21 of the 77 complaints about the 1990 Ford Bronco are about the electrical system — 27% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 140,000 miles.
21
Complaints
0
Crashes
12
Fires
0
Injuries
Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
1990 FORD BRONCO IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. (SAFETY RECALL #96V071000 OF NOV95) FORD DEALER SAID NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE AND CHARGED ME $476.00. I CHECKED THE FORD WEBSITE AND THEY ONLY LIST RECALLS FROM JAN96, IS THERE A STAUTE OF LIMITATIONS ON SAFTEY RECALLS AND HOW LONG?
NHTSA complaint #10068083 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1990 FORD BRONCO I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN TO JIM DOYLE FORD ON DELAWARE AVENUE IN KENMORE N.Y, LAST WEEK. THE IGNITION SWITCH BROKE, AND WAS TO BE REPLACED VIA RECALL. THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED, AND I SMELLED FIRE.SAW SMOKE. TURNED KEY OFF TO NO AVAIL, IMMEDIATELY RAN IN THE HOUSE, GRABBED FIRE EXTINGUISHER, CALLED FIRE DEPT (CAR WAS PARKED BETWEEN 2 HOUSES) AND RAN OUT AND CUT BATTERY CABLE. AFTER DETERMINING PROBLEM (DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH) I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO JIM DOYLE FORD. THEY OFFERED THE FREE REPAIR, AND CALLED ME STATING THAT SOMETHING INSIDE THE IGNITION COLUMN WAS BROKEN, AND THEY WOULD CHARGE ME 60 DOLLARS PLUS TAX JUST TO DIAGNOSE. I DECLINED, WENT TO THE DEALER, AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS JUST HANGING OUT FROM THE HARNESS UNDER THE DASH, THE MECHANIC USED A SCREWDRIVER TO PUSH THE SWITCH AND STARTED THE VEHICLE FOR ME. I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE TO BUFFALO KEY AND LOCK, AND THE TECHNICIAN (RON CHASE) FOUND THAT THE INTERNAL MECHANISM IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAD BROKEN, AND HE STATED THAT IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM SINCE THE DEFECTIVE (RECALLED) IGNITIONS GENERALLY MELT AND WELD THEMSELVES IN THE "START" POSITION, WHEN THE DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO TURN IT OFF IT CAUSES THE RACK AND RODS INSIDE OF THE STEERING COLUMN TO BREAK, RENDERING THE IGNITION KEY ETC INOPERABLE. THIS IS DIRECTLY ATTRIBUTABLE TO THE DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH THAT WAS RECALLED. FORD STATED THAT THEY WOULD NOT PAY FOR THIS SINCE THE ONLY THING COVERED WAS THE IGNITION SWITCH ITSELF. $295.00 LATER, MY IGNITION SWITCH AND INTERNAL WORKS ARE REPLACED, THEY BROKE DUE TO A RECALLED ITEM COVERED BY FORD, AND FORD WILL NOT RE-IMBURSE ME. THIS IS UNFAIR, MY TRUCK IS IN EXCELLENT CONDITION, EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS DIRECTLY THE CAUSE OF THE OTHER DAMAGE. PLUS, MY VEHICLE WAS IN THE DEALER SHOP FOR 3-4 HOURS AND I GOT IT BACK IN DEPLORABLE CONDITION (OIL/GREASE ALL OVER IT, SEATS AND DASH COVERED WITH GREASE, STEERING WHEEL COVER TORN OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10053151 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
1990 FORD BRONCO DESTROYED IN FIRE. SPONTANEOUS FIRE ORGINATED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR UNDER DASH INSIDE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED ON STREET. VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING AT THE TIME. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #10000930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
1990 FORD BRONCO DESTROYED IN FIRE. SPONTANEOUS FIRE ORGINATED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR UNDER DASH INSIDE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED ON STREET. VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING AT THE TIME. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #10000930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1990 FORD BRONCO DESTROYED IN FIRE. SPONTANEOUS FIRE ORGINATED IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT OR UNDER DASH INSIDE VEHICLE WHILE PARKED ON STREET. VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING AT THE TIME. VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS.
NHTSA complaint #10000930 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
CONSUMER STATES THE THICK FILM IGNITION MODULE IS NOT USABLE UNLESS THE TEMPERATURE IS 70 DEGRESS OR COOLER, OTHERWISE THERE IS AN UNCONTROLLABLE STALL THAT OCCURS, CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS TO TRY AND GET THE PART REPAIRED OR REPLACED.
NHTSA complaint #566622 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:MODULE
VEHICLE STALLS INTERMITTENTLY AT ANY SPEED/IN WARM WEATHER/OR ON INCLINES, AND DOWN GRADES. DEALER REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP, WHICH DID NOT REMEDY THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT FORD HAS NEVER PROVIDED ANY DATA OR SERVICE TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM-BY THEIR USE OF DISTRIBUTOR MOUNTED THICK FILM IGNITION MODULE. (TFI PROBLEM) THE VEHICLE WILL CRANK BUT WON'T START. *SCC
NHTSA complaint #8011624 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
A VEHICLE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE DASH WHILE DRIVING. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION, AND PLEASE FILL IN VEHICLE MILEAGE.
NHTSA complaint #8011519 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
ENTIRE LEFT SIDE OF DASH COMPLETED BURNT/MELTED. TOTAL BURN DAMAGE TO LEFT FRONT SEAT, LEFT INTERIOR OF DOOR, ROOF, FLOOR. NO DAMAGE TO ENGINE.
NHTSA complaint #734379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
NO SUMMARY
NHTSA complaint #733718 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS UNAWARE OF THE CAUSE. ALSO, WAS NOT SURE IF THERE WAS A RECALL, BUT WILL HAVE THE INSURANCE COMPANY LOOK INTO IT. *AK
NHTSA complaint #864260 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY BURNED. OWNER BELIEVED THAT FIRE STARTED IN THE IGNITION SWITCH AREA. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.
NHTSA complaint #863482 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE.
NHTSA complaint #718221 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
TURN SIGNALS FAILED DUE TO BLOWN FUSES.
NHTSA complaint #529922 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
FUSES TO BACK UP LIGHTS FAILED.
NHTSA complaint #529922 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
RECALL # 96V071000, OWNER IS EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS WITH STEERING COLUMN DUE TO RECALL WORK PERFORMED ON IGNITION SWITCH. OWNER STATES THAT THERE WAS NO PROBLEM WITH STEERING UNTIL AFTER RECALL WORK WAS PERFORMED.
NHTSA complaint #820904 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
TWELVE HOURS AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED THE ELECTRIAL HARNESS CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDERNEATH THE REAR TAIL, CAUSING THE CHROME BUMPER AND RUBBER STEP TO MELT.
NHTSA complaint #808210 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE RIGHT HAND DASH. TURNED THE ENGINE OFF AND ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE THERE WERE FLAMES OVER THE WINDSHIELD.
NHTSA complaint #808223 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
BATTERY BEING DRAINED.
NHTSA complaint #506218 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
VEHICLE PARKED FOR HALF AN HOUR AND CAUGHT ON FIRE. DIAGNOSIS: ALTERNATOR. TT
NHTSA complaint #972839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH
UNDER THE DASH FIRE, WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE, ELECTRICAL SHORT, WILL PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. TT
NHTSA complaint #961427 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.