With 3 recalls and 167 complaints, the 1990 Ford Thunderbird rates as high on the safety concern scale. Always run the VIN through NHTSA's lookup tool before signing.

Recalls

167

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

96V0710001996-25-04

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

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.

View at NHTSA

91V0760001991-06-05

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

THE NUTS WHICH HOLD WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR TO THE WIPER MODULE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SUFFICIENTLY TIGHTENED AND MAY LOOSEN OR COME OFF. THIS CAUSES CHANGED WIPER PATTERNS, OR THE WIPERS MAY JAM IF TWO OF THE THREE NUTS COME OFF.

CHANGES IN THE WIPER PATTERN OR JAMMING OF THE WIPERSWOULD RESULT IN REDUCED DRIVER VISIBILTY IN INCLEMENT WEATHER CONDITIONS.

View at NHTSA

90V0260001990-12-02

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

BATTERY TO STARTER CABLES ARE LONGER THAN SPECIFIED; EXCESSIVE CABLE LENGTH COULD CONTACT ENGINE DAMPER PULLEY.

CABLE PROTECTIVE COVERING AND INSULATION COULD WEAR THROUGH AND CAUSE A DIRECT SHORT TO GROUND, RESULTING IN OVERHEATING OF THE CABLE INSULATION AND POSSIBLY A UNDERHOOD FIRE.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

The 1990 Ford Thunderbird's biggest weak point? ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. It leads 167 total complaints spanning 1 years. Budget for a thorough pre-purchase inspection, especially in that area.

01Electrical System34

02Service Brakes, Hydraulic33

03Seat Belts26

04Vehicle Speed Control14

05Engine And Engine Cooling11

167 total across 1 model years (1990–1990)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Ford Thunderbird Fuel Economy

18–20mpg combined

15-17city

21-24hwy

$3,100-$4,200/yr

Fuel economy for the 1990 Ford Thunderbird ranges from 18 to 20 MPG combined across 3 setups. The table below breaks it down by trim so you know exactly what you're signing up for.

By Trim

Thunderbird - Automatic 4-spd

20mpg

3.8L 6-cyl · Rear-Wheel Drive

17 city24 hwy~$3,100/yr-1/10 Poor

Thunderbird - Automatic 4-spd

18mpg

3.8L 6-cyl Supercharged · Rear-Wheel Drive

15 city21 hwy~$4,200/yr-1/10 Poor

Thunderbird - Manual 5-spd

18mpg

3.8L 6-cyl Supercharged · Rear-Wheel Drive

15 city22 hwy~$4,200/yr-1/10 Poor

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

Where to Find 1990 Ford Thunderbird

33States

25%in top 3

The biggest cluster of inventory is in California (11%), but the remaining listings are spread across 32 other states nationwide.

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 1990.

Buying a 1990 Ford Thunderbird?

Answers to common buyer questions

Is the 1990 Ford Thunderbird a good car to buy?

The 1990 Ford Thunderbird has 3 recalls on record. There are 3 recalls on record, so check that they've been completed before buying. The most commonly reported issue area is electrical system, which is worth inspecting during a test drive. Review the safety data and pricing breakdown above.

Are there recalls on the 1990 Ford Thunderbird?

There are 3 documented recalls for the 1990 Ford Thunderbird. Don't let that scare you; most are routine. Just make sure they're all resolved before you sign. Details in the safety overview.

What's the gas mileage of the 1990 Ford Thunderbird?

Fuel economy ranges from 18 to 20 MPG combined. If you drive 15,000 miles a year, that gap is worth about $292 annually. See the fuel economy section for per-trim data.

What are common problems with the 1990 Ford Thunderbird?

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM is the number-one complaint area for the 1990 Ford Thunderbird, based on 167 NHTSA filings. During a test drive, pay extra attention to this system. See the known issues section for the full breakdown.