1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
295
Owner Complaints
4
Recalls
9
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD
The 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD has received a total of 295 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 4 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EXTERIOR LIGHTING, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH. 9 technical service bulletins have been issued by Ford Motor Company for this model year. The most commonly reported problems involve the Engine And Engine Coolingengine (20 complaints), Service Brakes Hydraulicfoundation Componentsdiscrotor (19 complaints), and Engine And Engine Coolingexhaust Systemmanifoldheadermufflertail Pipe (15 complaints).
Recalls for the 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD
NHTSA has recorded 4 recalls for the 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD, potentially affecting up to 103,963 vehicles.
Recall 09E012000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 16,270 vehicles affected
Defect: SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.
Consequence: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: SABERSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER A FULL REFUND FOR THE NONCOMPLIANT COMBINATION LAMPS. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT SABERSPORT AT 1-909-598-7589.
View full details →Recall 06E065000 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING
| 3,593 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN AJ MOTORSPORT COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Consequence: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: AJ MOTORSPORT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 31, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AJ MOTORSPORT AT 626-618-2026.
View full details →Recall 96V070000 — LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
| 73,500 vehicles affected
Defect: WHEN IN THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, THE DRIVER DOOR LATCHES MAY OPEN WHEN SUBJECTED TO TRANSVERSE LOADS LESS THAN THAT SPECIFIED IN FMVSS NO. 206, "DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS."
Consequence: THE DRIVER'S DOOR, WHEN CLOSED ONLY TO THE SECONDARY LATCHED POSITION, MAY NOT SUSTAIN A 1,000 POUND TRANSVERSE LOAD.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE DRIVER DOOR LATCH.
View full details →Recall 96V007000 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
| 10,600 vehicles affected
Defect: UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THE CLIMATE CONTROL BLOWER DOES NOT OPERATE AS INTENDED. THE BLOWER COULD (1) STICK ON "HIGH;" (2) OPERATE ERRATICALLY WITH BLOWER OUTPUT VARYING BETWEEN NO BLOWER AND MAXIMUM BLOWER; OR (3) NOT OPERATE AT ALL DUE TO MALFUNCTION OF THE TEMPERATURE CONTROL MODULE.
Consequence: BLOWER MALFUNCTIONS LIMITING OR STOPPING OUTPUT CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEMI-AUTOMATIC TEMPERATURE CONTROL MODULES WITH MODULES CONTAINING REVISED SOFTWARE.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD
295 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
Most Recent Complaints
WHEN DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHESYSTEM STOPPED WORKING IN MOTION FAILURE OF THE CLOCK SPRING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 30 MPH WHEN HE NOTICED AN ABNORMALLY STRONG COOLANT ODOR. THE CONTACT THEN INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT THE ANTIFREEZE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD FAILED. THE INTACT MANIFOLD WAS CRACKED AND CAUSING ANTIFREEZE TO SPILL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED THE FAN BLOWER STOPPED FUNCTIONING. THE CONTACT STATED THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHEN THE HEAT OR DEFROSTER WAS ACTIVATED. THE FUNCTIONS WOULD ALSO OPERATE ERRATICALLY CAUSING THE FAN BLOWER TO GO FROM HIGH TO LOW ON ITS OWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 96V007000 (EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:AIR CONDITIONER) WAS RELATED BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE 123,100.
OPENING DOORS FROM THE INSIDE, LITTLE BY LITTLE, BOTH DOORS FAILED TO OPEN FROM THE INSIDE, HAD TO LEAVE WINDOW OR WINDOWS OPEN TO STICK HAND OUT TO OPEN DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. FAILURE OF THESE DOORS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY AT SOME POINT IF BATTERY WOULD GIVE OUT WOULD LEAVE US LOCKED IN, BUT FORTUNATELY THAT DID NOT HAPPEN DUE TO US REMEMBERING TO LEAVE AT LEAST ONE WINDOW OPEN. AFTER SOME MINOR REPAIR, FOUND OUT PLASTIC PARTS WORE OUT AND ONLY ONE DOOR CAN BE UNLOCKED FROM THE OUTSIDE. *TR
Safety Rating for the 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD
NHTSA has not yet tested the 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD
Ford Motor Company has issued 9 technical service bulletins (TSBs) for the 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD. TSBs are notices sent by manufacturers to their dealers describing a known issue and the recommended repair procedure.
991210 — UNKNOWN OR OTHER
FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A PRIVATE LABELED MATERIAL TO BE USED FOR IRON PARTICLE / ACID RAIN SERVICE REPAIRS. *TT
4643 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN RPM FLARE ON A FORCED 4/2 DOWNSHIFT. ADDITIONALLY, THE COMMANDED ELECTRONIC PRESSURE CONTROL IS AT APPROMATELY 10 PSI. *TT
11760 — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN RPM FLARE ON A FORCED 4/2 DOWNSHIFT. *TT
BC3243970210 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS
ENGINE COOLING LIGHT ON - POSSIBLE OIL LEAK AT UPPER JAM NUT ON THE UPPER TRANSMISSION COOLER LINE. *TW
BC3288970206 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:BELTS AND ASSOCIATED PULLEYS
VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A COLD START ENGINE FEAD BELT CHIRP NOISE. *TW
BC0705961022 — EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH
BRAKE EXTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON (TAIL & HIGH MOUNT STOP LIGHT). *TT
BC9686961001 — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
REPAIR PROCEDURE FOR VEHICLES EXPERIENCING A DELAYED 1-2 &/OR ROUGH 3-4 SHIFTS. *TT
9673 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
INFORMATION STATING THAT THE REAR BRAKES ON VEHICLES WITHOUT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) WERE CHANGED ON 11/18/95 FROM DRUM BRAKES TO DISC BRAKES. *TT
96711 — POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION
SOME 4R70W TRANSMISSIONS WERE BUILT WITH A UNIQUE CASE AND REQUIRE A SPACER TO BE INSTALLED BETWEEN THE LOW / REVERSE SERVO COVER AND RETAINING RING. *TT
NHTSA Investigations for the 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the FORD THUNDERBIRD
- 1991 FORD THUNDERBIRD — 130 complaints
- 1992 FORD THUNDERBIRD — 234 complaints
- 1993 FORD THUNDERBIRD — 559 complaints
- 1994 FORD THUNDERBIRD — 426 complaints
- 1995 FORD THUNDERBIRD — 353 complaints
- 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD (current)
- 1997 FORD THUNDERBIRD — 228 complaints
- 1998 FORD THUNDERBIRD — 4 complaints
- 1999 FORD THUNDERBIRD — 2 complaints
Other FORD Models
- FORD F-150 — 45,660 total complaints
- FORD EXPLORER — 42,140 total complaints
- FORD ESCAPE — 34,654 total complaints
- FORD FOCUS — 29,539 total complaints
- FORD FUSION — 28,243 total complaints
- FORD TAURUS — 23,867 total complaints
- FORD WINDSTAR — 19,456 total complaints
- FORD EDGE — 17,247 total complaints