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1990 Ford Bronco

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: 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.

3 crash reports13 fire reports1 injury reports

Seats complaints

9 reports
Clear category filter
148,000 miles · Mar 7, 2017
Seats

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 DEALER…

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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 REGIONAL SERVICE MANAGER AND THEY REFUSE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR OR ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN THE SAFETY PROGRAM. I STILL HAVE THE LETTER AND ORIGINAL ENVELOPE FOR WHICH IT CAME. THERE SHOULD BE A RECORD OF THE INITIAL INSPECTION CHARGE DONE BY THE DEALERSHIP IN SOME COMPUTER RECORD WHEN THEY TURNED IN THEIR INSPECTION CLAIM, BUT THEY DO NOT OR AT LEAST WILL NOT ADMIT TO IT. THERE APPEARS TO BE A COMPUTER ISSUE WITH MY VIN, BECAUSE OBVIOUSLY THE REPAIR WAS NOT PERFORMED AND I HAVE DEMONSTRATED WITH THE SECOND SAFETY NOTICE ON THE IGNITION SWITCH (FSA 95S28) THAT I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR AT WHICH TIME THEY ALSO DID NOT MAKE THE SEAT PAN REPAIR ON NOVEMBER 22, 1996. I HAVE COPIES OF THAT NOTICE AND THE BENSON FORD DEALERSHIP (SAME DEALERSHIP LOCATION, DIFFERENT OWNER) INVOICE TO PROVE I AM DILIGENT ABOUT SUCH MATTERS. ALL I AM LOOKING FOR IS TO FORD TO RECOGNIZE THAT THIS DESIGN FLAW WAS RELEVANT TO MY VEHICLE AND MAKE THE REPAIR, ESPECIALLY SINE NOW THE SEAT PAN HAS ABOUT AN 8 INCH CRACK.

NHTSA ODI #10959185

145,000 miles · Jun 6, 2016
SeatsStructure

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. …

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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.

NHTSA ODI #10872802

Mileage unknown · Nov 7, 2009
SeatsStructure

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 198…

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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

NHTSA ODI #10291340

Mileage unknown · Oct 8, 2000
Electrical SystemSeats

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA ODI #733718

Mileage unknown · Mar 8, 2000
Seats

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN SEAT CAME LOOSE AND FELL OVER. CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, BUT DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING. DEALER WAS CONTACTED, BUT WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THE RECALL LETTER. CONSUMER IS THE 2ND OWNER OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

NHTSA ODI #858161

Mileage unknown · Dec 12, 1996
Seats

DRIVER'S SEAT SUPPORT ASSEMBLY SNAPPED APART, CAUSING THAT SIDE OF SEAT TO JERK BACKWARDS.

NHTSA ODI #512591

Mileage unknown · Oct 30, 1996
Seats

DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SEATS ARE LOCKED IN THE ADJUST POSITION, CAUSING OTHER OCCUPANTS TO CLIMBING OVER THE SEATS TO GET IN OR OUT OF THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ODI #804320

Mileage unknown · Sep 10, 1996
Seats

DRIVER'S FRONT SEAT FLOOR MOUNT BRACKET CRACKED, CAUSING SEAT TO BECOME UNSTABLE/SEAT TILTING BACK FROM PROPER POSITIONING. *AK

NHTSA ODI #508374

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 1996
SeatsService Brakes, Hydraulic

RECALL OF FRONT SEAT SUPPORTS NOT DONE PROPERLY, LEAVING SUPPORT CRACKED ON PASSENGER SEAT.

NHTSA ODI #507457

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

6

EA93001 · 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