IllustrationVEHICLE IS A LEMON. ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL AND MAKING NOISE. DEALERSHIP TOLD CONSUMER THAT THE CRANKSHAFT INSIDE HAD TO BE REPLACED. ALSO THE TIRES HAD TO BE CHANGED EVERY THREE MONTHS BECAUSE TREADS ON TIRES WORE OUT. *AK
1996 Ford Thunderbird
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Thunderbird years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 36 of 233 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 65 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 46 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
12 crash reports4 fire reports9 injury reports
Tires complaints
13 reportsTHE FOREGOING PAGES ARE INCOMPLETE BUT I COULD NOT RETRIEVE THEM. THE 4 TIRES FAILED AT DIFFERENT TIMES PRIOR TO THE END OF THE LIFE OF THE TIRES. ON TWO OCCASIONS, TWO DIFFERENT TIRES, THE TREAD SEPARATED AND CAME OFF. THE 2ND INCIDENT WAS AFTER DRIVING OVER 200 MILES AT SPEEDS OF UP TO 70 MILES PER HOUR. THE BELT TORE OFF …
Read full complaint
THE FOREGOING PAGES ARE INCOMPLETE BUT I COULD NOT RETRIEVE THEM. THE 4 TIRES FAILED AT DIFFERENT TIMES PRIOR TO THE END OF THE LIFE OF THE TIRES. ON TWO OCCASIONS, TWO DIFFERENT TIRES, THE TREAD SEPARATED AND CAME OFF. THE 2ND INCIDENT WAS AFTER DRIVING OVER 200 MILES AT SPEEDS OF UP TO 70 MILES PER HOUR. THE BELT TORE OFF AND DAMAGED THE REAR PANEL AND SKIRT OF AUTOMOBILE.( DOT NUMBER: )
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH OR GREATER THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AND SHAKES VIGOROUSLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWAY LEFT TO RIGHT. BEEN IN THE DEALER 8 TIMES. DEALER REPLACED 4 SETS OF TIRES/ROTORS. PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK
Official recalls
296V070000 · Latches/locks/linkages:doors:latch
Apr 22, 1996
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 & remedy
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.
96V007000 · Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner
Jan 16, 1996
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 & remedy
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.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.