1989 Ford Bronco Ii

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

Counts are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. A lower count does not establish that a car is problem-free.

About this comparison →

39Owner complaints

Model-year median: 8.5

1Recall campaigns

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3Investigations

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Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗ Model-level counts do not show whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Inspection summary

1989 Ford Bronco Ii

NHTSA snapshot: September 18, 2026. 39 owner complaints · 1 recall campaigns · 3 investigations.

Counts are not failure probabilities and are not adjusted for sales, age, mileage exposure or reporting. One report may name several categories. Comparison method and limitations.

Top reported categories (up to 5)

Electrical System: 8 reports
Engine And Engine Cooling: 7 reports
Fuel System, Gasoline: 7 reports
Visibility: 6 reports
Tires: 4 reports

Full reported-category list and vehicle report

Recall links

89V109000 — Suspension:front:wheel Bearing

Check a VIN with NHTSA. Model-level history does not establish whether a particular VIN is affected or repaired.

Print the top reported categories, recall links, snapshot date and comparison limits.

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year

Compare all Bronco Ii years →

Counts vary with age, sales, mileage exposure and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Electrical System

8 Engine And Engine Cooling

7 Fuel System, Gasoline

7 Visibility

6 Tires

All reported categories

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

3 Vehicle Speed Control

3 Latches/locks/linkages

2 Power Train

2 Unknown Or Other

2 Structure

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: 0 of 39 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 →
Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

3 crash reports11 fire reports5 injury reports

Structure complaints

1 reports

Clear category filter

Mileage unknown · May 2, 2005

StructureCrashInjury

Read full complaint

WE WERE DRIVING THE SPEED LIMIT, CAME AROUND A CURVE ON HWY 86, HIT LOOSE GRAVEL AND LOST CONTROL.....WE ROLLED THE VEHICLE ONCE(LANDING ON OUR TOP). AS SOON AS THE BRONCO 2 STARTED TO ROLL OVER, THE TOP OF THE CAB STARTED BUCKLING LIKE AN ALUMINUM SODA CAN...THE RESULT WAS THE DRIVER SIDE BEING SMASHED ABOUT TWO INCHES INTO THE DRIVER'S SEATBACK. I HAVE SEEN OTHER BRONCO 2 THAT HAVE ROLLED AND THEY HELD UP MUCH BETTER THAN OURS. MY FIANCEE, OUR SON, OUR DOG AND I(BEING 6 MONTHS PREGNANT) ALL WENT TO THE HOSPITAL TO GET CHECKED. THIS TOTAL DAMAGE OF THE VEHICLE COST US $200.00 TO GET THE VEHICLE AND OUR BELONGINGS HOME, NOT TO MENTION LOST WAGES AND HOSPITAL BILLS.

NHTSA ODI #10118789

Recall campaigns

89V109000 · Suspension:front:wheel Bearing

Jul 5, 1989

FRONT WHEEL BEARING ADJUSTING NUT RETAINING KEYS MAY BE MISSING FROM FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLIES, ALLOWING THE NUT TO LOOSEN.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN DETACHMENT OF THE WHEEL AND HUBASSEMBLY FROM THE AXLE, LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, AND AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL RETAINING KEYS IN FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WHERE MISSING.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

Defect investigations

DP97006 · 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

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).===

An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and closure does not prove a vehicle is problem-free.