1990 Ford Thunderbird: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 179 complaints
179
Total Complaints
90,332mi
Median Mileage
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
Top Issue
8
Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

59,000 25th Percentile
90,332 Median Mileage
149,445 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
20
SEAT BELTS
14
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
12
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
10
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
8
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
6
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
5
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
5

Severity Assessment

8
Crashes
21
Fires
8
Injuries
2
Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"BINDING OF THE SHORT RACK CAUSING STEERING TO LOCK OFF. TT"
"SUDDEN RACING OF THE ENGINE. DRIVER HAS TO RIDE THE BRAKES UNTIL HE SHIFTS TO NEUTRAL AND TURN THE IGNITION OFF. TT"
"TRANSMISSION FAILURE DUE TO FAULTY GROMMET. *AK"

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28