IllustrationWIRING HARNESS UNDER DASH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE.
1988 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 45 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 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. 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.
8 crash reports14 fire reports8 injury reports
What owners actually said
45 reportsNOTICED BURNING SMELL IN VEHICLE, HAS REPLACED BATTERY 3 TIMES. *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND DASH BOARD WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT STEERING COLUMN BECAME HOT TO TOUCH AND THEN SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. SHE CUT AUTO OFF AND CALLED HUSBAND. NO INJURIES.
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE VEHICLE THE IGNITION CAUGHT ON FIRE. TT
WENT TO START THE TRUCK AND IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND . PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
THE SEATBELT RETRACTORS FOR THE REAR SEATS HAVE CRACKED AND THE SEATBELT RETRACTS UNDER THE SEAT. TT
THE THROTTLE STUCK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPEED OUT OF CONTROL, ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. TT
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
4DP97006 · 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).===