RoadVitals

1997 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.
1
Latest Oct 27, 1997
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 Mar 21, 2006
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 1997 Ford Bronco, most frequently naming the fuel system category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 9 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

  • Fuel system1100.0%

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
06E025000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Mar 21, 2006
1,450 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN POLI-AUTO COMBINATION HEADLAMP ASSEMBLIES, P/NOS. 11-728, 11-728D, 11-710, 11-419, 11-713, 11-703, 11-704, 11-708P, 11-735, 11-725, 11-726, 11-716 (P&C), 11-721-1, 11-733, 11-729, 11-730, AND 11-732, SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."
The risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: POLI-AUTO WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE HEADLAMPS AT ITS ORIGINAL PURCHASE PRICE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT POLI-AUTO AT 305-477-1356.
POLI-AUTO, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Fuel system
Filed Oct 27, 1997

GAS TANK RUSTED THROUGH A SKID PLATE UNDERNEATH TANK WHERE A PAD FIT BETWEEN TANK & PLATE. WATER OR MOISTURE GETS BETWEEN GAS TANK & SKID PLATE & STAYS THERE, EVENTUALLY RUST OCCURS & GAS LEAKS OUT & DRAINS ON EXHAUST PIPE. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE GAS TANK RUSTED THROUGH DUE TO A DEFECTIVE DESIGN. *SLC

NHTSA ID
817658
Incident
Dec 28, 1996

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

12905

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

SOME VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE AXLE WIND UP AND / OR CLUNKING, POPPING, RATCHETING TYPE NOISES WHEN MAKING CORNERING MANEUVERS ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE HI OR LOW RANGE MODE. *TT

983074

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

CONCERNS WITH AXLE WIND-UP AND / OR CLUNKING, POPPING, RATCHETING TYPE NOISES WHEN MAKING CORNERING MANEUVERS. *TT

BC2301970501

POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION

NEW CLUTCH SLAVE CYLINDER WITH A REDESIGNED LIP SEAL. *TW

BC0053972301

POWER TRAIN:TRANSFER CASE (4-WHEEL DRIVE)

SOME 1995 AND ALL 1996 AND 1997 VEHICLES WITH E4OD TRANSMISSIONS HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A REUSABLE ELASTOMERIC TRANSMISSION FLUID PAN GASKET. *JD

BC1015397020

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

VEHICLES WITH E4OD TRANSMISSIONS HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A REUSABLE ELASTOMERIC TRANSMISSION FLUID PAN GASKET. *JD

BC0053970201

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

SOME 1995 AND ALL 1996 AND 1997 VEHICLES WITH E40D TRANSMISSIONS HAVE BEEN BUILT WITH A REUSABLE ELASTOMERIC TRANSMISSION FLUID PAN GASKET. *JD

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—
1997Viewing110—
1996812163.3
1995942159.8
1994915162.2
1993407055.1
1992374660.6
1991322668.5
1990561660.3
1989842262.2
1988521160.5
1987341056.0
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.