FaultScore
See all results →
All makes Worst years, ranked Problems by part Analysis Problems by model year Recalls in Canada Recall lookup Compare two cars How we grade

FaultScore report

1985 Ford Bronco II problems

Owners have filed 23 complaints about the 1985 Ford Bronco II with NHTSA between 1995 and 2003. The largest single group is the electrical system.

Read the complaints What breaks Worst years for the Ford Bronco II
—

Not graded

Too few complaints, or too short a model run, to compare fairly.

How this is worked out

The numbers

23

Complaints

1

Crashes reported

7

Fires reported

0

Injuries reported

How 1985 compares with every other Ford Bronco II

Click any bar to open that year's report.

Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade: A B C D F ungraded

What breaks on a 1985 Ford Bronco II

Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.

Electrical System 7 30.4%

0 crashes, 6 fires

Transmission & Drivetrain 3 13.0%

Median failure at 106,000 miles

Engine & Cooling 3 13.0%

0 crashes, 1 fires

Windows, Mirrors & Wipers 2 8.7%
Acceleration & Cruise Control 2 8.7%
Body & Structure 2 8.7%
Doors, Latches & Locks 1 4.3%
Suspension 1 4.3%
Brakes 1 4.3%
Steering 1 4.3%

1 crashes, 0 fires

When owners complained

A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single owner can see from inside their own car.

Apr 1995 peak 9 Apr 2003

NHTSA investigations into the 1985 Ford Bronco II

An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.

DP97006 Opened 3 Dec 1997 Closed 5 May 1999 STRUCTURE

VEHICLE ROLLOVER

PETITIONER ALLEGED BRONCO II SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES 1983-1990 WERE DESIGNED WITH HANDLING AND STABILITY DEFECTS

EA89013 Opened 9 Feb 1989 Closed 31 Oct 1990 SUSPENSION

ROLLOVER PROPENSITY

SUMMARY:THE BRONCO II IS INVOLVED IN MORE FATAL SINGLE VEHICLE, FIRSTEVENT ROLLOVERS COMPARED TO ANY OTHER CLOSED BODY UTILITY VEHICLE (WITHOR WITHOUT NORMALIZING VEHICLE POPULATIONS AND EXPOSURE).===

PE87020 Opened 6 Feb 1987 Closed 26 May 1987 VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:LINKAGES

ENG. AND UNDER DASH FIRES

SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FROM MANUFACTURER:INSTANCES WERE FOUND WHERESPRING LOCK COUPLINGS FAILED CAUSING GASOLINE TO BE RELEASED THROUGHOUT THEENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSING FIRES.FAILURE OF THE COUPLINGS CAN TAKE PLACEAFTER COMPLIANCE WITH A FORD RECALL CAMPAIGN, ON NEWLY DELIVERED VEHICLESFROM THE FACTORY WITH MINIMAL MILEAGE ON THE ODOMETER, AND AT ANY VEHICLEMILEAGE.___________________________________________________________________________ANALYSIS:DATA INDICATES THAT THE ALLEGED PROBLEM MAY BE CAUSED BY THESPRING LOCK QUICK CONNECT COUPLINGS WHICH CONNECT THE FUEL SUPPLY ANDRETURN LINES TO THE...

Recalls on the 1985 Ford Bronco II

A complaint is one owner's allegation. A recall is the point at which the manufacturer or a regulator agreed the defect is real and dangerous enough to fix for free — however old the car is.

Canada — Transport Canada

Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not always mirror the American ones.

Recall 1984029 185 units in Canada

ON VEHICLES WITH FRONT-DRIVE AUTOMATIC LOCKING HUBS THE CAM IN THE FRONT HUB LOCKING MECHANISM MAY BE INCORRECTLY HEAT TREATED. THE CAM COULD FRACTURE UPON ENGAGEMENT OF THE FRONT DRIVE AXLES. IF A PIECE OF THE CAM BECAME EMBEDDED IN THE WHEEL HUB NUT IT COULD CAUSE THE NUT TO LOOSEN AND EVENTUALLY RESULT IN WHEEL SEPARATION AND POSSIBLE VEHICLE CRASH.

Recalls cover specific build ranges, so check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or, in Canada, Transport Canada.

Complaints that involved harm

Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.

Albuquerque, NM Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT UNIV. OF NM, DRIVER WAS AWAY FROM VEHICLE, SUDDENLY VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

NHTSA complaint #983786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Albuquerque, NM Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT UNIV. OF NM, DRIVER WAS AWAY FROM VEHICLE, SUDDENLY VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

NHTSA complaint #983786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Herndon, VA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

EXPERIENCED SHORT IN DASH WHICH CAUSED A FIRE. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #983469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sterling, MA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, POSSIBLE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE DASHBOARD AREA.

NHTSA complaint #982953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sterling, MA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, POSSIBLE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE DASHBOARD AREA.

NHTSA complaint #982953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Hollyw, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHCOK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #982828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

The most recent complaints

In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.

at 106,000 miles Maurertown, VA

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

THE FRONT SEAL ON THE A4LD AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION IN MY 1985 BRONCO II FAILED. WHEN THIS HAPPENED THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BLEW BACK ACROSS THE EXHAUST PIPE CAUSING A LOT OF SMOKE. I HAVE DONE A LOT OF RESEARCH AND FIND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS VEHICLE AND TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA complaint #10013955 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TOA Alta, PR

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

THE FRAME CRACKED BY THE MOUNT OF THE SHOCK ABSORBER(REAR RIGHTSIDE)

NHTSA complaint #713990 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clarkksville, TN

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH

NHTSA complaint #782343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Clarkksville, TN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

ENGINE FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #782343 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vancouver, WA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

IGNITION SWITCH FAILS INTERMITTENTLY. *DSH

NHTSA complaint #504038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Albuquerque, NM Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT UNIV. OF NM, DRIVER WAS AWAY FROM VEHICLE, SUDDENLY VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

NHTSA complaint #983786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Albuquerque, NM Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT UNIV. OF NM, DRIVER WAS AWAY FROM VEHICLE, SUDDENLY VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES.

NHTSA complaint #983786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Herndon, VA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

EXPERIENCED SHORT IN DASH WHICH CAUSED A FIRE. PLEASE GIVE MORE DETAILS.

NHTSA complaint #983469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sterling, MA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, POSSIBLE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE DASHBOARD AREA.

NHTSA complaint #982953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Sterling, MA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, POSSIBLE DUE TO A SHORT IN THE DASHBOARD AREA.

NHTSA complaint #982953 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

North Hollyw, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHCOK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #982828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Mabank, TX Fire

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE,W AS AN ENGINE COMPARMENT FIRE. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #982660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Toledo, OH

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

HAS HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT TWICE.

NHTSA complaint #968040 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fresno, CA

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

FLOOR PAN UNDER DRIVER'S SEAT HAS FRACTURES DUE TO METAL FATIGUE, CAUSING DRIVER'S SEAT TO ROCK BACK AND FORTH. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #489378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wayne, PA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

WINDSHIELD WIPER BLADES REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #481791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wayne, PA

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

LEFT REAR WINDOW SHATTERED. *SKD

NHTSA complaint #481791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wayne, PA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

SOLENOID FAILED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO BACKFIRE/STALL, ALSO THROTTLE POSITION/MAP SENSORS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #481791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wayne, PA

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL

IDLE SPEED SENSOR REPLACED DUE TO VEHICLE STALLING.

NHTSA complaint #481791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wayne, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

WATER PUMP REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #481791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wayne, PA

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:BRAKE FLUID LOW WARNING: LAMP

BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ON.

NHTSA complaint #481791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wayne, PA

SUSPENSION:FRONT:SHOCK ABSORBER

FRONT SHOCKS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #481791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Wayne, PA

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:TAILGATE:LATCH

TAILGATE LOCK STICKS.

NHTSA complaint #481791 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

West Hills, CA Crash

STEERING

CAR WAS ACCIDENT AND THE STEERING LOCK UP . TT

NHTSA complaint #962905 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.