1990 FORD BRONCO IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. (SAFETY RECALL #96V071000 OF NOV95) FORD DEALER SAID NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE AND CHARGED ME $476.00. I CHECKED THE FORD WEBSITE AND THEY ONLY LIST RECALLS FROM JAN96, IS THERE A STAUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON SAFTEY RECALLS AND HOW LONG?
1990 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: 6 of 56 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 18 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Electrical System complaints
18 reports1990 FORD BRONCO I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN TO JIM DOYLE FORD ON DELAWARE AVENUE IN KENMORE N.Y, LAST WEEK. THE IGNITION SWITCH BROKE, AND WAS TO BE REPLACED VIA RECALL. THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED, AND I SMELLED FIRE.SAW SMOKE. TURNED KEY OFF TO NO AVAIL, IMMEDIATELY RAN IN THE HOUSE, GRABBED FIRE EXTINGUISHER, CALLED FI…
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1990 FORD BRONCO I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN TO JIM DOYLE FORD ON DELAWARE AVENUE IN KENMORE N.Y, LAST WEEK. THE IGNITION SWITCH BROKE, AND WAS TO BE REPLACED VIA RECALL. THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED, AND I SMELLED FIRE.SAW SMOKE. TURNED KEY OFF TO NO AVAIL, IMMEDIATELY RAN IN THE HOUSE, GRABBED FIRE EXTINGUISHER, CALLED FIRE DEPT (CAR WAS PARKED BETWEEN 2 HOUSES) AND RAN OUT AND CUT BATTERY CABLE. AFTER DETERMINING PROBLEM (DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH) I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO JIM DOYLE FORD. THEY OFFERED THE FREE REPAIR, AND CALLED ME STATING THAT SOMETHING INSIDE THE IGNITION COLUMN WAS BROKEN, AND THEY WOULD CHARGE ME 60 DOLLARS PLUS TAX JUST TO DIAGNOSE. I DECLINED, WENT TO THE DEALER, AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS JUST HANGING OUT FROM THE HARNESS UNDER THE DASH, THE MECHANIC USED A SCREWDRIVER TO PUSH THE SWITCH AND STARTED THE VEHICLE FOR ME. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BUFFALO KEY AND LOCK, AND THE TECHNICIAN (RON CHASE) FOUND THAT THE INTERNAL MECHANISM IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAD BROKEN, AND HE STATED THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM SINCE THE DEFECTIVE (RECALLED) IGNITIONS GENERALLY MELT AND WELD THEMSELVES IN THE "START" POSITION, WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO TURN IT OFF IT CAUSES THE RACK AND RODS INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN TO BREAK, RENDERING THE IGNITION KEY ETC INOPERABLE. THIS IS DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH THAT WAS RECALLED. FORD STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THIS SINCE THE ONLY THING COVERED WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH ITSELF. $295.00 LATER, MY IGNITION SWITCH AND INTERNAL WORKS ARE REPLACED, THEY BROKE DUE TO A RECALLED ITEM COVERED BY FORD, AND FORD WILL NOT RE-IMBURSE ME. THIS IS UNFAIR, MY TRUCK IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DIRECTLY THE CAUSE OF THE OTHER DAMAGE. PLUS, MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE DEALER SHOP FOR 3-4 HOURS AND I GOT IT BACK IN DEPLORABLE CONDITION (OIL/GREASE ALL OVER IT, SEATS AND DASH COVERED WITH GREASE, STEERING WHEEL COVER TORN OFF.*AK
1990 FORD BRONCO DESTROYED IN FIRE. SPONTANEOUS FIRE ORGINATED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR UNDER DASH INSIDE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED ON STREET. VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING AT THE TIME. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS.
CONSUMER STATES THE THICK FILM IGNITION MODULE IS NOT USABLE UNLESS THE TEMPERATURE IS 70 DEGRESS OR COOLER, OTHERWISE THERE IS AN UNCONTROLLABLE STALL THAT OCCURS, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO TRY AND GET THE PART REPAIRED OR REPLACED.*JB
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED/IN WARM WEATHER/OR ON INCLINES, AND DOWN GRADES. DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT FORD HAS NEVER PROVIDED ANY DATA OR SERVICE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM-BY THEIR USE OF DISTRIBUTOR MOUNTED THICK FILM IGNITION MODULE. (TFI PROBLE…
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VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED/IN WARM WEATHER/OR ON INCLINES, AND DOWN GRADES. DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT FORD HAS NEVER PROVIDED ANY DATA OR SERVICE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM-BY THEIR USE OF DISTRIBUTOR MOUNTED THICK FILM IGNITION MODULE. (TFI PROBLEM) THE VEHICLE WILL CRANK BUT WON'T START. *SCC
A VEHICLE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE DASH WHILE DRIVING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND PLEASE FILL IN VEHICLE MILEAGE.*AK
ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF DASH COMPLETED BURNT/MELTED. TOTAL BURN DAMAGE TO LEFT FRONT SEAT, LEFT INTERIOR OF DOOR, ROOF, FLOOR. NO DAMAGE TO ENGINE.
NO SUMMARY
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS UNAWARE OF THE CAUSE. ALSO, WAS NOT SURE IF THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT WILL HAVE THE INSURANCE COMPANY LOOK INTO IT. *AK *ML
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY BURNED. OWNER BELIEVED THAT FIRE STARTED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AREA. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
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
6EA93001 · Fuel Expulsion
Opened Jan 7, 1993 · Closed Aug 20, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
PE92077 · Fuel Expulsion
Opened Sep 9, 1992 · Closed Jan 7, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages
There is no summary currently available
EA92029 · Front Seat Back Failure
Opened Aug 27, 1992 · Closed Oct 29, 1993
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
There is no summary currently available
PE92042 · Fnt Reclning Seat Bck Fail
Opened Apr 17, 1992 · Closed Aug 27, 1992
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:recliner
There is no summary currently available
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
PE90036 · Floorboard Fracture
Opened Jan 23, 1990 · Closed Jul 26, 1990
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
Illustration