Total Complaints
114 filings
FORD BRONCO · model year
114 NHTSA complaints, 6 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1994FORDBRONCO carries 114 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 6 crashes, 14 fires, 3 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 1994 BRONCO is service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip with 18 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:disc:rotor (9) and service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components (8). 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 1994 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.
Total Complaints
114 filings
Crashes Reported
6 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 18 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR | 9 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS | 8 |
| AIR BAGS:FRONTAL | 5 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 5 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 5 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC | 4 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL | 4 |
| AIR BAGS | 4 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR | 3 |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH | 3 |
| SEATS | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 3 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER | 2 |
PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD. I CAN NOT PARK ON INCLINE. IF PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED FULLY AT 15 MPH IT TAKES 45 YARDS TO STOP. EXTREMELY UNSAFE!!! *TR
Mileage: 130,000
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY SCHOOL PARKING LOT AND CAUGHT FIRE HOURS AFTER PARKING IT. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
Mileage: 78,500
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY SCHOOL PARKING LOT AND CAUGHT FIRE HOURS AFTER PARKING IT. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
Mileage: 78,500
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN MY SCHOOL PARKING LOT AND CAUGHT FIRE HOURS AFTER PARKING IT. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
Mileage: 78,500
THE 1994 FORD BRONCO EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL HAD FORD RECALL NO. 05S28 ACCOMPLISHED IN 2008. IN 2012 THE WIRING OVERHEATED AND CAUSED DAMAGE AND A LEAK TO THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR AND HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED. WHEN FORD WAS CONTACTED THEY INSTRUCTED THAT THE RECALL HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AND THEY COULD NOT WARRANTY THE PART. *TR
Mileage: 175,000
THE 1994 FORD BRONCO EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL HAD FORD RECALL NO. 05S28 ACCOMPLISHED IN 2008. IN 2012 THE WIRING OVERHEATED AND CAUSED DAMAGE AND A LEAK TO THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR AND HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED. WHEN FORD WAS CONTACTED THEY INSTRUCTED THAT THE RECALL HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AND THEY COULD NOT WARRANTY THE PART. *TR
Mileage: 175,000
THE 1994 FORD BRONCO EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL HAD FORD RECALL NO. 05S28 ACCOMPLISHED IN 2008. IN 2012 THE WIRING OVERHEATED AND CAUSED DAMAGE AND A LEAK TO THE MASTER CYLINDER RESERVOIR AND HAD TO BE DISCONNECTED. WHEN FORD WAS CONTACTED THEY INSTRUCTED THAT THE RECALL HAD BEEN ACCOMPLISHED AND THEY COULD NOT WARRANTY THE PART. *TR
Mileage: 175,000
1994 FORD BRONCO DRIVER SEAT (BUCKET) BACK FRAME HAS BROKEN. HAVE SPOKEN TO NUMEROUS SOURCES THAT ALL CLAIM THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE. WAS ADVISED NOT TO REPLACE WITH BRONCO SEAT, THAT ALL HAVE EITHER ALREADY FAILED OR WILL FAIL EVENTUALLY. THAT SOUNDS TERRIBLY UNSAFE, ESPECIALLY IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. *TR
Mileage: 161,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD BRONCO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PARKING BRAKE DOES NOT HOLD. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, HE APPLIED THE PARKING BRAKE AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED IN THE DIRECTION OF THE HILL ON WHERE IT WAS PARKED. THE DEALER STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 94V169001 (PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL) WAS NOT AN ACTIVE RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE RECALL WAS NOT IN THEIR DATABASE AND REFUSED TO PERFORM THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,781 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 105,000. UPDATED 03/09/09. *LJ UPDATED 03/11/09. *JB
Mileage: 105,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD BRONCO. THE CONTACT IS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE WITH OR WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. HE SIMPLY GRABS AND TURNS THE METAL PIECE WHERE THE KEY IS PLACED. HE IS CONCERNED THAT ANYONE CAN START AND STEAL THE VEHICLE. HE HAS A FRIEND WITH THE SAME VEHICLE WHO ALSO EXPERIENCES THIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A SHOP OR MECHANIC. IT HAS NEVER BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000. UPDATED 01/21/09. *JB
Mileage: 107,000
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1994 FORD BRONCO. THE CONTACT IS ABLE TO START THE ENGINE WITH OR WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. HE SIMPLY GRABS AND TURNS THE METAL PIECE WHERE THE KEY IS PLACED. HE IS CONCERNED THAT ANYONE CAN START AND STEAL THE VEHICLE. HE HAS A FRIEND WITH THE SAME VEHICLE WHO ALSO EXPERIENCES THIS FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAS NOT TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO A SHOP OR MECHANIC. IT HAS NEVER BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 107,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 180,000. UPDATED 01/21/09. *JB
Mileage: 107,000
THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE OUR HOME AT 3:50 AM THE HORN STARTED TO BLOW, I LOOKED OUTSIDE AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. WE DROVE THE CAR EARLIER THAT DAY AROUND NOON FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS. *JB
Mileage: 108,989
I OWN A FULL SIZE 1994 FORD BRONCO 351 5.8L EDDIE BAUER. AFTER DRIVING AT NIGHT FOR 5-10 MINUTES THE LIGHTS FLASH OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY. I NOTICED A VERY STRONG BURNING ELECTRICAL SMELL EMITTING FROM THE DASHBOARD AROUND THE HEADLIGHT/DIMMER SWITCH. I REMOVED THE DASH TO EXAMINE THE SWITCH, CONTACT BLADES, AND WIRING HARNESS PLUG. THE PLASTIC CONNECTOR AT THE END OF WIRING HARNESS THAT PLUGS INTO THE HEADLIGHT/DIMMER SWITCH WAS BURNED, MELTED AND EXTREMELY HOT TO TOUCH. AFTER RESEARCH ON INTERNET I FEEL VERY STRONGLY THAT THIS PROBLEM WILL OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY AS VEHICLES GET OLDER AND THE SWITCH FAILS DUE TO DEFECT. I'M NO AUTOMOTIVE GENIUS, BUT CONCERNED THAT OTHERS MAY CONTINUE TO DRIVE VEHICLE AND FAULTY SWITCHES WILL START FIRES. I SAW INFORMATION FROM WALTERS FORENSIC ENGINEERING - TORONTO ONTARIO THAT LAB SITUATIONS SHOWED THESE SAME SWITCHES CAUSE FIRES FROM ELECTRICAL RESISTANCE PROBLEMS. I HAVE THE MELTED PARTS FOR EXAMINATION. CONSEQUENCES CAN BE SERIOUS INJURY OR DEA
Mileage: 97,000
1994 FORD BRONCO CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE PARKED. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TS ***NO ANSWER REQUIRED*** THREE AND A HALF YEARS AFTER THE FIRE THE CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL 05V388000 FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE RECALL WAS FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE RECALL STATED THAT THE SWITCH COULD OVERHEAT AND RESULT IN A UNDERHOOD FIRE. THE LETTER ALSO STATED THAT A REPLACEMENT PART WOULDN'T BE AVAILABLE UNTIL 11/2005. THE CONSUMER REQUEST REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE VALUE OF HIS VEHICLE AT THE TIME OF THE FIRE. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT CALLED FORD ON 10-03-05 ABOUT THE RECALL LETTER SHE RECEIVED ON FRIDAY 9-28-05. T A FIRE BROKE OUT ON 2-28-04 ON 1994 FORD BRONCO. THE CONTACT TOLD FORD ABOUT THE FIRE, AND FORD CLAIMED THAT THE CONTACT'S INSURANCE TOOK CARE OF THE ISSUE AND THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING ELSE . ALSO, FORD TOLD THE CONTACT THAT BECAUSE SHE DID NOT HAVE A FORD DEALER LOOK AT THE CAR AND DETERMINE THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS THE SCDS THEY COULD NOT DO ANYTHING FOR HER. ON 2-28-04 WHILE DRIVING AT 70 MPH SHE SAW SMOKE IN REAR VIEW MIRROR. SHE PULLED OVER AND SAW A FIRE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED, BUT CANCELLED AFTER A TRUCKER PUT THE FIRE OUT. NO ONE EVER DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE. SHE DID HAVE THE TRUCK REPAIRED AND WAS DRIVING IT NOW. SHE REPORTED OF HAVING NO PROBLEMS WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL OR ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE TRUCK STARTING PRIOR TO THE FIRE. AS OF THIS DATE SHE HAS NOT HAD THE SCDS DISCONNECTED, BUT PLANNED TO HAVE IT DISCO
CLOCK SPRING ASSEMBLY BEHIND STEERING WHEEL FOR AIRBAG AND STEERING WHEEL CONTROLS IS FAILING. COULD CAUSE AIRBAG TO NOT DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT OR TO PREMATURELY DEPLOY UNDER REGULAR DRIVING CONDITIONS. *JB
Mileage: 189,000
SUFFERED FROM THE FORD CRUISE CONTROL FIRE. 94 BRONCO 5.0 LITER. *JB
Mileage: 102,000
ELECTRICAL FIRE UNDER HOOD AND DASH TOTALS BRONCO. MORNING OF FIRE THE BRAKE LIGHT FUSE HAD TO BE REPLACED BEFORE LEAVING WORK OFF THE NIGHT SHIFT FROM RIVER BEND STATION NUCLEAR POWER PLANT. 15 AMP FUSE REPLACED LIKE FOR LIKE. AT CHURCH LATER THAT MORNING (SUNDAY 9-26-04) THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE AFTER BEING IN THE PARKING LOT FOR ABOUT 1 1/2HRS. SOMEONE DRIVING BY CALLED 911 AND NOTIFIED THE CHURCH STAFF WHO STOPPED THE SERVICE TO FIND THE OWNER OF THE TRUCK, ME! ABOUT 4 DRY CHEM. FIRE EXT. WERE USED TO TRY AND BRING THE FIRE UNDER CONTROL BEFORE THE FIRE DEPT. PUT THE TRUCK OUT WITH AFFF FOAM. FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD DRIVERS SIDE AROUND THE MASTER CYL. FIRE MARSHAL WROTE UP THE REPORT AND TOLD ME THE DEPT. HAS SEEN MANY OF THIS TYPE FIRE ON FORD TRUCKS IN THE LAST FEW YEARS AND JUST WONDERED WHEN SOMEONE IS GOING TO BE KILLED! WE GOT ALL OTHER CARS IN THE PARKING LOT AWAY FROM THE FIRE BUT MY TRUCK IS A TOTAL LOSS. *NM
Mileage: 145,800
SEAT BELT DANGERS TO OBESE PASSENGERS. SEAT BELT COMES ACROSS NECK, NOT CHEST. SUDDEN BRAKING PUTS STRAIN ON NECK. COMMENT: CRASH DUMMIES DO NOT RESEMBLE THE MAJORITY OF AMERICAN WOMEN IN SIZE OR SHAPE. MY NECK WAS BRUISED AND THROAT INJURED. THIS WAS JUST FROM HARD BRAKING, NOT A CRASH. UNLESS THE SHOULDER HARNESS IS MADE MORE ADJUSTABLE WOMEN ARE GOING TO BE INJURED NOW THAT MORE STATES ARE GETTING TOUGH ON WEARING BELTS. I WEAR MINE TWISTED IN FRONT TO PLACE THE SHOULDER STRAP IN THE CENTER, OR WITH MY ARM THOUGH THE STRAP. *JB
PARKING BRAKE SLIPPED WHEN APPLIED, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FREELY. THIS VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED ON MARCH 1994. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED WE DIDN'T CARE WHEN IT WAS MANUFACTURED IN 1994, THERE WAS NOT RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE.*AK
Mileage: 144,000
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.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.