1988 Ford BRONCO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
32 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
125,005 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1988 model year. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch is the most frequently named component, appearing in 7 of 32 complaints (21.9%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 4 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 9.4% |
| Braking behavior | 2 | 6.3% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.1% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.1% |
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 | 7 |
| Electrical System:Ignition | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper | 2 |
| Tires | 2 |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 2 |
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch: 7; Electrical System:Ignition: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 2; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc:Caliper: 2; Tires: 2; Tires:Tread/Belt: 2
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 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 1
75,000 to 99,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 30 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 | 5 |
| 1996 | 17 |
| 2000 | 5 |
| 2001 | 1 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
1995: 5; 1996: 17; 2000: 5; 2001: 1; 2003: 2; 2004: 2
Pattern summary
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 3 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 10025529 · 2003-07-07 (July 7, 2003)
SIDEWALL BUBBLED OUT IN TWO PLACES.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 88,900 miles reported. Look up ODI 10025529 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10029512 · 2003-08-15 (August 15, 2003)
THE ENGINE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. *AK THREE ENGINES WERE REPLACED DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURING. IN TWO OF THE INCIDENTS, THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT INJURY. BOTH ENGINES FAILED AFTER 50-60 MILES ON THEM. *PH *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 161,110 miles reported. Look up ODI 10029512 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059742 · 2004-02-25 (February 25, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10059742 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10104965 · 2004-12-16 (December 16, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, AND FROM THE VENTS. CONSUMER PULLED OVER. THEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10104965 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 484866 · 1995-08-02 (August 2, 1995)
BRAKES LOCK UP, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID. *DSH
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 484866 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 500597 · 1996-01-09 (January 9, 1996)
FUEL INJECTOR LEAKS. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 500597 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 500918 · 1996-01-30 (January 30, 1996)
ENGINE HEAD CRACKED. *SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 500918 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 503103 · 1996-04-03 (April 3, 1996)
TIRE BLEW, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER.*SD
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 503103 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
96V071000 · Electrical System:Ignition
Reported: 1996-04-25 (April 25, 1996)
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
NHTSA campaign record ↗