1990 Ford Thunderbird Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1990 Ford Thunderbird, and owners have filed 140 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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3 safety recalls for the 1990 Ford Thunderbird
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Ignition (electrical system)
The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
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Motor (visibility)
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.
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Cables (electrical system)
Battery to starter cables are longer than specified; excessive cable length could contact engine damper pulley.
Remedy: Replace battery to starter cable with correct length cable.
140 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 1990 Ford Thunderbird have filed 140 complaints with NHTSA; 8 describe a crash and 19 describe a fire. Reports cite 8 injuries and 2 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 86,994 miles. Complaints peaked in 1996 with 32 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 1990 Ford Thunderbird equipped with Goodyear Tire, Tire Line: Viva 3 A/S, Tire Size: 250/70/R15, DOT Number: PJ34KB1R0219. The contact stated while driving 40 MPH, she became aware”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, July 27, 2023 · Tires
“[xxx] need your help her car was stolen and not returned witness [xxx][xxx] and witness ABS order[xxx] location campus police fsu sba building 1(910)672-1726 more information robert hassell campus pol”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, June 14, 2014 · Equipment adaptive/mobility
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 1990 Ford Thunderbird. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 18–20 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 15–17 / 21–24 |
| Fuel | Premium, Regular |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars |
| Engine | 6 cyl, 3.8 L |
| Transmission | Automatic 4-spd; Manual 5-spd |
Compare Ford Thunderbird model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Thunderbird model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 1 |
| 1965 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 1 |
| 1967 Ford Thunderbird | 4 | 0 |
| 1970 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 1 |
| 1971 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 0 |
| 1972 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 0 |
| 1973 Ford Thunderbird | 4 | 0 |
| 1974 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 0 |
| 1975 Ford Thunderbird | 4 | 0 |
| 1976 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 0 |
| 1977 Ford Thunderbird | 4 | 1 |
| 1978 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 1 |
| 1979 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 1 |
| 1980 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 3 |
| 1983 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 3 |
| 1984 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 26 |
| 1985 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 14 |
| 1986 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 23 |
| 1987 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 61 |
| 1988 Ford Thunderbird | 2 | 92 |
| 1989 Ford Thunderbird | 4 | 124 |
| 1990 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 140 |
| 1991 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 112 |
| 1992 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 184 |
| 1993 Ford Thunderbird | 3 | 423 |
| 1994 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 300 |
| 1995 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 261 |
| 1996 Ford Thunderbird | 2 | 233 |
| 1997 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 169 |
| 1998 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 3 |
| 1999 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 2 |
| 2002 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 93 |
| 2003 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 33 |
| 2004 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 34 |
| 2005 Ford Thunderbird | 1 | 27 |
Checking a specific 1990 Ford Thunderbird
How do I know if my 1990 Ford Thunderbird has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1990 Ford Thunderbird; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 90V026000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Ford models
- F-15037,961 complaints
- Explorer34,566 complaints
- Escape27,430 complaints
- Fusion22,405 complaints
- Focus22,096 complaints
- Taurus18,159 complaints
- Windstar14,158 complaints
- Edge14,065 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.