1991 Ford Thunderbird
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Ford › Thunderbird › 1991
These records cover every 1991 Ford Thunderbird. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
4 recalls name the 1991 Ford Thunderbird. Newest first.
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…
Risk and remedy
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.
The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
Risk and remedy
Risk
This condition could cause overheating, smoke, and possibly fire in the steering column area of the vehicle.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
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.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Changes in the wiper pattern or jamming of the wiperswould result in reduced driver visibilty in inclement weather conditions.
Remedy
Apply torque retention material to wiper motor studs and nuts and retorque.
The park rod assembly contains a park cam with inadequate surface hardness, which could lead to park disengagement or no park engagement when the lever IS placed in park.
Risk and remedy
Risk
If park IS not engaged and the parking brake IS off, avehicle roll-away could result.
Remedy
Replace park rod assembly on automatic transmissions.
Owner complaints
112 complaints7 involved a crash13 involved a fire5 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Service brakes
Loss of hydraulic brake assist on super coupe. pedal became hard to press. both brake and ABS annunciators illuminating. troubleshooting indicates brake pressure switch failing to signal pump to charge system or accumulator has failed. master cylinder and ABS system are original equipment and thus 24 years old.
- Vehicle speed control › Cruise control
Cruise control stopped working. *tr
- Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer › Linkages
Plastic bushings in both ends of windshield wiper tie-rod component have worn. causes wipers to move less, skip, and lose ability to clear entire windshield. tie-rod may become disconnected from motor end or from wiper end. car has less than 57000 miles.*ak
- Exterior lighting › Headlights
Defective headlamp circuit breaker causes headlights to flash off and on repeatedly. first failure occurred when car was 2 years old, second failure in the last year. Car has less than 57,000 miles. 1991 supercoupe model has foglamps as do the 1992 and later thunderbird models for which a recall exists.*ak
- Engine and engine cooling · Steering › Hydraulic power assist › Pump
3.8L V6 engine over-heated due to head gasket failure in #4 cylinder. Both heads were reworked and gaskets replaced. After repair engine started stalling. Idle air control valve was then replaced. Now there IS a fluctuation in oil pressure. Prior to head gasket failure, power steering pump has to be replaced.*ak
- Engine and engine cooling
Overheating at first then after the headgaskets were replaced the rod bearings failed which added another 1200.00 to the 1645.00 of the first repair and the power steering pump was replaced at the time of the first repair.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Head gasket failure at 73,000 on my 1991 tbird with the 3.8 V6. looks like ford IS trying to cover this up! *nlm
- Exterior lighting › Headlights
Headlight failure intermittent operation. Ts
- Vehicle speed control
Part to repair not available. dt
- Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
Windshield wipers freeze up when wipers are turned on high. this IS a similar defect to the "nhtsa campaign ID number: 91v076000" problem I can not use the my car wipers on high in the rain. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Engine has been replaced twice already and needs to go in again because of head gasket blowing out. contacted dealer. *Ak
- Suspension
While driving hears a loud beep coming from front of vehicle. Can't actually tell where beep IS coming from. Please add vin. *Ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
I am in a club of over 5,000 owners of identical cars and failures have been seen as low as 18,000 miles to my knowledge, and numerous in the 60000 mile range on well maintained cars of headgasket failure which often causes complete engine failure, in my case it caused two connecting rods to fail…
I am in a club of over 5,000 owners of identical cars and failures have been seen as low as 18,000 miles to my knowledge, and numerous in the 60000 mile range on well maintained cars of headgasket failure which often causes complete engine failure, in my case it caused two connecting rods to fail, a crankshaft bearing due to oil contamination and the crankshaft as a result. this IS the third failure on my vehicle, once I was stranded on a dangerous dark stretch of I-95, once in the rain and as a result of loss of heat (headgasket failure symptom) I ran a red light and proceded the wrong way on a one way street. *ak
- Vehicle speed control › Accelerator pedal
While the consumer was driving on the highway the accelerator became struck. as a result the vehicle continued to accelerate until the brake pedal and emergency brake were applied. *ak *nm
- Suspension › Rear
It looks like due to the weight of the independant rear suspension the rear wheelwell welds and floor pan appear to be tearing away from the car. *Ak
- Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery
This auto was a late build thunderbird 5-91 it has some 92 thunderbird systems including recalled fuel lines of the 1992 thunderbird. *Ak
- Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner
Air conditioner gets a coolant-type smell and then begins to blow hot air. I have taken it to the dealer several times with the same complaint, the first time being in 1996. most of the time they cannot find anything wrong. sometimes, they replace "o" rings, gaskets, freon, etc. But it still does not solve the problem. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Head gasket blewout with any warning or prior problem. vehicle has low mileage, but manufacturer IS not covering cost. *ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Antifreeze IS leaking through out exhaust system caused by bad head gaskets. Engine overheated, blew a head gasket, and lost antifreeze immediately. ford dealer IS denying any problems they may have with the gaskets.*ak
- Visibility › Windshield wiper/washer
Windshield wipers freeze up when they are turned on high. this IS a similar defect to the "nhtsa campaign ID number: 91v076000" problem. *Ak
- Vehicle speed control
I would like for these problems to be fixed. No safety defect listed. *Ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip · Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components
Anti-lock brakes and brake system warning lights on dashboard come on. when consumer attempts to slow/stop vehicle, there IS no resistance behind the brake pedal, and it goes to the floor. this has occurred three times; at 15-20 mph range/ 20-30 mph range, and at 40-50 mph range. a private…
Anti-lock brakes and brake system warning lights on dashboard come on. when consumer attempts to slow/stop vehicle, there IS no resistance behind the brake pedal, and it goes to the floor. this has occurred three times; at 15-20 mph range/ 20-30 mph range, and at 40-50 mph range. a private mechanic stated that on a previous vehicle with same defect occurred. they ran a diagnostic on brake system and found no defects, but replaced brake system which repaired defect. consumer has not determined whether or not he will have this done. *Ak *slc
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine
Engine head gaskets have blown. dealer has been notified.*ak new cylinder head gasket was installed at consumer's expense. *Yh
- Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Major fuel leak when filled. *Ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components · Vehicle speed control
Through mountainous region in ar, throttle stuck wide open...found a little $3 piece that broke on the part that holds the linkage to the transmission to the throttle... Car kept going faster and faster... Brake system failed. Had to put car in neutral, and go up steep incline... Key would not come…
Through mountainous region in ar, throttle stuck wide open...found a little $3 piece that broke on the part that holds the linkage to the transmission to the throttle... Car kept going faster and faster... Brake system failed. Had to put car in neutral, and go up steep incline... Key would not come out because the ignition switch IS not functioning properly. had to replace the piece that broke, the transmission, car still idled high.. And had to replace another part as well. the brakes are very spongy, they have been bled numerous times, and the master cylander replaced and they still have to be pressed down 2-3 inches (very soft) before you feel any sort of brakage. The car still does not run correctly. have spent 650.00 + on air conditioner, and it still does not work right. appears to be a short in it, because when car IS accellerated, it will start cooling again... One part has been replaced 3 times, so something IS shorting it out.
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Thrttl vlv linkage bushing
There is no summary currently available
- Thrttl vlv linkage bushing
There is no summary currently available
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.
- 6090087Information on identifying non-approved / alternate refrigerants which could cause safety, and performance concerns if installed in ford a/c systems.
- 6089681Subject on a wire harness terminal repair kit available for repairing electrical wiring harnesses.
- 3010700Unknown
- 623988Information regarding transmission fluid usage charts. *Slc
- 623944Some vehicles may exhibit heater core leaks. *Slc
- 618546Subject regarding climate control - eatc - blower motor control service tips.
- 616522Subject regarding contamination from prior transmission concerns or excess wear may be trapped in the transmission fluid cooling system.
- 612203Information regarding the new transmission cooler flusher- service tip. *Mjs
- 608431Information on the new flush and fill tool available through rotunda.
- 606460Experiencing 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.
- 606451Information on "whining" / "buzzing" noise coming through entertainment or two-way radio speaker caused by the fuel pump.
- 606420Ford motor company now recommends sae 5W-30 viscosity grade for servicing any ford gasoline-powered vehicle regardless of model year.
- 603724Mass air flow (maf)- sensor contamination- service tip.
- 601343A new silicone gasket and sealant.
- 601341Experiencing a whining / buzzing noise in the speakers of the entertainment radio or two-way radio.
- 601312Information on a buzzing or rattle noise from the exhaust system.
- 601290Information on tire company telephone numbers for customer assistance.
- 601269Announcing the ford oem air conditioning retrofit kit availability.
- 601012The use of petroleum-based grease as a lubricant in servicing disc brakes IS no longer acceptable.
- 53660Vehicles exhibiting a "squeaking" or "chirping" from the blower motor at low blower motor speeds.
- 51990Blower motor- "chirping" or "squeaking" from blower motor at low speeds.
- 51987Fuel economy- customer expectations versus vehicle usage.
- 51945Fluid- transmission fluid usage charts.
- 50997Transaxle - torque converter replacement guidelines and torque converter/transaxle cooling system cleaning procedures - service tip.
- 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.
- 46471A 'groaning' noise may come from the front power windows after the glass IS powered full up. This noise IS caused by improper lubrication on the window regulator mechanism sliding surfaces. The grease gets wiped off from sliding surfaces during normal operation. Apply teflon lubricant (d2az-19590-a) to the window regulator mechanism.
- 45934Temperature gauge - fluctuating and /or inaccurate high readings.
- 41025A revised service windshield wiper motor IS now available.
- 39904Revised oil pan gasket.
- 39900Roughness concern during brake application.
- 39717Wiper motor replacement - upgraded service kits.
- 39222New torque-to-yield cylinder head bolt kit.
Every Ford Thunderbird model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.