Complaints
116
Crashes
6
Fires
18
Injuries
9
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1988 Ford Thunderbird Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#115 complaints
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
Crash-related:1
#213 complaints
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
Avg mileage:170,000 mi
Fires:3
#39 complaints
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1988 Ford Thunderbird.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY | 15 | 1 | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 13 | — | 3 | 170,000 mi | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS | 9 | — | — | — | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 8 | 2 | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 7 | — | 1 | — | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 6 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 5 | — | 5 | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 4 | — | 3 | — | |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 4 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR | 3 | — | 2 | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | 2 | — | 2 | — | |
| EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER | 2 | — | — | — | |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | 2 | — | — | — | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 2 | — | — | — | |
| STEERING | 2 | — | — | — | |
| STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | 2 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN | 1 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | 1 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | 1 | — | — | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 1 | — | — | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER | 1 | — | — | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM | 1 | — | — | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 1 | — | — | — | |
| EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL | 1 | — | — | — | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:HIGH/LOW BEAM DIMMER SWITCH | 1 | — | — | — | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH | 1 | — | — | — | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 1 | — | — | — | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:INJECTORS | 1 | — | — | — | |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY | 1 | — | — | — |
Other Ford Thunderbird Years
Wider context: See the full Ford Thunderbird reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
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