1996 Ford BRONCO: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
55 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
120,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 27 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Vehicle Speed Control is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 55 complaints (20.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 13 | 23.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 7 | 12.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 7.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 1.8% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Vehicle Speed Control | 11 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control | 10 |
| Electrical System | 5 |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood | 3 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 3 |
| Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Power Train | 2 |
Vehicle Speed Control: 11; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 10; Electrical System: 5; Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood: 3; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 3; Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Power Train: 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 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 5 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 12 |
| 150,000 and above | 7 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 5; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 7
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (12). 28 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 |
| 1996 | 5 |
| 2000 | 9 |
| 2001 | 3 |
| 2002 | 4 |
| 2003 | 2 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 2 |
| 2007 | 3 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 3 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2018 | 1 |
1995: 1; 1996: 5; 2000: 9; 2001: 3; 2002: 4; 2003: 2; 2004: 2; 2005: 13; 2006: 2; 2007: 3; 2008: 2; 2009: 3; 2010: 3; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2018: 1
Pattern summary
Vehicle Speed Control leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 13 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 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 10040639 · 2003-09-25 (September 25, 2003)
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED THE CONSUMER NOTICED A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION BUT HE'S NOT 100% SURE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10040639 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10049299 · 2003-12-06 (December 6, 2003)
THE FOLLOWING IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT PRODUCT AND SERVICES . PRODUCT BEING 1996-97 MODEL VEHICLE FORD BRONCO VIN [XXX]. VEHICLE HAS BUILT-IN CONTROL AND ROLLOVER PROBLEMS BY DESIGN. THIS WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. WITH THE BRONCO CRASHING OFF THE MACKINAC BRIDGE MARCH 2, 1997 LOCATED IN MICHIGAN KILLING [XXX] OUR SON. THE VEHICLE WAS LEASED NEW, IN 1996 AND MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY KEEPING VEHICLE IN ITS LANE OF TRAVEL, IT WOULD DRIFT AND BOUNCE ABOUT THE ROAD THERE WAS A ROLLOVER OF THIS VEHICLE AFTER IT IMPACTE…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10049299 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10086147 · 2004-08-04 (August 4, 2004)
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND I ASKED THE MECHANIC TO CHECK THE ROUTE. FRONT SUSPENSION DUE TO EXCESSIVE NOISE/VIBRATION. HE CONTACTED ME LATER TO ADVISE THAT THE COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN. THE ONLY THINGS RETAINING THE SPRING WERE GRAVITY AND GOD. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 99,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10086147 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10095360 · 2004-11-03 (November 3, 2004)
THE CONSUMER COULD NOT GET VEHICLE OUT OF PARK ONE MORNING AND HAD TO REPLACE A FUSE. JUST AFTER VEHICLE STARTED SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD, AND SAW A FIRE AT THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE CONSUMER PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A BOTTLE OF WATER. *AK THE MASTER CYLINDER PRESSURE SWITCH AND CONNECTOR WAS REPLACED. *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 116,489 miles reported. Look up ODI 10095360 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10107948 · 2005-01-26 (January 26, 2005)
AT APPROXIMATELY 2AM ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2004, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY NEIGHBOR INFORMING ME THAT MY 1996 FORD BRONCO WAS ON FIRE. WHEN I RAN OUTSIDE, THERE WERE FLAMES "SHOOTING" SEVERAL FEET INTO THE AIR. THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE WAS THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FRONT TIRES HAD BLOWN FROM THE HEAT AND THE FIRE HAD MELTED THE DASH AND WAS INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED AND WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE BLAZE WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF THEIR ARRIVAL. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS (I HAVE…
Owner-reported narrative. 93,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10107948 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108060 · 2005-01-27 (January 27, 2005)
1996 FORD BRONCO, BURNED TO THE GROUND / A TOTAL LOSS. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. I WAS HAVING NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE THAT I KNEW OF. I HAD A FUEL PUMP PUT IN 4 MONTHS PRIOR FROM MY MECHANIC. THE FIRE STARTED UP FRONT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND MOVED TOWARDS THE REAR. EVERYTHING WAS IN SOME FORM OF MELTED AND OR JUST ASHES. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 131,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108060 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10108264 · 2005-01-30 (January 30, 2005)
THE TRUCK HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH ON THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER OVERHEATED AND CHARRED THE AREA. REPLACED SWITCH AND CONTROL MODULE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108264 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10114678 · 2005-03-24 (March 24, 2005)
IN REGAURD TO INVESTIGATION EA 05-005 HEADED UP BY BRUCE YORK; I HAVE A 1996 FORD BRONCO THAT THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH ALSO SHORTED OUT. IT DID NOT RESULT IN A FIRE BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK. THE WIRES ARE BURNT RIGHT NEXT TO THE SWITCH AND THE SWITCH IS FULL OF FLUID. I CURRENTLY DRIVE IT AS IS WITH THE WIRES PULLED AWAY BUT EVERY THING IS STILL IN THE TRUCK IF ANY INVESTIGATORS WANT TO SEE IT. I SEE NO MENTION OF THE BRONCO IN THE INVESTIGATION BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME. I WAS FORTUNATE. NO FIRE
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10114678 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.
05V388000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 2005-09-07 (September 7, 2005)
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Consequence: A FIRE AT THE SWITCH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: BY LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 12, 2005, OWNERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AND ADVISED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO RECONNECT THE SPEED CONTROL BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS WHO DID NOT HAVE THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED TO HAVE THEIR SYSTEM REMEDIED BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS ARE URGED TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE FREE DISCONNECT SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT RISK OF FIRE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 06V286)
NHTSA campaign record ↗