1996 Ford Thunderbird vs 1996 Mazda 626
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 1996 Ford Thunderbird | 1996 Mazda 626 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 233 | 359 |
| Recall campaigns | 0 | 1 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 115 | 44 |
| Investigations | 0 | 4 |
| Crash reports | 12 | 35 |
| Fire reports | 4 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–19 | 20–26 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 85,259 mi | 95,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Thunderbird | Mazda 626 |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 21 | 239 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 65 | 33 |
| Air Bags | 9 | 49 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 46 | 11 |
| Visibility | 20 | 2 |
| Electrical System | 8 | 12 |
| Exterior Lighting | 14 | 3 |
| Suspension | 9 | 8 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Vibration / shaking | 16 | 8 |
| Stalling | 13 | 15 |
| Overheating | 11 | 9 |
| Brake problems | 6 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 15 |
| Shifting problems | 0 | 12 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 7 |
1996 Ford Thunderbird
1996 Mazda 626
Compare all Ford Thunderbird vs Mazda 626 years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.