1996 Ford Thunderbird

These are unverified consumer reports filed with NHTSA, shown as submitted.

• 12/30/1997· SEAT BELTS

  SEAT BELT DOES NOT RELEASE PROPERLY.

• 12/30/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE ROTORS OVERHEATED, CAUSING ROTORS TO WARP.

• 12/28/2000· TIRES

  TWO ORIGINAL TIRES SEPARATED ONE MONTH APART, I REPLACED THE ORIGINALS WITH A NEW SET OF FOUR OF THE SAME MODEL AND SIZE, ONE OF THESE HAS NOW SEPARATED, 3 OF 8 TIRES HAVE GONE BAD. THE TIRE AIR PRESSURE WAS MAINTAINED PROPERLY, PERIODIC ROTATION AND BALANCE AND TWO ALIGNMENTS WERE PERFORMED WITH THE LATEST SET.. I BELIEVE THAT THERE SHOULD BE AN INVESTIGATION AND A RECALL, THE REGIONAL ASST. MGR. (PETE SHEPARD @ 480-443-0606) WILL NOT REFUND EVEN A PRO-RATED PORTION OF MY MONEY. I HAVE HAD TO PURCHASE A COMPLETE NEW SET OF TIRES FROM ANOTHER MFG. TO ENSURE THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY. *AK (DOT NUMBER: WLM3F6H169 TIRESIZE: 215/70R-15)

• 12/26/2006· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  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

• 12/22/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  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

• 12/16/2003· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING GAS. AN INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE FUEL RAIL. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

• 12/15/2003· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  INTAKE MANIFOLD CRACKED BEHIND THE ALTERNATOR LEAKING ANTI-FREEZE ALL OVER THE PLACE. CONSUMER FOUND A TSB REGARDING THE PROBLEM. *LA THE CONSUMER FELT THAT FORD SHOULD CONTINUE TO REPLACE THE PART(S) UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS FIXED. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD BEEN REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS AND MAY BE ON IT'S THIRD. (THE FIRST REPLACEMENT WAS COVERED UNDER RECALL) *SC *JB

• 12/14/2005· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ON SUNDAY DECEMBER 11, 2005 WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY I EXPIRED A SUDDEN SPIKE IN TEMPERATURE ON MY 1996 FORD CROWN VICTORIA. AFTER TAKING MY CAR TO A FORD DEALERSHIP I WAS INFORMED THAT MY "PLASTIC" INTAKE MANIFOLD HAD CRACKED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THE CURRENT INVESTIGATION AND HAD NEVER RECEIVED ANY SORT OF CUSTOMER NOTIFICATION FROM FORD. I HEARD ABOUT THE MANIFOLD ISSUE FROM A FELLOW EMPLOYEE. THE TOTAL COST OF REPAIRS FOR THIS FAULTY MANIFOLD WAS $978.00. I FEEL IF THEY KNEW THEY NEEDED TO UPDATE IT WITH AN ALUMINUM MANIFOLD THAN THEY KNEW THE PLASTIC ONES WERE FAULTY.*JB

• 12/12/2001· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  WITHOUT WARNING, AND AT SPEED, HIGH BEAM HEADLAMPS FAILED LEAVING NO FORWARD VISIBILITY. PREVIOUSLY REPLACED THE COLUMN MOUNTED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH TO CORRECT THE SAME PROBLEM. SUSPECT DESIGN/ENGINEERING FLAW WITH SWITCH. *AK

• 12/12/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHENEVER THE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, A SQUEAKING NOISE IS HEARD. TOOK TO DEALER & HAD SOME OF THE PARTS ON THE BRAKES REPLACED. THE SQUEAKING NOISE IS THERE. *AK

• 12/11/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  FRONT ABS BRAKES FAILED; ALSO, PREMATURE WEAR OF FRONT BRAKE PADS. *AK

• 12/11/1996· VISIBILITY

  DEFROSTER NOT WORKING.

• 12/09/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE ROTORS. FRONT BRAKE ROTORS WARP. THE CONSUMER HAS HAD THEM REPLACED 4 TIMES ALREADY. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

• 12/07/2007· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  MY 1996 MERCURY VILLAGER DEVELOPED A FAILURE IN THE AIR FLOW SENSOR (PART $330) THAT RESULTED IN VEHICLE STALLS, INCLUDING STOPS ON THE HIGHWAY, THAT NEARLY RESULTED IN CRASHES. THE REQUIRED REPAIRS EXCEEDED $500. I KNOW FORD HAS A SIMILAR RECALL OUT NOW FOR THE 1997-2003 (/) MODELS). *TR

• 12/07/1998· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE ROTORS KEEP WARPING, AND WHEN BRAKES ARE DEPRESSED THE VEHICLE SHAKES. DEALER CONTACTED AND IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PROBLEM NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY, PROBLEM CANNOT BE DUPLICATED, ALL REPAIR WORK DONE AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

• 12/06/2004· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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

• 12/04/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  BRAKE PEDAL SINKS BELOW THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL LEVEL, CAUSING DRIVER TO PUSH DOWN ON ACCELERATOR.

• 12/02/1998· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  INTAKE MANIFOLD BROKE AND ALL THE ANTI-FREEZE LEAKED OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SMOKE BADLY. WAS NOT ABLE TO DRIVE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

• 12/01/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  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

• 11/28/2000· TIRES

  FIRESTONE TIRE (P215 70 R15) EXPERIENED TREAD SEPARATION. *SLC

• 11/26/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  COOLANT FUMES/ODOR WAS COMING INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED. CONSUMER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND A CRACK IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD. CONSUMER NOTIFIED THE DEALER, WHO INFORMED THE CONSUMER THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A PRESENT RECALL.*AK

• 11/26/1999· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  3.8 LITER 6 CYLINDER ENGINE HEADGASKETS FAILED

• 11/21/2000· EXTERIOR LIGHTING

  THE HEAD LIGHT LENSES ON THE VEHICLE ARE CLOUDING UP, THE PLASTIC USED FOR THE LENSES IS DEFECTIVE. *MJS

• 11/21/1997· STEERING

  WHILE DRIVING ON ANY HIGHWAY AT DIFFERENT TIMES IN A CORNER OR TURN IN ROAD, THE STEERING JUST GOES AWAY; IT FEELS LIKE THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT CONNECTED TO THE LINKAGE FOR A SPLIT SECOND, BUT THEN IT RETURNS AND IT DOESN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. BROUGHT VEHICLE TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES. DEALER SAID THAT THERE WA SNOTHING WRONG WITH STEERING. *AK

• 11/17/2004· VEHICLE SPEED CONTROLCrash

  WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED. VEHICLE REVVED EVEN WHILE THE CONSUMER HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE. CONSUMER PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE, WENT THROUGH A GUARD RAIL, AND FINALLY STOPPED WHEN THE VEHICLE HIT A TREE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK *TC

• 11/17/1997· SUSPENSION

  WHILE GOING 40MPH, WOULD EXPERIENCE A VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL. HAD TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER & INFORMED THAT ITS A PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS IN THUNDERBIRDS SOMETIMES. CANNOT LOCATE PROBLEM OF VIBRATION. *AK

• 11/16/2000· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  HEAD GASKET LEAKING - CAR JUST TURNED 4 - FORD REFUSES TO COVER UNDER RECALL. *AK

• 11/16/1998· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  ENGINE MOTOR MOUNTS FAILED.

• 11/15/2001· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  THE PLASTIC FUEL LINE LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL RUBS ON THE UNDERBODY OF THE CAR CAUSING A LARGE FUEL LEAK. THESE PLASIC LINES CONNECT THE METAL LINES FROM THE UNDERBODY TO THE FUEL TANK. I HAVE HEARD OF OTHER THUNDERBIRDS HAVING THIS PROBLEM FROM THE YAHOO THUNDERBIRD CLUB. I HAVE PICTURES I CAN EMAIL TO YOU IF YOU ARE INTERESTED. *AK

• 11/14/2003· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  PROBLEMS WITH BRAKE ROTORS ON VEHICLE ARE WARPED. *MR THE FRONT ROTORS WERE REPLACED, LEFT AND RIGHT (2 TIMES) AND WERE WARPED AGAIN. *SCC *JB

• 11/10/1997· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  ABS BRAKES; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES IN NORMAL CONDITIONS, THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AND THE FRONT BRAKES LOCK UP. REPLACED ROTORS AND BRAKE PADS. *AK

• 11/09/2000· LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

  THERE WAS RECALL 96V07000/ DOOR LOCKS AND LATCHES. CONSUMER HAD DOOR LOCKS AND LATCES REPLACED, AND CHARGED CONSUMER BECAUSE OF VIN NOT BEING INCLUDED. *AK

• 11/07/2002· STRUCTURE

  CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MANUAL DOOR LATCHES WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

• 11/07/1995· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  ASSOCIATED W/MOISTURE, VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT REPEATEDLY. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TT

• 11/04/1997· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION FAILED.

• 11/01/2002· EQUIPMENT

  WHEN TURNING ON THE AIR CONDITION AND SETTING THE BLOWER ON HIGH, THE A/C WOULD NOT TURN OFF. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

• 10/30/1996· POWER TRAIN

  TRANSMISSION SLIPPED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. *AK

• 10/29/2004· ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

  1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD 4.6L 281CID V8 MOTOR FAILURE OF PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFOLD. DRIVING HOME UNDER NORMAL CONDITIONS AND CHECK COOLANT LIGHT CAME ON. WIFE 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 $800.00 TO HAVE REPAIRED WITH UPGRADED PART. FORD MOTOR CO. HAS BEEN AWARE OF PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND ISSUED A RECALL FOR TAXIS AND POLICE VEHICLES BUT RECALL DOES NOT COVER PRIVATELY OWNED VEHICLES. CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 114,000 MILES.

• 10/28/1998· VISIBILITY

  SUNROOF GASKET HAS SPLIT AFTER ONLY 2 1/2 YEARS.

• 10/27/2000· TIRES

  BOTH REAR TIRES DEVELOPED BUBBLES, BROKEN BELTS AND FAILED AT THE SAME TIME.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )

• 10/27/1999· FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

  DUE TO THE MELTING OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THE ENGINE IS INOPERABLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER. *AK

• 10/27/1997· EQUIPMENT

  WATER WAS GETTING INTO AIR CLEANER.

• 10/27/1997· STEERING

  POWER STEERING PUMP FAILED RESULTING IN NOISE.

• 10/27/1997· STEERING

  STEERING COLUMN FAILED.

• 10/26/2000· ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

  THIS M/V HAS BEEN WORKED ON AT LEAST 15-20 TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM IN THE BEGINING CAR WAS TAKEN TO SULLIVAN BROS WHILE UNDER WARRENTIE AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. SINCE 7-2000 THIS CAR WAS AT TWO DEALERS AND THE COST CLOSE TO $800,00 CAR STILL HAS SAME PROBLEMS. STALLS THE PAST WEEK THIS CAR HAS ALMOST BEEN IN TWO ACCIDENTS AS THE CAR HAS STALLED WHILE MAKING LEFT TURN INTO ON COMING LANES. CAR STALLS AND EVERY THING GOES DEAD. SINCE AUGUST THE CAR HAS BEEN WORKED ON AT SHIRETOWN FORD INC 147 SAMOSET ST PLYMOUTH MA #02360 STILL WAITING FOR PHONECALL TO BRING CAR BACK AGAIN WHAT CAN I DO. *AK

• 10/25/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHEN DRIVING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE FRONT END VIBRATES AND THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. *AK

• 10/22/2019· AIR BAGS

  AIR BAG FLASHING CODE

• 10/18/2000· SUSPENSION,SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,POWER TRAIN

  4/97 VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT. DEALER ALIGNED FRONT END. 1/98 VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT AND VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEED. DEALER SAYS IT IS A TIRE PROBLEM, ONE TIRE REPLACED. 5/99 VEHICLE STILL PULLS TO RIGHT AND VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND WHILE BRAKING. FRONT ROTORS WARPED AND PADS WORN. ROTORS TURNED AND PADS REPLACED BY GOODYEAR SERVICE CENTER. 9/99 VEHICLE PULLING TO RIGHT AND VIBRATING AT SPEED AND DURING BRAKING. FRONT ROTORS WARPED AND PADS WORN AGAIN. DEALER CLAIMS IT IS OWNERS DRIVING STYLE. ROTORS TURNED AND PADS REPLACED AT OWNERS EXPENSE. 10/00 VEHICLE PULLS TO RIGHT AND VIBRATES. ROTORS FEEL WARPED AGAIN. APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER TO REPAIR. 10/16 TRANSMISSION HAS A SHUDDER IN 3RD AND 4TH GEAR DURING LIGHT TO MODERATE ACCELERATION. DEALER SAYS PROBABLY TORQUE CONVERTER. UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME IF THIS WILL BE CONSIDERED AN WARRANTY ITEM OR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE.

• 10/17/2000· TIRES

  PIECE OF TREAD THROWN FROM CAR, FOLLOWED BY TREAD SEPARATION. ALL 4 TIRES REPLACED. INDEPENDENT DEALER HAS POSSESSION UNTIL RECALL DETERMINATION IS MADE.*AK( DOT NUMBER: )

• 10/16/1996· SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

  WHILE SITTING AT AN INTERSECTION AT STOP LIGHT, FOOT APPLIED TO BRAKE PEDAL, SUDDENLY PEDAL TRAVELED TO FLOOR, WAS ABLE TO PUMP UP ONCE PEDAL, BUT, BRAKES WENT BACK DOWN.*AK