The 1988 Ford Thunderbird has a elevated safety risk profile with 1 recall campaigns and 101 NHTSA complaints. Before buying, verify that all recalls have been completed. It's free at any dealer.

Recalls

101

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

88V0330001988-15-03

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT

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.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

Across 1 model years, 101 owners have filed complaints about the 1988 Ford Thunderbird. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM issues top the list, so ask the seller about this area specifically during your inspection.

01Electrical System27

02Seat Belts17

03Exterior Lighting10

04Vehicle Speed Control9

05Engine And Engine Cooling8

101 total across 1 model years (1988–1988)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Ford Thunderbird Fuel Economy

17–21mpg combined

15-18city

21-25hwy

$2,950-$3,600/yr

Across 4 configurations, the 1988 Ford Thunderbird returns 17–21 MPG combined. Choose the thriftier option if you're commuting; the sportier setup if you're not counting gallons.

By Trim

Thunderbird - Automatic 4-spd

21mpg

3.8L 6-cyl · Rear-Wheel Drive

18 city25 hwy~$2,950/yr-1/10 Poor

Thunderbird - Automatic 4-spd

19mpg

5.0L 8-cyl · Rear-Wheel Drive

16 city24 hwy~$3,250/yr-1/10 Poor

Thunderbird - Manual 5-spd

19mpg

2.3L 4-cyl Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive

16 city24 hwy~$3,250/yr-1/10 Poor

Thunderbird - Automatic 4-spd

17mpg

2.3L 4-cyl Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive

15 city21 hwy~$3,600/yr-1/10 Poor

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Where to Find 1988 Ford Thunderbird

33States

25%in top 3

11% of the market sits in California, though listings span 33 states. Expand your search and you'll find more options at better prices.

CACalifornia

2911%

TXTexas

218%

ILIllinois

197%

PAPennsylvania

197%

FLFlorida

135%

MIMichigan

135%

NCNorth Carolina

124%

TNTennessee

114%

AZArizona

104%

MOMissouri

93%

GAGeorgia

83%

OKOklahoma

83%

DEDelaware

73%

MNMinnesota

73%

ALAlabama

73%

WAWashington

62%

DCWashington DC

62%

NENebraska

52%

NJNew Jersey

52%

NYNew York

52%

OHOhio

52%

COColorado

52%

KY4

MA3

MD3

UT3

NH3

NM3

NV3

WI3

OR3

CT3

IA2

Geographic distribution reflects all active listings for this model, not just 1988.

1988 Ford Thunderbird Buyer FAQ

What to know before you buy

Is the 1988 Ford Thunderbird a good car to buy?

Here's the short version on the 1988 Ford Thunderbird. There are 1 recall to verify before purchase. Dig into the safety overview and pricing trends for recall-by-recall detail.

Are there recalls on the 1988 Ford Thunderbird?

NHTSA shows 1 recall campaign for the 1988 Ford Thunderbird. Before buying, verify all recalls are complete. The dealer must fix them at no charge. See the safety section for the full list.

What's the gas mileage of the 1988 Ford Thunderbird?

You'll get between 17 and 21 MPG combined from the 1988 Ford Thunderbird, depending on engine and drivetrain. That's a meaningful difference over time. The fuel economy table shows exactly which configs get what.

What are common problems with the 1988 Ford Thunderbird?

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM problems top the list with 101 total complaints filed. Not every car is affected, but it's worth asking about and inspecting. Full details in the known issues section.