1989 Buick Century vs 1989 Ford Thunderbird
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1989 Buick Century | 1989 Ford Thunderbird |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 40 | 124 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 0 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 0 | 27 |
| Investigations | 1 | 6 |
| Crash reports | 8 | 15 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 24 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–24 | 17–20 |
| Median reported incident mileage | — | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Buick Century | Ford Thunderbird |
|---|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 | 26 |
| Electrical System | 3 | 22 |
| Seat Belts | 7 | 17 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 1 | 23 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 5 | 13 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 | 6 |
| Seats | 4 | 3 |
| Structure | 5 | 1 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Brake problems | 0 | 7 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 6 |
1989 Buick Century
1989 Ford Thunderbird
Compare all Buick Century 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.