The 1989 Ford Thunderbird has 25 brakes complaints filed with NHTSA — 17% of the year's total, and up sharply from the prior model year.
25
Brakes complaints
17%
Share of year
3
Crash-involved
1
Related recalls
Defect
DUE TO CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE CALIPER OF THE INBOARD FRONT WHEEL AND THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR, THERE MAY BE INCREASED BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL FOLLOWING LOW SPEED TURNING MANEUVERS.
Consequence
THIS COULD CAUSE A REDUCTION IN BRAKE PERFORMANCETHAT COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
Remedy
INSTALL ACORN TYPE FRONT SUSPENSION STRUT NUTS TO ELIMINATE STABILIZER BAR TO BRAKE CALIPER CONTACT.
“CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING WHEN SHE APPLIED BRAKES AND THEY DID NOT APPLY FULLY. THEN VEHICLE STARTED TO ROLL DOWN AN ENBANKMENT. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. BRAKE FAILURE DUE TO MALFUNCTIONED MASTER CYLINDER. *AK *ML”
NHTSA has 25 complaints about the 1989 Ford Thunderbird brakes — 17% of all complaints filed for that model year.
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign for this model year is tied to the brakes: 89V081000.
Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.
Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.