- The problem
- Sabersport is recalling 16,270 combination corner and bumper lamp assemblies of various part numbers sold for use as aftermarket equipment for various passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." These lamps do not contain the required amber side reflectors.
- The risk
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Sabersport will notify owners and offer a full refund for the noncompliant combination lamps. The safety recall began on may 11, 2009. Owners may contact sabersport at 1-909-598-7589.
Vehicle safety record
1996 Ford Thunderbird Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1996 Ford Thunderbird have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 4 recalls, the latest in April 2009 for the exterior lighting.
NHTSA data checked
DMore problems than a typical Thunderbird year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1996 Ford Thunderbird recalls 4
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Certain aj motorsport combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above listed passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
- The risk
- Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Aj motorsport will notify owners and offer reimbursement for the lamps. The recall began on july 31, 2006. Owners may contact aj motorsport at 626-618-2026.
- The problem
- When in the secondary latched position, the driver door latches may open when subjected to transverse loads less than that specified in fmvss no. 206, "Door locks and door retention components."
- The risk
- The driver's door, when closed only to the secondary latched position, may not sustain a 1,000 pound transverse load.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the driver door latch.
- The problem
- Under certain conditions, the climate control blower does not operate as intended. The blower could (1) stick on "high;" (2) operate erratically with blower output varying between no blower and maximum blower; or (3) not operate at all due to malfunction of the temperature control module.
- The risk
- Blower malfunctions limiting or stopping output can adversely affect windshield defrosting and defogging performance increasing the potential for a vehicle accident.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the semi-automatic temperature control modules with modules containing revised software.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1996 Ford Thunderbird yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Ford Thunderbird: every year compared
All Thunderbird years1996 Ford Thunderbird vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Ford Thunderbird | 0 | 4 | D | |
| 1996 Ford Contour | 581 | 11 | F | Compare |
| 1996 Ford Aerostar | 104 | 6 | B | Compare |
| 1996 Ford Bronco | 99 | 2 | F | Compare |
| 1996 Ford Aspire | 51 | 0 | B | Compare |
| 1996 Ford Club Wagon | 35 | 2 | F | Compare |
| 1996 Ford Cargo | 2 | 0 | C | Compare |
| 1996 Ford Bronco II | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 1996 Ford B800 | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1996 Ford Thunderbird
Does the 1996 Ford Thunderbird have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 1996 Ford Thunderbird: exterior lighting (April 2009); exterior lighting (July 2006); latch (April 1996); air conditioner (January 1996). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 1996 Ford Thunderbird had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1996 Ford Thunderbird a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 26 out of 100 (grade D: more problems than a typical Ford Thunderbird year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Ford Thunderbird years have the most complaints?
1960 (1), 1965 (1). See every Ford Thunderbird year compared.
What should I do if my 1996 Ford Thunderbird has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data