IllustrationSIDEWALL BUBBLED OUT IN TWO PLACES.*AK
1988 Ford Bronco
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 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 52 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 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 12 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Fuel System, Gasoline. Review the 5 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 reports21 fire reports4 injury reports
Tires complaints
5 reportsWHILE DRIVNG ABOUT 70 MPH, TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE GOODYEAR WRANGLER AT TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL TRUCK, WHICH FLIPPED AND ROLLED OVER. NOT ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT ON A 1988, FORD, BRONCO. TIRE SIZE 31X10.50R15. NOT SURE OF TIRE MILEAGE. *AK DUE TO THE TIRE FAILURE, 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED. *SLC
LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS FOUND FLAT - SPARE PUT ON AND FLAT TIRE WAS TAKEN TO FIRESTONE DEALER AT 5110 WEST SAGINAW IN LANSING, MI - TIRE HAD A SPLIT RUNNING COMPLETELY AROUND THE INSIDE SIDEWALL, THE OTHER THREE TIRES HAD THE SAME SPLIT RUNNING COMPLETELY AROUND THE TIRE - THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE UNSAFE AND RECOMMEND…
Read full complaint
LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS FOUND FLAT - SPARE PUT ON AND FLAT TIRE WAS TAKEN TO FIRESTONE DEALER AT 5110 WEST SAGINAW IN LANSING, MI - TIRE HAD A SPLIT RUNNING COMPLETELY AROUND THE INSIDE SIDEWALL, THE OTHER THREE TIRES HAD THE SAME SPLIT RUNNING COMPLETELY AROUND THE TIRE - THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE UNSAFE AND RECOMMENDED THAT THEY BE REPLACED - THE TIRES ALL HAD 8/32 TREAD REMAINING. I FEEL YOU SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE TIRES MADE AT THE DECATUR PLANT - ALSO I CONTACTED FIRESTONE SEVERAL TIME RIGHT AFTER I PURCHASED THESE TIRES TO TRY AND FIND OUT WANT THE PROPER INFLATION WAS FOR THESE TIRES ON MY BRONCO AND NONE OF THE PEOPLE I TALKED TO COULD TELL ME WHAT THE PROPER PRESSURE SHOULD BE SO I RAN THEM AT THE PRESSURES RECOMMENDED FOR THE STOCK TIRES. I FEEL THAT THESE TIRES SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT NO COST TO ME, BUT THE ONLY CHIOCE I WAS GIVE WAS WARRANTY REPLACEMENT WHERE I HAD TO STILL PAY A PRORATED PRICE FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: VDYK6TA057 TIRE SIZE: 32X11.5R15 )
P300.020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE . RIGHT REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. VEHICLE STARTED SPINNING OUT CONTROL. *AK
TIRE BLEW, CAUSING VEHICLE TO ROLLOVER.*SD
Official recalls
196V071000 · Electrical System:ignition
Apr 25, 1996
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
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
1PE91017 · Ford Truck Inconsistent Vehicle Control.
Opened Nov 27, 1990 · Closed Apr 17, 1991
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Service Brakes, Hydraulic
SEE CLOSE RESUME