The 1990 Ford Bronco has 1 safety recall and 56 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is electrical system (21 complaints).
Recalls1safety recalls
Complaints56filed by owners
Crashes · fires3 · 13reported in complaints
Injuries · deaths1 · 0reported in complaints
Safety recalls
Electrical system › Ignition
NHTSA recall 96V071000 · Apr 25, 1996 · 7,900,000 vehicles · opened after NHTSA action (ODI)
Problem: THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.
Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.
Fuel economy
Bronco 4WD
14mpg combined
City / highway
12 / 16 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
4.9 L · 6 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel
Bronco 4WD
14mpg combined
City / highway
13 / 17 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
4.9 L · 6 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $4,800/year to fuel
Bronco 4WD
13mpg combined
City / highway
11 / 16 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel
Bronco 4WD
13mpg combined
City / highway
11 / 15 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5 L · 8 cyl · Manual 5-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $5,150/year to fuel
Bronco 4WD
12mpg combined
City / highway
11 / 12 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 3-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $5,600/year to fuel
Bronco 4WD
12mpg combined
City / highway
10 / 14 mpg
Fuel
Regular Gasoline
5.8 L · 8 cyl · Automatic 4-spd · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive · about $5,600/year to fuel
EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.
What owners report
Problem area
Complaints
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Typical mileage*
Electrical system Ignition › Switch; Wiring › Interior/under dash
21
0
12
0
140,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip; Foundation components › Disc › Rotor
Power train Automatic transmission; Automatic transmission › Cooling unit and lines
4
0
1
0
—
Tires Tread/belt
4
0
0
0
—
Engine and engine cooling Engine › Gasoline; Engine
3
0
1
0
—
Exterior lighting Headlights
1
0
0
0
—
*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.
Recent owner complaints
Feb 9, 2017 · 148,000 milesSeats THE SEAT PAN UNDER THE SEAT TRACKS HAS CRACKED IN MY 1990 BRONCO WITH CAPTAIN CHAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED ON A PUBLIC PAVED STREET, AND COMING TO A NORMAL STOP. BACK IN OCTOBER 1990, I RECEIVED SAFETY PROGRAM NUMBER (B(93) ABOUT THIS POTENTIAL PROBLEM. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE, JOHN FOSTER FORD, UPON RECEIPT OF THE NOTIFICATION. I DO NOT LET ANY SAFETY ISSUES GO. THEY LOOKED AT THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT MAKE THE REPAIR. BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS SO KINDLY DRIVEN IT HAS TAKEN MANY YEARS FOR THE FLAW IN THE FORD SEAT PAN DESIGN TO DEVELOP. I SPOKE WITH FORD AT THE CUSTOMER SERVICE 800 NUMBER AGAIN TODAY AND HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH THE…
May 20, 2016 · 145,000 milesStructure › Body CRACKED SEAT MOUNTS ON FLOOR BOARD. 1990 BRONCO, BUCKET SEATS, HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 89-90 BRONCOS WITH CAPTIANS CHAIRS, THE FLOOR BOARD CRACKS AROUND THE BOLTS. THIS MAKES THE FRONT SEATS WOBBLE, BOUNCE, AND MOVE, INCREASING THE STRESS ON THE FLOOR PAN, UNTILL THE FLOOR PAN BREAKS AND THE BOLT NO LON GET HOLDS ANYTHING. EXISTING RECALL FOR MODELS WITH CAPTIANS CHAIR, DO NOT APPLY TO BUCKET SEATS, IT NEEDS TO BE EXPANDED OR A NEW RECALL PUT OUT. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE, AND IS CLEARLY A MANUFACTURING DEFECT, ATTACHED IMAGES SHOW NO RUST OR OTHER CORROSION THAT COULD HAVE CAUSED THIS.
Aug 9, 2014 · 89,000 miles · crashStructure › Body I WAS HEADING TO THE STORE WHEN MY GAS PEDAL FOR STUCK. I PRESSED THE BRAKES AND HELD THEM DOWN TO NO AVAIL. I ENDED UP CRASHING THROUGH SOMEONES YARD AND HITTING THEIR PROPERTY. MY BRONCO FINALLY STOPPED ABOUT 15 SECONDS LATER. THE WHOLE INCIDENT WAS ABOUT TWO MINUTES LONG. *TR
Mar 1, 2009Structure FLOOR PAN UNDER DRIVERS SEAT HAS CRACKED WHERE THE SEAT IS ATTACHED IN 1990 BRONCO. CAUSES SEAT TO SHIFT, SINK AND BOUNCE AND NOT FEEL SECURE TO VEHICLE. IDENTICAL PROBLEM IN MY 1989 FORD BRONCO AND WAS REPAIRED BY DEALER AS A RECALL DEFECT. CANNOT FIND ANY RECALL INFORMATION REGARDING THE 1990 BRONCO WITH THIS ISSUE OR FOR 1989 BRONCO DESPITE DEALERS REPAIR. *TR
Feb 14, 2006 · fireEngine and engine cooling › Engine 1990 BRONCO EQUIPMENT FAILED CAUSING AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *TS A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP HAD BEEN INSTALLED PRIOR TO THE FIRE. *NM
Mar 26, 2006Tires A PATTERN OF SAME SIZE CHUNKS ON THE SAME CIRCULAR COLUMN OF THE TIRES ARE BREAKING OFF. TIRE PSI AND BALANCING ARE EXCELLENT. NO OFF ROAD OR AGGRESSIVE DRIVING. TIRE ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD. *JB
Apr 27, 2004Electrical system › Ignition › Switch 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?
Jan 7, 2004 · 102,540 miles · fireElectrical system › Ignition 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…
Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.
NHTSA defect investigations
EA93001 · opened Jan 7, 1993 · closed Aug 20, 1993 · led to recall 93V125000FUEL EXPULSION There is no summary currently available
PE92077 · opened Sep 9, 1992 · closed Jan 7, 1993FUEL EXPULSION There is no summary currently available
EA92029 · opened Aug 27, 1992 · closed Oct 29, 1993FRONT SEAT BACK FAILURE There is no summary currently available
PE92042 · opened Apr 17, 1992 · closed Aug 27, 1992FNT RECLNING SEAT BCK FAIL There is no summary currently available
PE91017 · opened Nov 27, 1990 · closed Apr 17, 1991FORD TRUCK INCONSISTENT VEHICLE CONTROL. SEE CLOSE RESUME
PE90036 · opened Jan 23, 1990 · closed Jul 26, 1990FLOORBOARD FRACTURE There is no summary currently available