Total Complaints
59 filings
FORD BRONCO II · model year
59 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash reports. A VIN lookup is required to determine whether a specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 1988FORDBRONCO II carries 59 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 11 crashes, 16 fires, 14 injuries, and 1 fatality. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
The most frequently selected component label in reports for the 1988 BRONCO II is electrical system:ignition with 4 filings, followed by electrical system:wiring:front underhood (4) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (3). Complaint categories reflect owner reports and intake categorization; they do not establish a defect pattern or cause.
NHTSA currently has 179 investigation files overlapping the 1988 BRONCO II, and 6 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should read the complaint-by-year trend as report volume, not a causal diagnosis. Use the related-complaint feed and the official recall lookup when researching a specific vehicle.
Total Complaints
59 filings
Crashes Reported
11 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION | 4 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | 4 |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 3 |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 3 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH | 3 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE | 3 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS | 2 |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 2 |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION | 2 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 2 |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE | 2 |
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE | 1 |
| SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR | 1 |
THESE BRONCO II'S ARE SOMETHING ELSE. I JUST PURCHASED MINE. THERE ARE MINOR CRACKS IN THE FLOOR IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE BUSTED AND BRAKES ARE INCREDIBLY HARD TO USE TO STOP THE SUV. I FOUND RECALL ON THE 1988 RANGER FOR REAR DRUM BRAKES THAT WERE THE WRONG SIZE BUT I CANNOT FIND THAT RECALL FOR THE BRONCO II FIGURING IT WAS MADE WITH THE SAME PARTS WOULD THINK THAT THE DRUM SIZE MAKES IT HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT PUMPING. THERE ARE A FEW OTHER PROBLEMS ALSO BUT THESE ARE THE BIGGEST ONES I HAVE HAD SO FAR. THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE REPLACEMENT MAKES THE POWER STEERING COME BACK. THERE IS ALSO A SPUTTERING NOISE MADE BY THE ENGINE WHEN TAKING OFF FROM STOP SIGNS OCCASIONALLY MAKING THE VEHICLE NOT ACCELERATE. THIS PROBLEM COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BUT HAS YET TO AFFECT THE DRIVING OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Mileage: 54,606
THESE BRONCO II'S ARE SOMETHING ELSE. I JUST PURCHASED MINE. THERE ARE MINOR CRACKS IN THE FLOOR IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE BUSTED AND BRAKES ARE INCREDIBLY HARD TO USE TO STOP THE SUV. I FOUND RECALL ON THE 1988 RANGER FOR REAR DRUM BRAKES THAT WERE THE WRONG SIZE BUT I CANNOT FIND THAT RECALL FOR THE BRONCO II FIGURING IT WAS MADE WITH THE SAME PARTS WOULD THINK THAT THE DRUM SIZE MAKES IT HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT PUMPING. THERE ARE A FEW OTHER PROBLEMS ALSO BUT THESE ARE THE BIGGEST ONES I HAVE HAD SO FAR. THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE REPLACEMENT MAKES THE POWER STEERING COME BACK. THERE IS ALSO A SPUTTERING NOISE MADE BY THE ENGINE WHEN TAKING OFF FROM STOP SIGNS OCCASIONALLY MAKING THE VEHICLE NOT ACCELERATE. THIS PROBLEM COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BUT HAS YET TO AFFECT THE DRIVING OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
Mileage: 54,606
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD BRONCO II. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DRIVER'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT FOUND A RECALL ONLINE DESCRIBING THE SAME FAILURE; HOWEVER, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 89V109000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING) ONLY PERTAINED TO THE 1989 FORD BRONCO II. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
88 FORD BRONCO II ROLL OVER
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND CROSSED OVER A PATCH OF SAND WITH THE WHEEL TURNED, CAUSING A ROLLOVER. ROOF OF VEHICLE COLLAPSED IN FRONT, INJURING DRIVER, COMPOUND BREAK OF COLLAR BONE AND OTHER MINOR INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND CROSSED OVER A PATCH OF SAND WITH THE WHEEL TURNED, CAUSING A ROLLOVER. ROOF OF VEHICLE COLLAPSED IN FRONT, INJURING DRIVER, COMPOUND BREAK OF COLLAR BONE AND OTHER MINOR INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
LEFT REAR (BRIDGESTONE ROADHANDLER T 215/75 R15 100S TUBELESS STEEL BELTED RADIAL (M+S-T06R-DOT ICHF P2A 186) (M+S 82415 DOT) TREADED 2-PLY POLYESTER AND 2-STEEL/SIDEWALL 2 PLY POLYESTER TIRE, BEARING TIRE #186, TIRE SEPARATED,THE TREAD CAME LOOSE FROM THE CASING,CAUSING DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL,VEHICLE OVERTURNED 3 1/2 TIMES,TIRE WAS INSPECTED AND DETERMINED BY AN EXPERT TO BE MFG DEFECT INVOLVING ADHESION AND MISALIGNMENT OF THE TOP BELT TO THE BOTTOM BELT.(ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)*JB
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
PARKING PAWL
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK TFI IGNITION MODULE AND STARTOR FAILED. *YH
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK TFI IGNITION MODULE AND STARTOR FAILED. *YH
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK TFI IGNITION MODULE AND STARTOR FAILED. *YH
WHILE DRIVING THE BRONCO GAS PEDAL STUCK, CAUSING THE BRONCO TO ACCELERATE TO A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. BRONCO WENT OVER 7,000 RPM'S. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER FOUND THE THROTTLE BODY TO BE STUCK. VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK
BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED I WAS TOLD THE OIL WAS CHANGED AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WRE CHANGED ALONG WITH SOME OIL GASKETS. I TOK THE VEHICLE TO MY FATHER HE CHECKED AND THE OIL NOR THE WIPERS WERE CHANGED. I WENT BACK AND WAS SENT TO A DIFFERENT GARAGE TO HAVE THESE THINGS DONE. LATER THAT WEEK I REPORTED OTHER THINGS AND WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THEN COME BACK WITH THINGS I THOUGHT WAS WRONG. THE NEXT WEEK I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE OTHER GARAGE TO HAVE A FUEL PUMP PUT ON IT. I CALLED THE DAY BEFORE MY THIRTY DAYS WAS UP TO INFORM THEM I HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET I WAS THEN INFORMED THE WARRANTY ONLY COVERED OIL PARTS OF THE ENGINE. WHEN I BOUGHT THE BRONCO I WAS NOT TOLD ONLY THE OIL PARTS OF THE ENGINE I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE. *AK
BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED I WAS TOLD THE OIL WAS CHANGED AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WRE CHANGED ALONG WITH SOME OIL GASKETS. I TOK THE VEHICLE TO MY FATHER HE CHECKED AND THE OIL NOR THE WIPERS WERE CHANGED. I WENT BACK AND WAS SENT TO A DIFFERENT GARAGE TO HAVE THESE THINGS DONE. LATER THAT WEEK I REPORTED OTHER THINGS AND WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THEN COME BACK WITH THINGS I THOUGHT WAS WRONG. THE NEXT WEEK I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE OTHER GARAGE TO HAVE A FUEL PUMP PUT ON IT. I CALLED THE DAY BEFORE MY THIRTY DAYS WAS UP TO INFORM THEM I HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET I WAS THEN INFORMED THE WARRANTY ONLY COVERED OIL PARTS OF THE ENGINE. WHEN I BOUGHT THE BRONCO I WAS NOT TOLD ONLY THE OIL PARTS OF THE ENGINE I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE. *AK
AN EXHAUST LEAK MELTED PLASTIC FUEL LINES AND STARTED FIRE UNDER VEHICLE BURNING LINES AND ALL ELECTRICAL WIREING UNDER VEHICLE, THUS CAUSING SHORTING OF MANY RELAYS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
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
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
UPON IMAPCT, VEHICLE BURSTED INTO FLAMES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
TRANSMISSION WILL ONLY ENGAGE IN REVERSE, MAKES CLICKING SOUND WHEN SHIFTED INTO FIRST BUT NO ENGAGEMENT
Timing Belt Failure
Anti-lock brake system (ABS) Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Timing Belt Failure
Underbody shields detachment
Data vintage: August 2026. 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.
Every figure on PlainCars is rendered directly from NHTSA complaint and safety data, no number is typed in by an editor. This year-specific record is rendered from NHTSA ODI, recall, and NCAP rows for the 1988 FORD BRONCO II; no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.