1979 Ford BRONCO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
2 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
Not available median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1979 model year. Data snapshot: . 0 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train:Automatic Transmission is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 50.0% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 1 |
Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1; Tires:Tread/Belt: 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 | 0 |
| 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: 0; 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
No usable failure mileage is recorded. 2 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 | 1 |
| 2001 | 1 |
1995: 1; 2001: 1
Pattern summary
Power Train:Automatic Transmission leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 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 480287 · 1995-01-30 (January 30, 1995)
TRANSMISSION JUMPS FROM PARK TO REVERSE GEAR PRIOR TO RECALL (78V-201). *SKD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 480287 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 887338 · 2001-05-03 (May 3, 2001)
FIRESTONE, ATX, 33/12.50R15LT DOT VD; TIRES WOULD NOT STAY BALANCED, DRIVING LIKE THEY WERE OVAL RATHER THEN ROUND, VEHICLE WAS SHAKING AND THUMPING. 3 OF THE 4 TIRES HAD CRACKS THAT WENT ALL AROUND THE TIRE, BELOW THE TREAD. 50 % OF TREAD LEFT, MILAGE UNKNOWN. REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT ON A 1979, FORD, BRONCO.*AK CONSUMER WAS TOLD BY MECHANIC THAT 3 OUT OF THE 4 TIRES WERE SO DEFECTIVE THAT THEY COULD NOT BE BALANCED, THE FOURTH TIRE NEEDED SO MANY OUNCES OF WEIGHT, CONSUMER HAS REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES BECAUSE ALL TIRES WERE CRACKING AND SHOWING SI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 887338 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
5 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
78V201000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 1978-09-15 (September 15, 1978)
THESE TRANSMISSIONS MAY CONTAIN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED PARKING PAWL ACTUATING RODS. CONSEQUENTLY, THE UNHARDENED CAM SURFACE OF THESE RODS CAN ALLOW THE ROD TO DEFORM DURING USE WITH RESULTANT INCREASE IN SHIFT EFFORTS AND DIFFICULTY IN RELEASING THE PARKING PAWL AND ENGAGING THE PARKING GEAR.
Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION PARKING PAWL ACTUATING ROD WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
NHTSA campaign record ↗78V256000 · Power Train:Automatic Transmission
Reported: 1978-11-27 (November 27, 1978)
THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS IN WHICH THE PARKING PAWL WAS NOT HEAT-TREATED. DURING NORMAL VEHICLE OPERATION, A PARKING PAWL THAT HAS NOT BEEN HEAT-TREATED COULD BECOME DEFORMED OR WORN TO THE POINT THAT THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT LOCK IN "PARK". AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL FREE IF THE DRIVER DOES NOT SET THE PARKING BRAKE WHEN PARKING OR LEAVING VEHICLE UNATTENDED.
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE PARKING PAWL WITH ONE THAT HAS BEEN HEAT-TREATED.
NHTSA campaign record ↗79V035000 · Steering:Linkages:Knuckle:Spindle:Arm
Reported: 1979-01-29 (January 29, 1979)
THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED STEERING ARM KNUCKLES. SHOULD AN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED STEERING ARM KNUCKLE FRACTURE AND SEPARATE, THE STEERING LINKAGE TIE ROD MAY DISENGAGE FROM THE KNUCKLE.
Remedy: THE DEALER WILL INSPECT FOR CRACKING IN THE STEERING ARM KNUCKLES ON ALL VEHICLES AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THEM FREE OF CHARGE.
NHTSA campaign record ↗79V117000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages
Reported: 1979-05-15 (May 15, 1979)
THE INVOLVED VEHICLES WERE PRODUCED WITH BRAKE PUSH-ROD TO BRAKE PEDAL RETAINING PINS WHICH WERE NOT HEAT-TREATED AS SPECIFIED. THIS COULD ALLOW THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BECOME DISENGAGED FROM THE PUSH-ROD.
Remedy: DEALER WILL REPLACE THE SUSPECT BRAKE RETAINING PIN.
NHTSA campaign record ↗79V185000 · Wheels
Reported: 1979-08-07 (August 7, 1979)
THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY MAY CONTAIN SUBSTANDARD WELDS IN THE AREA WHERE THE DISC IS ATTACHED TO THE RIM. AS A RESULT, CRACKS CAN FORM IN THE WHEEL ASSEMBLY, CAUSING AIR LOSS AND AN UNDERINFLATED TIRE.
Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE ANY DEFECTIVE WHEELS WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.
NHTSA campaign record ↗