1996 Ford Thunderbird problems
Owners have filed 295 complaints with NHTSA about the 1996 Ford Thunderbird. Engine is the most reported problem area, at 20% of complaints. Next are brakes (19%) and wipers, windshield & visibility (7%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 295 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Engine 20% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 18 and 4
- Injuries and deaths
- 29 and 1
- Typical mileage
- 85,000 miles 39 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 0 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 3 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 4 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 9 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 11 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 4 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 4 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 3 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 1 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 0 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 39 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 85,000 miles. For engine specifically, the median reported mileage is about 79,000 miles (21 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 18 complaints mention a crash; 4 complaints mention a fire; 29 injuries reported; 1 death reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 1996 ranks 3rd most-complained-about out of 12 model years of the Ford Thunderbird with enough data (175 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 2 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
The left rear firestone tire tread was torn from the vehicle, consumer had stopped on the freeway which resulted in a several car collision, driver of the vehicle was killed when she exited the vehicle to try and alert traffic. (accident victim writing in) *mjs
Was hit in right front tire the driver's and passenger's side air bags deployed and driver and passenger were injured. Will explain .
Consumer was involved in a rear end collision and the fuel switch in the trunk did not work after the collision , the vehicle was able to start back up after the collision and ther driver's side seat did not lock upon impact.
Vehicle stalled and made a weird noise. Due to oil pump being defected. Now the engine needed to be replaced.
The 1996 ford thunderbird's head gasket blew and transmission is slipping. It has been using water since we bought it from the dealer.