1988 Ford Thunderbird Vehicle speed control Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 9%of 92 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the vehicle speed control of the 1988 Ford Thunderbird, 9% of the 92 complaints for this model year. 2 of these say a crash was involved and 1 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Dt: this vehicle caught on fire while driving. Contacted Ford, and they did not offer any assistance. It caught fire on october 1, 2000. There was no forewarning. The fire started under the hood. Had mechanic look at vehicle to repair it, and they said it was to far gone.”
NHTSA complaint #10136342, filed 2005-09“The consumer put the vehicle in reverse to back out of his driveway at which time the vehicle suddenly accelerated out of the garage hitting a parked car, the consumer put the vehicle into drive with his foot still on the brake and the vehicle accelerated forward hitting a brick wall and concrete foundation. Investigation number pe88097.”
NHTSA complaint #830007, filed 1998-11“While driving the vehicle the engine would get up and the vehicle would take off without any notice. Driver would have to apply the brakes with all the force she had in her footdriver would take foot off the accelerator, and the vehicle would take off. This has been happening for about several years. Dealer repaired the vehicle and the problem only happens about 1/5 of the time now.”
NHTSA complaint #816619, filed 1997-09Vehicle speed control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | 4 | 15% |
| 2004 | 9 | 26% |
| 2003 | 4 | 12% |
| 2002 | 11 | 12% |
| 1997 | 11 | 7% |
| 1996 | 8 | 3% |
| 1995 | 11 | 4% |
| 1994 | 23 | 8% |
| 1993 | 14 | 3% |
| 1992 | 6 | 3% |
| 1991 | 10 | 9% |
| 1990 | 17 | 12% |
| 1989 | 26 | 21% |
| 1988 | 8 | 9% |
| 1987 | 7 | 11% |
| 1986 | 3 | 13% |
| 1985 | 1 | 7% |
| 1984 | 2 | 8% |
Other parts of the 1988 Ford Thunderbird
29 complaintsSeat belts
18 complaintsExterior lighting
11 complaintsBrakes
8 complaintsEngine cooling
7 complaintsSteering
5 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsEquipment
3 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsSeats
3 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
3 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1988 Ford Thunderbird
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology