1986 Ford THUNDERBIRD: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
15 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1986 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 15 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 20.0% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 6.7% |
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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 3 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System | 2 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 2 |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 |
| Electrical System:Starter Assembly | 1 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 3; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System: 2; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 2; Electrical System:Ignition:Module: 1; Electrical System:Starter Assembly: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 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 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
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: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 15 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.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 2 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 2000 | 6 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 1 |
1995: 2; 1996: 5; 2000: 6; 2001: 1; 2002: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 481484 · 1995-03-04 (March 4, 1995)
EGR RELAY ASSEMBLY/EGR VAC CONTROL/EGR VALVE/EGR SENSOR REPLACED DUE TO VEHICLE SURGING/BUCKING.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 481484 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 501696 · 1996-02-12 (February 12, 1996)
SEAT BELT BUCKLE RELEASED, BUTTON INOPERATIVE. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501696 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 507553 · 1996-08-15 (August 15, 1996)
ENGINE RACES AT VERY HIGH RPM WHEN STARTED, DUE TO COMPUTER PROBLEMS.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 507553 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 558123 · 2000-12-14 (December 14, 2000)
BOTH FRONT MOTOR MOUNTS HAVE BROKEN INTO, THE TORQUE OF THE ENGINE HAS CAUSED IT TO ROTATE CAUSING THE FAN TO CUT INTO THE RADIATOR SHROUD. *SLC
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 558123 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 560327 · 2001-03-08 (March 8, 2001)
TWO CRACKED BELTS REPLACED. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 560327 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 730350 · 2000-09-05 (September 5, 2000)
ONCE OR TWICE A MONTH, EVERY MONTH, FOR THE LAST YEAR I WOULD GO OUT AND GET IN THE VEHICLE TO START IT UP. WHEN I TURNED ON THE IGNITION THE MOTOR WOULD CRANK AND CRANK BUT IT WOULD NEVER FIRE. I WOULD LET THE VEHICLE SET A FEW MINUTES THEN TRY AGAIN WITH THE SAME RESULTS. IF I LET THE VEHICLE SIT UNTIL THE NEXT DAY IT WOULD FINALLY START. THE VEHICLE AGAIN DUMP ME A PARKING LOT IN PORTMOUTHS, VA WITH THE SAME PROBLEM.. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO JOHN KOOL LINCOLN/MERCURY. THE VEHICLE STARTED FOR THEM THE NEXT DAY AND AGAIN AFTER MANY TRYS. TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 730350 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 731376 · 2000-09-14 (September 14, 2000)
THE TREADS HAVE COME OFF TWO OF MY TIRES IN THE LAST YEAR. I HAVE A THIRD TIRE WITH IT'S TREAD ALMOST COMING APART. BOTH TIMES WE WERE ON THE FREEWAY DOING 65. WILL THESE TIRES BE RECALLED. THE LAST TIME THE TREAD CAME OFF I SAVED THE TIRE AND TREAD. WE HAVE THREE KIDS AND WE DON'T FEEL SAVE DRIVING THEM IN THE CAR.( DOT NUMBER: W2HY TIRE SIZE: 215/70R/14 )
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 731376 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 737731 · 2000-12-12 (December 12, 2000)
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 737731 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
87V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1987-09-04 (September 4, 1987)
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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗