RoadVitals

1987 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.
34
Latest Mar 20, 2003
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.
0
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.
15
2 injuries, 10 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 34 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1987 Ford Bronco, most frequently naming the electrical, fuel system and engine categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 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

  • Electrical1530.0%
  • Fuel system714.0%
  • Engine612.0%
  • Driver assistance48.0%
  • Brakes36.0%
  • Visibility24.0%
  • Transmission24.0%
  • Tires & wheels24.0%

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

Recent owner complaints

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

View all 34
Fuel system
Filed Mar 20, 2003

THE VEHICLES FUEL LINES EXPERIENCED THE SAME DEFECT AS STATED IN RECALL 07 V 139 000, BUT THE VEHICLES VIN NUMBER WAS NOT INCLUDED. *NLM

NHTSA ID
10012158
Incident
Mar 5, 2003
Mileage
120,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance+4 more
Filed Jan 11, 2003
10 deaths reported

I HAVE A 1987 FORD BRONCO XLT THAT I BOUGHT FROM J AND L AUTO. IT HAS NO BRAKE LIGHTS, NO BLINKERS AND THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE STUCK ON BRIGHT. THE BACK WINDOW IS PLEXY GLASS, ALSO NONE OF THE HOSE ARE HOOKED UP UNDER THE HOOD. THIS MAKES IT RUN REAL RICH AND THE OIL LEAKS SO BAD THAT EVERY WEEK I HAVE TO PUT IN 2 QUARTS OF OIL. THERE WAS ALSO A GAS LEAK THAT WAS SMALL AND GOT WORSE AS TIME WENT ON. I TRIED TO FIX THE GAS LEAK BUT I CAN'T FIND A USED ONE ANY WHERE. AS FOR FIXING THE REST OF THE STUFF I STILL OWE MONEY ON THE BRONCO WHICH I HAVE NOT PAID BECAUSE ITS NOT STREET LEGAL I HAD TO BUY A DIFFERENT CAR JUST TO GET BACK AND FORTH TO WORK BECAUSE I WAS AFRED I WOULD BE IN A CRASH BECAUSE OF NO BRAKE LIGHTS.TS

NHTSA ID
10000948
Incident
Oct 24, 2002
Tires & wheels
Filed Jul 19, 2001
Crash reported

HAVE HAD 2 TIRES TO BECOME DELAMINATED AND NEARLY FLIP THE VEHICLE. NEED TO RESEARCH THIS AND SEE HOW TO PROCEED. YOU ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. I ALSO HAVE BOTH TIRES AND PICTURES OF THEM AVAILABLE FOR YOU UPON REQUEST. *AK (DOT NUMBER: CY72PBHA TIRESIZE: 31-11-15)

NHTSA ID
748785
Incident
Jul 18, 2001
Electrical
Filed Oct 26, 2000

THIS TIME JUST ABOUT EXIT FROM FREEWAY IT WAS AT NIGHT TIME WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY, NEXT DAY, ENGINE STARTED AND TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND HE COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. CONSUMER FELT THIS HAPPENED WHEN IGNITION MODULE GOT HOT.*AK THE VEHICLE USED TO RESTART AFTER THE ENGINE COOLS OFF, BUT WHEN THE IGNITION MODULE FAILED, IT WOULD NOT RESTART. *YH

NHTSA ID
873954
Incident
Jul 26, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 12, 2000

FATALITY WANTS INFO REGARDING ROLLOVER FIRESTONE 15 INCH RADIALS. (CLAIM# 16-N004-117) *MW

NHTSA ID
6900283
Electrical
Filed Aug 31, 2000

I HAVE HAD THIS VECHICLE FOR 4 YEARS AND I HAVE HAD IGNITION PROBLEMS 4 TIMES. I HAD THE IGNITION REPLACED 3 TIMES. 3 MONTHS AGO I WENT TO PICK UP MY DAUGHTERS FROM SCHOOL AND IT WOULD NOT WHEN WE WERE GOING TO LEAVE THE SCHOOL. I HAD TO LEAVE IT THER AND COME SEVERAL HOURS LATER. WHEN I RETURNED I PLAYED WITH THE IGNITION A LITTTLE BIT AND IT STARTED. IT WAS FINE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS THEN IT WOULDN'T START AT ALL. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC AND HE SAID IT WASN'T GETTING ANY FUEL PRESSURE. HE REPLACED A CORRODED WIRE AND SECURED FUEL PUMP& FILTER PROPERLY. IT FINE AGAIN FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND IT STARTED HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. IT WOULDN'T START! I HAVE TO KEEP PLAYING WITH THE IGNITION BEFORE IT WILL CRANK OVER. SOMETIMES IT WILL SOMETIMES IT WON'T. IT HAS STALLED ON ME 3 TIMES IN THE PAST WEEK WHILE DRIVING. I ORDERED A 2001 250 FORD LAST WEEK AND AM HAVING SECOND THOUGHTS ABOUT FOLLOWING THREW WITH IT BECAUSE OF THE BAD EXPERIENCE I HAVE HAD WITH THIS BRONCO.

NHTSA ID
729769
Incident
Aug 24, 2000
Seat belts
Filed Feb 14, 2000

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY TRAVELING 70MPH,PULLED OVER AT REST STOP AND THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD NOT RELEASE. HAD TO CUT THE SEAT BELT OFF. CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
856848
Incident
Feb 11, 2000
Heating & air conditioningDriver assistanceElectrical+2 more
Filed Nov 10, 1999

PURCHASED VEHICLE IN NOVEMBER 1998. STARTED PROBLEMS IN 12/98. PURCHASED DISTRIBUTOR SHAFT WITH WIRING. BACK BRAKES AND FRONT BRAKES REPLACEMENT. HAS HAD A "MISS" SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. CAUSING A JERKING WHICLE DRIVING SOMETIMES. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE-GAS FUMING AND HIGH RPM READING WHERE ENGINE REVS UP TOO HIGH. BAD FLOODING IF BRONCO DOESN'T START IMMEDIATELY. IT WILL EVENTUALLY FLOOD OUT. AIR CONDITIONER DOESN'T BLOW COOL. HAS HAD REFILLED. LASTED FROM HOT SUMMER BUT NOT COOL AT ALL NOW. HEATER DOESNT' GET REALLY WHAT YOU WOULD CALL HOT. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED A CONSTANT "CLICKING OF THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS STARTED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. TOOK THE FUSE FOR THAT OUT. AFRAID IT WOULD CAUSE ACCIDENTAL DOOR LOCKING. PASSENGER SIDE DOOR WILL NOT SHUT PROPERLY AND WINDOW WILL NOT FEED UP WIWTHOUT ASSISTANCE. WINDOW IS ALSO POWER. WHEN THE BRONCO WAS TAKEN FOR ALIGNMENT, WAS TOLD THAT FRAME WAS SLIGHTLY BENT ON PASSENGERS SIDE. HAS HAD TO REPLACE BRAKE LINES ALSO.

NHTSA ID
714559

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
1987Viewing341056.0
1986271159.7
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.