IllustrationPIECE 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: )
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
What owners actually said
233 reportsTHE 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
THERE IS ABOUT A 4 TO 5 INCH LONG GAP ON THE OUTER EDGE OF THE TREAD AREA WHERE IT HAS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. I HAVE CALLED THE FIRESTONE HOTLINE NUMBER, BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO BECAUSE MY TIRE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I WOULD REPLACE THE TIRE, BUT I CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THAT. I AM ON A TIGH…
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THERE IS ABOUT A 4 TO 5 INCH LONG GAP ON THE OUTER EDGE OF THE TREAD AREA WHERE IT HAS SEPARATED FROM THE TIRE. I HAVE CALLED THE FIRESTONE HOTLINE NUMBER, BUT THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE IS NOTHING THEY WILL DO BECAUSE MY TIRE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. I WOULD REPLACE THE TIRE, BUT I CANNOT AFFORD TO DO THAT. I AM ON A TIGHT BUDGET. FIRESTONE SAYS THEIR NUMBER 1 CONCERN IS CUSTOMER SAFETY. I DON'T THINK IT IS, OR THEY WOULD HAVE ALREADY REPLACED MY TIRE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: W2M3 TIRESIZE: P215/70R15)
CONSUMER HAD FOUND OUT AFTER INSPECTING TIRES THAT A TREAD STARTED TO SEPARATE, WHERE THERE WAS A ROTATION FROM THE FRONT TO THE REAR. FIRESTONE FR 680 P215/70 R15. *AK
THIS CAR IS NOT OUR PRIMARY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. WE WERE TRAVELLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY WITH IDEAL CONDITIONS ON M-69 20 MILES EAST OF PERRY AT 65 MPH WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE DISINTREGATED DOWN TO THE RIM. LUCKILY WE KEPT CONTROL OF THE CAR AND USED THE SMALL DONUT TO GET TO PERRY TO BUY A TIRE.( DOT …
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THIS CAR IS NOT OUR PRIMARY MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION. WE WERE TRAVELLING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY WITH IDEAL CONDITIONS ON M-69 20 MILES EAST OF PERRY AT 65 MPH WITH LITTLE TRAFFIC. THE RIGHT REAR TIRE DISINTREGATED DOWN TO THE RIM. LUCKILY WE KEPT CONTROL OF THE CAR AND USED THE SMALL DONUT TO GET TO PERRY TO BUY A TIRE.( DOT NUMBER: W2M3 IPM TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )
THE ASSEMBLY FOR THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT HAS MELTED AND NOW YOU CANNOT GET THE BULBS OUT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED (@ $100.00) NOT COVERD UNDER THE EX-WARRENTY, TALKED WITH ANOTHER FORD MACHANIC AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THAT ASSEMBLY ON THE THUNDERBIRD AND…
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THE ASSEMBLY FOR THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT HAS MELTED AND NOW YOU CANNOT GET THE BULBS OUT. THE DEALERSHIP SAID THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY HAS TO BE REPLACED (@ $100.00) NOT COVERD UNDER THE EX-WARRENTY, TALKED WITH ANOTHER FORD MACHANIC AT ANOTHER DEALERSHIP, I WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THAT ASSEMBLY ON THE THUNDERBIRD AND FORD DOESNOT INTEND TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. CUSTOMERS PROBLEM. DOESN'T SEEM RIGHT TO ME.
I HAD 2 NEW TIRES FAIL IN 2 YEARS. BOTH TIMES, THE STEEL BELTS BROKE, BUT I WAS ABLE TO NOTICE THEM, AND HAD THEM REPLACED. I EVEN ASKED IF THEY HAD SOME TYPE OF RECALL BACK IN 1998, WHEN THE 2ND TIRE FAILED. I WISH THIS TO BE KNOW THAT THE TYPE OF TIRES I CURRENTLY HAVE DO SEEM TO FAIL MORE THEN NORMAL.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZ…
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I HAD 2 NEW TIRES FAIL IN 2 YEARS. BOTH TIMES, THE STEEL BELTS BROKE, BUT I WAS ABLE TO NOTICE THEM, AND HAD THEM REPLACED. I EVEN ASKED IF THEY HAD SOME TYPE OF RECALL BACK IN 1998, WHEN THE 2ND TIRE FAILED. I WISH THIS TO BE KNOW THAT THE TYPE OF TIRES I CURRENTLY HAVE DO SEEM TO FAIL MORE THEN NORMAL.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P215/70R15 )
WHILE DRIVING 30MPH & APPLYING THE BRAKES TO AVOID HITTING A VEHICLE THAT STOPPED. HOWEVER, VEHICLE HAD NO BRAKE LIGHTS, AND IT REARENDED VEHICLE IN FRONT DUE TO NO BRAKES. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC INDICATED BRAKES WERE GONE. PIN IN THE BRAKES HAD BROKEN WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKES TO BE INOPERATIVE. *AK
PROBLEMS WITH SLIPPING TRANSMISSION. *AK
AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE THEN PARKED IT AND SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. A TECHNICIAN TOLD CONSUMER THAT FIRE STARTED BECAUSE OF AN ELECTRICAL WIRING SHORTING OUT. *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.