FaultScore

1989 Ford Thunderbird brake problems

25 of the 147 complaints about the 1989 Ford Thunderbird are about the braking system — 17% of everything reported for this model year.

D

25

Complaints

3

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip 11 44.0%
Rotor 4 16.0%
Foundation Components 3 12.0%
Caliper 3 12.0%
Disc 2 8.0%
Master Cylinder 1 4.0%
Pedals AND Linkages 1 4.0%

Brakes across every Ford Thunderbird year

1988 10 2.1%
1989 25 5.3%
1990 45 9.5%
1991 20 4.2%
1992 41 8.7%
1993 40 8.5%
1994 90 19.0%
1995 121 25.6%
1996 55 11.6%
1997 26 5.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Oxhard, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER

INTERMITTENTLY WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED, PEDAL BECAME HARD, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE DUE TO MASTER CYLINDER. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. DEALER HAS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE PART NEEDED TO REPAIR VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. *AK BRAKES FAIL INTERMITTENTLY, THEY ARE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID AND THE FORD DEALERSHIPS CANNOT REPAIR IT. THERE ARE NO REBUILD KITS AVAILABLE FOR THIS VEHICLE. CONSUMER WAS INFORMED TO PURCHASE A MASTER CYLINDER FROM A JUNK YARD. CONSUMER FEELS FORDS RESPONSIBILTY IS TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #8011802 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Long Beach, CA Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #737179 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Issqua, WA Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WHEN SHE APPLIED BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT APPLY FULLY. THEN VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL DOWN AN ENBANKMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO MALFUNCTIONED MASTER CYLINDER. *AK

NHTSA complaint #857821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Haltom CIT, TX

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS RELAY/MASTER CYLINDER MODULE FAILS OCCASIONALLY WHILE STOPPING, RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE ABS SYSTEM.

NHTSA complaint #542831 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

WHILE ACCELERATING TO GET ON THE FREEWAY TWICE IN JACKSONVILLE, FL, AND THE LAST TIME IN KINGSLAND, GA, THE FOOT PEDAL STUCK. IT DID NOT RELEASE ITSELF THE THIRD TIME. AT APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES PER HOUR I FINALLY PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL ONLYTO FIND OUT THAT MY BRAKES DIDN'T WORK. I HAVE THANKED GOD EVERY DAY SINCE. I WAS HEADED INTO ROAD CONSTRUCTION SITE AND THE STATE LINE BRIDGE. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A GREAT TRAGEDY TO ALOT OF PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES, INCLUDING MY OWN. I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN PUT INFORCE FOR THE LINKAGES ON THE ACCELERATION CABLES TO WHICH THEY BREAK AND GET HUNG UP ON OTHER EQUIPMENT WHICH CAUSES THE ACCELERATION. DOES IT TAKE INNOCENT LIVES BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? IF THERE HASE BEEN A RECALL ON THE PART I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS WOULD SURE LIKE TO KNOW ABOUT IT. MAY CAR WAS MANUFACTURED IN MAY OF 1989.

NHTSA complaint #715072 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Glenpool, OK

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THIS CAR HAS ABS ON IT BUT IT FAILS TO WORK PROPERLY. THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS OCCURING FROM IT ON MY CAR, BUT HAS BEEN A FEW CLOSE CALLS. I HAVE HEARD OF ALOT OF FAILURES OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM, AND THE MASTER CYLINDER IS A DEALER ONLY ITEM WITH A PRICE TAG OF $1800!!!!!!! IF SOMEONE LIKE ME OWNS THIS CAR, AND HAS A BRAKE PROBLEM, HOW DO I SAVE MY KIDS LIVES AND REPLACE THE FAILING PART IF I CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY THE PARTS? THE CLOSE CALLS I HAVE HAD IS IF I SLAM ON THE BRAKES, EITHER THE ABS DOESN'T WORK AT ALL AND THE TIRES LOCK,,, OR THE PEDAL IS REAL SPONGY... LIKE I SAY, THERE HAS BEEN NO ACCIDENTS YET, BUT AT LEAST 2 CLOSE CALLS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED MUCH EASIER IF THE SYSTEM WAS WORKING RIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #700762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Corning, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

BRAKE CALIPERS STICK, CAUSING DAMAGE TO ROTORS FROM OVERHEATING.

NHTSA complaint #524111 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Corning, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

BRAKE CALIPERS ARE DEFECTIVE (STICK) CAUSING THE ROTORS TO OVERHEAT, WARP, RESULTING IN VIBRATION.

NHTSA complaint #532343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Corning, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

BRAKE CALIPERS ARE DEFECTIVE (LOCK UP/STICK) CAUSING NUMEROUS BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURES.

NHTSA complaint #521443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Frederic, WI

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED.

NHTSA complaint #508358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lebanon, OR

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

THE BRAKES MAKE LOUD NOISE. AND THE VENTILATION DOES NOT WORK, NO AIR CONDITIONER. THE DLR HAS FIXED THE BRAKES.

NHTSA complaint #813377 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Upper Marlboro, MD

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY ALMOST TO 100MPH. THE BRAKES WERE RUINED TRYING TO STOP THE CAR, HAD TO BE TURNED OFF AND DOWN SHIFTED IN ORDER TO STOP.

NHTSA complaint #813094 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lexington, MA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

DRIVING, HAD APPLIED BRAKES, NO BRAKING (ABS) POWER, VEHICLE CAME TO A ROLLING STOP. HAD NO STOPPING ABILITY.

NHTSA complaint #807930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kingston, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

RIGHT FRONT BRAKE ROTOR RUSTED/SEPARATED.

NHTSA complaint #510358 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Charmont, MA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS THE ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKES FAILED WITH NO WRANING , TOOK TO DEALER, REPLACED THE ELECTRICAL RELAY TWICE AND HYDRAULIC PUMPING UNIT. *AK

NHTSA complaint #806219 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Florence, KY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES

WHEN THE BRAKES WHERE APPLIED AT SOME POINT THE BRAKE PEDAL FELL OFF. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAIL INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #802397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Anaheim, CA Crash

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKES FAILED TO STOP VEHICLE WHEN VEHICLE IN FRONT STOPPED SUDDENLY, CAUSING ACCIDENT. *DSH

NHTSA complaint #490828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huntington, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE WHEN CENTER HUB BROKE AWAY FROM ROTOR, CAUSING DEMINISHED BRAKING ABILITY.

NHTSA complaint #979984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Huntington, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

WHILE DRIVING, EXPERIENCED BRAKE FAILURE WHEN CENTER HUB BROKE AWAY FROM ROTOR, CAUSING DEMINISHED BRAKING ABILITY.

NHTSA complaint #979984 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Corning, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

FRONT BRAKES, WHEN APPLIED, VIBRATE FRONT END. TT

NHTSA complaint #501353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Corning, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC

FRONT BRAKES, WHEN APPLIED, VIBRATE FRONT END. TT

NHTSA complaint #501353 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Long Lake, MN

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING WENT TO APPLY THE BRAKE FAILED HAVE ABS ANTI LOCK BRAKE . TT

NHTSA complaint #976137 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Harvey, LA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS BRAKING PROBLEMS. PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT

NHTSA complaint #975546 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fultonvill, NY

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

BRAKE ROTORS WARPED TWICE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SHIMMY WHEN BRAKES APPLIED.

NHTSA complaint #482138 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Jose, CA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

STEERING WHEEL WAS SHAKING AS A RESULT OF BRAKE FAILURE. TT

NHTSA complaint #966055 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1989 Ford Thunderbird problems

← Full 1989 Ford Thunderbird report