16 consumer complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1985 Ford Thunderbird. Click any complaint to view the full owner description.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMNovember 29, 2016
UPON TURNING ON THE IGNITION SWITCH WITH A KEY, I BEGAN TO SMELL A BURNING SMELL. I TURNED OFF IGNITION AND INSPECTED THE SOURCE WHICH SEEM TO COME FROM STEERING COLUMN. AFTER REMOVING THE STEERING WHEEL COVER, I NOTICE THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH UNIT HAD BLACK BURNT LOOKING PLACES ON IT. I DECIDED TO REMOVE THE UNIT AND REPLACE IT. THE CAR WAS STATIONARY IN THE DRIVEWAY OF OUR HOME. *TR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMAugust 23, 2001
MY FIRST COMPLAINT IS ABOUT THE IGNITION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN. WHILE ATEMPTING TO PULL INTO TRAFFIC MY VEHICLE COMPLETELY DIED AS IF I HAD TURNED OFF THE KEY. LUCKILY I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND JUST BARELY AVOIDED BEING HIT. THE CAR WOULD NOT RESTART UNLESS I JIGGLED THE KEY. I CALLED A FORD DEALER AND THEY SAID MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL BUT THE TOLD ME HOW TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I REPLACED THE SWITCH AND THE CAR IS RUNNING FINE NOW. HOWEVER IT TOOK A LONG TIME TO REMOVE THE SWITCH DUE TO THE FACT THAT IT HAD MELTED TO THE WIRING HARNESS. I STILL HAVE THE PART IN MY POSSESSION. MY OTHER COMPLAINT IS REGARDING THE STATOR PICK-UP ASSEMBLY UNDER THE BASE OF THE DISTRIBUTOR CAP. NOT ONCE BUT TWICE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THIS ASSEMBLY DUE THE FACT THAT IT HAD MELTED AND FELL APART. IN THIS INSTANCE MY FAMILY WAS WITH ME AT A VERY DANGEROUS INTERSECTION WHERE IT TOOK ME ROUGHLY 20 MINUTES TO GET THE CAR TO REFIRE ENOUGH TO MOVE IT OUT OF HARMS WAY. ALL THE CAR WOULD DO IS START UP RUN ENOUGH TO ROLL IT A LITTLE MORE FORWARD. I ATTEMPTED TO PUSH THE CAR BUT BECAUSE OF THE TRAFFIC I GAVE UP RATHER THAN BEING STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AGAIN I CALLED FORD AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY CAR WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL FOR THIS PARTICULAR PART. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IS IF THERE IS SOME ORGANIZATION THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO HELP ME OR PERHAPS YOU COULD PROVIDE ME WITH INFORMATION AS TO WHAT LEGAL GROUP I MIGHT BE ABLE TO CONTACT.*AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJanuary 3, 2001
IGNITION MODULE SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED THE SHUT OFF OF GASOLINE FLOW IMMEDIATELY WITH NO CHANCE OF RESTART. *YH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJanuary 3, 2001
IGNITION MODULE SYSTEM FAILURE CAUSED THE SHUT OFF OF GASOLINE FLOW IMMEDIATELY WITH NO CHANCE OF RESTART. *YH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJuly 15, 1999
IGNITION SWITCH INTERMITTENTLY FAILS AND BLOWS FUSES.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHERJuly 15, 1999
GAS LINE LEAKS AT THE TOP OF THE GAS TANK. *YC
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLJanuary 20, 1999
HAD PARKED VEHICLE & LEFT FOR AWHILE. RETURNED TO VEHICLE & ENTERED. STARTED VEHICLE & WAS MOVING WHEN VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED & TOOK OFF FOR NO REASON. FOOT ON BRAKES AT TIME. VEHICLE HIT 2 PARKED VEHICLES & A FENCE. DRIVER WAS INJURED. *AK
Crash reported1 injury(ies)
NHTSA #833727SEATSDecember 3, 1997
SEATBACK FAILED DUE TO A BOLT DISCONNECTING. *AK
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMApril 10, 1997
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE.
Fire reported
NHTSA #516371ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGAugust 7, 1996
CAR WAS PARKED AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK
Fire reported
NHTSA #983274ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJuly 18, 1996
THE IGNITION CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED, ALL THE WIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED. *AK
Fire reported
NHTSA #987129ELECTRICAL SYSTEMApril 22, 1996
VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN DRIVEWAY, UNDER THE HOOD FIRE, ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK
Fire reported
NHTSA #983223ELECTRICAL SYSTEMApril 22, 1996
IGNITION SWITCH FIRE. *SD
Fire reported
NHTSA #503304ELECTRICAL SYSTEMApril 19, 1996
WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED, SMELLED OF WIRING BURNING FOR A PERIOD OF 10 MINUTES, ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICNovember 7, 1995
MASTER CYLINDER FAILED TWICE, PRIOR TO RECALL. (85V025000) *DSH
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULICSeptember 29, 1995
BRAKES DON'T HOLD. *DSH