1986 Ford Bronco problems & reliability
27 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 1986 Ford Bronco. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several vehicles.
3 complaints report injuries (3 injured).
Federal crash records (FARS 2020–2023): 1986 Ford Bronco vehicles were involved in 1 fatal crash with 1 occupant death. Involvement counts are not adjusted for how many are on the road and do not imply fault or a vehicle defect.
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System → | 13 | 48% |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 4 | 15% |
| Seat Belts | 3 | 11% |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 3 | 11% |
| Tires | 3 | 11% |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 2 | 7% |
| Structure | 2 | 7% |
| Suspension | 2 | 7% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 2 | 7% |
| Steering | 1 | 4% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“We have spend more than 500.00 on part for this truck it just keep stopping for no reason, shop people say its the fuel system, it has been replaced 3 times. Still it stops they do not know except the fuel system. We have been strained about 5 or 6 times most times late at night. Have been tow home about 6 or 7…”
Fuel System, Gasoline · filed Dec 3, 2004
“Right rear tire had been repaired with four string-plug only repairs. There was no patch on the inner-liner as recommended by the rma. *la as a result of the improper plug-alone repairs, air was allowed to migrate into the carcass of the tire; resulting on a tread separation. While driving the right rear tire blewout…”
Tires · filed Jun 8, 2004
“The tread unzipped from the tire identical to that of the firestone defect, causing my bronco ii to lose control and flip three times into oncoming traffic. *ak”
Tires · filed Jul 22, 2002
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Federal defect investigations
- FUEL TANK CORROSION
Preliminary Evaluation PE90117 · opened Sep 12, 1990 · closed Dec 27, 1990
Technical service bulletins
18 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 1986 Ford Bronco. The 10 most recent:
Information regarding transmission fluid usage charts. *slc
01157 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 6, 2001
Some vehicles may exhibit heater core leaks. *slc
01156 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 6, 2001
Information regarding the new transmission cooler flusher- service tip. *mjs
0015 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jan 10, 2000
Subject on a wire harness terminal repair kit available for repairing electrical wiring harnesses. *tt
99222 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Oct 18, 1999
Information on identifying non-approved / alternate refrigerants which could cause safety, and performance concerns if installed in ford a/c systems. *tt
99196 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Sep 20, 1999
Information on the new flush and fill tool available through rotunda. *tt
99152 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 26, 1999
Ford motor company has released a new electrical grease ( f8az - 19g208-aa ) to reduce the possibility of moisture corrosion at the terminals. *yc
98246 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Dec 7, 1998
Information on a new transmission fluid usage chart. *yc
9888 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 27, 1998
Information on tire company telephone numbers for customer assistance. *yc
9852 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Apr 13, 1998
Information on a buzzing or rattle noise from the exhaust system. *tt
9864 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Mar 30, 1998
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
No NHTSA recall campaigns name the 1986 Ford Bronco in our current data. Recalls may apply only to certain VIN ranges — always confirm with a VIN check.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 1986 Ford Bronco?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.