RoadVitals

1996 Ford Thunderbird Suspension Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the suspension system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Suspension reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
9
Latest Mar 22, 2002
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 233 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1996 Ford Thunderbird submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 9 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming suspension

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Suspension
Filed Mar 22, 2002

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH FRONT DRIVER SIDE WHEEL CAME COMPLETELY OFF. *AK CONSUMER STATED IT WAS THE FRONT BALL JOINT THAT CAUSED THAT WHEEL TO COME OFF. *YH

NHTSA ID
8006218
Fuel systemExterior lightingSuspension
Filed Jun 11, 2001

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
746639
Incident
May 16, 2001
BrakesSuspensionTransmission
Filed Oct 18, 2000

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 ID
734656
Incident
Apr 2, 1997
Suspension
Filed Apr 5, 2000

WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 65- 70 MPH VEHICLE WILL SHAKE AND VIBRATE . DRIVER CAN FEEL IT IN STEERING AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL. DEALER CANNOT FIX DEFECT, AND CLAIMS THAT IS HOW VEHICLE IS DESIGNED. *AK

NHTSA ID
859748
BrakesSuspensionTires & wheels
Filed May 14, 1998

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH OR GREATER THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES AND SHAKES VIGOROUSLY, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SWAY LEFT TO RIGHT. BEEN IN THE DEALER 8 TIMES. DEALER REPLACED 4 SETS OF TIRES/ROTORS. PROBLEM STILL OCCURRING. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
823328
Incident
Mar 1, 1998
Suspension
Filed Apr 8, 1998

WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT HIGHWAY SPEED THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES, AND IT ALSO VIBRATES AT LOW SPEED WHEN BRAKING. ON WARM DAYS, WHEN STARTING AND STOPPING IN TRAFFIC ONE CAN SMELL RAW GASOLINE INSIDE AND AROUND THE OUTSIDE OF THE CAR, BUT THERE ARE NO LEAKS IN THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ID
817148
Incident
Nov 12, 1997
Suspension
Filed Nov 17, 1997

WHILE GOING 40MPH, WOULD EXPERIENCE A VIBRATION IN STEERING WHEEL. HAD TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALER & INFORMED THAT ITS A PROBLEM THAT HAPPENS IN THUNDERBIRDS SOMETIMES. CANNOT LOCATE PROBLEM OF VIBRATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
819947
Incident
May 6, 1996
Suspension
Filed Apr 20, 1997

VEHICLE HAS CONSTANT DRIFT/PULL TO THE RIGHT, CREATING TIRES THAT BECOME FEATHERES, THUS MAKING VEHICLE DANGEROUS TO DRIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID
810757
Incident
Apr 2, 1997
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Oct 15, 1996

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT, ALSO WARPED FRONT BRAKE ROTORS, CAUSING BRAKES TO VIBRATE AND AIR CONDITIONING MALFUNCTIONED. *AK

NHTSA ID
509760
Incident
Oct 11, 1996

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Engine65Brakes48Visibility20Transmission16Fuel system14Tires & wheels13Exterior lighting11Body & structure10Heating & air conditioning10Airbags9Electrical8Steering8Driver assistance8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .