MYRModel Year Report

1990 Ford Thunderbird

● Typical for this model
1990 Ford Thunderbird
RENDERED 2026-11-01T15:51:40.713Z

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

Complaints
141
Recalls
4

Campaigns on file for 1990

Investigations
4

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Service brakes

31% of complaints

Complaints per year

1980: 3 complaints 1980 1981: 0 complaints 1982: 0 complaints 1983: 3 complaints 1983 1984: 26 complaints 1985: 14 complaints 1986: 23 complaints 1986 1987: 63 complaints 1988: 92 complaints 1989: 125 complaints 1990: 141 complaints 1990 141 1991: 112 complaints 1992: 186 complaints 1993: 425 complaints 1994: 315 complaints 1995: 261 complaints 1995 1996: 233 complaints 1997: 169 complaints 1998: 3 complaints 1998 1999: 2 complaints 2002: 93 complaints 2003: 33 complaints 2003 2004: 34 complaints 2005: 27 complaints
1980: 3 complaints 1980 1981: 0 complaints 1982: 0 complaints 1982 1983: 3 complaints 1984: 26 complaints 1984 1985: 14 complaints 1986: 23 complaints 1986 1987: 63 complaints 1988: 92 complaints 1988 1989: 125 complaints 1990: 141 complaints 1990 141 1991: 112 complaints 1992: 186 complaints 1992 1993: 425 complaints 1994: 315 complaints 1994 1995: 261 complaints 1996: 233 complaints 1996 1997: 169 complaints 1998: 3 complaints 1998 1999: 2 complaints 2002: 93 complaints 2002 2003: 33 complaints 2004: 34 complaints 2004 2005: 27 complaints
1980: 3 complaints 1980 1981: 0 complaints 1981 1982: 0 complaints 1982 1983: 3 complaints 1983 1984: 26 complaints 1984 1985: 14 complaints 1985 1986: 23 complaints 1986 1987: 63 complaints 1987 1988: 92 complaints 1988 1989: 125 complaints 1989 1990: 141 complaints 1990 141 1991: 112 complaints 1991 1992: 186 complaints 1992 1993: 425 complaints 1993 1994: 315 complaints 1994 1995: 261 complaints 1995 1996: 233 complaints 1996 1997: 169 complaints 1997 1998: 3 complaints 1998 1999: 2 complaints 1999 2002: 93 complaints 2002 2003: 33 complaints 2003 2004: 34 complaints 2004 2005: 27 complaints 2005

1990: 141 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19803
19810
19820
19833
198426
198514
198623
198763
198892
1989125
1990141
1991112
1992186
1993425
1994315
1995261
1996233
1997169
19983
19992
200293
200333
200434
200527

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Service brakes

31% · 44 reports

Most commonly citing hydraulic.

CRASHINJURY

Electrical system

27% · 38 reports

Most commonly citing switch and ignition.

FIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Engine fire

NHTSA ODI report, 2005-07-08

Vehicle started to smoke short in alternator. Resulting in vehicle catching on fire. Tt

NHTSA ODI report, 1995-06-22

Seat belts

18% · 25 reports

Most commonly citing buckle assembly and webbing.

FIRE

Vehicle speed control

12% · 17 reports

Most commonly citing accelerator pedal and cables.

CRASHINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Car was backed out of garage. While in reverse, the engine began racing wide open, went across 2 driveways and hit another vehicle. Brakes would not stop it and would not go out of reverse.

NHTSA ODI report, 2005-01-28

The vehicle experienced sudden acceleration when the vehicle was shifted from park to drive which caused the vehicle to drive through a garage smashing the wall.

NHTSA ODI report, 2003-05-02

Auto-trans: while coming out of garage with foot on brakes to shift from park to drive engine accelerated to high speed;hit two parked cars;no warning.…

NHTSA ODI report, 1995-05-15

Engine and engine cooling

8% · 11 reports

Most commonly citing engine and exhaust system.

FIRE

Safety timeline

4 recalls · 4 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    1990-03-09Electrical system90V026000 Battery to starter cables are longer than specified; excessive cable length could contact engine damper pulley.

    Remedy: Replace battery to starter cable with correct length cable.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  2. I
    1990-06-26Engineering analysisClosed 1992-02-25 Hood latches fail
  3. R
    1991-05-24Visibility91V076000 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…

    Remedy: Apply torque retention material to wiper motor studs and nuts and retorque.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  4. I
    1993-08-30Preliminary evaluationClosed 1993-12-30 Thrttl vlv linkage bushing
  5. I
    1993-12-30Engineering analysisClosed 1994-12-30 Thrttl vlv linkage bushing
  6. I
    1995-03-27Preliminary evaluationClosed 1995-07-31 Faulty seatbelt buckles
  7. R
    1996-06-07Electrical system96V071000 The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.

    Check if this car was fixed →

  8. R
    2009-05-11Exterior lighting09E012000 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…

    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.

    Check if this car was fixed →

Buy-smart checklist

1990 Ford Thunderbird — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Service brakes: 44 reports on file for this year.
  • Electrical system: 38 reports on file for this year.
  • Seat belts: 25 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 90V026000 · Electrical system
  • Recall 91V076000 · Visibility
  • Recall 96V071000 · Electrical system
  • Recall 09E012000 · Exterior lighting
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 1990 Ford Thunderbird reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 1990 Ford Thunderbird is rated "typical".
What are the most common problems with the 1990 Ford Thunderbird?
The most-reported component is service brakes, accounting for 31% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 1990 Ford Thunderbird have?
4 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.