Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA about the 1987 Ford Thunderbird, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 23 | 34% |
| Seat belts | 15 | 22% |
| Vehicle speed control | 6 | 9% |
| Service brakes | 5 | 7% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 6% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 4% |
| Exterior lighting | 3 | 4% |
| Steering | 2 | 3% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 1% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 1 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
DT: THIS VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE THREE TIMES. IT WAS CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. CONTACTED FORD, THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONSUMER PUT TWO OF THE FIRES OUT, AND FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT ONE OF THE FIR
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
THE ELECTRIC WIRES ON THE VEHICLE MELTED AND BURNED. *BF *TC
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
WHILE PULLLING SEAT BELT OUT TO LOCK IN PLACE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT BECOME LATCHED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Seat belts
ALL OF THE INCIDENTS THAT I HAVE REPORTED IN THIS FORM ARE RELATED! OUR CAR KEPT WANTING TO DIE AT STOPLIGHTS AND WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES TO GET IT FIXED, BUT, THEY NEVER COULD QUITE GET IT RIGHT. AT 3:3
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE ACCELERATES BY ITSELF AND THAT THE GAS PEDAL GOES UP AND DOWN ON ITS OWN, CONSUMER STATES THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES. *SLC
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling
OUR CAR KEPT WANTING TO DIE AT STOPLIGHTS AND WE TOOK IT TO OUR MECHANIC SEVERAL TIMES TO GET IT FIXED, BUT, THEY NEVER COULD QUIT GET IT RIGHT. AT 3:30AM ON 07/06/2000 I SMELLED SMOKE IN THE HOUSE AND IT WOKE ME UP FRO
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
ON GOING / INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WITH ENGINE STALLING WHILE DRIVING; VEHICLE BEEN IN DEALER SHOP ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS FOR REPAIRS AND PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
CONSUMER DROVE CAR AND BRAKES WERE NOT GOOD. WHEN DRIVING AT ABOUT 50 MILES CAR WOULD SHIMMY BADLY. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1987 Ford Thunderbird. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Risk: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Fix: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
| Reliability raw | 83 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 76 | good |
| Maintenance | 76 | good |
| Depreciation | 59 | average |
| Performance | 60 | average |
| Efficiency | 35 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 68 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 23 of them (34%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 83/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 76/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1987 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 70/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.