Model year record

1985 Ford Thunderbird

1 recall campaign on file for this model year. 16 owner complaints on file.

Ford Thunderbird, 1983–1988 generation
Pictured: the 1983–1988 generation. IFCAR, Public domain · Wikimedia Commons

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 85V025000

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder
Manufacturer
FORD MOTOR COMPANY
Vehicles affected
3,508
Reported to NHTSA
1985-03-11

Defect description

BRAKE MASTER CYLINDERS MAY HAVE IMPROPERLY ANODIZED INTERNAL SURFACES CAUSING ACCELERATED WEAR OF A PISTON SEAL. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: ONE PORTION OF THE SPLIT BRAKE SYSTEM WOULD BECOME INEFFECTIVE RESULTING IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. DRIVER WOULD BE WARNED BY INCREASED PEDAL TRAVEL AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT.

Manufacturer remedy

MASTER CYLINDERS BUILT ON JANUARY 9, 1985 WILL BE REPLACED.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Electrical system: ignition: switch6—
Electrical system: ignition3—
Electrical system1134,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline1—
Fuel system, other: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings1—
Seats1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components1—
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: master cylinder1—
Vehicle speed control1—

The 1984 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 1986 model has about half as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Other Ford Thunderbird model years

All Ford Thunderbird recalls by year

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.