FORD BRONCO II · model year

1988 FORD BRONCO II

59 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash reports for this specific cohort.

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.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category 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). 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 177 investigation files overlapping the 1988 BRONCO II, and 8 remain open. 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.

59
Complaints
11
Crashes
16
Fires
14
Injuries
1
Deaths

Total Complaints

59 filings

Crashes Reported

11 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:IGNITION4
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD4
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP3
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL3
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH3
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE3
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE2
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP2
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION2
STRUCTURE:BODY2
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE1
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR1

Recent Complaints

20090828STRUCTURE

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

20090828SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

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

20090305SUSPENSION:FRONT

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.

20040309CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

88 FORD BRONCO II ROLL OVER

20010427CrashSTRUCTURE:BODY

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

20010427CrashSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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

20010425TIRES:TREAD/BELT

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

20001017POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH

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

20000905PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL

PARKING PAWL

20000831ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK TFI IGNITION MODULE AND STARTOR FAILED. *YH

20000831ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK TFI IGNITION MODULE AND STARTOR FAILED. *YH

20000831ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK TFI IGNITION MODULE AND STARTOR FAILED. *YH

20000505VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

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

20000321ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

20000321VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

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

19991215FireENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

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.

19991120ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

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

19991113CrashFatalUNKNOWN OR OTHER

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

19990714CrashFireELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

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

19990213POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

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

Compare 1988FORDBRONCO II to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 8 Open

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1988 FORD BRONCO II have?
The 1988 FORD BRONCO II has 59 NHTSA complaints, 11 crashes, 16 fires, 14 injuries, and 1 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1988 FORD BRONCO II?
The most-complained component for the 1988 FORD BRONCO II is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION with 4 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 1988 FORD BRONCO II 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.