FORD BRONCO · model year

1986 FORD BRONCO

43 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1986FORDBRONCO carries 43 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 5 crashes, 9 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1986 BRONCO is electrical system:ignition with 6 filings, followed by tires (4) and electrical system:alternator/generator/regulator (3). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 4 investigation files overlapping the 1986 BRONCO. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

43
Complaints
5
Crashes
9
Fires
5
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

43 filings

Crashes Reported

5 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION6
TIRES4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR3
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING2
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR1
STRUCTURE:BODY1
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER1
WHEELS1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM1

Recent Complaints

20041203FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

WE HAVE SPEND MORE THAN 500.00 ON PART FOR THIS TRUCK IT JUST KEEP STOPPING FOR NO REASON, SHOP PEOPLE SAY ITS THE FUEL SYSTEM, IT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. STILL IT STOPS THEY DO NOT KNOW EXCEPT THE FUEL SYSTEM. WE HAVE BEEN STRAINED ABOUT 5 OR 6 TIMES MOST TIMES LATE AT NIGHT. HAVE BEEN TOW HOME ABOUT 6 OR 7 TIMES.*AK

20040608CrashTIRES

RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD BEEN REPAIRED WITH FOUR STRING-PLUG ONLY REPAIRS. THERE WAS NO PATCH ON THE INNER-LINER AS RECOMMENDED BY THE RMA. *LA AS A RESULT OF THE IMPROPER PLUG-ALONE REPAIRS, AIR WAS ALLOWED TO MIGRATE INTO THE CARCASS OF THE TIRE; RESULTING ON A TREAD SEPARATION. WHILE DRIVING THE RIGHT REAR TIRE BLEWOUT. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT AND INTO THE GRASS MEDIAN. THE RIGHT REAR OF THE VEHICLE BECAME AIR BORNE AND CAUSED THE RIGHT FRONT TO STRIKE THE DIRT. THE VEHICLE THEN OVERTURNED TRAVELING APP 41 FEET THEN LANDING ON IT'S TOP. A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT THE CONSUMER IS A PARAPLEGIC. (FLORIDA TRAFFIC CRASH REPORT). *NM

20020722CrashTIRES

THE TREAD UNZIPPED FROM THE TIRE IDENTICAL TO THAT OF THE FIRESTONE DEFECT, CAUSING MY BRONCO II TO LOSE CONTROL AND FLIP THREE TIMES INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *AK

20011012ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

YOU BROADCASTED THE RECALL SETTLEMENT FOR FORD IGNITION MODULES,YETMY LOCAL DEALERS SEEM OBLIVIOUS TO THE RECALL ,WHAT DO I NEED TO GET ANOTHER IGNITION MODULE THAT YOU PEOPLE GOT FORD TO SETTLE ON. *AK

20010821ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

DRIVING AT 65 MPH VEHICLE ENGINE DIED; HAVE REPLACED PART 3 TIMES IN LAST YEAR. *AK

20001218VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

STALLED GOING ROUND CORNERS, STALLING AT STOPS. ENGINE RACED, FIXED AFTER YEARS LOW MILES. *AK

20001025CrashTIRES

THE TREAD UNZIPPED FROM THE TIRE IDENTICAL TO THAT OF THE FIRESTONE DEFECT, CAUSING MY BRONCO II TO LOSE CONTROL AND FLIP THREE TIMES INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. (DOT NUMBER: A3UL423186 TIRESIZE: P205/75R15)

20001025CrashTIRES

THE TREAD UNZIPPED FROM THE TIRE IDENTICAL TO THAT OF THE FIRESTONE DEFECT, CAUSING MY BRONCO II TO LOSE CONTROL AND FLIP THREE TIMES INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC.( DOT NUMBER: A3UL423186 TIRE SIZE: P205/75R15 )

20001024ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

GOOD MORNING! I AM WRITING TO ADD MY VOICE TO WHAT IS APPARENTLY A GROWING CHORUS OF PERSONS WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED IGNITION FAILURES ON FORD MOTOR COMPANY PRODUCTS. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO CONTACT FMC DIRECTLY THROUGH THEIR WEB SITE, AS THEIR OWNER REGISTRATION FORM IS, ITSELF, SUFFERING A FAILURE, AND THEY DO NOT HAVE A FACILITY FOR DIRECTLY E-MAILING THEM WITHOUT 'REGISTERING' WITH THEM, FIRST. MY 1986 FORD BRONCO, FULL-SIZE, 5.0L, FUEL-INJECTED, IS SUBJECT TO SUDDEN, UNEXPLAINED LOSS OF "FIRE" (I.E. THE IGNITION QUITS FOR NO APPARENT REASON), AND YET WIL RE-FIRE IF THE VEHICLE IS ALLOWED TO SIT FOR ABOUT AN HOUR OR SO. THIS CONDITION IS NOT RELATED TO A "TRUE" OVERHEAT, I.E. NOT INVOLVING FAILURE OF THE COOLING SYSTEM. I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE TFI DISTRIBUTOR MODULE AN AVERAGE OF ONCE A YEAR IN THE SIX YEARS I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, AND HAVE FOUND MYSELF IN DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCES MANY TIMES AS A RESULT OF THE IGNITION FAILURE.

20001017TIRES:TREAD/BELT

WOULD BE DRIVING VEHICLE AT LOW SPEED & NOTICED HOW BUMPY TIRES WERE FEELING. PULLED OVER & CHECKED. TREAD WAS SEPARATING & THEY WERE OUT OF ROUND. ALSO HAD LUMPS IN THE TIRES. HAVE NOT BEEN IN TOUCH WITH FIRESTONE OR FORD. REPLACEMENT TIRES ON A 1986 FORD BRONCO. FIRESTONE RADIAL ATX 31X10.5X15 DOT CODE VDHL.*AK

20000906ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

I HAVE EXPERIENCED FOUR FAILURES OF THE TFI IGNITION MODULE OVER THE PERIOD OF TIME I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE, THE FIRST FAILURE OCCURRED WITHIN TWO MONTHS OF HAVING PURCHASED THE VEHICLE. EACH SUBSEQUENT FAILURE OCCURRED AT APPROXIMATELY TWO TO THREE YEAR INTERVALS. THE MOST RECENT FAILURE PROMPTED ME TO REPLACE NOT ONLY THE TFI MODULE BUT ALSO AN IGNITION COIL AND GENERAL TUNE-UP PARTS. THESE FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS MOVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND ALSO WHILE SIMPLY AT IDLE IN TRAFFIC.

19990323FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

WHILE DRIVING AN ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED UNDER THE DASH RIGHT IN THE CENTER. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *AK

19990211CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

WHILE TRYING TO STOP VEHICLE IT ACCELERATED TO HIGH AMOUNT OF SPEED, CAUSING DRIVER TO CRASH HEAD-ON INTO A UTILITY POLE. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. *AK

19990202FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

WHILE DRIVING FLAMES CAME FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AREA. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

19981020SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY

SEAT BELT BUCKLES FAILED.

19970727FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

ALTERNATOR WIRING CONNECTOR MELTED AND SHORTED OUT CAUSING FIRE.

19961202FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

FUEL IGNITION WIRING MELTED, RESULTING IN A FIRE. *AK

19960601FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY

FUEL TANK LEAKS. *SD

19960601SUSPENSION:REAR

REAR END PROBLEMS. *SD

19960601ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

ELECTRICAL WIRING PROBLEMS, CAUSING LIGHTS ON DASHBOARD TO DIM/GO OUT

Compare 1986FORDBRONCO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1986 FORD BRONCO have?
The 1986 FORD BRONCO has 43 NHTSA complaints, 5 crashes, 9 fires, 5 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1986 FORD BRONCO?
The most-complained component for the 1986 FORD BRONCO is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION with 6 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR.
Is the 1986 FORD BRONCO safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.