Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 20 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1985 Ford Bronco, most frequently naming the electrical, fuel system and tires & wheels categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 17 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Jan 1995 | 1 | 1 |
| Feb 1995 | 1 | 2 |
| Mar 1995 | 1 | 3 |
| Jun 1995 | 1 | 4 |
| Dec 1995 | 1 | 5 |
| Feb 1996 | 2 | 7 |
| Apr 1996 | 2 | 9 |
| Jul 1996 | 1 | 10 |
| Aug 1996 | 1 | 11 |
| Aug 1997 | 1 | 12 |
| Feb 1999 | 1 | 13 |
| Aug 1999 | 1 | 14 |
| Mar 2000 | 1 | 15 |
| Aug 2000 | 1 | 16 |
| Sep 2000 | 1 | 17 |
| Oct 2000 | 1 | 18 |
| Nov 2000 | 1 | 19 |
| Apr 2001 | 1 | 20 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
1 campaign cover this model year
Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.
Check a VIN on NHTSA.govFUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM:FUEL RAIL
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
FRONT BRK CALIPER SEIZURE
ANALYSIS:ALLEGEDLY, DURING BRAKE APPLICATION THE DISC BRAKE CALIPERSSEIZE, RESULTING IN EXCESSIVE PULL AND/OR FRONT BRAKE LOCK-UP.SOMEREPORTS CITE A COMPLETE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL RESULTING IN UNFOREWARNEDAND UNAVOIDABLE TRAVEL INTO OPPOSING TRAFFIC LANES.CONSUMERS CLAIM THATSERVICE PERSONNEL HAVE CONSISTENTLY ATTRIBUTED THE PROBLEM TO THE USE OFPHENOLIC PISTONS WHICH OVERHEAT AND SEIZE IN THE CALIPER BORES.INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE MANUFACTURER DISCLOSED THE COMPLAINT, ACCIDENT,AND INJURY STATISTICS TABULATED ABOVE.OTHER MANUFACTURER-SUPPLIED DATADISCLOSED THAT TWO DESIGN CHANGES WITH POTENTIAL RELEVANCE TO THIS MATTERWERE MADE DURING THE PRODUCTION YEARS IN QUESTION.IN OCTOBER 1981, THESPECIFICATION OF THE MAXIMUM OUTSIDE DIAMETER OF THE PISTON WAS DECREASEDBY 0.0250 MM AND THE MINIMUM INSIDE DIAMETER OF THE CALIPER PISTON BOREINCREASED BY 0.024 MM.THESE CHANGES WERE MADE TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITYOF PREMATURE WEAR OF THE FRONT DISC BRAKE PADS.A SECOND DESIGN REVISIONWAS MADE IN SEPTEMBER 1986 TO REDUCE INADVERTENT CHIPPING OF THE CALIPERPISTONS DURING BRAKE PAD REPLACEMENT.WARRANTY CLAIM DATA WERE INCONCLUS-IVE IN IDENTIFYING A FAILURE TREND ACCOMPANIED BY RISK OF ACCIDENTS.THE HISTORY OF BRONCO BRAKE PULL/DRIFT COMPLAINTS DISCLOSED THAT FORD HADKNOWLEDGE OF THE PROBLEM.AN AUGUST 1986, FORD TRUCK INTEROFFICE LETTERDISCUSSED THE PHENOMENON AND PROVIDED SUGGESTIONS TO REMEDY THE PROBLEMIN THE FIELD.THE CONDITION WAS DEFINED AS RECESSION STEER, MANIFEST TOTHE VEHICLE OPERATOR AS DRIFT OR PULL UPON BRAKE APPLICATION.IN FACT,THE SENSATION WAS ATTRIBUTED TO A NET STEER TO THE LEFT WHEN THE FRONTSUSPENSION MOVES REARWARD UNDER BRAKING FORCES.CONCLUSION:SEIZURE OF THE FRONT CALIPER PISTONS HAS NOT BEEN IDENTIFIEDAS THE ORIGIN OF THE ALLEGED PROBLEM.ADDITIONALLY, THE HISTORICAL DATAALLEGING LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, ACCIDENTS, AND INJURIES DO NOT IDENTIFYA SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT IN EITHER THE BRAKING OR SUSPENSION SYSTEM OF THESUBJECT VEHICLES.======
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
VEHICLE FAILS TO START AFTER KEY IS IN IGNITION. VEHICLE TOWED. WAS INFORMED BY MECHANIC PROBLEM WAS IN IGNITION MODULE.*AK *SLC
THE SEATS OF THE VEHICLE ARE BADLY BROKEN AND ARE DANGEROUS. *MJS
VEHICLE SHUTDOWN WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. VEHICLE ACTED LIKE IT WANTED TO STALL.ALSO,VEHICLE WILL START BACK UP. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE.*AK
TIRE TREAD SEPARATION CAUSING CRASH INTO CONRETE BARIER I HAVE THE STILL INFLATED TIRE WITH THE TREAD THAT CAME OFF( DOT NUMBER: HYHLF7A069 TIRE SIZE: P235/75R15 )
JUST TO LET YOU KNOW FOR YOUR DATA BASE THAT THESE TIRES WERE PURCHASED AFTER MARKET, SO FORD HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH IT. ONE TIRE ROLLED THE TREAD RIGHT OFF, SEPARATING RIGHT UNDER THE STEEL BELT. BUT THE TIRE HELD AIR. IT HAPPENED ON A MOUNTAIN ROAD, AT ABOUT 85 DEGREES. I USED THE OTHER 3 TIRES UNTIL THEY HAD ABOUT 50,000 MILES ON THEM WITHOUT ANY OTHER PROBLEMS. HADN'T HEARD ABOUT ANY ISSUE AT THAT TIME SO I DIDN'T REPORT IT.( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: 235X15 )
THIS IS THE SECOND BRONCO THAT I HAVE OWNED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT HAS FAILED. THE BACK OF THE SEAT FALLS BACK. *AK
VEHICLE EXPERIENCES CONTINUED STALLING DUE TO FAULTY IGNITION SWITCH (TFI MODULE), RECALL ON COMPONENT HOWEVER VEHICLE NOT INCLUDED AND DENIED. MJS
FUEL TANK SHIELD RUSTED THROUGH AND BEGAN TO LEAK. (1ST VEHICLE ON DOC# 530326)
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
SUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESSES. *TT
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
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
INFORMATION ON THE NEW FLUSH AND FILL TOOL AVAILABLE THROUGH ROTUNDA. *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.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 7 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 47 | 19 | 0 | 65.1 |
| 2024 | 72 | 16 | 0 | 62.6 |
| 2023 | 216 | 18 | 0 | 55.5 |
| 2022 | 362 | 23 | 2 | 63.4 |
| 2021 | 222 | 20 | 4 | 66.0 |
| 1999 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 81 | 2 | 1 | 63.3 |
| 1995 | 94 | 2 | 1 | 59.8 |
| 1994 | 91 | 5 | 1 | 62.2 |
| 1993 | 40 | 7 | 0 | 55.1 |
| 1992 | 37 | 4 | 6 | 60.6 |
| 1991 | 32 | 2 | 6 | 68.5 |
| 1990 | 56 | 1 | 6 | 60.3 |
| 1989 | 84 | 2 | 2 | 62.2 |
| 1988 | 52 | 1 | 1 | 60.5 |
| 1987 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 56.0 |
| 1986 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 59.7 |
| 1985Viewing | 20 | 1 | 1 | 61.6 |
| 1984 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 70.6 |
| 1983 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1982 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1981 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 2 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1970 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
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.