IllustrationTHE FRONT SEAL ON THE A4LD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY 1985 BRONCO II FAILED. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BLEW BACK ACROSS THE EXHAUST PIPE CAUSING A LOT OF SMOKE. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AND FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND TRANSMISSION. *JB
1985 Ford Bronco Ii
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Bronco Ii years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 1 of 13 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 5 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports5 fire reports0 injury reports
Power Train complaints
3 reportsTRANSMISSION FAILED. YH
HAS HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT TWICE. *AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3DP97006 · Vehicle Rollover
Opened Dec 3, 1997 · Closed May 5, 1999
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
PETITIONER ALLEGED BRONCO II SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES 1983-1990 WERE DESIGNED WITH HANDLING AND STABILITY DEFECTS
EA89013 · Rollover Propensity
Opened Feb 9, 1989 · Closed Oct 31, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
SUMMARY:THE BRONCO II IS INVOLVED IN MORE FATAL SINGLE VEHICLE, FIRSTEVENT ROLLOVERS COMPARED TO ANY OTHER CLOSED BODY UTILITY VEHICLE (WITHOR WITHOUT NORMALIZING VEHICLE POPULATIONS AND EXPOSURE).===
PE87020 · Eng. And Under Dash Fires
Opened Feb 6, 1987 · Closed May 26, 1987
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:INSTANCES WERE FOUND WHERESPRING LOCK COUPLINGS FAILED CAUSING GASOLINE TO BE RELEASED THROUGHOUT THEENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING FIRES.FAILURE OF THE COUPLINGS CAN TAKE PLACEAFTER COMPLIANCE WITH A FORD RECALL CAMPAIGN, ON NEWLY DELIVERED VEHICLESFROM THE FACTORY WITH MINIMAL MILEAGE ON THE ODOMETER, AND AT ANY VEHICLEMILEAGE.___________________________________________________________________________ANALYSIS:DATA INDICATES THAT THE ALLEGED PROBLEM MAY BE CAUSED BY THESPRING LOCK QUICK CONNECT COUPLINGS WHICH CONNECT THE FUEL SUPPLY ANDRETURN LINES TO THE ENGINE AS WELL AS FUEL LEAKAGE FROM THE FUEL LINES.___________________________________________________________________________PROPOSED ACTION:UPGRADE THIS PE TO AN EA.(EA87-020)===