Ford BRONCO II problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
145 owner complaints analyzed
10 distinct recall campaigns
106,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1982 to 1996 model years. Data snapshot: . 13 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 12 of 145 complaints (8.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 16 | 11.0% |
| Braking behavior | 15 | 10.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 12 | 8.3% |
| Steering behavior | 11 | 7.6% |
| Engine operation | 7 | 4.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 2.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 12 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 11 |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 10 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 6 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 6 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 12; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 11; Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 10; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Electrical System:Ignition: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 6; Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 2 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 2 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 4 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 2; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 4
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 132 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 43 |
| 1996 | 49 |
| 2000 | 18 |
| 2001 | 9 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 4 |
| 2004 | 6 |
| 2005 | 8 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2019 | 1 |
1995: 43; 1996: 49; 2000: 18; 2001: 9; 2002: 2; 2003: 4; 2004: 6; 2005: 8; 2008: 2; 2009: 2; 2012: 1; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 16 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 15 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 12 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 980919 · 1996-03-19 (March 19, 1996)
IGNITION SWITCH; DUE TO ELECTRICAL SHORT, THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 980919 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 982828 · 1996-04-17 (April 17, 1996)
ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHCOK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 982828 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 747110 · 2001-06-20 (June 20, 2001)
DRIVER SEAT IS FALLING DOWN IN FRONT WIN YOU STOP. LOOK AT SOME OTHER BRONCO II AND THAY HAVE THE SAME BRAKE UNDER THE FRONT SEAT IN THE PAN. WENT TO THE DEALER AND SHOWED THEM AND GOT NO RESPONSE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 747110 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 963111 · 1995-04-05 (April 5, 1995)
WHILE DRIVING AT 20MPH DRIVER HIT TREE TO STOP BECAUSE BRAKES FAILED. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 963111 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 959384 · 1995-01-31 (January 31, 1995)
FUEL TANK LEAKS; REPLACEMENT TANK STARTED LEAKING APPROXIMATELY 18 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE; COULD CAUSE FIRE; TANKS SEEMED TO BE DEFECTIVE. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 959384 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 966491 · 1995-06-08 (June 8, 1995)
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, FUEL LEAKED FROM THE FUEL INJECTOR REGULATOR. TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 966491 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 983658 · 1996-04-26 (April 26, 1996)
STARTED IGNITION, SMOKE CAME OUT FROM STEERING COLUMN; REPLACED IGNITION SWITCH BEFORE CAUSING A FIRE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 983658 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 962905 · 1995-04-03 (April 3, 1995)
CAR WAS ACCIDENT AND THE STEERING LOCK UP . TT
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 962905 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 751424 · 2001-08-30 (August 30, 2001)
THIS TRUCK HAS HAD A CONSTANT STALLING PROBLEM. IT RUNS FINE ON THE OPEN ROAD BUT WHEN IT I STOP FOR A LIGHT OR STOP SIGN OR MAKE A TURN & REAPPLY THE ACCELERATOR IT STUMBLES, HESITATES & STALLS. IF I AM QUICK ENOUGH TO BACK OFF THE ACCELLATOR & REAPPLY IT I CAN KEEP IT FROM STALLING. IF NOT IT WILL STALL. IT USUALLY STARTS RIGHT UP AGAIN BUT THIS SITUATION HAS BECOME DANGEROUS. IT HAS BEEN TO FORD NUMEROUS TIMES FOR THIS PROBLEM. FORD TOLD ME THAT NO CODES SHOW UP. THEY TOLD ME THE ONLY THING WAS A SLIGHT FLAT SPOT IN THE CARB. & ADVISED ME T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 751424 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 731261 · 2000-09-13 (September 13, 2000)
THIS VEHICLE STALLED WHILE RUNNING DUE TOFAILED TFI MODULE, THIS IS THE SECOND SUCH FAILURE THIS VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED. IT FURTHER UNDERGOES A VIOLENT ENGINE SURGE WHILE AT LIGHT THROTTLE AND LOW SPEEDS ENGINE AND VEHICLE SUCH AS IN TOWN DRIVING, THIS SURGE CAN BE STOPPED MOMENTARILY BY DEPRESSING EITHER THROTTLE OR CLUTCH PEDAL, AND A EQUALLY VIOLENT SINGLE CYCLE SHUDDER AS IF A KILL SWITHS HAS BEEN ACTIVATED THEN RELEASED AS SLIGHTLY HIGHER SPEEDS AND USUALLY UPHILL. TO DATE I HAVE REPLACED THE FUELFILTER, REMOVED THE CRUISE CONTROL AND REPLA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 731261 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10013955 · 2003-04-04 (April 4, 2003)
THE FRONT SEAL ON THE A4LD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY 1985 BRONCO II FAILED. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BLEW BACK ACROSS THE EXHAUST PIPE CAUSING A LOT OF SMOKE. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AND FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND TRANSMISSION. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 106,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10013955 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 968040 · 1995-06-30 (June 30, 1995)
HAS HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT TWICE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 968040 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1982 | 0 |
| 1984 | 2 |
| 1985 | 0 |
| 1986 | 4 |
| 1987 | 3 |
| 1988 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 |
| 1990 | 1 |
| 1993 | 0 |
| 1994 | 0 |
| 1996 | 0 |
1982: 0; 1984: 2; 1985: 0; 1986: 4; 1987: 3; 1988: 0; 1989: 1; 1990: 1; 1993: 0; 1994: 0; 1996: 0