NO REPAIRS YET...HAHA..JUST WEAK BRAKES,BAD PAINT AND WIERD SPEED CONTROL...LOOK TO THE CRUISE CONTROL..TO MUCH ELECTRIONICS IN THIS CAR MAN!
NHTSA complaint #10071355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED IN 1999. CAR WAS RETURNED TO TED BRITT FORD FOR COMPLIANCE.INVOICE STATES PN F29Z-11572D INSTALLED.IGNITION SWITCH FAILED 8/17/02 ENGINE RUNNING FINE BUT ABS INOP-LOSS OF BRAKE POWER BOOST NOT JUST ANTI LOCK.DEFECTIVE SWITCH FOUND TO BE PN F29A11572DA NOT F29Z11572D AS STATED ON RECALL INVOICE.PER JERRY'S FORD PARTS DEPT THESE PART NUMBERS INTERCHANGE.THE REMOVED PART SHOWED SIGNS OF MELTING AND CHARRING.
NHTSA complaint #766760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM
IGNITION SWITCH WAS RECALLED IN 1999. CAR WAS RETURNED TO TED BRITT FORD FOR COMPLIANCE.INVOICE STATES PN F29Z-11572D INSTALLED.IGNITION SWITCH FAILED 8/17/02 ENGINE RUNNING FINE BUT ABS INOP-LOSS OF BRAKE POWER BOOST NOT JUST ANTI LOCK.DEFECTIVE SWITCH FOUND TO BE PN F29A11572DA NOT F29Z11572D AS STATED ON RECALL INVOICE.PER JERRY'S FORD PARTS DEPT THESE PART NUMBERS INTERCHANGE.THE REMOVED PART SHOWED SIGNS OF MELTING AND CHARRING.
NHTSA complaint #766760 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
HEADLIGHTS AND FOG LIGHTS GO OUT INTERMITTENTLY: IMMEDIATELY, OR UP TO 20-30 MINUTES AFTER TURNING THEM ON, HAS ALMOST CAUSED SEVERAL ACCIDENTS.. HAVE REPLACED 3 TURN SIGNAL/BRIGHT LIGHT SWITCHES, DUE TO THEM OVERHEATING AND MELTING. WHEN HEADLIGHTS GO OUT, INTERIOR FILLS WITH BURNING PLASTIC SMELL, BUT NO FIRE. ALMOST EVERY POWER ACCESSORY INSIDE CAR DOESN'T WORK, OR ONLY WORKS SOMETIMES. DRIVER'S POWER SEAT SOMETIMES SHORTS OUT AND HAS A BURNING SMELL: NO FIRE DETECTED. AT TIMES, INTERIOR OF CAR FILLS WITH BURNING PLASTIC SMELL SO STRONG THAT YOU HAVE TO EXIT THE CAR: HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF OVERHEATING/SMOLDERING, NO FIRES. ABS BRAKES FAIL WHEN STOPPING SUDDENLY. BRAKES LOCK AND CAR SKIDS, STEERING VERY DIFFICULT WHEN BRAKES LOCK.
NHTSA complaint #713414 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE FRONT BRAKES ARE NOT CATCHING REGULARLY, THE REAR BRAKES CATCH EVERYTIME. FORD SAYS CONSUMER HAS WEAR AND TEAR PROBLEMS, THE PUMP MOTOR IS DEFECTIVE. PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED INTERMITENTLY FOR THE LAST FOUR MONTHS.
NHTSA complaint #841385 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #512286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
FAILURE ON THE BRAKES, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE A ACCIDENT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE COMPUTER SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE WENT DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #982926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
FAILURE ON THE BRAKES, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE A ACCIDENT, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, THE COMPUTER SYSTEM ON THE VEHICLE WENT DOWN.
NHTSA complaint #982926 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
THE VEHICLE LOST ALL BRAKES AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP.THE VEHICLE HAS ABS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
NHTSA complaint #974871 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
BRAKES FAILED 3 TIMES, ONCE RESULTING IN LOSS OF CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #483672 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.