VEHICLE ROLLOVER
Opened Dec 3, 1997
Closed May 5, 1999
PETITIONER ALLEGED BRONCO II SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES 1983-1990 WERE DESIGNED WITH HANDLING AND STABILITY DEFECTS
STRUCTURE
1988 Ford Bronco Ii
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
45
Latest Aug 28, 2009
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
4
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
22
12 injuries, 1 deaths reported
Overview
Our database contains 45 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1988 Ford Bronco Ii, most frequently naming the electrical, engine and body & structure categories. 4 NHTSA investigations name it; and 19 manufacturer communications are on file.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
View as table
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Feb 1995 | 1 | 2 |
| Apr 1995 | 2 | 4 |
| May 1995 | 2 | 6 |
| Jun 1995 | 1 | 7 |
| Sep 1995 | 1 | 8 |
| Feb 1996 | 2 | 10 |
| Apr 1996 | 4 | 14 |
| May 1996 | 2 | 16 |
| Jul 1996 | 2 | 18 |
| Aug 1996 | 2 | 20 |
| Sep 1996 | 2 | 22 |
| Jan 1997 | 1 | 23 |
| Apr 1997 | 2 | 25 |
| Aug 1997 | 1 | 26 |
| Oct 1997 | 1 | 27 |
| Apr 1998 | 1 | 28 |
| May 1998 | 1 | 29 |
| Oct 1998 | 1 | 30 |
| Feb 1999 | 2 | 32 |
| Jul 1999 | 1 | 33 |
| Nov 1999 | 2 | 35 |
| Dec 1999 | 1 | 36 |
| Mar 2000 | 1 | 37 |
| May 2000 | 1 | 38 |
| Aug 2000 | 2 | 40 |
| Mar 2001 | 1 | 41 |
| Apr 2001 | 1 | 42 |
| Mar 2004 | 1 | 43 |
| Mar 2009 | 1 | 44 |
| Aug 2009 | 1 | 45 |
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Electrical1324.5%
- Engine611.3%
- Body & structure611.3%
- Brakes59.4%
- Fuel system59.4%
- Driver assistance47.5%
- Transmission35.7%
- Seat belts23.8%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
WHL SEPARATION/TORQUE LOSS
Opened Mar 16, 1992
Closed Aug 31, 1992
There is no summary currently available
SUSPENSION
THROTTLE STICKING
Opened Aug 31, 1990
Closed Dec 31, 1991
There is no summary currently available
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES
ROLLOVER PROPENSITY
Opened Feb 9, 1989
Closed Oct 31, 1990
SUMMARY:THE BRONCO II IS INVOLVED IN MORE FATAL SINGLE VEHICLE, FIRSTEVENT ROLLOVERS COMPARED TO ANY OTHER CLOSED BODY UTILITY VEHICLE (WITHOR WITHOUT NORMALIZING VEHICLE POPULATIONS AND EXPOSURE).===
SUSPENSION
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Body & structureBrakes
Filed Aug 28, 2009
THESE BRONCO II'S ARE SOMETHING ELSE. I JUST PURCHASED MINE. THERE ARE MINOR CRACKS IN THE FLOOR IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE BUSTED AND BRAKES ARE INCREDIBLY HARD TO USE TO STOP THE SUV. I FOUND RECALL ON THE 1988 RANGER FOR REAR DRUM BRAKES THAT WERE THE WRONG SIZE BUT I CANNOT FIND THAT RECALL FOR THE BRONCO II FIGURING IT WAS MADE WITH THE SAME PARTS WOULD THINK THAT THE DRUM SIZE MAKES IT HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT PUMPING. THERE ARE A FEW OTHER PROBLEMS ALSO BUT THESE ARE THE BIGGEST ONES I HAVE HAD SO FAR. THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE REPLACEMENT MAKES THE POWER STEERING COME BACK. THERE IS ALSO A SPUTTERING NOISE MADE BY THE ENGINE WHEN TAKING OFF FROM STOP SIGNS OCCASIONALLY MAKING THE VEHICLE NOT ACCELERATE. THIS PROBLEM COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BUT HAS YET TO AFFECT THE DRIVING OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
- NHTSA ID
- 10282038
- Incident
- Aug 27, 2009
- Mileage
- 54,606 mi
Suspension
Filed Mar 5, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD BRONCO II. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DRIVER'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT FOUND A RECALL ONLINE DESCRIBING THE SAME FAILURE; HOWEVER, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 89V109000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING) ONLY PERTAINED TO THE 1989 FORD BRONCO II. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
- NHTSA ID
- 10260801
- Incident
- Nov 2, 2008
Body & structure
Filed Mar 9, 2004
Crash reported2 injuries reported
88 FORD BRONCO II ROLL OVER
- NHTSA ID
- 10060847
- Incident
- Mar 5, 2004
Body & structureBrakes
Filed Apr 27, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND CROSSED OVER A PATCH OF SAND WITH THE WHEEL TURNED, CAUSING A ROLLOVER. ROOF OF VEHICLE COLLAPSED IN FRONT, INJURING DRIVER, COMPOUND BREAK OF COLLAR BONE AND OTHER MINOR INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 886986
- Incident
- Apr 20, 2001
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 29, 2001
1 injury reported
LEFT REAR (BRIDGESTONE ROADHANDLER T 215/75 R15 100S TUBELESS STEEL BELTED RADIAL (M+S-T06R-DOT ICHF P2A 186) (M+S 82415 DOT) TREADED 2-PLY POLYESTER AND 2-STEEL/SIDEWALL 2 PLY POLYESTER TIRE, BEARING TIRE #186, TIRE SEPARATED,THE TREAD CAME LOOSE FROM THE CASING,CAUSING DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL,VEHICLE OVERTURNED 3 1/2 TIMES,TIRE WAS INSPECTED AND DETERMINED BY AN EXPERT TO BE MFG DEFECT INVOLVING ADHESION AND MISALIGNMENT OF THE TOP BELT TO THE BOTTOM BELT.(ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)*JB
- NHTSA ID
- 560706
- Incident
- Aug 6, 2000
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 31, 2000
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK TFI IGNITION MODULE AND STARTOR FAILED. *YH
- NHTSA ID
- 869223
- Incident
- Aug 23, 2000
Brakes
Filed Aug 23, 2000
PARKING PAWL
- NHTSA ID
- 728825
Driver assistance
Filed May 5, 2000
WHILE DRIVING THE BRONCO GAS PEDAL STUCK, CAUSING THE BRONCO TO ACCELERATE TO A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. BRONCO WENT OVER 7,000 RPM'S. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER FOUND THE THROTTLE BODY TO BE STUCK. VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 861509
- Incident
- Apr 15, 2000
Manufacturer communications
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
01156
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
01157
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
002310
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT
0015
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
99222
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT
99196
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
INFORMATION ON IDENTIFYING NON-APPROVED / ALTERNATE REFRIGERANTS WHICH COULD CAUSE SAFETY, AND PERFORMANCE CONCERNS IF INSTALLED IN FORD A/C SYSTEMS. *TT
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.