RoadVitals

1989 Ford Bronco Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints 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.
84
Latest Apr 5, 2010
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.
19
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Jan 5, 1995

What this page shows

Our database holds 84 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1989 Ford Bronco. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

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

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 84 · page 1 of 4

Steering
Filed Apr 5, 2010

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1989 FORD BRONCO. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE KEY WOULD NOT TURN IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 96V071000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: IGNITION). THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO START THE VEHICLE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE STEERING COLUMN. THE STEERING COLUMN HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE BEFORE THE RECALL REPAIR WAS PERFORMED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 153,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 153,000.

NHTSA ID
10323857
Incident
Mar 22, 2010
Mileage
153,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jun 2, 2004
Fire reported

CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE AT A RESTAURANT AND WENT INSIDE TO EAT. WITHIN TEN MINUTES THE CONSUMER NOTICED FIRE TRUCKS COMING INTO THE RESTAURANT'S PARKING LOT. CONSUMER WENT OUTSIDE TO INVESTIGATE WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND NOTICED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED THE FIRE. *AK

NHTSA ID
10075519
Incident
Jun 1, 2004
Body & structure
Filed Nov 17, 2003

THE FLOOR PAN UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT HAD THROWN. IF VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT OR BRAKES HAD TO BE DEPRESSED SUDDENLY DRIVER'S SIDE SEAT BELT WOULD RIP OUT BECAUSE IT WAS ATTACHED TO THE FLOOR PAN. THERE WAS TSB/ RECALL IN ALL DATA B93900801 FOR THE FLOOR PAN REINFORCEMENT(NOT IN ARTEMIS). ARTEMIS HAS INVESTIGATION PE90036, BUT IT'S FOR THE FLOOR BOARD.*AK

NHTSA ID
10048079
Mileage
166,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Sep 10, 2002
Fire reported

VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING OVER NIGHT WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED STEERING COLUMN AND DASH PLAYED A MAJOR PART IN FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8018306
Incident
Sep 9, 2002
Electrical
Filed May 5, 2002

WITH NO WARNING MY BRONCO DIED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MPH IN WORK TRAFFIC. I HAD TO PUSH THE BRONCO OUT OF TRAFFIC, AND THEN WAIT 2 HRS. FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TOW ME TO A MECHANIC, WITHA REPAIR BILL OF $184.00 TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION MODULE. I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED $184.00. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED - I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!!!!!*AK

NHTSA ID
761538
Incident
May 2, 2002
Electrical
Filed Mar 22, 2002
Fire reported

VEHICLE HESITATED AND SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD AREA. VEHICLE BURNED TO THE GROUND.*AK

NHTSA ID
8006253
Incident
Jan 1, 2001
Electrical
Filed Mar 14, 2002
Fire reported

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT SAY WHAT EXACTLY CAUSED THE FIRE.*AK. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE STALLED 3 TIMES PREVIOUSLY.*JB

NHTSA ID
8005730
Incident
Mar 14, 2002
Engine
Filed Mar 14, 2002

WHILE DRIVING COULD HEAR A LOT OF NOISE. HAD CONTACTED DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE WHAT WAS CAUSING THE NOISE. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
8005729
Incident
Mar 14, 2002
Brakes
Filed Mar 14, 2002

WHILE DRIVING WOULD STEP ON BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP OR TO REDUCE THE SPEED OF THE VEHICLE, BUT BRAKES WILL NOT ACTIVATE ON TIME. HAD CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID
8005728
Incident
Mar 14, 2002
Electrical
Filed Feb 15, 2002

VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY TIME/ ANY SPEED. DEALER IS REPLACING IGNITION FOR THIRD TIME.*AK

NHTSA ID
8004122
Fuel system
Filed Jan 4, 2002

GAS TANK IS RUSTING AND LEAKING FUEL FROM THE TANK LEAVING SMALL AMOUNTS OF FUEL ON THE GROUND. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
8001544
Incident
Dec 1, 2001
Engine
Filed Aug 29, 2001

VEHICLE STALLED WHEN ENGINE OVERHEATED. *AK

NHTSA ID
751336
Incident
Jul 5, 2000
Engine
Filed May 3, 2001

TWICE THE ENGINE JUST QUIT RUNNING WITHOUT ANY WARNING, I LEFT THE VEHICLE AT MY FATHERS HOME OVER NIGHT THE FIRST TIME AND THE NEXT MORNING IT STARTED UP. I DROVE IT FOR ABOUT A WEEK K AND IT JUST QUIT RUNNING AGAIN , THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE MECHANIC COULD'T FIND A PROBLEM(IT STARTED UP THE NEXT DAY AGAIN).

NHTSA ID
744878
Incident
Apr 1, 2001
Brakes
Filed Apr 20, 2001

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES BRAKE LIGHTS DID NOT COME ON UNTIL CONSUMER PRESSED BRAKES A SECOND TIME. CONSUMER STATED THAT SOMEONE COULD REAR END HIM BECAUSE BRAKE LIGHTS WERE NOT COMING ON.*AK

NHTSA ID
886397
Incident
Apr 20, 1993
Electrical
Filed Jan 20, 2001

IGNITION COIL, IGNITION SWITCH,IGNITION CONTROL MODULE IN DISTRIBUTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED MANY TIMES AND CAR STILL STALLS WHEN TEMPERTURES REACH WARM DEGREES OUTSIDE.*AK

NHTSA ID
739674
Incident
Nov 1, 1996
Electrical
Filed Jan 1, 2001

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS, AFTER THE VEHICLE IS ALLOWED TO COOL OFF THE VEHICLE STARTS AGAIN, CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO A FAULTY TFI MODULE. NLM

NHTSA ID
558841
Body & structureInterior & seats
Filed Dec 5, 2000

SEAT JAMS DUE TO FLOOR FLEXING. THE PROBLEM WAS IDENTIFIED UNDER NHTSA ITEMS NO. SB017182, SB019336, SB019393, SB019395, SB019879, WHICH CALLED FOR FLOOR REINFORCEMENT. NO NOTIFICATION WAS PROVIDED TO OWNER. DEALER AT THE TIME OF THE SB'S WAS SALINAS VALLEY FORD, SALINAS, CA. NO RECALL NOTICE IN THE FORD SYSTEM FOR THIS VIN ACCORDING TO PHIL LONG FORD. OWNER IS EXPECTED TO BEAR COST OF REPAIR.

NHTSA ID
737330
Incident
Jul 1, 2000
Electrical
Filed Oct 16, 2000

MY TRUCK STALLED ON THE FREEWAY TWICE.ONCE ON THE BAY BRIDGE,THE OTHER TIME ON I280.BOTH TIMES MY TRUCK WAS RUNNING FINE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULD JUST SHUT STALL.THE TIME ON THE BRIDGE WAS VERY TERRIFYING,IF TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY THERE DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE BEEN A COLLISION.I HOPE SOMEBODY DOESN'T GET HURT BEFORE FORD DECIDES TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION.

NHTSA ID
734469
Incident
Sep 16, 2000
Electrical
Filed Oct 12, 2000

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ID
734162
Incident
Dec 15, 1995
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 19, 2000

PEOO 020; WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 57MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A NOISE. SHE PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF SHOULDER. FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED. DID DAMAGE TO VEHICLE. TIRE IS FIRESTONE FIREHAWK #SS10 P215/70R15. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SHE ALSO CONTACTED FIRESTONE. *AK

NHTSA ID
870973
Incident
Aug 25, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 18, 2000

TIRES WERE ANALYZED BY FIRESTONE DEALER AND THEY SAID THEY SHOULD BE REPLACED. NOT UNDER RECALL OR REPLACEMENT PROGRAM. TIRES WERE PRODUCED AT THE DECATUR, IL FACILITY WERE A MAJORITY OF THE PROBLEM TIRES WERE PRODUCED. THEY ARE DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD BE REPLACED BY THE COMPANY WHO PRODUCED THEM. WHY WOULDN'T ALL TIRES PRODUCED AT THAT FACILITY BE RECALLED/REPLACED?( DOT NUMBER: VD60AW4467 TIRE SIZE: 31X10.5X15 )

NHTSA ID
731778
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 15, 2000

I NOTICED ABOUT A WEEK BEFORE THE TIRE BLEWOUT THAT WHILE WE WERE IDDLING THROUGH THE LOCAL WALMART PARKING LOT THE VEHICLE ROCKED BACK AND FORTH. ABOUT A WEEK LATER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND I NOTICED A BLISTER ON THE LEFT REAR TIRE IN THE TREAD SECTION. I CHECKED THE OTHER TIRES AND IT APPEARED THAT TWO OTHER TIRES LOOKED AND FELT OUT OF ROUND. AT THAT TIME I ORDERED OVER THE INTERNET FROM TIRERACK.COM A COMPLETE SET OF WHEELS AND TIRES (265/70R17). WITHIN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS THE LEFT REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. THIS WAS THE SECOND SET OF FIRESTONE FIREHAWKS 31X10.50R15LT M/S ON THE VEHICLE. THE FIRST SET WAS REPLACED AT APPROXIMATELY 66,000 MILES AND SEEMED TO PROFROM ACCEPTABLE. THE SECOND SET WHICH WAS THE PROBLEM SET, HAD ROUGHLY 36,000 MILES ON THEM. IN THINKING BACK ABOUT THE ROCKING MOTION AT IDLE SPEED, THIS WAS FIRST NOTICED MANY MONTHS AGO. INITIALLY I THOUGHT THE TIRES WERE OUT OF BALANCE AND WOULD HAVE THEM RE-BALANCED AT EITHER A FIRESTONE OR EXPERT TIRE STORE. THE ROCKING MOTION AT THAT TIME WAS HARDLY NOTICABLE, PROGRESSING AT A VERY SLOW PACE UNTIL THIS AUGUST. BEING AWARE OF PROPER INFLATION AND SERVICEING OF TIRES BOTH SETS OF THE FIRESTONE FIREHAWKS WERE MAINTAINED AT 35 PSI (RATED AT 50 PSI MAX.). SINCE IT IS A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE ALIGNMENT AND TIRE ROTATION IS AT THE VERY LEAST DONE ANNUALLY.*AK( DOT NUMBER: VD60 TIRE SIZE: 31X10.50 )

NHTSA ID
731550
Incident
Aug 15, 2000
Tires & wheels
Filed Sep 13, 2000

CONSUMER'S DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH AND LEFT REAR TIRE BEGAN TO PEEL OFF AND BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE BELT. *AK

NHTSA ID
870438
Incident
Dec 12, 1998
Tires & wheels
Filed Aug 25, 2000

IN THE SUMMER OF 1998 (JULY-AUGUST) I HAD THREE TIRE FAILURES. THE FIRST TIRE LOCATED ON THE RIGHT REAR FAILED TRAVELING 65 MILES PER HOUR ON I-75. THE TREAD SEPARATED LEAVING THE CORE INFLATED. I LOST TRACTION ON THE WHEEL AND THE VEHICLE BECAME HARD TO CONTROL AS IT WHEN OFF THE ROAD. I WAS ABLE TO STOP THE BRONCO AND CHANGE THE TIRE AND CONTINUE DRIVING. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURRED WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE LEFT REAR A WEEK LATER ON I-4 AT 65 MILES PER HOUR, THE TIRE SEPARATED AND DEFLATED AND CAUSED ABOUT $500.00 DAMAGE TO THE LEFT REAR QUARTER PANEL. THE NEXT WEEK ON I-75 THE VEHICLE BECAME UNSTABLE AND HARD TO CONTROL I STOPPED THE BRONCO AND FOUND THE RIGHT LEFT REAR TIRE WAS STARTING TO SEPARATE AND CHANGED TO TIRE OUT. I ASKED MY FIRESTONE DEALER AT THAT TIME WHAT THEY THOUGHT THE PROBLEM WAS WITH THE TIRES AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS PROBABLY THE AGE OF THE TIRES. I REPLACED ALL THE TIRES ON THE BRONCO AND KEPT ONE OF THE OLD ATX TIRES AS A SPARE ON 08/13/1998.( DOT NUMBER: VD60AT4493 TIRE SIZE: 31X1050R15 )

NHTSA ID
729131
Incident
Aug 13, 1998
Filed Feb 26, 2000

MY PAINT IS PEELING AND I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS CONCERN FOR MY TRUCK IN WHICH I WAS NEVER INFORMED NOR SENT ANY PAPERWORK- ALSO I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT OTHERS HAVE FILED LAW SUITS DUE TO THIS AND ONE AND HAVE GOTTEN THEIR VEHICLES RE-PAINTED- IF I HAD BEEN NOTIFIED I WOULD HAVE BROUGHT MY TRUCK IN SOONER- NOW I HAVE TO PAINT MY TRUCK AT MY EXPENSE- PLEASE ADVISE. IS THERE IN FACT STILL A RECALL IN EFFECT OR WAS THERE ONE I STILL MAY BE ABLE TO GET COVERAGE WITH? NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN THE SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ID
719312
Incident
Feb 25, 2000

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.

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