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1988 Ford Bronco Ii

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

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

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

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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: 1 of 45 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 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine And Engine Cooling. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 6 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports14 fire reports8 injury reports

What owners actually said

45 reports
Mileage unknown · Nov 20, 1999
Engine And Engine Cooling

I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE DEALER THAT REPLACED THE ENGINE TO INVESTIGATE THE SUSPECTED LEAKING HEAD GASKET/CRACKED BLOCK PROBLEM WITH PAYING ADDITIONAL CHARGES. AFTER A MAJOR FAILURE RECENTLY, FORD REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY, AS I HAD GONE OVER THE # OF MILES (BUT STILL WITHIN THE 1 YEAR TIME). THE TFI MODULE PROBLEM HAS BEE…

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I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE DEALER THAT REPLACED THE ENGINE TO INVESTIGATE THE SUSPECTED LEAKING HEAD GASKET/CRACKED BLOCK PROBLEM WITH PAYING ADDITIONAL CHARGES. AFTER A MAJOR FAILURE RECENTLY, FORD REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY, AS I HAD GONE OVER THE # OF MILES (BUT STILL WITHIN THE 1 YEAR TIME). THE TFI MODULE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR 3 YEARS, AND HAS CAUSED AS 4 STALLS AT STREET/HIGHWAY SPEED, PLUS 2 FAILURES AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. *AK

NHTSA ODI #715062

Mileage unknown · Nov 13, 1999
Unknown Or OtherCrashInjury

I, MYSELF WASN'T INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT TO YOU THAT:EVERY BRONCO II FO.MO.CO. PRODUCED, IS A MAJOR ROLLOVER HAZARD,WHICH CAN,AND HAS RESULTED IN,MANY FATALITIES. I WOULD APPRECIATE GREATLY, IF YOU WOULD PURSUE THIS MATTER BY MAKING FORD FIND,AND PERFORM AN ECONOMICALY VIABLE SOLUTION THAT WILL FIX TH…

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I, MYSELF WASN'T INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT TO YOU THAT:EVERY BRONCO II FO.MO.CO. PRODUCED, IS A MAJOR ROLLOVER HAZARD,WHICH CAN,AND HAS RESULTED IN,MANY FATALITIES. I WOULD APPRECIATE GREATLY, IF YOU WOULD PURSUE THIS MATTER BY MAKING FORD FIND,AND PERFORM AN ECONOMICALY VIABLE SOLUTION THAT WILL FIX THE BRONCO II'S PROBLEM. THERE ARE AROUND 700,000 OF THESE RIGS OUT IN THE U.S.WITH AROUND 600,000 PEOPLE DRIVING THEM EVERY DAY. HELP SAVE SOME LIVES. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

NHTSA ODI #714732

Mileage unknown · Jul 14, 1999
Electrical SystemCrashFire

UPON IMAPCT, VEHICLE BURSTED INTO FLAMES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.

NHTSA ODI #842331

Mileage unknown · Feb 28, 1999
Power Train

VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK AND ROLLED OVER A 5 FOOT BANK WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, LEVER WAS BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE.*ET

NHTSA ODI #781981

Mileage unknown · Feb 13, 1999
Power Train

TRANSMISSION WILL ONLY ENGAGE IN REVERSE, MAKES CLICKING SOUND WHEN SHIFTED INTO FIRST BUT NO ENGAGEMENT

NHTSA ODI #703245

Mileage unknown · Oct 19, 1998
Electrical SystemFire

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME.THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, POPPED THE HOOD AND FLAMES SHOT OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME, AND PUT THE FLAMES OUT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED DUE THE FIRE. WHEN THE FIRER DEPARTMENT GOT THERE IT WAS TOO L…

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WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME.THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, POPPED THE HOOD AND FLAMES SHOT OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME, AND PUT THE FLAMES OUT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED DUE THE FIRE. WHEN THE FIRER DEPARTMENT GOT THERE IT WAS TOO LATE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #829112

Mileage unknown · May 5, 1998
StructureInjury

WHEN ENTERING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS WILL CLOSE ON THE OCCUPANT, CAUSING INJURIES DUE TO THE DOOR HINGE SPRINGS COMING OFF. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE SPRINGS ON ONE OCCASION. SPRING NEEDS REPLACING AT THIS TIME AGAIN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ODI #822472

Mileage unknown · Apr 22, 1998
Electrical System

DISTRIBUTOR FAILED.

NHTSA ODI #534499

Mileage unknown · Oct 14, 1997
Engine And Engine Cooling

ENGINE STALLS.

NHTSA ODI #534339

Mileage unknown · Aug 14, 1997
Structure

FLOOR HAS STRESS CRACKS APPROX. 3" FROM DRIVERS SEAT FRONT LEFT ATTACHMENT POINT. ALSO BOTH REAR SEAT MOUNTS (ON SEAT TRACKS) ARE CRACKED NEAR MOUNTING POINTS.

NHTSA ODI #522634

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

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

4

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

EA90042 · Throttle Sticking

Opened Aug 31, 1990 · Closed Dec 31, 1991

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Vehicle Speed Control:linkages

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).===