33 of the 116 complaints about the 1988 Ford Thunderbird are about the electrical system — 28% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 170,000 miles.
33
Complaints
0
Crashes
13
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION STEERING COLUMN STARTED SMOKING. THIS WAS DUE TO THE DEFECT DESCRIBED IN THE IGNITION RECALL 96V071000. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10079573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
CAR OFF. FIRE UNDER HOOD DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT-PER FIRE DEPT.
NHTSA complaint #766616 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED.CONTACTED DEALER. REASON UNKNOWN.
NHTSA complaint #8017751 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH IS CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL OUT IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC WHEN DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS.
NHTSA complaint #894532 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND PULLING INTO A PARKING LOT AND THERE WAS A BURN/ ELECTRICAL SMELL, BUT NO SMOKE. CONSUMER TURNED TO START VEHICLE BACK UP, AND NOTHING WOULD HAPPEN. A MECHANIC FOUND THAT IGNITION SWITCH BURNED OUT FROM OVERHEATING. RECALL 96V071000/ MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 95S28 WAS SERVICED IN JANUARY 1997.
NHTSA complaint #889186 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ALTERNATOR OVERHEATED, AND HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE WITHIN IGNITION SWITCH. *AK TWO DEALERS HAD DIFFERING OPENION ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES SOMETHING WITHIN THE VEHICLE'S DESIGN EXCITES THE ELECTRICAL CHANGING SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #877473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR OVERHEATED, AND HAS BEEN REPLACED FOUR TIMES DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE WITHIN IGNITION SWITCH. *AK TWO DEALERS HAD DIFFERING OPENION ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER BELIEVES SOMETHING WITHIN THE VEHICLE'S DESIGN EXCITES THE ELECTRICAL CHANGING SYSTEM.
NHTSA complaint #877473 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
BOUGHT CAR FRM OLD LADY WHO RARELY DROVE IT. AFTER BOUGHT NOTICED FRNT END CLUNK ALL SPEEDS REPLACED STRUTS CLUNK STILLTHERE REPLACED STRUT BEARINGS AND ALL BUSHINGS IN FRONT END. CLUNKING STILL THERE REAR END CLUNKING BAD WHEN PUT INTO GEAR AND WHEN CAR SHIFTS REPLACED REAR SHOCKS....STILL THERE ....AT FRONT ALSO ...WAS TOLD BY SANTA MARIA FORD THE FRONT CLUNK IS FROM THE REAR SOMEWHERE?...I FINALLY FOUND IT IN STEERING RACK THE ROD ENDS WERE DRY (NO LUBE FROM FACTORY) THE BALL SOCKETS IN THEM WERE JUST SHORT OF A WRECK WEAR WISE ....REPLACED THEM AND BEHOLD NO CLUNK FROM FRONT....REAR STILL CLUNKS TO THIS DAY.RECALL FOR ING SWITCH AFTER THIS WAS REPLACED THE ENGING SURGES AND SOMETIMES STALLS AT SPEED AND IDLE THE DEALER (JIM BURKE IN BAKERSFIELD) SAYS ITS MY PROBLEM AND THEY COULD CHECK IT OUT FOR $$$$$ I HAD PAYED THEM FOR DIAGNOSES AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED INJECTOR CLEANED @495.00FOR #4 INJ. WELL I INSTALLED NEW ONE FOR $40.00 AND PRICE OF GASKETS CAR PASSED SMOG BUT STILL SURGES AT ALL SPEEDS..........THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE STOPPED LATCHING ABOUT THE TIME OF INGNITION RECALL FORD SAID TUFF LUCK GO TO A JUNKYARD
NHTSA complaint #737337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
BOUGHT CAR FRM OLD LADY WHO RARELY DROVE IT. AFTER BOUGHT NOTICED FRNT END CLUNK ALL SPEEDS REPLACED STRUTS CLUNK STILLTHERE REPLACED STRUT BEARINGS AND ALL BUSHINGS IN FRONT END. CLUNKING STILL THERE REAR END CLUNKING BAD WHEN PUT INTO GEAR AND WHEN CAR SHIFTS REPLACED REAR SHOCKS....STILL THERE ....AT FRONT ALSO ...WAS TOLD BY SANTA MARIA FORD THE FRONT CLUNK IS FROM THE REAR SOMEWHERE?...I FINALLY FOUND IT IN STEERING RACK THE ROD ENDS WERE DRY (NO LUBE FROM FACTORY) THE BALL SOCKETS IN THEM WERE JUST SHORT OF A WRECK WEAR WISE ....REPLACED THEM AND BEHOLD NO CLUNK FROM FRONT....REAR STILL CLUNKS TO THIS DAY.RECALL FOR ING SWITCH AFTER THIS WAS REPLACED THE ENGING SURGES AND SOMETIMES STALLS AT SPEED AND IDLE THE DEALER (JIM BURKE IN BAKERSFIELD) SAYS ITS MY PROBLEM AND THEY COULD CHECK IT OUT FOR $$$$$ I HAD PAYED THEM FOR DIAGNOSES AND THEY SAID IT NEEDED INJECTOR CLEANED @495.00FOR #4 INJ. WELL I INSTALLED NEW ONE FOR $40.00 AND PRICE OF GASKETS CAR PASSED SMOG BUT STILL SURGES AT ALL SPEEDS..........THE SEAT BELT BUCKLE STOPPED LATCHING ABOUT THE TIME OF INGNITION RECALL FORD SAID TUFF LUCK GO TO A JUNKYARD
NHTSA complaint #737337 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
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.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THIS SWITCH WAS REPLACED W/ RECALL @ DEALER! CALLED DEALER, WOULDN'T DO ANYTHING BECAUSE OF TIME LAPSE. SAME PROBLEM AS RECALL! THEY REPLACED A FAULTY ELECTRICAL ELEMENT WITH ANOTHER FAULTY ELECTRICAL ELEMENT (I HAVE SWITCH) AND LET ME DRIVE AWAY, 7 MONTHS PREGNANT! (PLUS, MY BABY & I WERE ON THE ROAD LATE WHEN EVENT OCCURRED. SHORTED EVERYTHING, SMOKED US OUT, DISCONNECTED BATTERY TO STOP FIRE IGNITION, BY MYSELF W/ ONLY LIGHTING A SPARKING COLUMN INSIDE!CONNECTED AGAIN & IT RESET SO WE COULD GET HOME, BUT HAD NO BRAKES (BOOSTER IS ELECTRONIC) CALLED DEALER AFTER RECALL INSTALL BECAUSE WHEN I'D TURN THE KEY, WOULDN'T "SEAT" PROPERLY IN IGNITION. SAID, "DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT, IT'S JUST BREAKING IN" EXACT WORDS--"IT WILL LEARN YOUR KEY ASSEMBLY" WAS THAT SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN BEFORE OR AFTER IT BURNED TO THE GROUND?? I GOT NO HELP FROM THE DEALER HERE IN PLANT CITY, FLORIDA.
NHTSA complaint #705946 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 96V071000 IN THE MAIL. CONTACTED DEALER. HAD THE IGNITION REPAIRED AT DEALER. PROBLEM WITH SMOKING OCCURRED. TOOK VEHICLE BACK & PAID FOR ANOTHER IGNITION. HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM WITH SMOKING OF THE IGNITION.
NHTSA complaint #835775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
BEFORE RECALL REPAIR WORK WAS COMPLETED VEHICLE EXPERIENCED FAILURE OF THE IGNITION SWITCH WHICH DESTROYED VEHICLE DUE TO FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #512054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER SAID IT WAS DEFECTIVE WIRING IN THE ALTERNATOR. *AK
NHTSA complaint #833059 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
VEHICLE DESTROYED IN A FIRE, DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION.
NHTSA complaint #512054 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE VEHICLE HAS HAD A RECALL ON THE IGNITION SWITCH. WHEN THE FIRST FAILURE ON THE SWITCH OCCURRED THERE WAS NO BRAKE POWER AND INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES OR TURN SIGNALS. AFTER RECALL FAILURE HAPPENED AGAIN WITH SAME CONSEQUENCES, LOSS OF BRAKES AND GAUGES, WITH OVERHEATING OF THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSES THE WIRE HARNESS IN THE STEERING COLUMN TO BURN.
NHTSA complaint #521444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE PRIOR TO RECALL.
NHTSA complaint #514608 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
AFTER THE REPAIRS WERE COMPLETED THE CAR WOULD START CUTTING AND SPARKS IN THE STEERING COLUMN FROM THE BOTTOM HALF WAY DOWN TO THE COLUMN, OTHER DAY AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 5MINS. THE CAR STARTED CRANKING ITSELF AND THEN CAUGHT FIRE ON THE FLOOR ON THE DRIVER SIDE.
NHTSA complaint #807249 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE FOR IGNITION SWITCH, HAD IGNITION SWITCH REPLACED AUG.22, 1996. DEC 6, 1996 CAR PARKED IN GARAGE FOR HALF HOUR, HEARD A NOISE, CAR WAS IN FLAMES. FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT SEEMED TO BE ELECTRICAL. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED, VEHICLE IS AT A SALVAGE LOT.
NHTSA complaint #807013 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WHILE DRIVING THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK *SLC
NHTSA complaint #804389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE DEALERSHIP PAUL O'BAUGH STAUNTON HAS HAD THE CAR FOR 26 DAYS AND THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN WORKED ON FOR 21 DAYS AND NOW THE DEALERSHIP WILL BE TAKING THE RENTAL CAR. PLEASE GIVE MORE INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #802496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
PURCHASED CAR USED, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BURNED UP , TOOK TO DEALER IS ONLY GOING TO REPLACE THE THE IGNITION SWITCH # 96V071000. *AK CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL AND TOOK CAR TO DEALERSHIP, DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH HAD BURNED WIRES THROUGH THE STEERING COLUMN TO THE WIRE HARNESS BEHIND THE DASHBOARD, FORD WANTED TO TOTAL VEHICLE AND OFFER CONSUMER A VERY LOW PRICE, CONSUMER OWED MUCH MORE THAN WHAT WAS OFFERED SO CONSUMER REQUESTED TO HAVE VEHICLE REPAIRED, FORD DENIED REQUEST AND STATED THE ONLY THING THEY WOULD DO IS REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH, NOT THE OTHER DAMAGES, WHEN CONSUMER RECIEVED VEHICLE FROM DEALERSHIP IT HAD 2 CRACKS IN THE DASH, BROKED ODOMETER READING FRAME, ENGINE NOISES OVER RADIO FREQUENCY, WIRES HANGING BELOW THE DASH, AND LIGHTS BEGAN FLICKERING, BATTERY HAD FAILED TWO TIMES, A MECHANICE STATED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT SOMEWHERE CAUSING BATTERY TO DRAIN. CLUTCH FAILED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #802533 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
AFTER HAVING RECALL REPAIR WORK DONE THREE MONTHS AGO, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START AND THE IGNITION WAS STARTING TO GET HOT RECALL#96V071000. *AK NEW IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED AT NO CHARGE TO CONSUMER. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #801651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WIRING TO HOODS COURTESY LIGHT INSULATION WORN AWAY, CAUSING FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #506702 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
WHEN STARTING VEHICLE JUMPED/HALT ALSO KEY GETS HOT.
NHTSA complaint #504342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED. THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #985002 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
DRIVING WHEN EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT WHICH CAUSED A FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #984841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
THE IGNITION SHORT CIRCUTS AND THE WHOLE CAR FILLED WITH SMOKE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.
NHTSA complaint #983459 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE SWITCH TO MELT HAD TO REPLACE THE SWITCH TWICE.
NHTSA complaint #983129 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.