1996 Ford Thunderbird

233 complaints on file, page 1 of 12.

1. Filed Oct 22, 2019Failure Oct 2, 2002Kalama, WAAir bags

   AIR BAG FLASHING CODE

   NHTSA complaint 11270335
2. Filed Jan 19, 2016Failure Aug 19, 2015East Islip, NYAir bags

   WHEN DRIVING THE AIR BAG LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING THE HORN AND CRUISE CONTROL SWITCHESYSTEM STOPPED WORKING IN MOTION FAILURE OF THE CLOCK SPRING

   NHTSA complaint 10820881
3. Filed Jul 12, 2011Failure Jul 6, 201160,000 milesSandy, OREngine and engine cooling

   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.

   NHTSA complaint 10411985
4. Filed May 10, 2011Failure Feb 15, 2011123,100 milesGreenville, SCAir conditioner

   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.

   NHTSA complaint 10399756
5. Filed Mar 17, 2008Failure Jul 10, 2007Merced, CAHinge and attachments

   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

   NHTSA complaint 10221392
6. Filed Aug 3, 2007Failure Jun 18, 200795,700 milesMountain View, CAManifold/header/muffler/tail pipe

   DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD. FORD REPLACED ONCE, FREE OF CHARGE @ 48,523 MILES. CRACKED AGAIN @ APPX. 95,700 MILES. FORD REFUSED TO REPLACE FREE OF CHARGE. REPLACED ONE DEFECTIVE MANIFOLD WITH ONE THAT WAS JUST AS DEFECTIVE. THERE WAS A CLASS ACTION SUIT ON THIS MANIFOLD, IT WAS SO BAD. *JB

   NHTSA complaint 10198452
7. Filed Jul 14, 2007Failure Aug 31, 199820,000 milesZebulon, NCEngine and engine cooling, Structure, Heater core1 injured

   INTAKE (PLASTIC) CRACKS ;LEAVING FAMILY AND I STRANDED ON 30 MILE STRETCH OF HIGHWAY WITH NO HOUSES OR BUSINESS. TOWED TO STATION AND FIXED RECALLED INTAKE. TAXI COST HOME AND BACK 2 DAYS LATER TO RETRIEVE CAR SOON STARTED HAVING HEATER COIL LEAKS AND OVERHEATING;ANTIFREEZE CAUSING HEADACHES. ALMOST $1000.00 TO REPLACE 30 DOLLAR PART(DASH BOARD AND CONSOLE REMOVED AND AIR CONDITION UNIT DISCONNECTED AND RECHARGED) DEALER TOOK COST OF NEXT 2 REPLACEMENT HEATER COILS AND IT STILL NEEDS 4TH;NO HEAT;STILL LEAKS ANTIFREEZE INSIDE CAR. INTAKE MANIFOLD(PLASTIC) CRACKED AGAIN;OVERHEATED AND BURNT ME THIS TIME ALSO CAUSING SERIOUS DAMAGE TO CAR;VERY COSTLY WHICH I GUESS WE THE CONSUMER WILL HAVE TO BEAR. HOW MANY COMPLAINTS DOES IT TAKE? *TR

   NHTSA complaint 10196345
8. Filed Dec 26, 2006Failure Oct 30, 200680,000 milesPassaic, NJManifold/header/muffler/tail pipe

   TL* - THE CONTACT WANTED TO HAVE REPAIR DONE TO 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD, HOWEVER SERVICE BULLETIN #97M91, DATED JAN 19, 1998 (NHTSA ITEM NUMBER: 605621) EXPIRED AND FORD CHARGED FOR THE REPAIRS. THE MILEAGE AT THE TIME OF THE FAILURE WAS 80000. THE CONTACT SAID THAT THE SERVICE BULLETIN WAS FOR THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. THE CONTACT WROTE TO FORD. THE REFUSED TO HONOR THE SERVICE BULLETIN. *AK UPDATED 2/6/2007 - *NM

   NHTSA complaint 10176938
9. Filed Sep 13, 2006Failure Sep 8, 200684,518 milesNokesville, VAEngine and engine cooling

   DEFECTIVE INTAKE MANIFOLD ON 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD. THE CAR ONLY HAS 84,450 MILES ON IT! COST WAS $1002.02 TO REPAIR. WHY IS THE CONSUMER BEING CHARGED FOR THIS COSTLY REPAIR WHEN THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART FROM THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY?*JB

   NHTSA complaint 10168114
10. Filed Jul 6, 2006Failure Jul 5, 2006135,125 milesStaten Island, NYService brakes, Hoses, Lines/piping, And fittings

    DT*: THE CONTACT STATED, WHILE TRAVELING AT 30 MPH THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE PRESSURE WAS APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SERVICE DEALER, WHERE A LEAK WAS FOUND ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE. THE LINE WAS CORRODED TWO INCHES FROM EITHER SIDE OF A CLIP HOLDING THE BRAKE LINE. NO OTHER CORROSION WAS FOUND ON THE REMAINING BRAKE LINES.

    NHTSA complaint 10161682
11. Filed Apr 11, 2006Failure Apr 4, 2006Hutchinson, KSWiring, Radiator assembly, Latch, Hinge and attachments

    COMPLIANT IS THAT THROUGH MY INSURANCE PROVIDER I WAS ALERTED TO TWO RECALLS THAT SHOULD BE AT LEAST LOOKED INTO ON MY AUTO. THE FIRST IS THE BLOWER ON THE CLIMATE CONTROL BEGAN TO WORK ERRATICALLY AND NOW IT DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. MEANING THAT MY DEFROSTING DOES NOT WORK AT ALL. THE OTHER AND MORE SERIOUS IS THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR LATCH STICKS AT SMACKS AGAINST THE PEG AND DOES NOT LATCH PROPERLY OR AT ALL, UNLESS THE LATCH IS MANUALLY LIFTED. BOTH OF THESE ARE RECALLS FOR OTHER T-BIRDS BUT SOMEHOW MINE SLIPPED THROUGH. VIN IS [XXX]. IF THESE ARE SUCH COMMON PROBLEMS WHY WEREN'T ALL THE T-BIRDS RECALLED? I AM LOOKING AT OVER 600.00 TO REPLACE THESE PARTS. WHICH IS IRRITATING WHEN FORD SHOULD BE FIXING IT'S KNOWN PROBLEMS. *NM UPDATED 07/16/2012 * JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

    NHTSA complaint 10155041
12. Filed Jan 20, 2006Failure Dec 9, 2005127,000 milesBuckeye, AZCooling system

    DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO OVERHEAT WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS SEEN BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. THE REPAIR SHOP PERSONNEL SUGGESTED THE MANIFOLD CRACKED DUE TO THE COMPOSITE PLASTIC USED IN MANUFACTURING. THE MANIFOLD WAS REPLACED WITH AN AFTER MARKET MANIFOLD MADE OF METAL MATERIAL. *NM

    NHTSA complaint 10148186
13. Filed Dec 22, 2005Failure May 10, 2005Glidden, WICooling system

    I HAD A 96 T-BIRD THAT MY DAUGHTER NOW OWNS. THE PLASTIC MANIFOLD CRACKED LAST SPRING CAUSING ME TO BE STRANDED ON THE HIGHWAY. MY SISTER TOWED ME TO HER HOUSE WHERE THE VEHICLE SAT UNTIL I GOT A NEW MANIFOLD FOR ABOUT $289 ONLINE. I INSTALLED IT MYSELF TAKING ME ABOUT 2 DAYS AND DRIVING 45 MILES EACH WAY TWICE TO MY SISTER'S HOUSE. OLD PART WAS DISCARDED. *NM

    NHTSA complaint 10145883
14. Filed Oct 3, 2005Failure Jul 8, 200578,652 milesFarmington Hills, MIManifold/header/muffler/tail pipe

    INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED. THIS PART WAS MADE OUT OF NYLON AND IS A KNOWN DEFECTIVE PART INSTALLED AT THE FACTORY. FORD MOTOR COMPANY REFUSED TO REIMBURSE STATING THAT THERE WAS A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION ACTION IN 1996. SINCE THE PROBLEM WAS DUE TO A KNOWN DEFECTIVEPART I THINK IT SHOULD BE COVERED FOR LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. LATER FORD REDISIGNED THE PART USING ALUMINUM INSTEAD OF NYLON. *NM

    NHTSA complaint 10138329
15. Filed Jul 26, 2005Failure Aug 15, 200460,000 milesNampa, IDEngine and engine cooling

    3.8 CYLINDER HEAD FAILURE

    NHTSA complaint 10130144
16. Filed Jul 8, 2005Failure Mar 30, 2005Florence, TXLatch

    DT: THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OPEN'S PROPERLY BUT DOES NOT CLOSE AS IT SHOULD. THE CONSUMER THINKS THE DOOR IS CLOSED CLOSE UNTIL NOTICING THAT THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. *AK *NM

    NHTSA complaint 10123834
17. Filed Apr 21, 2005Failure Apr 10, 200581,335 milesIndianapolis, INManifold/header/muffler/tail pipeFire

    PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILURE ON A 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD V8. PART FAILURE WAS PRECEDED BY A "CHECK ENGINE LIGHT" AND "LOW COOLANT" LIGHT. TURNS OUT THAT FORD HAD PUT OUT "SERVICE BULLETIN" IN 1999 AND FOLLOWED UP ON IT IN 2001 ON THIS ISSUE (97M91) YET THEY NEVER NOTIFIED ANY OWNERS. COST OF REPAIRS FOR THIS PART WILL BE AROUND $1,000 YET FORD WILL NOT DO ANYTHING WILLINGLY TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION. FAILURE OF PART COULD LEAD TO CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE IF NOT CORRECTED. *MN

    NHTSA complaint 10118241
18. Filed Feb 17, 2005Failure Nov 2, 2004Milan, ILFan/motor

    THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE BLOWER WAS INOPERATIVE. THE BLOWER FAILS TO TURN ON SOMETIMES AND IT STICKS ON HIGH AT ALL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

    NHTSA complaint 10111718
19. Filed Dec 6, 2004Failure Dec 1, 2004Massillon, OHHeadlights

    THERE IS A WHITRE CLOUDY FILM ON THE HEADLIGHTS CREATING POOR VISABILITY AT NIGHT.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 10102226
20. Filed Dec 1, 2004Failure Aug 1, 2004Summerfield, NCManifold/header/muffler/tail pipe

    1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD 4.6L V8 MOTOR FAILURE OF PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. DRIVING HOME UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND CHECK COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. DUAGHTER SAID SHE HAD THOUGHT SHE SMELLED BURNING COOLANT FOR SEVERAL DAYS PRIOR. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND HE POINTED OUT THE CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. SAID THIS WAS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MOTOR. PAID OVER $900.00 TO HAVE REPAIRED WITH UPGRADED PART. TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT RECALL ISSUED BUT EXPIRED ABOUT 6 MONTHS PRIOR TO REPAIR.*AK

    NHTSA complaint 10100899