Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Our database contains 56 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1990 Ford Bronco, most frequently naming the electrical, interior & seats and brakes categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; 6 NHTSA investigations name it; and 43 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.
When owners filed reports about this model year
| Month | Complaints filed | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 1995 | 2 | 2 |
| Jun 1995 | 2 | 4 |
| Jul 1995 | 4 | 8 |
| Aug 1995 | 1 | 9 |
| Oct 1995 | 1 | 10 |
| Apr 1996 | 1 | 11 |
| Jul 1996 | 1 | 12 |
| Aug 1996 | 1 | 13 |
| Sep 1996 | 2 | 15 |
| Oct 1996 | 3 | 18 |
| Nov 1996 | 1 | 19 |
| Dec 1996 | 1 | 20 |
| Jan 1997 | 1 | 21 |
| Feb 1997 | 1 | 22 |
| Mar 1997 | 1 | 23 |
| May 1997 | 1 | 24 |
| Oct 1997 | 1 | 25 |
| Jan 1998 | 1 | 26 |
| Feb 1998 | 2 | 28 |
| Apr 1998 | 1 | 29 |
| Dec 1998 | 1 | 30 |
| Sep 1999 | 1 | 31 |
| Feb 2000 | 2 | 33 |
| Mar 2000 | 1 | 34 |
| Jun 2000 | 2 | 36 |
| Aug 2000 | 2 | 38 |
| Sep 2000 | 1 | 39 |
| Oct 2000 | 2 | 41 |
| Dec 2000 | 1 | 42 |
| Jun 2001 | 1 | 43 |
| Jun 2002 | 2 | 45 |
| Jul 2002 | 1 | 46 |
| Dec 2002 | 1 | 47 |
| Jan 2003 | 1 | 48 |
| Jan 2004 | 1 | 49 |
| Apr 2004 | 1 | 50 |
| Mar 2006 | 1 | 51 |
| Apr 2006 | 1 | 52 |
| Nov 2009 | 1 | 53 |
| Aug 2014 | 1 | 54 |
| Jun 2016 | 1 | 55 |
| Mar 2017 | 1 | 56 |
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
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.govELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
FUEL EXPULSION
There is no summary currently available
FUEL EXPULSION
There is no summary currently available
FRONT SEAT BACK FAILURE
There is no summary currently available
FNT RECLNING SEAT BCK FAIL
There is no summary currently available
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
THE SEAT PAN UNDER THE SEAT TRACKS HAS CRACKED IN MY 1990 BRONCO WITH CAPTAIN CHAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED ON A PUBLIC PAVED STREET, AND COMING TO A NORMAL STOP. BACK IN OCTOBER 1990, I RECEIVED SAFETY PROGRAM NUMBER (B(93) ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE, JOHN FOSTER FORD, UPON RECEIPT OF THE NOTIFICATION. I DO NOT LET ANY SAFETY ISSUES GO. THEY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT MAKE THE REPAIR. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS SO KINDLY DRIVEN IT HAS TAKEN MANY YEARS FOR THE FLAW IN THE FORD SEAT PAN DESIGN TO DEVELOP. I SPOKE WITH FORD AT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE 800 NUMBER AGAIN TODAY AND HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER AND THEY REFUSE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR OR ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN THE SAFETY PROGRAM. I STILL HAVE THE LETTER AND ORIGINAL ENVELOPE FOR WHICH IT CAME. THERE SHOULD BE A RECORD OF THE INITIAL INSPECTION CHARGE DONE BY THE DEALERSHIP IN SOME COMPUTER RECORD WHEN THEY TURNED IN THEIR INSPECTION CLAIM, BUT THEY DO NOT OR AT LEAST WILL NOT ADMIT TO IT. THERE APPEARS TO BE A COMPUTER ISSUE WITH MY VIN, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE REPAIR WAS NOT PERFORMED AND I HAVE DEMONSTRATED WITH THE SECOND SAFETY NOTICE ON THE IGNITION SWITCH (FSA 95S28) THAT I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AT WHICH TIME THEY ALSO DID NOT MAKE THE SEAT PAN REPAIR ON NOVEMBER 22, 1996. I HAVE COPIES OF THAT NOTICE AND THE BENSON FORD DEALERSHIP (SAME DEALERSHIP LOCATION, DIFFERENT OWNER) INVOICE TO PROVE I AM DILIGENT ABOUT SUCH MATTERS. ALL I AM LOOKING FOR IS TO FORD TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS DESIGN FLAW WAS RELEVANT TO MY VEHICLE AND MAKE THE REPAIR, ESPECIALLY SINE NOW THE SEAT PAN HAS ABOUT AN 8 INCH CRACK.
CRACKED SEAT MOUNTS ON FLOOR BOARD. 1990 BRONCO, BUCKET SEATS, HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 89-90 BRONCOS WITH CAPTIANS CHAIRS, THE FLOOR BOARD CRACKS AROUND THE BOLTS. THIS MAKES THE FRONT SEATS WOBBLE, BOUNCE, AND MOVE, INCREASING THE STRESS ON THE FLOOR PAN, UNTILL THE FLOOR PAN BREAKS AND THE BOLT NO LON GET HOLDS ANYTHING. EXISTING RECALL FOR MODELS WITH CAPTIANS CHAIR, DO NOT APPLY TO BUCKET SEATS, IT NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED OR A NEW RECALL PUT OUT. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE, AND IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, ATTACHED IMAGES SHOW NO RUST OR OTHER CORROSION THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS.
I WAS HEADING TO THE STORE WHEN MY GAS PEDAL FOR STUCK. I PRESSED THE BRAKES AND HELD THEM DOWN TO NO AVAIL. I ENDED UP CRASHING THROUGH SOMEONES YARD AND HITTING THEIR PROPERTY. MY BRONCO FINALLY STOPPED ABOUT 15 SECONDS LATER. THE WHOLE INCIDENT WAS ABOUT TWO MINUTES LONG. *TR
FLOOR PAN UNDER DRIVERS SEAT HAS CRACKED WHERE THE SEAT IS ATTACHED IN 1990 BRONCO. CAUSES SEAT TO SHIFT, SINK AND BOUNCE AND NOT FEEL SECURE TO VEHICLE. IDENTICAL PROBLEM IN MY 1989 FORD BRONCO AND WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER AS A RECALL DEFECT. CANNOT FIND ANY RECALL INFORMATION REGARDING THE 1990 BRONCO WITH THIS ISSUE OR FOR 1989 BRONCO DESPITE DEALERS REPAIR. *TR
1990 BRONCO EQUIPMENT FAILED CAUSING AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *TS A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP HAD BEEN INSTALLED PRIOR TO THE FIRE. *NM
A PATTERN OF SAME SIZE CHUNKS ON THE SAME CIRCULAR COLUMN OF THE TIRES ARE BREAKING OFF. TIRE PSI AND BALANCING ARE EXCELLENT. NO OFF ROAD OR AGGRESSIVE DRIVING. TIRE ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD. *JB
1990 FORD BRONCO IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. (SAFETY RECALL #96V071000 OF NOV95) FORD DEALER SAID NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE AND CHARGED ME $476.00. I CHECKED THE FORD WEBSITE AND THEY ONLY LIST RECALLS FROM JAN96, IS THERE A STAUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON SAFTEY RECALLS AND HOW LONG?
1990 FORD BRONCO I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN TO JIM DOYLE FORD ON DELAWARE AVENUE IN KENMORE N.Y, LAST WEEK. THE IGNITION SWITCH BROKE, AND WAS TO BE REPLACED VIA RECALL. THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED, AND I SMELLED FIRE.SAW SMOKE. TURNED KEY OFF TO NO AVAIL, IMMEDIATELY RAN IN THE HOUSE, GRABBED FIRE EXTINGUISHER, CALLED FIRE DEPT (CAR WAS PARKED BETWEEN 2 HOUSES) AND RAN OUT AND CUT BATTERY CABLE. AFTER DETERMINING PROBLEM (DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH) I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO JIM DOYLE FORD. THEY OFFERED THE FREE REPAIR, AND CALLED ME STATING THAT SOMETHING INSIDE THE IGNITION COLUMN WAS BROKEN, AND THEY WOULD CHARGE ME 60 DOLLARS PLUS TAX JUST TO DIAGNOSE. I DECLINED, WENT TO THE DEALER, AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS JUST HANGING OUT FROM THE HARNESS UNDER THE DASH, THE MECHANIC USED A SCREWDRIVER TO PUSH THE SWITCH AND STARTED THE VEHICLE FOR ME. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BUFFALO KEY AND LOCK, AND THE TECHNICIAN (RON CHASE) FOUND THAT THE INTERNAL MECHANISM IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAD BROKEN, AND HE STATED THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM SINCE THE DEFECTIVE (RECALLED) IGNITIONS GENERALLY MELT AND WELD THEMSELVES IN THE "START" POSITION, WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO TURN IT OFF IT CAUSES THE RACK AND RODS INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN TO BREAK, RENDERING THE IGNITION KEY ETC INOPERABLE. THIS IS DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH THAT WAS RECALLED. FORD STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THIS SINCE THE ONLY THING COVERED WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH ITSELF. $295.00 LATER, MY IGNITION SWITCH AND INTERNAL WORKS ARE REPLACED, THEY BROKE DUE TO A RECALLED ITEM COVERED BY FORD, AND FORD WILL NOT RE-IMBURSE ME. THIS IS UNFAIR, MY TRUCK IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DIRECTLY THE CAUSE OF THE OTHER DAMAGE. PLUS, MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE DEALER SHOP FOR 3-4 HOURS AND I GOT IT BACK IN DEPLORABLE CONDITION (OIL/GREASE ALL OVER IT, SEATS AND DASH COVERED WITH GREASE, STEERING WHEEL COVER TORN OFF.*AK
A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE
SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
SUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM. *TT
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION- E40D/4R100-1989-99-MAIN CONTROLS, SEPARATOR PLATES AND SEPARATOR PLATE GASKETS USAGE CHART. YD
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
TRANSMISSION-E40D-NO 2-3 UPSHIFT. SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NO 2-3 UPSHIFT CONDITION. *AK
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:COOLING UNIT AND LINES
VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE SOLID PARTICLE CONTAMINANTS FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR, MAY BE TRAPPED IN THE TRANSMISSION FLUID COOLING SYSTEM IS NOT PROPERLY FLUSHED, FLUID IN-LINE FILTER KIT. *MJS
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.
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 7 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 47 | 19 | 0 | 65.1 |
| 2024 | 72 | 16 | 0 | 62.6 |
| 2023 | 216 | 18 | 0 | 55.5 |
| 2022 | 362 | 23 | 2 | 63.4 |
| 2021 | 222 | 20 | 4 | 66.0 |
| 1999 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 81 | 2 | 1 | 63.3 |
| 1995 | 94 | 2 | 1 | 59.8 |
| 1994 | 91 | 5 | 1 | 62.2 |
| 1993 | 40 | 7 | 0 | 55.1 |
| 1992 | 37 | 4 | 6 | 60.6 |
| 1991 | 32 | 2 | 6 | 68.5 |
| 1990Viewing | 56 | 1 | 6 | 60.3 |
| 1989 | 84 | 2 | 2 | 62.2 |
| 1988 | 52 | 1 | 1 | 60.5 |
| 1987 | 34 | 1 | 0 | 56.0 |
| 1986 | 27 | 1 | 1 | 59.7 |
| 1985 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 61.6 |
| 1984 | 10 | 4 | 1 | 70.6 |
| 1983 | 4 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 1982 | 1 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1981 | 2 | 1 | 1 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 2 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1970 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1969 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
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.