1988 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 1988 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
- Electrical1934.5%
- Engine1221.8%
- Tires & wheels59.1%
- Fuel system59.1%
- Brakes47.3%
- Body & structure35.5%
- Steering23.6%
- Seat belts23.6%
- Visibility11.8%
- Powertrain (other)11.8%
- Transmission11.8%
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
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, AND FROM THE VENTS. CONSUMER PULLED OVER. THEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY. *AK
THE VEHICLES ALTERNATOR BURNED UP, CONSUMER REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND COMPLETED WORK THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, HOWEVER THE SECOND TIME THE DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING FORD TO HELP IN THIS DEFECT. NLM
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC. *AK
THE ENGINE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. *AK THREE ENGINES WERE REPLACED DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURING. IN TWO OF THE INCIDENTS, THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT INJURY. BOTH ENGINES FAILED AFTER 50-60 MILES ON THEM. *PH *JB
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
SIDEWALL BUBBLED OUT IN TWO PLACES.*AK
WHILE DRIVNG ABOUT 70 MPH, TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE GOODYEAR WRANGLER AT TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL TRUCK, WHICH FLIPPED AND ROLLED OVER. NOT ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT ON A 1988, FORD, BRONCO. TIRE SIZE 31X10.50R15. NOT SURE OF TIRE MILEAGE. *AK DUE TO THE TIRE FAILURE, 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED. *SLC
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
FUEL PUMP CONNECTORS ARE LOOSENED, PUMP IS SPARKING. *AK
THE SEAL ON THE FUEL TANK IS BROKEN AND THE FUEL TANK IS LEAKING . PLEASE DESCRIBE . *AK
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
WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH HAD STARTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, BUT BRAKES LOCKED UP. HAS HAPPENED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR JUST IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS. THEY HAD HEATED UP & SMOKE COULD BE SEEN. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS & THE BRAKE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE SOLVED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING DOWN STEEP MOUNTAIN GRADE, UPON APPLYING BRAKES, FRONT BRAKES TEND TO SMOKE, HAVE REPLACED CALIPER, ROTOR, AND PAD, PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS, DLR CAN'T CORRECT.*AK
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
I FOUNDED OUT SINCE 1987 FORD HAS A "STRUCTURAL STRESS CRACK"THAT APPEARS IN THE METAL ROOF PART OF THESES VEHICLES.THEY EVEN HAVE A BULLENTIN FOR MAKING REPAIRS BUT NO ONE WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS THAT COST $1,100.00 TO HAVE REPAIRED.THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT CAUSED BY USING CHEAP METAL AND ANY REPAIRS SHOULD BE PAIDED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY
PAINT IS PEELING OFF THE ROOF AREA. *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
ANTI-L0CK BRAKES LOCK UP AND VEHICLE SKIDS. *AK
COMING UP OFF RAMP VEHICLE PULLED TO THE RIGHT SPUN AROUND. CAUSING A LOSS OF CONTROL. TT
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
DRIVERS SEAT BELT MECHANISM FAILED TO LOCK DURING ACCIDENT, RESULTING IN DRIVER HITTING STEERING WHEEL/WINDSHIELD. *DSH
THE SEAT BELT CRUSHED DRIVER CAUSING SEVERE INJURY TO THE DRIVER. TT
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
SPRING INSIDE TAILGATE WINDOW RELEASED AS TAILGATE WAS LOWERED, CAUSING WINDOW TO SHATTER/BREAK.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
ANTI-L0CK BRAKES LOCK UP AND VEHICLE SKIDS. *AK
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
WHILE DRIVING AND SHIFTING TRANSMISSION, TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF PARK.
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 .