1989 Buick Regal 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 | 1989 Buick Regal | 1989 Ford Thunderbird |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 106 | 124 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 4 | 27 |
| Investigations | 8 | 6 |
| Crash reports | 8 | 15 |
| Fire reports | 3 | 24 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–21 | 17–20 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Buick Regal | Ford Thunderbird |
|---|---|---|
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 51 | 23 |
| Electrical System | 14 | 22 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 | 26 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 11 | 13 |
| Seat Belts | 2 | 17 |
| Structure | 15 | 1 |
| Power Train | 5 | 4 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 3 | 6 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Rust / corrosion | 20 | 0 |
| Stalling | 6 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 7 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 6 |
1989 Buick Regal
1989 Ford Thunderbird
Compare all Buick Regal 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.