FaultScore

1995 Ford Thunderbird acceleration problems

11 of the 353 complaints about the 1995 Ford Thunderbird are about the throttle and cruise control — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 65,000 miles.

F

11

Complaints

5

Crashes

0

Fires

4

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Vehicle Speed Control 10 90.9%
Accelerator Pedal 1 9.1%

Acceleration & Cruise Control across every Ford Thunderbird year

1989 26 21.1%
1990 17 13.8%
1991 10 8.1%
1993 14 11.4%
1994 23 18.7%
1995 11 8.9%
1997 11 8.9%
2002 11 8.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 65,000 miles Randleman, NC Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY AND THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED ON WET ROAD CONDITIONS. THE CONTACT CRASHED AGAINST A TREE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A HEAD INJURY, A FRACTURED STERNUM AND A FRACTURED COLLARBONE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED DAMAGE TO THE HEART CAGE, A KIDNEY AND INTERNAL BLEEDING. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND WAS LATER INSPECTED BY THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE COMPANY AND AN AUTHORIZED DEALER. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS UNDETERMINED BY BOTH. THE FAILURE WAS REPORTED TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 65,000.

NHTSA complaint #10513854 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Niles, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

ON TWO OCCASIONS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC VEHICLE SUDDENLY LURCHED FORWARD. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK ENGINE ROARS, CONSUMER WOULD TAP THE ACCELERATOR AND WOULD GO TO THE FLOOR, FEELS AS IF VEHICLE IS PUT IN NEUTRAL. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION GEAR SHIFT SWITCH ASSEMBLY. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON INTERMITTENTLY. DEALER REPLACE 2 O2 SENSORS AND MAF SENSOR. VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT. WHEEL ALIGNMENT PERFORMED. STEERING WHEEL SHIMMY WHEN APPLYING BRAKES. PRFORMED FRONT DISC/ REAR DRUM BRAKE SERVICE. REPLACED FRONT ROTORS AFTER BRAKE JOB DUE TO PULSATION. STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED. AT TIMES, VEHICLE WILL NOT SHUTT OFF. RIGHT DOOR LOCK INOPERATIVE. DEALER CAN NOT DUPLICATE. CUSTOMER STATES FLUID LEAK AT REAR END. RIGHT AXLE SEAL REPLACED. PASSENGER HEAD REST RATTLES OVER BUMPS. DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE. CONSUMER STATES NOISE FROM SEAT WHEN NO ONE IS SITTING THERE, DEALER STATES THIS IS NORMAL. SEAT TRACK COVERS MISING ONE LAYING IN THE REAR FLOOR. SEAT TRACK COVER REINSTALLED. CONSUMER STATS THERE IS A PINGING NOISE UPON ACCELERATION. DEALER SUGGESTED HIGHER FUEL OCTANE. CUSTOMER STATES BRAKE PEDAL SEEMS LOW. BRAKES OK. FRONT END SHIMMIES AT 50 TO 60 MPH. 4 TIRES BALANCED. DOME LIGHT WILL NOT COME ON WHEN DRIVER OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE PULLED UP. TEMPERATURE AND SPEEDOMOTER LIGHT BURNED WAS INOPERATIVE. DEALER REPLACED INSTRUMENT CLUSTER BULBS. COOLANT LEAK UNDER CAR AND WARNING LIGHT IS ON. DEALER FOUND NO LEAKS AND COOLANT LEVEL LOW. CONSUMER STATES MOTOR WILL ROAR AND SHIFT INTO GEAR. DRIVER SIDE HEADLAMP BURNT OUT. HEADLAMP REPLACED. TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN NOT IN OVERDRIVE. DEALER REPLACED TRANSMISSION OIL PAN AND GASKET.

NHTSA complaint #8004997 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Braidwood, IL Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHEN AIRBAG DEPLODED CRUISE CONTROLS FLEW AT MY DAUGHTER I THOUGH THIS WAS VERY UNSAFE AND WANT TO KNOW IF THE DESIGN HAS BEEN CHANGE INTHE FORD LINE FOR CRUISE CONTROL PANEL.

NHTSA complaint #745512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Louisville, KY Crash

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE AT A DRIVE-IN WINDOW LEFT TIRE WAS ON THE WALKWAY. CONSUMER BACKED UP TO GET STRAIGHT IN THE DRIVEWAY. THEN PUT CAR IN DRIVE, AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT STOP. CONSUMER PRESSED GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR , BUT CAR WOULD NOT STOP. HIT ANOTHER CAR THEN STOPPED.

NHTSA complaint #861750 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Denton, TX

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

OCCASIONALLY WHEN GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, IT WILL NOT RETURN IMMEDATELY, CAUSING THE CAR TO LURCH FORWARD.

NHTSA complaint #707782 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Goodyear, AZ Crash 1 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

WHILE PARALLEL PARKING AND MOVING FORWARD, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITH HIGH SPEED IN WHICH THE DRIVER HAD FOOT ON THE BRAKES, BUT WOULD NOT STOP, CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. DRIVER HIT TREE AND A WALL WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP VEHICLE. AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CAUSING EYE DAMAGE TO THE OCCUPANT. NO PRIOR PROBLEMS. DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#.

NHTSA complaint #835067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Cincinnati, OH

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

TRANSMISSION SHUDDER AT SHIFT POINTS INTO THIRD AND OVERDRIVE WITH NORMAL ACCELERATION; ALSO, WITH AGGRESSIVE ACCELERATION, THE ENGINE TURNS 4,500 RPM BEFORE SHIFTING INTO SECOND.

NHTSA complaint #781394 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Canton, MI

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD, CAUSING ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #507664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Portland, ME

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SPEEDOMETER DOES NOT REGISTER UNTIL 15 MPH OR ABOVE.

NHTSA complaint #506957 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST George, UT

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SUDDEN ACCELERATION.

NHTSA complaint #502737 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Silver SPR, MD Crash 2 injured

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SUDDEN ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT/INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #483319 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1995 Ford Thunderbird problems

← Full 1995 Ford Thunderbird report