1989 Ford Thunderbird

Safety Recalls & Notices

We found 13 safety recalls for the 1989 Ford Thunderbird. Recalls are sourced from both NHTSA (US) and Transport Canada databases. Contact your authorized Ford dealer to schedule free repairs.

Total
13
safety notices
Units
1,337,285
vehicles affected
Recent
Apr 7, 2009
last notice date

Summary

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.

Campaign ID:1995212
Units Affected:834,368
Contact authorized dealer for service

Summary

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.

Campaign ID:1994162
Units Affected:1,693
Contact authorized dealer for service

Summary

NOTE: THIS RECALL SUPERSEDES RECALL 91066 (91S32). A CABLE IN THE TENSION RELIEVER MECHANISM IN EITHER THE SAFETY BELTS PROVIDED IN THE KITS FOR RECALL 91066 (91S32) OR THE FACTORY INSTALLED FRONT SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLIES MAY BREAK OR BIND CAUSING A MALFUNCTION IN THE RETRACTOR MECHANISM. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE FRONT SAFETY BELTS MAY NOT RETRACT AFTER FULL EXTENSION. IN THIS CONDITION, THE BELTED OCCUPANT WILL NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED IF THE VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION. CORRECTION: DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLIES WILL BE REPLACED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Campaign ID:1992108
Units Affected:10,242
Contact authorized dealer for service

Summary

NOTE: ALSO INCLUDES SOME MEDIUM AND HEAVY TRUCKS. THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S. 108 - LIGHTING. DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT MODULE MAY MALFUNCTION WHICH CAN RESULT IN DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS THAT DIM, FLICKER OR GO OFF OR IN SOME INSTANCES MAY REMAIN ON AFTER THE IGNITION IS TURNED OFF. CORRECTION: DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHT MODULE WILL BE REPLACED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Campaign ID:1992077
Units Affected:464,543
Contact authorized dealer for service

Summary

NOTE: VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 3.8 LITRE ENGINES. THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S 1105 - EVAPORATIVE EMISSIONS. FUEL VAPOUR HOSE MAY NOT BE CONNECTED AT THE FUEL TANK VAPOUR VALVE. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND FUEL TANK VAPOUR HOSE WILL BE RECONNECTED WHERE NECESSARY.

Campaign ID:1992036
Units Affected:9,939
Contact authorized dealer for service

Summary

NOTE: THIS RECALL SUPERSEDED BY RECALL 92-108. THE FRONT SEAT BELTS MAY NOT RETRACT AFTER EXTENSION DUE TO A BROKEN TENSION ELIMINATOR CABLE WHICH IS TOO LONG AND PRONE TO BREAKAGE. THIS COULD RESULT IN THE SEAT OCCUPANT BEING INADEQUATELY RESTRAINED IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION. CORRECTION: NEW FRONT SEAT LAP-SHOULDER BELT ASSEMBLIES THAT HAVE A SHORTER TENSION ELIMINATOR CABLE WILL BE INSTALLED ON AFFECTED VEHICLES.

Campaign ID:1991066
Units Affected:10,217
Contact authorized dealer for service

Summary

IMPROPERLY HEAT TREATED REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLES ON THESE VEHICLES COULD EXPERIENCE HIGH MILEAGE FATIGUE CRACKS AND EVENTUAL FRACTURE. SHOULD A FRACTURE OCCUR, THE REAR SUSPENSION AT THAT WHEEL WOULD NOT REMAIN INTACT AND VEHICLE CONTROL COULD BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. CORRECTION: VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND SUSPECT REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLES WILL BE REPLACED.

Campaign ID:1989080
Units Affected:939
Contact authorized dealer for service

Summary

A FULL-LOCK, LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVER MAY RESULT IN THE BRAKE CALIPER OF THE INBOARD FRONT WHEEL CONTACTING THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR, CAUSING MOVEMENT OF THE CALIPER PISTON AND DISPLACEMENT OF BRAKE FLUID FROM THE CALIPER BACK TO THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR. THIS WOULD CAUSE INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND REDUCED BRAKE PERFORMANCE ON THE FIRST BRAKE APPLICATION FOLLOWING THE TURN. AFTER ONE BRAKE APPLICATION, THE DISPLACED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL AND BRAKE PERFORMANCE IS RESTORED. THE SEQUENCE COULD REPEAT, HOWEVER, FOLLOWING THE NEXT LOW SPEED FULL-LOCK TURNING MANEUVER. CORRECTION: ACORN TYPE FRONT SUSPENSION STRUT NUTS WILL BE INSTALLED WHICH WILL SERVE AS STEERING STOPS AND ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR STABILIZER BAR TO BRAKE CALIPER CONTACT.

Campaign ID:1989079
Units Affected:5,344
Contact authorized dealer for service

Summary

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Campaign ID:78807
Component:EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Potential Consequence

DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.

Contact authorized dealer for service

Summary

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Campaign ID:30246
Component:ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

Potential Consequence

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

Contact authorized dealer for service

13 Active Recalls

Requires attention

Recent Activity
2009
1 recall
1996
1 recall
1995
1 recall
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Ford Thunderbird by Year

Important Notice
Contact your dealer to verify recalls for your specific VIN and schedule service.

1989 Ford Thunderbird Recall FAQs

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