1991 Ford Thunderbird: problems, recalls and reliability
4 recalls and 112 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is service brakes, hydraulic (15% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Apr 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 112 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“Loss of hydraulic brake assist on super coupe. Pedal became hard to press. Both brake and ABS annunciators illuminating. Troubleshooting indicates brake pressure switch failing to signal pump to charge system or accumulator has failed. Master cylinder and ABS system are original equipment and thus 24 years old.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Jun 2015
“3.8l v6 engine over-heated due to head gasket failure in #4 cylinder. Both heads were reworked and gaskets replaced. After repair engine started stalling. Idle air control valve was then replaced. Now there is a fluctuation in oil pressure. Prior to head gasket failure, power steering pump has to be replaced.*ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jun 2004
“Defective headlamp circuit breaker causes headlights to flash off and on repeatedly. First failure occurred when car was 2 years old, second failure in the last year. Car has less than 57,000 miles. 1991 supercoupe model has foglamps as do the 1992 and later thunderbird models for which a recall exists.*ak”Owner report · Exterior Lighting · Mar 2004
Show 7 more owner reports
“Overheating at first then after the headgaskets were replaced the rod bearings failed which added another 1200.00 to the 1645.00 of the first repair and the power steering pump was replaced at the time of the first repair.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Aug 2003
“Windshield wipers freeze up when wipers are turned on high. This is a similar defect to the "NHTSA campaign id number: 91v076000" problem I can not use the my car wipers on high in the rain. *ak”Owner report · Visibility · Sep 2002
“While the consumer was driving on the highway the accelerator became struck. As a result the vehicle continued to accelerate until the brake pedal and emergency brake were applied. *ak *nm”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · Sep 2001
“I am in a club of over 5,000 owners of identical cars and failures have been seen as low as 18,000 miles to my knowledge, and numerous in the 60000 mile range on well maintained cars of headgasket failure which often causes complete engine failure, in my case it caused two connecting rods to fail, a crankshaft bearing due to oil contamination and the crankshaft as a result. This is the third failure on my vehicle, once I was stranded on a dangerous dark stretch of I-95, once in the rain and as a result of loss of heat (headgasket failure symptom) I ran a red light and proceded the wrong way on a one way street. *ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Sep 2001
“Head gasket blewout with any warning or prior problem. Vehicle has low mileage, but manufacturer is not covering cost. *ak”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jun 2001
“This auto was a late build thunderbird 5-91 it has some 92 thunderbird systems including recalled fuel lines of the 1992 thunderbird. *ak”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Jun 2001
“It looks like due to the weight of the independant rear suspension the rear wheelwell welds and floor pan appear to be tearing away from the car. *ak”Owner report · Suspension · Jun 2001
When filing, owners marked a crash in 7 of these complaints and injuries in 5 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 4 campaigns
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 OF THE THREE NUTS COME OFF.
Remedy: APPLY TORQUE RETENTION MATERIAL TO WIPER MOTOR STUDS AND NUTS AND RETORQUE.
THE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY CONTAINS A PARK CAM WITH INADEQUATE SURFACE HARDNESS, WHICH COULD LEAD TO PARK DISENGAGEMENT OR NO PARK ENGAGEMENT WHEN THE LEVER IS PLACED IN PARK.
Remedy: REPLACE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.
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 CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
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.
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
How other years compare
Check your exact Thunderbird by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1991 Ford Thunderbird reliable?
NHTSA has 112 owner complaints and 4 recall campaigns on record for the 1991 Ford Thunderbird. The most complained-about area is service brakes, hydraulic (15% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1991 Ford Thunderbird problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 83,750 miles or less.
Does the 1991 Ford Thunderbird have open recalls?
4 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.