1986 Ford Escort vs 1986 Ford Thunderbird
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1986 Ford Escort | 1986 Ford Thunderbird |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 45 | 23 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 25 | 22 |
| Investigations | 7 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 2 | 2 |
| Fire reports | 18 | 5 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 22–34 | 18–20 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Escort | Ford Thunderbird |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 19 | 5 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 9 | 7 |
| Structure | 6 | 1 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 5 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 3 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 1 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Electrical failures | 6 | 0 |
| Stalling | 5 | 0 |
1986 Ford Escort
1986 Ford Thunderbird
Compare all Ford Escort vs Ford Thunderbird years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.