1986 FORD THUNDERBIRD — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
32
Owner Complaints
1
Recall
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1986 FORD THUNDERBIRD
The 1986 FORD THUNDERBIRD has received a total of 32 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There has been 1 recall campaign affecting this vehicle, covering issues with FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline (4 complaints), Electrical Systemignitionswitch (3 complaints), and Engine And Engine Coolingengine (3 complaints).
Recalls for the 1986 FORD THUNDERBIRD
NHTSA has recorded 1 recall for the 1986 FORD THUNDERBIRD, potentially affecting up to 3,600,000 vehicles.
Recall 87V139000 — FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
| 3,600,000 vehicles affected
Defect: SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1986 FORD THUNDERBIRD
32 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1986 FORD THUNDERBIRD. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemignitionswitch | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingengine | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Beltsfrontbuckle Assembly | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemignition | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust System | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat Beltsfrontanchorage | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemignitionmodule | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical Systemstarter Assembly | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasolinebelts And Associated Pulleys | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipmentmechanicalaccessory Scissorscrewbottle Jacklift | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel System Gasolinedelivery | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Fuel System Gasolinefuel Injection System | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Power Trainaxle Assemblyaxle Shaftseal | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebodydoor | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Tirestreadbelt | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle Speed Controlcruise Control | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
I HAVE THREE SEPARATE INCIDENCES. FIRST OCCURRING IN 1997 WHILE TAKING MY GRANDSON TO HIGH SCHOOL: WHILE COMPLETING THE TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT AT HIS SCHOOL, MY 1986 THUNDERBIRD SUDDENLY SURGED AS IF I HAD FULLY PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR TO THE FLOOR. FORTUNATELY, I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO REGAIN CONTROL AND NEITHER OF US WERE INJURED NOR WAS THERE ANY PROPERTY DAMAGE. INCEDENT#2- WHILE RETURNING HOME FROM SHOPPING, I WAS DRIVING IN THE LANE CLOSEST TO THE CURB ON A 4 LANE STREET WHEN SUDDENLY, AGAIN, MY CAR ACCELERATED AND PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHERE I JUST BARELY GLANCED OFF A SMALL STATIONERY POLL THAT WAS POSITIONED BASICALLY ON THE SIDEWALK. AGAIN, THANK GOD, NO ONE WAS HURT AND THERE WAS NO PROPERTY DAMAGE. FINAL INCEDENT #3: NOT SO LUCKY THIS TIME. I WAS GOING THROUGH THE MCDONALD'S DRIVE-THRU, AFTER PLACING MY ORDER, MY CAR SUDDENLY TAKES OFF AGAIN, VEERS RIGHT, AND MY RIGHT FRONT TIRE LITERALLY DRIVES UP ONE OF THE 5 VERY HEAVY-DUTY GUARD POLES SURROUNDING THE MAIN ELECTRICAL BOX THUS IMPAILING MY CAR AND SERIOUSLY BENDING THE POLE. IN RETROSPECT, I FEEL I WAS PRETTY BLESSED; NO ONE WAS EVER HURT...EXCEPT FOR ME, NOW, AFTER MORE THAN 45YEARS CLASSIFIED AS A "GOOD DRIVER" NOW IPAYING AN EXTRA$60.00 PER MONTH FOR MY AUTO INSURANCE FOR SOMETHING THAT I KNOW FOR SURE WAS NOT MY FAULT(PLUS THE FACT I HAD TO DISH OUT FOR A NEW CAR...AND ALL THIS COULD NOT HAVE COME AT A WORSE TIME.
TFI MODULE, DISTRIBUTOR, STARTER AND DIRTY THROTTLE BODY CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL WHEN THE KEY WAS RELEASED. NLM
TFI MODULE, DISTRIBUTOR, STARTER AND DIRTY THROTTLE BODY CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL WHEN THE KEY WAS RELEASED. NLM
TFI MODULE, DISTRIBUTOR, STARTER AND DIRTY THROTTLE BODY CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL WHEN THE KEY WAS RELEASED. NLM
2 MOTOR MOUNTS BROKEN. NLM
View all Engine And Engine Coolingenginegasoline complaints →
Safety Rating for the 1986 FORD THUNDERBIRD
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1986 FORD THUNDERBIRD in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1986 FORD THUNDERBIRD
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 1986 FORD THUNDERBIRD
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the FORD THUNDERBIRD
- 1981 FORD THUNDERBIRD — 0 complaints
- 1982 FORD THUNDERBIRD — 0 complaints
- 1983 FORD THUNDERBIRD — 4 complaints
- 1984 FORD THUNDERBIRD — 33 complaints
- 1985 FORD THUNDERBIRD — 16 complaints
- 1986 FORD THUNDERBIRD (current)
- 1987 FORD THUNDERBIRD — 73 complaints
- 1988 FORD THUNDERBIRD — 116 complaints
- 1989 FORD THUNDERBIRD — 147 complaints
- 1990 FORD THUNDERBIRD — 179 complaints
- 1991 FORD THUNDERBIRD — 130 complaints
Other FORD Models
- FORD F-150 — 45,660 total complaints
- FORD EXPLORER — 42,140 total complaints
- FORD ESCAPE — 34,654 total complaints
- FORD FOCUS — 29,539 total complaints
- FORD FUSION — 28,243 total complaints
- FORD TAURUS — 23,867 total complaints
- FORD WINDSTAR — 19,456 total complaints
- FORD EDGE — 17,247 total complaints