1986 Ford Bronco Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 1986 Ford Bronco, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Electrical1129.7%
- Fuel system410.8%
- Tires & wheels38.1%
- Seat belts38.1%
- Brakes38.1%
- Body & structure25.4%
- Driver assistance25.4%
- Engine25.4%
- Interior & seats25.4%
- Suspension25.4%
- Visibility12.7%
- Other / unspecified12.7%
- Steering12.7%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
DRIVING AT 65 MPH VEHICLE ENGINE DIED; HAVE REPLACED PART 3 TIMES IN LAST YEAR. *AK
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL SHORT, AND FUEL LEAKAGE. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
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
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
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILED.
DRIVER'S SEAT BELT BUCKLE FAILED. *SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
LEFT FRONT DISC BRAKES FAILED 3 TIMES, CAUSING VEHICLE TO PULL TO LEFT UPON BRAKING. *SKD
THE FRONT LEFT BRAKE HAS HAD TO BE REBUILT AND IT DESTROYED ITSELF. PLEASE EXPLAIN. TT
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
BODY BOLTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OFTEN COMES A LOOSE. TT
FUEL TANK LEAKS. *SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
STALLED GOING ROUND CORNERS, STALLING AT STOPS. ENGINE RACED, FIXED AFTER YEARS LOW MILES. *AK
WHILE TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE IT ACCELERATED TO HIGH AMOUNT OF SPEED, CAUSING DRIVER TO CRASH HEAD-ON INTO A UTILITY POLE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL TANK LEAKS. *SD
ENGINE FIRE, OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT. *TW
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AN ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED UNDER THE DASH RIGHT IN THE CENTER. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE SHUT DOWN. OWNER PULLED OVER TO RE-START ENGINE HEARD "POP" SOUND FOLLOWED BY FIRE THROUGH FIREWALL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
BODY BOLTS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OFTEN COMES A LOOSE. TT
FUEL TANK LEAKS. *SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
IGNITION COIL FAILED.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF AND WEDGED UNDER REAR FENDER. (OHIO STATE POLICE REPORT) *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL TANK LEAKS. *SD
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .