1984 Ford Thunderbird
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Ford › Thunderbird › 1984
These records cover every 1984 Ford Thunderbird. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 1984 Ford Thunderbird. Newest first.
The bolts that attach the d-shaped ring for the shoulder belt are inadequately supported by the material in which they are mounted. The attachment does not comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages".
Risk and remedy
Remedy
Dealers will install new attaching hardware to improve the strength of the mounting.
Owner complaints
26 complaints1 involved a crash7 involved a fire2 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Engine and engine cooling · Fuel system, gasoline
Car stalls after it warms up.runs well while driving when caming to a stop call stalls and causes car to not have power brakes or power steering witch may cause a very bad accident.
- Wheels
The spokes have come loose causing the wheels to wobble which could cause a wheel collapse. dt
- Latches/locks/linkages › Hood › Latch
Consumer states while driving on turnpike, the hood flew up, striking and shattering the sun roof glass, the police officer inspected the hood latch and it appeared to be old, which possibly malfuntioned, consumer suffered minor injuries.(ohio traffic crash report #10-90-356)*jb
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle stalled, with windshield wipers and heater running, it ended up catching on fire, possible engine failure. *slc
- Electrical system › Ignition
The drive gear on the distributor shaft IS cut in the wrong direction to match the gear on the crankshaft. nlm
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
While driving at 40mph vehicle would stall out without warning. Has happened while making turns onto and off on/off ramps. Took to dealer & mechanic could not locate cause of stalling. Took vehicle to independent mechanic & was informed that cause was the ignition switch module & had it replaced.*ak
- Electrical system › Ignition
Since I bought this car I have had dozens of stalling incedents both while driving and at stop lights.i have had it at ford dealerships and they tell me they can't find the problem. Sawgrass ford in florida told me that they don't know what the problem IS I'm having and the gave me an estimate of…
Since I bought this car I have had dozens of stalling incedents both while driving and at stop lights.i have had it at ford dealerships and they tell me they can't find the problem. Sawgrass ford in florida told me that they don't know what the problem IS I'm having and the gave me an estimate of $1040.00 to fix the car. I took it to independent auto repair shops and they don't know why it stalls all the time. I read an article from california that names the tfi module as the probable cause. Ford has known of this problem with cars made from 1983 to 1995. A recall order should be giving to ford for these cars in order to fix these cars. I have not had an accident yet but I'm here to tell you that I have had many close calls.too close and I am afraid that my luck may not hold out much longer. The law of averages IS getting close. Please help us if you can..
- Electrical system › Ignition
Vehicle stalls due to ignition module overheating from engine heat. *mjs
- Vehicle speed control
After taking car to dealership on several occasions for stalling, the reset the idle so high that when it was cold outside or driving in snowy conditions, the gas pedal would accelerate by it self. I also had a lawyer contact ford and never received replies. I traded the car in and received…
After taking car to dealership on several occasions for stalling, the reset the idle so high that when it was cold outside or driving in snowy conditions, the gas pedal would accelerate by it self. I also had a lawyer contact ford and never received replies. I traded the car in and received almost nothing for it because the engine was almost blown because of the idle being set so high. I also rented a car in ca that was a 85 thunderbird that stalled while driving on the freeway in 10/85.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine · Engine and engine cooling › Exhaust system
Consumer experiencing engine problem failure due to wet weather condition. Vehicle would intermittently stall or would not start, also vehicle was started and air filter caught on fire. Dealer was not notified. *ak
- Steering
While driving at 70mph, vehicle suddenly began to fishtail. driver loss control, spun and vehicle to rest in the median. dealer inspection found no mechanical defects.
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
While pulling into parking space flexible line that connects metal tubing to brakes blew apart. Pedal went to the floor. Had no indication or warning it would happen. Had no brakes. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
While driving vehicle stalls and cuts off. Owner has had the vc modulator valve replaced two times. owner contacted the dealer. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle fire.
- Structure › Frame and members
Front clip broke off. *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition
Vehicle was parked for a period of 5 hours, under the dash fire, electrical short. *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Ignition switch shorted, causing steering column to smoke. *Dh
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Auto was parked in garage and auto started to burn, no one injured. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
Wiring harness under dash shorted, causing fire. *Dsh
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Electrical short in the ignition switch, need to be replaced. Please describe in more details. *ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Interior/under dash
Dashboard electrical system caught on fire, melting the dashboard area. *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Traveling down the freeway smoke developed around the ignition, resulting in a vehicle fire. *ak
- Power train › Automatic transmission
Purchased car used with a warranty on transmission, consumer IS on the second transmission.please describe . *ak
- Seat belts › Front › Webbing
Consumer was in an accident failure on the driver side seat belt. tt
- Seat belts › Front › Buckle assembly
Seat belt buckle came apart. *aw
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Parking brake failure
Summary:the spring under investigation causes the latching pawl toengage the teeth of the ratchet whereby the parking brake IS retainedin the applied position.if the spring fails, the pedal follows theoperators foot back up into the released position.ford states that it issued the bulletin in order to inform…
Summary:the spring under investigation causes the latching pawl toengage the teeth of the ratchet whereby the parking brake IS retainedin the applied position.if the spring fails, the pedal follows theoperators foot back up into the released position.ford states that it issued the bulletin in order to inform dealersthat the spring was newly available as a separate part.previously,it was necessary to replace the entire parking brake control assembly inorder to obtain a new spring.since the failure of the spring will not cause the parking brake tosuddenly and unexpectedly release and since there IS adequate warningof the failure, no safety defect trend was found.===
- Seatback failure
Summary of information from manufacturer:ford believes that the al-leged defect only occurs in a small number of the subject vehicles andrecalled about 195,732 1984 tempo/topaz vehicles in june 1986.analysis: vehicles potentially involved include tempo/topaz, escort/lynx/exp, mustang/capri, ltd/marquis, and…
Summary of information from manufacturer:ford believes that the al-leged defect only occurs in a small number of the subject vehicles andrecalled about 195,732 1984 tempo/topaz vehicles in june 1986.analysis: vehicles potentially involved include tempo/topaz, escort/lynx/exp, mustang/capri, ltd/marquis, and thunderbird/cougar.ford sold about 110,000 replacement mio bolts, mainly for 1983 and 1984models. Low clamping force appears to be a large part of the problem.ford increased the torque requirements and required the use of a manualtorque tool in march and september 1985 production changes. 1987 modelswill be produced with a longer M10 bolt and a nut to increase and main-tain clamping force. Bolts were formerly self tapping. Reports listedabove specifically state that the bolt broke. None refer simply toseat back collapse alone.status:ford reply to odi ir dated 2/2/87.ford recalled 195,7321984 tempo/topaz vehicles in june 1986 (86v-082). Analyzing reponse,monitoring canadian progress. Response to 4/6/87 letter to fordreceived 7/15/87. Will probably close after canada completes theiractions.===
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 3010700Unknown
- 623988Information regarding transmission fluid usage charts. *Slc
- 616522Subject regarding contamination from prior transmission concerns or excess wear may be trapped in the transmission fluid cooling system.
- 601343A new silicone gasket and sealant.
- 601290Information on tire company telephone numbers for customer assistance.
- 601238Information on a new transmission fluid usage chart.
- 601012The use of petroleum-based grease as a lubricant in servicing disc brakes IS no longer acceptable.
- 51945Fluid- transmission fluid usage charts.
- 50940Windshield and interior glass - fog/film.
- 50908Torque converter - leak test procedure - service tip.
- 50905Wiring - electrical diode identification and service replacements.
- 46478The use of petroleum-based grease as a lubricant in servicing disc brakes IS no longer acceptable because it may be incompatible with the rubber material used in the disc brake system. If petroleum-based grease IS used to lubricate any part of the disc brake system, it could cause rubber parts to swell if lubricant contacts the rubber material.
- 39900Roughness concern during brake application.
Every Ford Thunderbird model year
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