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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 →
52Owner complaints

Model-year median: 8.5

1Recall campaigns

View recall details →

1Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
20
198527
198634
198752
198884
198956
199032
1991
Compare all Bronco years →

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

What owners reported most

Electrical System
19Engine And Engine Cooling
12Fuel System, Gasoline
5Tires
5Service Brakes, Hydraulic
4
All reported categories
Structure
3Power Train
2Seat Belts
2Steering
2Unknown Or Other
1Visibility
1

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

What owners actually said

52 reports
Mileage unknown · Dec 7, 1999
Unknown Or Other

PAINT PEELING AND FADING

NHTSA ODI #715772

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 1999
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH HAD STARTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, BUT BRAKES LOCKED UP. HAS HAPPENED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR JUST IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS. THEY HAD HEATED UP & SMOKE COULD BE SEEN. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS & THE BRAKE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE SOLVED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #841620

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 1999
Power Train

WHILE DRIVING AND SHIFTING TRANSMISSION, TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF PARK.

NHTSA ODI #781980

Mileage unknown · May 14, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

ENGINE FIRE.

NHTSA ODI #535536

Mileage unknown · May 4, 1998
Visibility

SPRING INSIDE TAILGATE WINDOW RELEASED AS TAILGATE WAS LOWERED, CAUSING WINDOW TO SHATTER/BREAK.

NHTSA ODI #535167

Mileage unknown · May 1, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 60 MPH SPEEDED AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARMENT CAME AND THEY COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHERE THE FIRE HAD STARTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #823017

Mileage unknown · Apr 14, 1998
Engine And Engine CoolingFire

WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE STALLED, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #822393

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

INTERMITTENT STALLING.

NHTSA ODI #523741

Mileage unknown · Sep 3, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #521677

Mileage unknown · Jul 28, 1997
Fuel System, Gasoline

FUEL PUMP CONNECTORS ARE LOOSENED, PUMP IS SPARKING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #814456

Official recalls

1

96V071000 · 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

1

PE91017 · 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