Complaints
73
Crashes
4
Fires
20
Injuries
15
Fatalities
1
Recalls
0
Worst 1987 Ford Thunderbird Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#114 complaints
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
#211 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
Fires:4
#35 complaints
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
Fires:5
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1987 Ford Thunderbird.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 14 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 11 | — | 4 | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 5 | — | 5 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 5 | 1 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 4 | — | 4 | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 | — | 2 | — | |
| Exterior Lighting:Headlights | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Brake Fluid System | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Module | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Fuel Pump | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Tires:Sidewall | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System | 1 | — | — | — |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
5
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
5
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
5
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
4
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
—
Exterior Lighting:Headlights
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Brake Fluid System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Module
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Exhaust System:Emission Control:Catalytic Convertor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel Pump
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Cooling Unit And Lines
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Pads
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Rotor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Rack And Pinion:Rack
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Sidewall
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1987 Ford Thunderbird. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford Thunderbird Years
1987 Ford Thunderbird — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1987 Ford Thunderbird reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1987 Ford Thunderbird has 73 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly with 14 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1987 Ford Thunderbird?
Top reported problems: Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly (14 complaints); Electrical System:Ignition:Switch (11 complaints); Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood (5 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1987 Ford Thunderbird?
NHTSA complaints for the 1987 Ford Thunderbird include 4 crash-related reports, 20 fire reports, 15 injuries, and 1 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1987 Ford Thunderbird have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1987 Ford Thunderbird as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1987 Ford Thunderbird?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford Thunderbird reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1987 Ford Thunderbird
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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