1995 Ford Thunderbird

Fatalities reported

Owners filed 261 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic › foundation components › disc › rotor. It has been recalled 1 time.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor31
000
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine28
000
Power Train › Automatic Transmission23
110
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components17
200
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip16
200
Air Bags › Frontal9
907
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Pads8
000
Vehicle Speed Control7
404
Exterior Lighting › Headlights6
000
Unknown or Other5
000

1 safety recall

Part 573 reports
Exterior Lighting09E012000
Filed Apr 7, 200916,270 vehiclesSabersport

Defect. SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Risk. DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Electrical System
Filed Jun 6, 2016CA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE BATTERY AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed May 28, 201365,000 milesNC

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.

SteeringCrash
Filed Nov 9, 2011CA

WHEN MAKING A LEFT HAND TURN OUT OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP CAUSING MY 16 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER TO LOSE CONTROL AND RUN HEAD ON INTO A PARKED CAR. *TR

Service Brakes, HydraulicCrash
Filed Apr 6, 20112,400 milesCA

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND HIS FOOT SLIPPED FROM THE PEDAL DUE TO THE BRAKE COVER FRACTURING.THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE FRONT END OF BOTH VEHICLES WAS DAMAGED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE COVER WAS NOT SECURED PROPERLY AND HE BELIEVED THE PEDAL SHOULD HAVE HAD MORE RUBBER TO PREVENT SLIPPAGE. HE NO LONGER OWNED THE VEHICLE AND THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,400. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

Visibility
Filed May 17, 2009OK

THE SUN ROOF OF MY 1995 FORD THUNDERBIRD BLEW OFF MY CAR AS I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, THE BRACKETS THAT HELD IT UP BROKE OFF AND THE GLASS WENT FLYING ACROSS TRAFFIC. *TR

SeatsFire1 injured
Filed Apr 18, 2009NC

DRIVER'S SIDE ELECTRIC SEAT BURST INTO FLAME. DRIVER(OWNER) SUSTAINED SEVERE BURNS THAT CHARACTERIZE AS LIFE THREATENING, AND REQUIRED ADMISSION TO THE BURN CENTER AT UNC HOSPITAL. PT WAS NOT SMOKING AND CAN NOT IDENTIFY ANY REASON WHY THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A FIRE IN HIS CAR. *TR

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 25, 200768,000 milesOH

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1995 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED WITHIN MINUTES OF BEING STARTED. HE NOTICED THICK, WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TAILPIPE AND THE "LOW COOLANT" WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE REPAIR SHOP STATED THAT THE HEAD GASKET NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 69,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Drum
Filed Nov 4, 2005148,890 milesOR

DT: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY THE REAR BRAKES SQUEAKED. THERE WAS AN INTENSE GRINDING NOISE. AT 40 MPH THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR INSPECTION . NO REPAIRS HAVE BEEN MADE AT THIS TIME. *AK UPDATED 1/4/2006 - THE TRIES JUST NEEDED TO NE BALANCED AND ROTATED. THE REAR BRAKE DRUMS WOULD GRIND WHEN THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED. *NM

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Oct 31, 200543,000 milesME

DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCES BOTH FRONT COIL SPRINGS WERE FOUND TO BE BROKEN. BOTH SPRINGS WERE BROKEN IN THE SAME MANNER AND LOCATION. THE CAR ONLY HAS 45,000 MILES ON IT! *NM

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Oct 7, 2005IL

DT: 1995 FORD THUNDERBIRD 3.8. THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AN ENGINE PROBLEM ON OCTOBER 3, 2005. TOOK VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALERSHIP, THEY WANTED $4600 TO PUT IN A NEW ENGINE. IN DECEMBER 2003 VEHICLE WAS LEAKING ANTIFREEZE FROM TIMING CHAIN GASKET. HAD VEHICLE REPAIRED IMMEDIATELY. VEHICLE WAS NOT INVOLVED IN ANY ACCIDENT NOR HAVE THERE BEEN ANY PROPERTY DAMAGE. POLICE HAVE NEVER BEEN NOTIFIED. VEHICLE HAS ONLY 32,000 MILES ON IT. THE VEHICLE STILL HAS THE ORIGINAL ENGINE . THE CONSUMER CALLED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, AND THEY SAID THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. *AK

Air Bags › Frontal › Sensor/Control Module
Filed Jun 24, 200557,600 milesFL

DT: AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND OFF. TOOK CAR TO HERTZ, AND THEY SAID IT HAD A SHORT TO GROUND. WAS TOLD THERE WAS A BLOWN FUSE IN THE MODULE. DEALER SAID IT WAS NOT ON RECALL. MANUFACTURER SAID TO CONTACT DEALER.*AK CONSUMER STATES THAT REPLACING THE FUSE IN THE MODULE WILL NOT HELP FOR LONG UNLESS WIRING IS REPLACED. *SB *NM

Electrical SystemFire
Filed Jun 20, 2005107,000 milesVA

FORD 1995 THUNDERBIRD CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT WAS PARKED EARLY IN THE MORNING. NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION. *AK THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE EXPLODED FROM THE FLAMES SHOOTING OUT FROM THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL WELL. THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE INSIDE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE POWER ANTENNA MOTOR HAD NOT WORKED PROPERLY FOR YEARS. TEN DAYS LATER BEFORE THE FIRE, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS FAILED AND THE FUSE WAS REPLACED. THE DOOR LOCK POWER FUNCTION WAS RESTORED AND THE FUSE WAS REPLACED. THE FUSE WAS BEING CHECKED FOR BEING TOO HOT TO TOUCH. *SC *JB

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Mar 7, 2005NY

UNSAFE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR IN CONSUMER'S 1995 FORD THUNDERBIRD. *BF

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 2, 200492,000 milesMI

AFTER STRIKING A DEER, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED CRACKING THE DASH AND BROKE THE WINDSHIELD AND KNOCKED THE CONSUMER OUT. *JB

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Sep 29, 2004CO

INITIALLY IT FELT AS THOUGH A TIRE WAS OUT OF BALANCE, LATER IN THE TRIP THE TIRE BEGAN THUMPING AS IF IT WERE SQUARE. INSPECTING THE TIRE I FOUND THAT THE TREAD WAS TWISTING OUT OF SHAPE AND THAT CHUNKS OF RUBBER HAD COME OFF OF THE TIRE.*AK

Power Train › Automatic TransmissionCrash
Filed Sep 7, 2004100,000 milesNC

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK, THE OWNER WENT INSIDE OF THE STORE BUT WHEN HE RETURNED THE VEHICLE HAD GONE COMPLETELY ACROSS THE PARKING LOT AND RAN INTO THE BACK OF A VEHICLE. ALL OF THIS OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNATTENED AND IN PARK. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

Suspension › Front › Springs › Coil Springs
Filed Aug 16, 200453,000 milesOH

LEFT FRONT AND LEFT REAR COIL SPRINGS ARE BROKEN. CAR IS IN MINT CONDITION ND NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Cooling System › FanFire
Filed Aug 13, 200454,000 milesOH

ELECTRIC FAN MOTOR FOR RADIATOR COOLING FAN SHORTED OUT, CAUSING IT TO OVERHEAT AND CAUSE THE PLASTIC SHROUD TO CATCH ON FIRE.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Apr 8, 2004AL

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ENGINE CHECK LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AND REMAINED ON. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Structure › Body › Door
Filed Mar 24, 2004NY

DUE TO A UNSAFE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR, CONSUMER BELIEVED THE DEALERSHIP PUT USED PARTS ON HIS NEW VEHICLE. (NAR) *PH *CB

20 of 261 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1993
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
200527100Routine
200434100Routine
200333000Routine
200293201Fatalities reported
19992000Routine
19983000Routine
1997169230Routine
1996233441Fatalities reported
1995 — this page2611112Fatalities reported
19943001102Fatalities reported
1993423471Fatalities reported
19921844111Fatalities reported
19911124130Routine
19901404192Fatalities reported

Compare every Thunderbird year →

Reading this record

2 deaths reported in complaints filed with NHTSA.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Apr 7, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.