1987 Ford BRONCO II: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
22 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
9,900 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1987 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly is the most frequently named component, appearing in 4 of 22 complaints (18.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 9.1% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 9.1% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 9.1% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 9.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.5% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 4 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 2 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings | 2 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly: 4; Electrical System:Ignition: 2; Electrical System:Wiring: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline: 2; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings: 2; Vehicle Speed Control: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1
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 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (2). 20 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 | 7 |
| 1996 | 6 |
| 2000 | 2 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2002 | 2 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
1995: 7; 1996: 6; 2000: 2; 2001: 1; 2002: 2; 2003: 2; 2004: 1; 2005: 1
Pattern summary
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 2 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 2 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10010495 · 2003-03-15 (March 15, 2003)
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 55 MPH A CLOUD OF SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. WHEN PULLED OVER AND HOOD LIFTED I NOTICED A FIRE ON DRIVER SIDE OF ENGINES. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIRS WERE GOING TO COST $2000 AND UP NOT CONSIDERING THE BLOCK THAT HAD BEEN CRACKED FROM FIRE DAMAGE. FIRE WAS DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE RADIATOR AND THE WATER PUMP. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10010495 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10011783 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)
THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE COIL, IGNITION SWITCH, BATTERY, EXHAUST SYSTEM AND ALSO A TUNE WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, IT WAS DETERMINED A WIRE WAS NOT GROUNDED CORRECTLY. *TS *JB
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10011783 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10064591 · 2004-04-05 (April 5, 2004)
MY FORD BRONCO II, 1987, WENT UP IN FLAMES. IT WAS LEAKING GAS, THE SMELL WAS REALLY STRONG AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A BURST OF FLAMES. WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT . *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10064591 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10110478 · 2005-02-13 (February 13, 2005)
BOUGHT THE BRONCO AND STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT, IT STARTED SPUTTING LIKE IT WAS OUT OF GAS WHEN IT WAS FULL(I JUST PUT A FULL TANK IN IT WHEN I PICKED IT UP AT A FRIENDS. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 9,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10110478 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 486429 · 1995-05-22 (May 22, 1995)
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE CAME UNATTACHED WHILE DRIVING. *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 486429 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 488686 · 1995-10-11 (October 11, 1995)
SEAT BELT BUCKLE DOES NOT LATCH SECURELY, CAUSING IT TO OPEN WITH SLIGHT MOVEMENT OR TUG. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 488686 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 501546 · 1996-01-08 (January 8, 1996)
TRANSMISSION FAILED. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 501546 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 725336 · 2000-07-12 (July 12, 2000)
I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF LIQUID COMING FROM UNDERNEATH OF MY VEHICLE. UPON INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE I FOUND THAT ONE OF THE PLASTIC FUEL LINES WHICH RUNS FROM THE FUEL FILTER TO THE GAS TANK HAD A LARGE HOLE IN IT. THE AMOUNT OF GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THIS HOLE WAS VERY LARGE IN VOLUME AND IT WAS SPRAYING ALL OVER THE AREA UNDER THE REAR PORTION OF MY VEHICLE INCLUDING THE TAILPIPE . IF THE TASILPIPE HAD BEEN HOT FROM NORMAL ENGINE TEMP THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A RATHER LARGE EXPLOSION RESULTING IN SERIOU…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 725336 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
87V039000 · Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Reported: 1987-03-23 (March 23, 1987)
ALUMINUM WHEELS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WITH IMPROPER LUG NUTS.
Consequence: WHEEL COULD BECOME LOOSE OR EVEN SEPARATE FROM THE HUBAND AXLE ASSEMBLY WHILE THE VEHICE IS IN MOTION.
Remedy: CHANGE TAPERED STYLE LUG NUTS TO SHORT SHANK STYLE LUG NUTS.
NHTSA campaign record ↗87V070000 · Equipment:Other:Labels
Reported: 1987-05-18 (May 18, 1987)
STICKERS CONCERNING HANDLING AND MANEUVERABILITY WHICH ARE AFFIXED TO DRIVERS SUN VISOR SLEEVES DO NOT MEET CRITERIA FOR PERMANENT ADHESION.
Consequence: VEHICLES DO NOT MEET FORMATS SPECIFIED BY PARTS 573 AND579 OF 49CFR.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE MAILED NEW SUN VISOR SLEEVES WITH ALL APPLICABLE DECAL INFORMATION PERMANENTLY AFFIXED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗87V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
Reported: 1987-09-04 (September 4, 1987)
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗