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U.S. public vehicle records

1985 Ford THUNDERBIRD problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

10 owner complaints analyzed

1 distinct recall campaigns

134,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1985 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 10 complaints (40.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues330.0%
Steering behavior220.0%
Braking behavior110.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
4
Electrical System:Ignition
2
Electrical System
1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch4
Electrical System:Ignition2
Electrical System1
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components1
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder1

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 4; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components: 1; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
0
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
1
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9990
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9991
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

1995
2
1996
5
2001
2
2016
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
19952
19965
20012
20161

1995: 2; 1996: 5; 2001: 2; 2016: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 751023 · 2001-08-23 (August 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 I…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 751023 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 983056 · 1996-04-19 (April 19, 1996)

WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED, SMELLED OF WIRING BURNING FOR A PERIOD OF 10 MINUTES, ELECTRICAL SHORT. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983056 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10928441 · 2016-11-29 (November 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

Owner-reported narrative. 134,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10928441 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 488832 · 1995-09-29 (September 29, 1995)

BRAKES DON'T HOLD. *DSH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 488832 at NHTSA ↗