10 of the
295 complaints about the 1996 Ford Thunderbird are about the
body and structure — 3% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
71,500 miles.
B
10
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Exactly what failed
Door
330.0%
Hinge AND Attachments
220.0%
Body
110.0%
Trunk LID
110.0%
Hinge AND Attachments
110.0%
Hinge AND Attachments
110.0%
Structure
110.0%
Body & Structure across every Ford Thunderbird year
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.
NHTSA complaint #10221392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 20,000 milesZebulon, NC1 injured
STRUCTURE
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?
NHTSA complaint #10196345 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hutchinson, KS
STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE: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 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 123,000 milesSaint Louis, MO
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR HINGE MALFUNCTIONED WHICH MADE THE DOOR INOPERATIVE. *NLM
NHTSA complaint #10016079 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Princeton, NJ
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
CONSUMER STATES THAT THE MANUAL DOOR LATCHES WILL NOT CLOSE PROPERLY. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS
NHTSA complaint #8022434 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mission Viejo, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #605148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Osos, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY
SUNVISOR HITS DRIVER IN HEAD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO ADJUST.
NHTSA complaint #604832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Chula Vista, CA
STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID
DOOR HINGE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #606045 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mesa, AZ
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
DOORS FIT LOOSELY.
NHTSA complaint #514075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Macon, GA
STRUCTURE:BODY:HOOD:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
ENGINE HOOD STRUTS ARE TOO WEAK TO KEEP HOOD IN OPEN POSITION/ HOOD CAME DOWN ON DRIVER'S BACK.
NHTSA complaint #508458 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.