NHTSA files every complaint against a named sub-assembly, not just a
system. This is the difference between knowing it was "the engine" and
knowing which part of it — the list to hand a mechanic.
Switch
925.0%
Gasoline
925.0%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator
411.1%
Engine
411.1%
Ignition
38.3%
Front Underhood
38.3%
Tread/Belt
25.6%
Caliper
25.6%
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.
Jan 1995peak 8Dec 2004
NHTSA investigations into the 1988 Ford Bronco
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.
PE91017Opened 27 Nov 1990Closed 17 Apr 1991SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
FORD TRUCK INCONSISTENT VEHICLE CONTROL.
SEE CLOSE RESUME
Recalls on the 1988 Ford Bronco
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.
United States — NHTSA
96V071000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.
Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.
Canada — Transport Canada
Canada runs its own recall programme, and its campaigns do not
always mirror the American ones.
Recall 1995212834,368 units in Canada
Electrical
A SHORT CIRCUIT COULD DEVELOP IN THE IGNITION SWITCH THAT COULD LEAD TO OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN OF THE VEHICLE. THIS CONDITION MAY OCCUR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE OR UNATTENDED. CORRECTION: IGNITION SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED WITH A REVISED DESIGN SWITCH.
Recall 199000362,603 units in Canada
Fuel System
NOTE: THIS RECALL SUPERSEDES RECALL 88164. VEHICLES LOCATED IN THE YUKON, NOTHWEST TERRITORIES, ALBERTA, EASTERN BRITISH COLUMBIA, N.W. ONTARIO, MANITOBA AND SASKATCHEWAN. A SHORT, U-SHAPED NYLON FUEL TUBE (JUMPER TUBE) LOCATED ON THE LEFT-HAND FRAME RAIL CONNECTING THE FUEL PUMP TO THE FUEL FILTER COULD DEVELOP PIN HOLES IN THE TUBING WALL. IF THIS CONDITION SHOULD OCCUR, IT WOULD ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK AND A FIRE COULD RESULT. CORRECTION: A STEEL BRAIDED TEFLON FUEL SUPPLY LINE AND RELATED COMPONENTS WILL BE INSTALLED WHICH WILL GROUND THE FUEL LINE AND ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ELECTROSTATIC CHARGE. THE U-SHAPED NYLON JUMPER TUBE WILL BE ELIMINATED BY THIS REPLACEMENT FUEL SYSTEM.
Recall 198816448,466 units in Canada
Fuel System
A SHORT, U-SHAPED NYLON FUEL TUBE (JUMPER TUBE) LOCATED ON THE LEFT-HAND FRAME RAIL CONNECTING THE FUEL PUMP TO THE FUEL FILTER COULD DEVELOP PIN HOLES IN THE TUBING WALL. IF THIS CONDITION SHOULD OCCUR, IT WOULD ALLOW FUEL TO LEAK AND A FIRE COULD RESULT. CORRECTION: FUEL TUBE WILL BE REPLACED WITH ONE HAVING A KRAYTON SLEEVE.
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
Fruitland Park, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, AND FROM THE VENTS. CONSUMER PULLED OVER. THEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
NHTSA complaint #10104965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tucson, AZCrash2 injured
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVNG ABOUT 70 MPH, TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE GOODYEAR WRANGLER AT TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL TRUCK, WHICH FLIPPED AND ROLLED OVER. NOT ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT ON A 1988, FORD, BRONCO. TIRE SIZE 31X10.50R15. NOT SURE OF TIRE MILEAGE. *AK DUE TO THE TIRE FAILURE, 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #871445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ambler, PACrash
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
P300.020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE . RIGHT REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. VEHICLE STARTED SPINNING OUT CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #866843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Deptford, NJFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #535536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Long Beach, CAFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 60 MPH SPEEDED AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARMENT CAME AND THEY COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHERE THE FIRE HAD STARTED.
NHTSA complaint #823017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Deptford, NJFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE STALLED, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #822393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
Fruitland Park, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN, AND FROM THE VENTS. CONSUMER PULLED OVER. THEN, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
NHTSA complaint #10104965 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Exeter, MO
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDETERMINED SPEED VEHICLE STALLED, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC.
NHTSA complaint #10059742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 161,110 milesGainsville, FL
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE ENGINE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. *AK THREE ENGINES WERE REPLACED DUE TO FAULTY MANUFACTURING. IN TWO OF THE INCIDENTS, THE CONSUMER'S SON WAS ABLE TO REMOVE THE VEHICLE FROM THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT INJURY. BOTH ENGINES FAILED AFTER 50-60 MILES ON THEM. *PH
NHTSA complaint #10029512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 88,900 milesMagna, UT
TIRES:SIDEWALL
SIDEWALL BUBBLED OUT IN TWO PLACES.
NHTSA complaint #10025529 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Olympia, WA
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
THE VEHICLES ALTERNATOR BURNED UP, CONSUMER REPLACED ALTERNATOR AND COMPLETED WORK THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED, HOWEVER THE SECOND TIME THE DAMAGE WAS EXTENSIVE, CONSUMER IS REQUESTING FORD TO HELP IN THIS DEFECT. NLM
NHTSA complaint #560088 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Lancaster, CA
TIRES
LEFT FRONT TIRE WAS FOUND FLAT - SPARE PUT ON AND FLAT TIRE WAS TAKEN TO FIRESTONE DEALER AT 5110 WEST SAGINAW IN LANSING, MI - TIRE HAD A SPLIT RUNNING COMPLETELY AROUND THE INSIDE SIDEWALL, THE OTHER THREE TIRES HAD THE SAME SPLIT RUNNING COMPLETELY AROUND THE TIRE - THE DEALER STATED THAT THE TIRES WERE UNSAFE AND RECOMMENDED THAT THEY BE REPLACED - THE TIRES ALL HAD 8/32 TREAD REMAINING. I FEEL YOU SHOULD TAKE A LOOK AT ALL THE TIRES MADE AT THE DECATUR PLANT - ALSO I CONTACTED FIRESTONE SEVERAL TIME RIGHT AFTER I PURCHASED THESE TIRES TO TRY AND FIND OUT WANT THE PROPER INFLATION WAS FOR THESE TIRES ON MY BRONCO AND NONE OF THE PEOPLE I TALKED TO COULD TELL ME WHAT THE PROPER PRESSURE SHOULD BE SO I RAN THEM AT THE PRESSURES RECOMMENDED FOR THE STOCK TIRES. I FEEL THAT THESE TIRES SHOULD HAVE BEEN REPLACED AT NO COST TO ME, BUT THE ONLY CHIOCE I WAS GIVE WAS WARRANTY REPLACEMENT WHERE I HAD TO STILL PAY A PRORATED PRICE FOR THE REPLACEMENT TIRES.( DOT NUMBER: VDYK6TA057 TIRE SIZE: 32X11.5R15 )
NHTSA complaint #732271 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Tucson, AZCrash2 injured
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
WHILE DRIVNG ABOUT 70 MPH, TREAD ON THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE GOODYEAR WRANGLER AT TIRE CAME OFF. DRIVER WAS NOT ABLE TO CONTROL TRUCK, WHICH FLIPPED AND ROLLED OVER. NOT ORIGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT ON A 1988, FORD, BRONCO. TIRE SIZE 31X10.50R15. NOT SURE OF TIRE MILEAGE. *AK DUE TO THE TIRE FAILURE, 2 PEOPLE WERE INJURED. *SLC
NHTSA complaint #871445 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Blue Ridge, VA
STRUCTURE
I FOUNDED OUT SINCE 1987 FORD HAS A "STRUCTURAL STRESS CRACK"THAT APPEARS IN THE METAL ROOF PART OF THESES VEHICLES.THEY EVEN HAVE A BULLENTIN FOR MAKING REPAIRS BUT NO ONE WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS THAT COST $1,100.00 TO HAVE REPAIRED.THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT CAUSED BY USING CHEAP METAL AND ANY REPAIRS SHOULD BE PAIDED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY
NHTSA complaint #730178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Blue Ridge, VA
STRUCTURE
I FOUNDED OUT SINCE 1987 FORD HAS A "STRUCTURAL STRESS CRACK"THAT APPEARS IN THE METAL ROOF PART OF THESES VEHICLES.THEY EVEN HAVE A BULLENTIN FOR MAKING REPAIRS BUT NO ONE WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE REPAIRS THAT COST $1,100.00 TO HAVE REPAIRED.THIS IS A MANUFACTURE DEFECT CAUSED BY USING CHEAP METAL AND ANY REPAIRS SHOULD BE PAIDED BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY
NHTSA complaint #730178 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fortworth, TX
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
96 V 071 00/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A UNDERHOOD FIRE WHILE PARKED IN DRIVEWAY; DEALER/MFR;S NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS:
NHTSA complaint #868814 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Ambler, PACrash
TIRES:TREAD/BELT
P300.020; CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE . RIGHT REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM TIRE. VEHICLE STARTED SPINNING OUT CONTROL.
NHTSA complaint #866843 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
East Meadow, NY
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
PAINT PEELING AND FADING
NHTSA complaint #715772 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Hoschton, GA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40MPH HAD STARTED TO APPLY THE BRAKES TO SLOW DOWN, BUT BRAKES LOCKED UP. HAS HAPPENED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC OR JUST IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS. THEY HAD HEATED UP & SMOKE COULD BE SEEN. HAD TAKEN TO DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS & THE BRAKE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE SOLVED.
NHTSA complaint #841620 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Sturgis, MI
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHILE DRIVING AND SHIFTING TRANSMISSION, TRANSMISSION JUMPS OUT OF PARK.
NHTSA complaint #781980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Long Beach, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
INTERMITTENT STALLING.
NHTSA complaint #523741 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Deptford, NJFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #535536 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cuyahoga F, OH
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
SPRING INSIDE TAILGATE WINDOW RELEASED AS TAILGATE WAS LOWERED, CAUSING WINDOW TO SHATTER/BREAK.
NHTSA complaint #535167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Long Beach, CAFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ABOUT 60 MPH SPEEDED AND LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, THE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARMENT CAME AND THEY COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHERE THE FIRE HAD STARTED.
NHTSA complaint #823017 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
West Deptford, NJFire
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE STALLED, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE DEALER OR MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN NOTIFIED.
NHTSA complaint #822393 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mahopac FA, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
EXHAUST MANIFOLD FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #521677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Mahopac FA, NY
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
ENGINE FAILURES.
NHTSA complaint #521677 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Littleton, CO
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
FUEL PUMP CONNECTORS ARE LOOSENED, PUMP IS SPARKING.
NHTSA complaint #814456 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Miami, FLFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
THE ORIGINAL ALTERNATOR REPLACED DUE TO OVERCHARGING. SECOND ALTERNATOR WAS INSTALLED AND THEN HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. SHORTLY AFTER, THE SECOND ALTERNATOR AND ITS WIRES HEATED UP AND CAUGHT FIRE, WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED.
NHTSA complaint #521899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Cedarhurst, NYFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
ALTERNATOR FIRE.
NHTSA complaint #516438 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Brookfield, WIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
WAS DRIVING AND THE ALTERNATOR LIGHT CAME ON, PULLED TRUCK OVER, OPENED THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND IT WAS ON FIRE, TOOK TO DEALER AND HE INDICATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL ALTERNATOR NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #806365 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.