IllustrationBOUGHT THE BRONCO AND STARTED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH IT, IT STARTED SPUTTING LIKE IT WAS OUT OF GAS WHEN IT WAS FULL(I JUST PUT A FULL TANK IN IT WHEN I PICKED IT UP AT A FRIENDS. *JB
1987 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: 2 of 36 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 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seat Belts. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
5 crash reports13 fire reports6 injury reports
What owners actually said
36 reportsMY FORD BRONCO II, 1987, WENT UP IN FLAMES. IT WAS LEAKING GAS, THE SMELL WAS REALLY STRONG AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WAS A BURST OF FLAMES. WHILE I WAS DRIVING IT . *JB
THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE COIL, IGNITION SWITCH, BATTERY, EXHAUST SYSTEM AND ALSO A TUNE WAS PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE, HOWEVER THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, IT WAS DETERMINED A WIRE WAS NOT GROUNDED CORRECTLY. *TS *JB
WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 55 MPH A CLOUD OF SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. WHEN PULLED OVER AND HOOD LIFTED I NOTICED A FIRE ON DRIVER SIDE OF ENGINES. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIRS WERE GOING TO COST $2000 AND UP NOT CONSIDERING THE BLOCK THAT HAD BEEN CRACKED FROM FIRE DAMAGE.…
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WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT ABOUT 55 MPH A CLOUD OF SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE. WHEN PULLED OVER AND HOOD LIFTED I NOTICED A FIRE ON DRIVER SIDE OF ENGINES. CAR WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE REPAIRS WERE GOING TO COST $2000 AND UP NOT CONSIDERING THE BLOCK THAT HAD BEEN CRACKED FROM FIRE DAMAGE. FIRE WAS DUE TO A FAILURE IN THE RADIATOR AND THE WATER PUMP. *NLM
BRONCO WAS DRIVEN ABOUT 1/4 MILE FORM HOME AND THE MOTOR DIED, AND THE ENTIRE VEHICLE BUSTED INTO FLAMES.*AK
VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WHILE IN PARK WHEN FIRST STARTING OUT, NARROWLY MISSING A PERSON, AND HITTING A BRICK WALL. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. *AK
IGNITION MODULE MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO STALL UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH ALMOST CAUSED A CRASH. HAD MODULE REPLACED 3 TIMES. COMMON PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AFTER THE ENGINE GETS HOT THE ENGINE STALLS AT APROX. 30 TO 40 MPH. AFTER THE ENGINE COOLS THE CAR WILL RESTART AND RUN UNTIL IT GETS HOT AGAIN AND STALLS. THE DEALER SAID THEY CAN NOT FIND A PROBLEM IN ANY SYSTEM .
I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF LIQUID COMING FROM UNDERNEATH OF MY VEHICLE. UPON INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE I FOUND THAT ONE OF THE PLASTIC FUEL LINES WHICH RUNS FROM THE FUEL FILTER TO THE GAS TANK HAD A LARGE HOLE IN IT. THE AMOUNT OF GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THIS HOLE WAS VERY LARGE IN VOLUME A…
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I WAS BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY WHEN I NOTICED A LARGE PUDDLE OF LIQUID COMING FROM UNDERNEATH OF MY VEHICLE. UPON INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE I FOUND THAT ONE OF THE PLASTIC FUEL LINES WHICH RUNS FROM THE FUEL FILTER TO THE GAS TANK HAD A LARGE HOLE IN IT. THE AMOUNT OF GASOLINE LEAKING FROM THIS HOLE WAS VERY LARGE IN VOLUME AND IT WAS SPRAYING ALL OVER THE AREA UNDER THE REAR PORTION OF MY VEHICLE INCLUDING THE TAILPIPE . IF THE TASILPIPE HAD BEEN HOT FROM NORMAL ENGINE TEMP THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A RATHER LARGE EXPLOSION RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY TO MYSELF. AUTO MAKERS SHOULD NOT BE ALLOWED TO USE PLASTICS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF AUTOMOBILE FUEL LINES.*AK
WHILE TRYING TO START THE VEHICLE FUEL SPILLED INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FROM THE DISTRIBUTOR AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. DEALER HAS NOT SEEN VEHICLE. *AK
Official recalls
387V139000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:hoses, Lines/piping, And Fittings
Sep 4, 1987
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Remedy: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
87V070000 · Equipment:other:labels
May 18, 1987
STICKERS CONCERNING HANDLING AND MANEUVERABILITY WHICH ARE AFFIXED TO DRIVERS SUN VISOR SLEEVES DO NOT MEET CRITERIA FOR PERMANENT ADHESION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: VEHICLES DO NOT MEET FORMATS SPECIFIED BY PARTS 573 AND579 OF 49CFR.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE MAILED NEW SUN VISOR SLEEVES WITH ALL APPLICABLE DECAL INFORMATION PERMANENTLY AFFIXED.
87V039000 · Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Mar 23, 1987
ALUMINUM WHEELS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WITH IMPROPER LUG NUTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: WHEEL COULD BECOME LOOSE OR EVEN SEPARATE FROM THE HUBAND AXLE ASSEMBLY WHILE THE VEHICE IS IN MOTION.
Remedy: CHANGE TAPERED STYLE LUG NUTS TO SHORT SHANK STYLE LUG NUTS.
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
6DP97006 · 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
PE92029 · Whl Separation/torque Loss
Opened Mar 16, 1992 · Closed Aug 31, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Suspension
There is no summary currently available
EA90042 · Throttle Sticking
Opened Aug 31, 1990 · Closed Dec 31, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
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).===
EA88033 · Under Seat Fires
Opened May 11, 1988 · Closed Jan 23, 1989
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
PE88008 · Lumbar Swtch Hrness Fires
Opened Nov 18, 1987 · Closed May 11, 1988
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER: MANUFACTURER HASBEENCONTACTED, AND PROVIDED TWELVE REPORTS OF UNDER SEAT FIRES.ANALYSIS: THELUMBAR SWITCH IS MOUNTED ON THE LOWER SEAT FRAME AND THEWIREING HARNESS IS INSTALLED BETWEEN THE SLIDE RAILS. MOVEMENT OF THESEAT MAY FRAY THE INSULATION AND PRESENT A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD.FORD HAS MADE TWO PRODUCTION CHANGES; 1) RELOCATED THE WIREING HARNESSTO THE SEAT CUSHION FLEXOLATOR USING A RETAINING STRAP (7/86); 2) ADDEDPROTECTION TO THE COMPLETE LUMBAR WIREING ASSEMBLY UNDER EACH SEAT.BECAUSE OF THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE TO IGNITE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENTOF THE VEHICLE, THIS P.E. IS BEING UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS.===