1988 Ford Escort vs 1988 Ford Thunderbird
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1988 Ford Escort | 1988 Ford Thunderbird |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 143 | 92 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 25 | 24 |
| Investigations | 5 | 7 |
| Crash reports | 6 | 5 |
| Fire reports | 57 | 16 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 24–32 | 17–21 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Escort | Ford Thunderbird |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 75 | 29 |
| Seat Belts | 17 | 18 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 21 | 7 |
| Exterior Lighting | 11 | 11 |
| Steering | 9 | 5 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 9 | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 | 8 |
| Power Train | 7 | 3 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Electrical failures | 12 | 5 |
| Stalling | 8 | 0 |
| Brake problems | 0 | 5 |
| Overheating | 0 | 5 |
1988 Ford Escort
1988 Ford Thunderbird
Compare all Ford Escort vs Ford Thunderbird years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.