21 of the
295 complaints about the 1996 Ford Thunderbird are about the
glass, mirrors and wipers — 7% of everything
reported for this model year.
Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before
90,000 miles.
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
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
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.
THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE BLOWER WAS INOPERATIVE. THE BLOWER FAILS TO TURN ON SOMETIMES AND IT STICKS ON HIGH AT ALL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS.
NHTSA complaint #10111718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Stone Ridge, NY
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE FAILED, AS A RESULT, DEFROSTER AND DEFOGGER FAILED, CAUSING IMPAIRED VISION. *BF THE CONSUMER'S VEHICLE EXHIBITED THE SAME SYMPTOMS STATED IN RECALL 96V-007000, BUT IS NOT INCLUDE IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10096558 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 98,413 milesStone Ridge, NY
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:WINDSHIELD:ELECTRICAL HEATING ELEMENT
THE CLIMATE CONTROL MODULE FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE DEFROSTER AND DEFOGGER FAILED, CAUSING IMPAIRED VISION. RECALL 96V007000) WAS ISSUED, HOWEVER THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN.
NHTSA complaint #10089966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 90,000 milesBrooklyn Park, MN
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:SWITCH/WIRING
MULTI FUNCTION SWITCH CONTROLLING (FLASHER, WIPER, DIMMER/BRIGHT LIGHT AND WIDOW WIPERS) IS DEFECTIVE. MY 1995 COUGAR (SISTER TO A T-BIRD) ALSO HAS THE SAME PROBLEM. I AM NOT SURE WHAT YOU WANT FOR THEM. IF IT MEANS IS THE PART ORIGINAL. THE ANSWER IS YES. WHY ASK THIS UNDER VEHICLE? SHOULD IT BE UNDER EQUIPMENT? COULD YOU CHECK ON MY PREVIOUS COMPLAINT WITH MY 95 COUGAR AND SEE IF IT IS ANSWERED CORRECTLY? ALL PARTS WERE ORIGINAL ON THAT VEHICLE ALSO.
NHTSA complaint #10011089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Greenville, ID
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
AIR CONDITIONER IS STUCK IN THE ON POSITION. THIS PROBLEM CAUSES CONSUMER NOT TO BE ABLE TO READ THE TIME. ALSO, DEFROSTER DOES NOT WORK.
NHTSA complaint #848544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HAM Lake, MN
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WIPERS OCCASIONALLY FAIL TO OPERATE WHEN SET TO INTERMITTENT SETTINGS.
NHTSA complaint #711525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hudson, NH
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
SUNROOF GASKET HAS SPLIT AFTER ONLY 2 1/2 YEARS.
NHTSA complaint #700169 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Columbus, OH
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
DRIVERS WINDOW FAILED SEVERAL TIMES.
NHTSA complaint #524902 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mission Viejo, CA
VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
POWER WINDOWS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #605148 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Redondo Beach, CA
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #606031 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
LOS Alamitos, CA
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
DRIVER'S DOOR GLASS VIBRATES.
NHTSA complaint #605367 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.