FaultScore

1989 Ford Bronco electrical problems

35 of the 118 complaints about the 1989 Ford Bronco are about the electrical system — 30% of everything reported for this model year.

F

35

Complaints

0

Crashes

17

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Ignition 10 28.6%
Front Underhood 7 20.0%
Switch 4 11.4%
Alternator/Generator/Regulator 3 8.6%
Wiring 2 5.7%
Module 2 5.7%
Cables 2 5.7%
12V/24V/48V Battery 1 2.9%
Horn 1 2.9%
Interior/Under Dash 1 2.9%

Electrical System across every Ford Bronco year

1986 17 6.1%
1987 19 6.8%
1988 21 7.5%
1989 35 12.5%
1990 21 7.5%
1991 13 4.7%
1994 10 3.6%
1995 15 5.4%
1996 10 3.6%
2021 29 10.4%
2022 38 13.6%
2023 22 7.9%
2024 18 6.5%
2025 11 3.9%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Mobile, AL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

CONSUMER PARKED THE VEHICLE AT A RESTAURANT AND WENT INSIDE TO EAT. WITHIN TEN MINUTES THE CONSUMER NOTICED FIRE TRUCKS COMING INTO THE RESTAURANT'S PARKING LOT. CONSUMER WENT OUTSIDE TO INVESTIGATE WHAT WAS GOING ON, AND NOTICED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CAUSED THE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #10075519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lawrenceville, GA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING OVER NIGHT WHEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED STEERING COLUMN AND DASH PLAYED A MAJOR PART IN FIRE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #8018306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Fremont, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

WITH NO WARNING MY BRONCO DIED WHILE I WAS TRAVELING AT 45 MPH IN WORK TRAFFIC. I HAD TO PUSH THE BRONCO OUT OF TRAFFIC, AND THEN WAIT 2 HRS. FOR A TOW TRUCK TO TOW ME TO A MECHANIC, WITHA REPAIR BILL OF $184.00 TO REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION MODULE. I WANT TO BE REIMBURSED $184.00. THIS SHOULD NOT HAVE FAILED - I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED!!!!!

NHTSA complaint #761538 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Honolulu, HI Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

VEHICLE HESITATED AND SMOKE COMING FROM HOOD AREA. VEHICLE BURNED TO THE GROUND.

NHTSA complaint #8006253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Hono Lulu, HI Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

CONSUMER EXPERIENCED SOME ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT COULD NOT SAY WHAT EXACTLY CAUSED THE FIRE.*AK. CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE STALLED 3 TIMES PREVIOUSLY.

NHTSA complaint #8005730 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Oklahoma City, OK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

VEHICLE STALLS AT ANY TIME/ ANY SPEED. DEALER IS REPLACING IGNITION FOR THIRD TIME.

NHTSA complaint #8004122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bountiful, UT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS, AFTER THE VEHICLE IS ALLOWED TO COOL OFF THE VEHICLE STARTS AGAIN, CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO A FAULTY TFI MODULE. NLM

NHTSA complaint #558841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Little Rock, AK

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

IGNITION COIL, IGNITION SWITCH,IGNITION CONTROL MODULE IN DISTRIBUTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED MANY TIMES AND CAR STILL STALLS WHEN TEMPERTURES REACH WARM DEGREES OUTSIDE.

NHTSA complaint #739674 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bountiful, UT

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE

VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY WHILE DRIVING ESPECIALLY ON HOT DAYS, AFTER THE VEHICLE IS ALLOWED TO COOL OFF THE VEHICLE STARTS AGAIN, CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS PROBLEM IS RELATED TO A FAULTY TFI MODULE. NLM

NHTSA complaint #558841 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

So.san Francisco, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

MY TRUCK STALLED ON THE FREEWAY TWICE.ONCE ON THE BAY BRIDGE,THE OTHER TIME ON I280.BOTH TIMES MY TRUCK WAS RUNNING FINE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT WOULD JUST SHUT STALL.THE TIME ON THE BRIDGE WAS VERY TERRIFYING,IF TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY THERE DEFINITELY WOULD HAVE BEEN A COLLISION.I HOPE SOMEBODY DOESN'T GET HURT BEFORE FORD DECIDES TO RECTIFY THE SITUATION.

NHTSA complaint #734469 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

NO SUMMARY

NHTSA complaint #734162 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

East Norwich, NY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

THE CONSUMER HAS BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH ALTERNATOR HARNESS. WHEN STARTED VEHICLE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. WHEN THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD, VEHICLE WAS IN FLAMES. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT WITH AN EXTINGUISHER. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #832236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ashland, KS Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

CONSUMER PARKED VEHICLE IN DRIVEWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 4:30 PM AND AT APPROXIMATELY 3:06 AM CONSUMER WAS INFORMED BY NEIGHBOR OF VEHICLE BEING ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED TO PUT OUT THE FIRE. NINE DAYS LATER, CONSUMER RECEIVED MANUFACTURER'S. RECALL NOTICE # 95S-28 / NHTSA RECALL # 96V- 071, IGNITION SWITCH. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #828273 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Jacksonville, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

THERE WAS A RECALL LISTED ON THE IGNITION SWITCH 97V-071. BUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THIS TRUCK COULD HAVE BEEN PART OF THE RECALL. THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT ON FIRE THAT WAS CAUSE BY THE ENGINE OVERHEATING.

NHTSA complaint #822527 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Chicago, IL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

WIRING HARNESS HAS OVERHEATED AND BURNED SEVERAL TIMES CAUSING ALTERNATOR AND OTHER COMPONENTS TO BURN AND MELT AS WELL.

NHTSA complaint #526181 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bristol, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

HAD RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE (#96V071000) IN THE MAIL. HAD CALLED DEALER FOR APPOINTMENT & TOOK VEHICLE IN. DEALER DID NOT REPAIR VEHICLE AT ALL. NOT SATISFIED.

NHTSA complaint #820070 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Lyman, WY Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE THE HARNESS TO THE ALTERNATOR CAUGHT FIRE. THIS PART WAS ON RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #812651 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Aliquippa, PA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

OWNER STATES THAT AFTER DRIVING VEHICLE 10 MIN LATER VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE. OWNER NOTES THAT FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT MAY HAVE BEEN AN ELECTRICAL FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #812352 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Healdsburg, PA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

AFTER HAVING IGNITION SWTICH REPLACED UNDER RECALL # 95S28, ACCESSORY FUNCTION DOES NOT OPERATE. DEALER CANNOT MAKE SWTICH FUNCTION.

NHTSA complaint #808100 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

BAY Shore, NY

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:HORN

HORN RELAY SWITCH DEFECTIVE PRIOR TO RECALL.

NHTSA complaint #601980 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Apple Valley, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

BATTERIES CONTINUALLY LEAK ACID, CAUSING CORROSION DAMAGE TO EMISSIONS EVAPORATOR CANISTER, WIRES, STARTER SOLENOID, BATTERY CABLES AND BOTTOM OF RADIATOR.

NHTSA complaint #507878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Apple Valley, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

BATTERIES CONTINUALLY LEAK ACID, CAUSING CORROSION DAMAGE TO EMISSIONS EVAPORATOR CANISTER, WIRES, STARTER SOLENOID, BATTERY CABLES AND BOTTOM OF RADIATOR.

NHTSA complaint #507878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Apple Valley, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY:SOLENOID

BATTERIES CONTINUALLY LEAK ACID, CAUSING CORROSION DAMAGE TO EMISSIONS EVAPORATOR CANISTER, WIRES, STARTER SOLENOID, BATTERY CABLES AND BOTTOM OF RADIATOR.

NHTSA complaint #507878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Apple Valley, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

BATTERIES CONTINUALLY LEAK ACID, CAUSING CORROSION DAMAGE TO EMISSIONS EVAPORATOR CANISTER, WIRES, STARTER SOLENOID, BATTERY CABLES AND BOTTOM OF RADIATOR.

NHTSA complaint #507878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bradenton, FL Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN.

NHTSA complaint #802355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pineville, LA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

PARKED VEHICLE SMOKE CAME FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, RESULTING IN VEHCLE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #986253 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vallejo, CA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

ELECTRICAL FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #504311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vallejo, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

SPARK PLUGS REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #504311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Vallejo, CA

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES

BATTERY CABLES REPLACED.

NHTSA complaint #504311 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Morton, WA Fire

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH

THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO AN ELECRICAL FIRE THAT STARTED IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND UNDER THE DASH. PLEASE DESCRIBE.

NHTSA complaint #983217 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1989 Ford Bronco problems

← Full 1989 Ford Bronco report