RoadVitals

1986 Ford Bronco Electrical Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Electrical reportsComplaints 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.
11
Latest Oct 9, 2001
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
41%
of 27 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1986 Ford Bronco submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 11 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming electrical

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

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
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
Electrical
Filed Aug 31, 2000

I HAVE EXPERIENCED FOUR FAILURES OF THE TFI IGNITION MODULE OVER THE PERIOD OF TIME I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF HAVING PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. EACH SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY TWO TO THREE YEAR INTERVALS. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE PROMPTED ME TO REPLACE NOT ONLY THE TFI MODULE BUT ALSO AN IGNITION COIL AND GENERAL TUNE-UP PARTS. THESE FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND ALSO WHILE SIMPLY AT IDLE IN TRAFFIC.

NHTSA ID
729645
Incident
Aug 29, 2000
Electrical
Filed Feb 2, 1999
Fire reported

WHILE DRIVING FLAMES CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NHTSA ID
834366
Electrical
Filed Jul 27, 1997
Fire reported

ALTERNATOR WIRING CONNECTOR MELTED AND SHORTED OUT CAUSING FIRE.

NHTSA ID
521922
Incident
Jan 3, 1997
Electrical
Filed Dec 2, 1996
Fire reported

FUEL IGNITION WIRING MELTED, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
511715
Electrical
Filed May 3, 1996

THE IGNITION SWITCH BURNT OUT.PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK

NHTSA ID
984036
Incident
Apr 20, 1996
ElectricalFuel system
Filed Nov 13, 1995
Fire reported

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, AND FUEL LEAKAGE. TT

NHTSA ID
974939
Incident
Nov 13, 1995
Body & structureBrakesElectrical+4 more
Filed May 15, 1995

FUEL TANK LEAKS. *SD

NHTSA ID
504330
Incident
May 15, 1995
ElectricalFuel systemVisibility
Filed Feb 6, 1995

IGNITION COIL FAILED.

NHTSA ID
481004
Incident
Feb 6, 1995

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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .