14 of the 295 complaints about the 1996 Ford Thunderbird are about the fuel system — 5% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 105,000 miles.
14
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
THE CONSUMER NOTICED THE FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING GAS. AN INDEPENDENT SHOP REPLACED THE FUEL RAIL. DEALER NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #10051588 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
PLASTIC FUEL PRESSURE LINE FROM THE FUEL TANK TO THE HARD LINE RUPTURED FROM RUBBING THE FLOOR PAN. ALSO FOUND THE HARD LINE CHAFING ON THE INBOARD SIDE OF THE ROCKER PANEL WHERE IT CHANGES DIRECTION TO THE FUEL TANK.
NHTSA complaint #10041189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
THE PLASTIC PART OF THE FUEL LINE (LOCATED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE IN FRONT OF THE RIGHT REAR WHEEL) RUBS ON THE UNDERBODY OF THE CAR CAUSING A SUDDEN LARGE FUEL LEAK. THESE PLASTIC LINES ARE A PART OF THE METAL FUEL LINES AND ARE LOCATED ON EACH END OF THE METAL LINES. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF GAS SMELL PRIOR TO THE LARGE LEAK. I HAVE THE PART. I NOTIICE YOU HAVE AN IDENTICAL COMPLAINT (ODI:754600).
NHTSA complaint #10002821 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
WHILE AT A STOP INTAKE MANIFOLD BLEWOUT WITH NO WARNING, AND STARTED TO LEAK. CONSUMER STATED THAT EARLIER WHILE AT A STOP SAME THING HAPPENED. INTAKE MANIFOLD BLEWOUT, AND STARTED TO LEAK. DEALER NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #8016303 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY
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.
NHTSA complaint #754600 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
THE FRONT SPRINGS ARE DEFECTIVE AND BREAK THUS COLLASPSING THE STRUTS AND MAKING THE VEHICLE HARD TO HANDLE. THE PLASTIC INTAKE MANIFILD COOLANT CHANNEL WALLS ARE TO THIN AND TEND TO BLOW-OUT. FINALLY, THE BACKLIT REAR REFLECTOR TENDS TO BURNOUT TO OFTER FOR A INTEGRATED PART. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT PASS INSPECTION BECAUSE THE REFLECTOR IS AN INTEGRATED PART OF THE TAIL LIGHT ASSEMBLY. THE COST OF REPLACEMENT IS PROHIBITIVE SO THE REFLCTOR REMAINS BURNED OUT ON MANY OF THE OTHER T-BIRDS I SEE ON THE ROAD CAUSING A PROBLEM WITH THE VEHICLE'S VISIBILITY. THE ILUMENATOR IN THE REFLECTOR SHOULD BE SERVICABLE.
NHTSA complaint #746639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
BOTH CYLINDER HEADS AND INTAKE MANIFOLD FAILED CAUSING COOLANT LIGHT TO COME ON AND OFF WHILE DRIVING. NLM
NHTSA complaint #551674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
DUE TO THE MELTING OF THE INTAKE MANIFOLD THE ENGINE IS INOPERABLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER.
NHTSA complaint #851968 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
WHILE DRIVING AND HITTING BUMPS CONSUMER NOTICED SOMETHING HITTING UNDER THE CAR AFTER INSPECTING ,CONSUMER FOUND THAT IT WAS THE GAS TANK HANGING.
NHTSA complaint #848857 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
AFTER PUTTING GAS INTO THE VEHICLE A STRONG SMELL OF GAS LEAKS INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. DEALER CAN'T FIND A SOLUTION.
NHTSA complaint #846993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
DRIVING VEHICLE WHEN IT STARTED LEAKING COOLANT. NO OVERHEATING. VEHICLE TOWED HOME. NEXT DAY AT DEALER & INTAKE MANIFOLD REPAIRED DUE TO A CRACK. VEHICLE STARTED TO GET WORSE. VEHICLE DIED. ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME ON. MOISTURE ON SPARK PLUGS & IGNITION WIRES.
NHTSA complaint #826540 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:CARBURETOR SYSTEM
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.
NHTSA complaint #831578 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
FUEL GAUGE FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #603813 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A REAR END COLLISION AND THE FUEL SWITCH IN THE TRUNK DID NOT WORK AFTER THE COLLISION , THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO START BACK UP AFTER THE COLLISION AND THER DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT DID NOT LOCK UPON IMPACT.
NHTSA complaint #802963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.