RoadVitals

1996 Ford Thunderbird Transmission Problems

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

Data refreshed

Transmission 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.
16
Latest Oct 8, 2003
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.
7%
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.
1
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 the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. 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. 16 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 transmission

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

EngineTransmission
Filed Oct 8, 2003

THE 1996 FORD THUNDERBIRD'S HEAD GASKET BLEW AND TRANSMISSION IS SLIPPING. IT HAS BEEN USING WATER SINCE WE BOUGHT IT FROM THE DEALER. *LA

NHTSA ID
10041483
Incident
Oct 9, 2003
Mileage
150,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Sep 21, 2001

TRANSMISSION SLIPS AT TAKEOFF, CAUSING CAR TO STOP IN LANE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *AK

NHTSA ID
752444
Incident
Aug 1, 2001
Transmission
Filed Jul 3, 2001

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.*AK

NHTSA ID
747710
Incident
Jun 29, 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
Transmission
Filed Aug 3, 2000

PROBLEMS WITH SLIPPING TRANSMISSION. *AK

NHTSA ID
726560
Transmission
Filed Sep 22, 1999

TRANSMISSION FAILED CAUSING GEAR CHANGING PROBLEMS. MJS

NHTSA ID
548644
Incident
Jul 1, 1999
Transmission
Filed Aug 31, 1999

TRANSMISSION HESITATION STARTED AT 1,671 MILES, FINAL REPAIR AT 26,069 OF THE FAULTY TORQUE CONVERTER. MJS

NHTSA ID
548288
Incident
May 6, 1999
Transmission
Filed Jul 21, 1999

TRANSMISSION FAILED. MJS

NHTSA ID
547455
Transmission
Filed Mar 16, 1999
Crash reported

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
835897
Incident
Mar 14, 1999
Transmission
Filed Sep 24, 1998

VEHICLE OCCASIONALLY SHUTTERS ON ACCELERATION AND HIGHWAY SPEEDS DUE TO A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER.

NHTSA ID
541656
Incident
Aug 1, 1998
Transmission
Filed Sep 17, 1998

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. *AK

NHTSA ID
827987
Incident
Sep 14, 1998
Transmission
Filed Sep 19, 1997

SOLENOID FAILED.

NHTSA ID
605175
Incident
May 29, 1996
Transmission
Filed Aug 27, 1997

TRANSMISSION FAILED FOUR TIMES.

NHTSA ID
603725
Incident
Apr 1, 1996
Transmission
Filed Oct 30, 1996

TRANSMISSION SLIPPED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE. *AK

NHTSA ID
510701
Incident
Oct 28, 1996
Transmission
Filed Sep 12, 1996

TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT PROPERLY, ALSO IS NOISY. *AK

NHTSA ID
508463
Incident
Aug 20, 1996
EngineTransmission
Filed Aug 14, 1996

DURING INCLEMENT WEATHER, DESIGN OF ENGINE ALLOWS WATER TO SATURATE THE AIR FILTER, CAUSING ENGINE TO CUT OUT.

NHTSA ID
507489
Incident
Apr 8, 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

Engine65Brakes48Visibility20Fuel system14Tires & wheels13Exterior lighting11Body & structure10Heating & air conditioning10Suspension9Airbags9Electrical8Steering8Driver assistance8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .