Defect
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
1991 Ford Thunderbird Recalls
Recalls on record Updated July 2026
The 1991 Ford Thunderbird has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 8,031,800 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 130 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
Defect
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.
Consequence
CHANGES IN THE WIPER PATTERN OR JAMMING OF THE WIPERSWOULD RESULT IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILTY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS.
Remedy
APPLY TORQUE RETENTION MATERIAL TO WIPER MOTOR STUDS AND NUTS AND RETORQUE.
Defect
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.
Consequence
IF PARK IS NOT ENGAGED AND THE PARKING BRAKE IS OFF, AVEHICLE ROLL-AWAY COULD RESULT.
Remedy
REPLACE PARK ROD ASSEMBLY ON AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS.
Complaints by component
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SEAT BELTS
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
1crashes
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
4fires
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
1crashes
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
2crashes2injuries
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Total complaints130
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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…”
“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.”
“Head gasket failure at 73,000 on my 1991 tbird with the 3.8 v6. Looks like ford is trying to cover this up! *nlm”
“Part to repair not available. Dt”
“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”
Defect investigations
Investigation EA93033 Opened 1993-12-30 · closed 1994-12-30
THRTTL VLV LINKAGE BUSHING
There is no summary currently available
Investigation PE93075 Opened 1993-08-30 · closed 1993-12-30
THRTTL VLV LINKAGE BUSHING
There is no summary currently available
Sources & methodology
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1991 Ford Thunderbird as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.