Model year record

1985 Ford Thunderbird

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

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.

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.