1988 Ford Thunderbird vs 1989 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 | 1988 Ford Thunderbird | 1989 Ford Thunderbird |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 92 | 124 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 24 | 27 |
| Investigations | 7 | 6 |
| Crash reports | 5 | 15 |
| Fire reports | 16 | 24 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 17–21 | 17–20 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Thunderbird | Ford Thunderbird |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 29 | 22 |
| Seat Belts | 18 | 17 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 8 | 26 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 8 | 23 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 7 | 13 |
| Exterior Lighting | 11 | 2 |
| Steering | 5 | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 6 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Brake problems | 5 | 7 |
| Electrical failures | 5 | 6 |
| Overheating | 5 | 0 |
1988 Ford Thunderbird
1989 Ford Thunderbird
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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.