FORD CLUB WAGON · model year

1996 FORD CLUB WAGON

24 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1996FORDCLUB WAGON carries 24 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1996 CLUB WAGON is service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components with 3 filings, followed by air bags:frontal (2) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (2). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 1996 CLUB WAGON, and 8 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

24
Complaints
3
Crashes
2
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

24 filings

Crashes Reported

3 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS3
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP2
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM1
SUSPENSION:FRONT1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:PEDALS AND LINKAGES1
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY1
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS1
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR1
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP1
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER1

Recent Complaints

20080923FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

FUEL FILLER PIPE ON THIS VEHICLE HAS FAILED THREE TIMES (FIRST FAILURE MILEAGE IS LISTED BELOW). EACH TIME THE FIRST SYMPTOM IS THE SMELL OF FUEL OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE AFTER DRIVING, WHEN THE PROBLEM WORSENS, AT TIME OF FILL-UP GAS SPILLS ON THE GROUND. *TR

Mileage: 30,532

20050804FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

DT: CONTACT STATED THERE WAS A FIRE ON THE MASTER CYLINDER ON A 1996 FORD CLUB WAGON. THIS VEHICLE WAS OWNED BY HIS EMPLOYER. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. UPON INSPECTION, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE MASTER CYLINDER WAS MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS DROVE APPROXIMATELY 8 HOURS BEFORE THE INCIDENT OCCURRED. *AK

20040413FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

WHEN THE FAN SWITCH WAS TURNED TO THE FAST POSITION AND THE A/C WAS TURNED ON THE CONSUMER BEGAN TO SMELL SOMETHING BURNING. AFTER A FEW SECONDS ALOT OF SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE DASH AND A/C AREA. THE CONSUMER REMOVED THE KNOB AND SAW FLAMES. THE CONSUMER TURNED OFF THE ENTIRE SYSTEM AND REMOVED THE CABLE. NO DAMAGE WAS REPORTED. *AK *NM

Mileage: 139,000

20030306ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

ENGINE STALLS OCCASIONALLY WHEN IN DRIVE AND AT A STOP, AND SOMETIMES INSTEAD OF JUST DYING IT TRIES TO STAY RUNNING BY FLOORING THE ACCELERATOR CAUSING ME TO HIT CURBS AND MY GARAGE WALL. I CAN AVOID THIS BY PLACING IT IN NEUTRAL TEMPORARILY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO FORD ABOUT THREE TIMES FOR THIS ALONE, BUT THEY CANNOT FIGURE IT OUT BECAUSE IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHICH THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE. ALSO THE REAR BLEND DOOR FLAP FOR REAR A/C DETERIORATES EVERY YEAR AND NEEDS REPLACING TO STAY COOL IN PHOENIX, AZ. *JB

Mileage: 40,000

20030306EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

ENGINE STALLS OCCASIONALLY WHEN IN DRIVE AND AT A STOP, AND SOMETIMES INSTEAD OF JUST DYING IT TRIES TO STAY RUNNING BY FLOORING THE ACCELERATOR CAUSING ME TO HIT CURBS AND MY GARAGE WALL. I CAN AVOID THIS BY PLACING IT IN NEUTRAL TEMPORARILY. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO FORD ABOUT THREE TIMES FOR THIS ALONE, BUT THEY CANNOT FIGURE IT OUT BECAUSE IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM WHICH THEY COULD NOT REPRODUCE. ALSO THE REAR BLEND DOOR FLAP FOR REAR A/C DETERIORATES EVERY YEAR AND NEEDS REPLACING TO STAY COOL IN PHOENIX, AZ. *JB

Mileage: 40,000

20010305FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP

WHILE FUELING GAS CAME OUT FROM UNDER VAN, NOT AT THE FILL NECK. *AK

20000822ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

RUSTING OUT OILPAN WITH ONLY 38K MILES ON IT. HAVE BEEN TOLD IT'S A REACURING PROBLEM, LOOKING FOR A RECALL NOTICE. *AK

19991029SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR

FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WORN PREMATURELY. NLM

19991029SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:ROTOR

FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WORN PREMATURELY. NLM

19991029SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:PADS

FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WORN PREMATURELY. NLM

19991029SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR

FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS WORN PREMATURELY. NLM

19990921CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT 50 MPH ON WET PAVEMENT, AND VEHICLE STARTED SLIDING, CONSUMER LOST CONTROL AND HIT A GUARDRAIL HEAD ON. THEN VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A HILL. UPON IMPACT, DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK

19990121SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

EXPERIENCING ONGOING BRAKE FAILURE. WHENEVER VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IN WET CONDITIONS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD GO ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR, NO MATTER WHAT THE SPEED MAY BE. VEHICLE HAVE BEEN INSPECTED/REPAIRED BY INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, BUT CONDITION STILL OCCURS. DEALER/MFR. WAS NOT NOTIFIED AT THIS TIME. *AK

19981022SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS BRAKE FAILURE.

19981020SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS

BRAKE PROBLEMS UNABLE TO BE REMEDIED.

19980608SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING

THE SHOULDER BELTS ARE HOOKED TO THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE BELTS TO GO ACROSS THE NECK, IRRITATING THE DRIVER. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT WHEN THE BELT CROSSES THE BODY, IT IS AGAINST WHERE SAFETY REGULATIONS SAY SHOULDER BELT SHOULD GO. *SLC

19980420SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

BUTTON LATCH ON PASSENGER SEAT FAILED.

19971110SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

ABS BRAKE PROBLEMS; AT LOW VEHICLE SPEED, ON ANY SLIPPERY SURFACE, WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE ABS SYSTEM IS ACTIVATED WHICH RELEASES THE LINE PRESSURE, AND THE VEHICLE KEEPS RIGHT ON GOING. THE DEALER IS NOT ABLE TO DETECT PROBLEM WITH THE WAGON. *AK

19970530CrashAIR BAGS:FRONTAL

MADE A LEFT HAND TURN INTO A VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE REAR SEAT BELTS, THAT LOCK DOWN THE WHEEL CHAIRS, CAME UNLATCHED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

19970530CrashEQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

MADE A LEFT HAND TURN INTO A VEHICLE AND THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THE REAR SEAT BELTS, THAT LOCK DOWN THE WHEEL CHAIRS, CAME UNLATCHED. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK

Compare 1996FORDCLUB WAGON to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1996 FORD CLUB WAGON have?
The 1996 FORD CLUB WAGON has 24 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 2 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1996 FORD CLUB WAGON?
The most-complained component for the 1996 FORD CLUB WAGON is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS with 3 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS:FRONTAL and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1996 FORD CLUB WAGON safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.