Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1990 Ford Thunderbird, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Electrical system38
- Service brakes, hydraulic34
- Seat belts23
- Vehicle speed control17
- Engine and engine cooling11
- Power train8
- Exterior lighting7
- Fuel system, gasoline5
- Visibility3
- Tires3
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 8 injuries and 2 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1990 Ford Thunderbird failed the safety check 2.80% of the time — 142% more often than the average 1990 passenger car (1.16%). Median odometer at inspection: 89,087 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the United Kingdom
0 cars built in 1990 were licensed for the road at the end of 2025, and 1 more were declared off the road (SORN).
Department for Transport and DVLA, vehicle licensing statistics (table VEH0124, year of manufacture) · Open Government Licence v3.0
In Finland
16 of these cars first registered in 1990 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026, with an average of 132,000 km on the odometer at their last inspection.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
In New Zealand
1 1990 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
5 Transport Canada recalls for the 1990 Ford Thunderbird.
| 1995212 29 Nov 1995 | Electrical A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD DEVELOP IN THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT COULD LEAD TO OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CONDIT… |
| 1994041 28 Feb 1994 | Emissions NOTE: THUNDERBIRD SUPER COUPE AND COUGAR XR7 EQUIPPED WITH MANUAL TRANSMISSION AND 3.8 LITRE SUPERCHARGED ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S.… |
| 1992077 30 Jun 1992 | Lights And Instruments NOTE: ALSO INCLUDES SOME MEDIUM AND HEAVY TRUCKS. THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 108 - LIGHTING. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT MODULE MAY MALFUNCTION … |
| 1991073 7 May 1991 | Visual System THE NUTS WHICH HOLD THE WIPER MOTOR TO THE WIPER MODULE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY TIGHTENED AND MAY LOOSEN OR COME OFF. IF THIS HAPPENS, THE WIPER PATTER… |
| 1990104 5 Jul 1990 | Emissions NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION AND 3.8L SUPERCHARGED ENGINE. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1101- EMISSION DEVICE. INCORR… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
THE NUTS WHICH HOLD WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO THE WIPER MODULE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED AND MAY LOOSEN OR COME OFF. THIS CAUSES CHANGED WIPER PATTERNS, OR THE WIPERS MAY JAM IF TWO OF THE THREE NUTS COME OFF.
BATTERY TO STARTER CABLES ARE LONGER THAN SPECIFIED; EXCESSIVE CABLE LENGTH COULD CONTACT ENGINE DAMPER PULLEY.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1990 Ford Thunderbird: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 623988 | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 623944 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC |
| 618546 | SUBJECT REGARDING CLIMATE CONTROL - EATC - BLOWER MOTOR CONTROL SERVICE TIPS. *JB |
| 616522 | SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT |
| 612203 | INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS |
| 6090087 | INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT |
| 6089681 | SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT |
| 608431 | INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *TT |
| 606460 | EXPERIENCING A WHINE / BUZZ TYPE NOISE IN THE SPEAKERS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT RADIO OR TWO-WAY RADIO ON VEHICLES WITH AN IN-TANK ELECTRIC FUEL PUMP. *TT |
| 606451 | INFORMATION ON "WHINING" / "BUZZING" NOISE COMING THROUGH ENTERTAINMENT OR TWO-WAY RADIO SPEAKER CAUSED BY THE FUEL PUMP. *TT |
| 606420 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY NOW RECOMMENDS SAE 5W-30 VISCOSITY GRADE FOR SERVICING ANY FORD GASOLINE-POWERED VEHICLE REGARDLESS OF MODEL YEAR. *TT |
| 603724 | MASS AIR FLOW (MAF)- SENSOR CONTAMINATION- SERVICE TIP. *AK |
| 601343 | A NEW SILICONE GASKET AND SEALANT. *YC |
| 601341 | EXPERIENCING A WHINING / BUZZING NOISE IN THE SPEAKERS OF THE ENTERTAINMENT RADIO OR TWO-WAY RADIO. *TT |
| 601312 | INFORMATION ON A BUZZING OR RATTLE NOISE FROM THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. *TT |
| 601290 | INFORMATION ON TIRE COMPANY TELEPHONE NUMBERS FOR CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE. *YC |
| 601269 | ANNOUNCING THE FORD OEM AIR CONDITIONING RETROFIT KIT AVAILABILITY. *YC |
| 601238 | INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC |
| 601012 | THE USE OF PETROLEUM-BASED GREASE AS A LUBRICANT IN SERVICING DISC BRAKES IS NO LONGER ACCEPTABLE. *YC |
| 53660 | VEHICLES EXHIBITING A "SQUEAKING" OR "CHIRPING" FROM THE BLOWER MOTOR AT LOW BLOWER MOTOR SPEEDS. *YC |
| 51990 | BLOWER MOTOR- "CHIRPING" OR "SQUEAKING" FROM BLOWER MOTOR AT LOW SPEEDS. *JD |
| 51987 | FUEL ECONOMY- CUSTOMER EXPECTATIONS VERSUS VEHICLE USAGE. *JD |
| 51945 | FLUID- TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *JD |
| 50997 | TRANSAXLE - TORQUE CONVERTER REPLACEMENT GUIDELINES AND TORQUE CONVERTER/TRANSAXLE COOLING SYSTEM CLEANING PROCEDURES - SERVICE TIP. *TW |
| 50940 | WINDSHIELD AND INTERIOR GLASS - FOG/FILM. *TW |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
FAULTY SEATBELT BUCKLES
THRTTL VLV LINKAGE BUSHING
THRTTL VLV LINKAGE BUSHING
HOOD LATCHES FAIL
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation