The 1996 Ford Thunderbird's high safety profile includes 1 recall campaigns and 276 owner-reported complaints. Make recall verification part of your pre-purchase checklist.

Recalls

276

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

96V0070001996-16-01

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

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.

BLOWER MALFUNCTIONS LIMITING OR STOPPING OUTPUT CAN ADVERSELY AFFECT WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING PERFORMANCE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

The 1996 Ford Thunderbird has accumulated 276 NHTSA complaints over 1 years, with engine and engine cooling leading the pack. Know what to look for before you buy.

01Engine And Engine Cooling59

02Service Brakes, Hydraulic47

03Power Train21

04Visibility18

05Tires13

276 total across 1 model years (1996–1996)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Ford Thunderbird Fuel Economy

18–19mpg combined

15-17city

23-24hwy

$3,250-$3,400/yr

With 2 configurations tested, the 1996 Ford Thunderbird ranges from 18 to 19 MPG combined. That's a 1 MPG gap that can add up to hundreds of dollars a year in fuel costs.

By Trim

Thunderbird - Automatic 4-spd

19mpg

3.8L 6-cyl · Rear-Wheel Drive

17 city24 hwy~$3,250/yr-1/10 Poor

Thunderbird - Automatic 4-spd

18mpg

4.6L 8-cyl · Rear-Wheel Drive

15 city23 hwy~$3,400/yr-1/10 Poor

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Where to Find 1996 Ford Thunderbird

33States

25%in top 3

If you're near California, you're in luck: 11% of listings are there. But with 33 states represented, there's likely one near you too.

CACalifornia

2911%

TXTexas

218%

ILIllinois

197%

PAPennsylvania

197%

FLFlorida

135%

MIMichigan

135%

NCNorth Carolina

124%

TNTennessee

114%

AZArizona

104%

MOMissouri

93%

GAGeorgia

83%

OKOklahoma

83%

DEDelaware

73%

MNMinnesota

73%

ALAlabama

73%

WAWashington

62%

DCWashington DC

62%

NENebraska

52%

NJNew Jersey

52%

NYNew York

52%

OHOhio

52%

COColorado

52%

KY4

MA3

MD3

UT3

NH3

NM3

NV3

WI3

OR3

CT3

IA2

Geographic distribution reflects all active listings for this model, not just 1996.

Buying a 1996 Ford Thunderbird?

Answers to common buyer questions

Is the 1996 Ford Thunderbird a good car to buy?

The 1996 Ford Thunderbird has 1 recall on record. There is 1 recall on record, so check that they've been completed before buying. The most commonly reported issue area is engine and engine cooling, which is worth inspecting during a test drive. Review the safety data and pricing breakdown above.

Are there recalls on the 1996 Ford Thunderbird?

There are 1 documented recall for the 1996 Ford Thunderbird. Don't let that scare you; most are routine. Just make sure they're all resolved before you sign. Details in the safety overview.

What's the gas mileage of the 1996 Ford Thunderbird?

Fuel economy ranges from 18 to 19 MPG combined. If you drive 15,000 miles a year, that gap is worth about $154 annually. See the fuel economy section for per-trim data.

What are common problems with the 1996 Ford Thunderbird?

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING is the number-one complaint area for the 1996 Ford Thunderbird, based on 276 NHTSA filings. During a test drive, pay extra attention to this system. See the known issues section for the full breakdown.