Safety Recalls & Notices
We found 6 safety recalls for the 1988 Ford Thunderbird. Recalls are sourced from both NHTSA (US) and Transport Canada databases. Contact your authorized Ford dealer to schedule free repairs.
A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD DEVELOP IN THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT COULD LEAD TO OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CONDITION MAY OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE OR UNATTENDED. CORRECTION: IGNITION SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED WITH A REVISED DESIGN SWITCH.
Certain Cougar XR-7, Tunderbird turbo, and Merkur XR4TI vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of CMVSS 1103 - Exhaust Emissions. Correction: Dealers will replace the exhaust system catalyst and a vacuum delay valve will be installed in the EGC vacuum line.
NOTE: VEHICLES WITH 3.8 LITRE ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 1103 - EXHAUST EMISSIONS. THE SUBSTRATE MATERIAL IN THE CATALYSTS MAY RATTLE AND BREAK UP DURING NORMAL USE CAUSING EXHAUST EMISSIONS TO EXCEED THE STANDARD. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND CATALYST WILL BE REPLACED WHERE NECESSARY.
- FORD THUNDERBIRD TURBO COUPE - THE REAR AXLE SHAFT FLANGE MAY INTERFERE WITH THE DISC BRAKE ROTOR THEREBY PREVENTING PROPER SEATING OF THE ROTOR. AN IMPROPERLY SEATED ROTOR COULD IN TIME, RESULT IN REDUCTION OF THE WHEEL STUD CLAMPING FORCES AND COULD LEAD TO FRACTURED STUDS AND REAR WHEEL SEPARATION. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND REAR AXLE SHAFT AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS WILL BE REPLACED WHERE NECESSARY.
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
A DESIGN CHANGE TO FACILITATE CHANGEOVER IN REAR AXLE SHAFT FLANGES INADVERTENTLY PRODUCED THE POSSIBILITY FOR INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE FLANGE AND DISC BRAKE ROTOR.
THE INTERFERENCE COULD PREVENT PROPER SEATING OF THEROTOR. ALSO AN IMPROPERLY SEATED ROTOR COULD IN TIME RESULT IN A REDUCTION INTHE CLAMPING FORCES OF THE WHEEL STUDS, POSSIBLY LEADING TO FRACTURED STUDSAND REAR WHEEL SEPARATION.
INSPECTION OF VEHICLES AND WHERE NECESSARY REPLACE REAR AXLE SHAFTS AND REAR BRAKE ROTORS.
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Common questions about recalls for this vehicle
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