RoadVitals

1986 Ford Bronco

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.
27
Latest Dec 3, 2004
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.
1
Latest Sep 4, 1987
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.
1
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.
10
3 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 27 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1986 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 18 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical1129.7%
  • Fuel system410.8%
  • Tires & wheels38.1%
  • Seat belts38.1%
  • Brakes38.1%
  • Body & structure25.4%
  • Driver assistance25.4%
  • Engine25.4%

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

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.gov
87V139000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Sep 4, 1987
3,600,000 units potentially affected
The defect: SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
The risk: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
The remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
FORD MOTOR COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE90117ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

FUEL TANK CORROSION

Opened Sep 12, 1990
Closed Dec 27, 1990

There is no summary currently available

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

View all 27
Fuel system
Filed Dec 3, 2004

WE HAVE SPEND MORE THAN 500.00 ON PART FOR THIS TRUCK IT JUST KEEP STOPPING FOR NO REASON, SHOP PEOPLE SAY ITS THE FUEL SYSTEM, IT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. STILL IT STOPS THEY DO NOT KNOW EXCEPT THE FUEL SYSTEM. WE HAVE BEEN STRAINED ABOUT 5 OR 6 TIMES MOST TIMES LATE AT NIGHT. HAVE BEEN TOW HOME ABOUT 6 OR 7 TIMES.*AK

NHTSA ID
10101004
Incident
Nov 25, 2004
Tires & wheels
Filed May 21, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD BEEN REPAIRED WITH FOUR STRING-PLUG ONLY REPAIRS. THERE WAS NO PATCH ON THE INNER-LINER AS RECOMMENDED BY THE RMA. *LA AS A RESULT OF THE IMPROPER PLUG-ALONE REPAIRS, AIR WAS ALLOWED TO MIGRATE INTO THE CARCASS OF THE TIRE; RESULTING ON A TREAD SEPARATION. WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND INTO THE GRASS MEDIAN. THE RIGHT REAR OF THE VEHICLE BECAME AIR BORNE AND CAUSED THE RIGHT FRONT TO STRIKE THE DIRT. THE VEHICLE THEN OVERTURNED TRAVELING APP 41 FEET THEN LANDING ON IT'S TOP. A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER IS A PARAPLEGIC. (FLORIDA TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM

NHTSA ID
10074148
Incident
May 20, 1999
Electrical
Filed Oct 9, 2001

YOU BROADCASTED THE RECALL SETTLEMENT FOR FORD IGNITION MODULES,YETMY LOCAL DEALERS SEEM OBLIVIOUS TO THE RECALL ,WHAT DO I NEED TO GET ANOTHER IGNITION MODULE THAT YOU PEOPLE GOT FORD TO SETTLE ON. *AK

NHTSA ID
753022
Electrical
Filed Aug 17, 2001

DRIVING AT 65 MPH VEHICLE ENGINE DIED; HAVE REPLACED PART 3 TIMES IN LAST YEAR. *AK

NHTSA ID
750657
Incident
Aug 12, 2001
Driver assistance
Filed Dec 8, 2000

STALLED GOING ROUND CORNERS, STALLING AT STOPS. ENGINE RACED, FIXED AFTER YEARS LOW MILES. *AK

NHTSA ID
737501
Incident
Oct 1, 1986
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 17, 2000

WOULD BE DRIVING VEHICLE AT LOW SPEED & NOTICED HOW BUMPY TIRES WERE FEELING. PULLED OVER & CHECKED. TREAD WAS SEPARATING & THEY WERE OUT OF ROUND. ALSO HAD LUMPS IN THE TIRES. HAVE NOT BEEN IN TOUCH WITH FIRESTONE OR FORD. REPLACEMENT TIRES ON A 1986 FORD BRONCO. FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX 31X10.5X15 DOT CODE VDHL.*AK

NHTSA ID
873216
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 14, 2000
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE TREAD UNZIPPED FROM THE TIRE IDENTICAL TO THAT OF THE FIRESTONE DEFECT, CAUSING MY BRONCO II TO LOSE CONTROL AND FLIP THREE TIMES INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *AK

NHTSA ID
734308
Incident
Oct 5, 2000
Electrical
Filed Oct 12, 2000

GOOD MORNING! I AM WRITING TO ADD MY VOICE TO WHAT IS APPARENTLY A GROWING CHORUS OF PERSONS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED IGNITION FAILURES ON FORD MOTOR COMPANY PRODUCTS. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONTACT FMC DIRECTLY THROUGH THEIR WEB SITE, AS THEIR OWNER REGISTRATION FORM IS, ITSELF, SUFFERING A FAILURE, AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A FACILITY FOR DIRECTLY E-MAILING THEM WITHOUT 'REGISTERING' WITH THEM, FIRST. MY 1986 FORD BRONCO, FULL-SIZE, 5.0L, FUEL-INJECTED, IS SUBJECT TO SUDDEN, UNEXPLAINED LOSS OF "FIRE" (I.E. THE IGNITION QUITS FOR NO APPARENT REASON), AND YET WIL RE-FIRE IF THE VEHICLE IS ALLOWED TO SIT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO. THIS CONDITION IS NOT RELATED TO A "TRUE" OVERHEAT, I.E. NOT INVOLVING FAILURE OF THE COOLING SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TFI DISTRIBUTOR MODULE AN AVERAGE OF ONCE A YEAR IN THE SIX YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, AND HAVE FOUND MYSELF IN DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCES MANY TIMES AS A RESULT OF THE IGNITION FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
734149
Incident
Aug 15, 2000

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

01157

INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC

01156

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC

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

99152

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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Ford Bronco by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026470—
20254719065.1
20247216062.6
202321618055.5
202236223263.4
202122220466.0
1999200—
1998200—
1997110—
1996812163.3
1995942159.8
1994915162.2
1993407055.1
1992374660.6
1991322668.5
1990561660.3
1989842262.2
1988521160.5
1987341056.0
1986Viewing271159.7
1985201161.6
1984104170.6
1983421—
1982111—
1981211—
1980040—
1979260—
1978060—
1977120—
1976020—
1975020—
1972010—
1971010—
1970010—
1969100—
1967220—

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.