22 of the 295 complaints about the 1996 Ford Thunderbird are about the transmission — 7% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 150,000 miles.
22
Complaints
1
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
THE 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD'S HEAD GASKET BLEW AND TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. IT HAS BEEN USING WATER SINCE WE BOUGHT IT FROM THE DEALER.
NHTSA complaint #10041483 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLIPS AT TAKEOFF, CAUSING CAR TO STOP IN LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC.
NHTSA complaint #752444 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
SHIFT INTERLOCK ENGAGED - TOTAL LOSS OF USE. SHIFT INTERLOCK REQUIRES BYPASS BY TURNING IGNITION TO JUST BEFORE ACC COMES ON, SHIFTING TO NETRUAL, AND STARTING CAR. IF YOU SHIFT TO PARK REQUIRES YOU START PROCESS AGAIN. LOSS OF HIGH MOUNT BRAKE LAMP AND BOTH TAIL LIGHTS. HIGH MOUNT BULBS REPLACED, AS WELL AS THE TAIL LAMP LIGHTS, TO NO AVAIL.
NHTSA complaint #747710 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
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.
NHTSA complaint #734656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PROBLEMS WITH SLIPPING TRANSMISSION.
NHTSA complaint #726560 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING GEAR CHANGING PROBLEMS. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548644 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
TRANSMISSION HESITATION STARTED AT 1,671 MILES, FINAL REPAIR AT 26,069 OF THE FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER. MJS
NHTSA complaint #548288 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED. MJS
NHTSA complaint #547455 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
CONSUMER WAS STANDING OUTSIDE PUMPING GAS WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. AFTER A FEW SECONDS VEHICLE BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS, CONSUMER RAN BEHIND CAR JUMPED INTO DRIVER'S SIDE AND BEGAN TRYING TO APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE ROLLED INTO A LIGHT POLE.
NHTSA complaint #835897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:TORQUE CONVERTER
VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY SHUTTERS ON ACCELERATION AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER.
NHTSA complaint #541656 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANMISSION FAILED TO OPERATE AT 62000 MILES OF WEAR. VEHICLE IS UNABLE TO MOVE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REFUSED TO REPAIR ULESS COST IS TO CONSUMER.
NHTSA complaint #827987 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
SOLENOID FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #605175 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION FAILED FOUR TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #603725 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
SPEEDOMETER FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #605367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT
REAR END DIFFERENTIAL FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #603096 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
DRIVE SHAFT VIBRATION.
NHTSA complaint #514075 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
SPEEDOMETER HEAD REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #512541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN
ODOMETER NOT WORKING.
NHTSA complaint #512541 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
PCM CHIP PROBLEM CAUSED ENGINE TO CUT OUT AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT TO COME ON.
NHTSA complaint #507489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION SLIPPED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE.
NHTSA complaint #510701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
DRIVE SHAFT VIBRATES.
NHTSA complaint #509092 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY, ALSO IS NOISY.
NHTSA complaint #508463 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.