1987 Ford BroncoProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 34 owner complaints about the 1987 Ford Bronco, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 1 safety recall.

CarFlaw IndexSolid year47% below the Bronco median · #11 of 17 years by complaints

Safety recalls1Free fix at dealers Owner complaints3417 with a crash, fire or injury Top problem16Electrical system

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through March 20, 2003. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1987 Ford Bronco has problems

34 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

16Electrical system8 crash/fire/injury

6Engine and engine cooling2 crash/fire/injury

6Fuel system, gasoline3 crash/fire/injury

4Vehicle speed control2 crash/fire/injury

3Service brakes, hydraulic1 crash/fire/injury

2Wheels

2Equipment

2Power train

2Tires

76 other systems4 crash/fire/injury

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.

Complaints by system
System	Complaints	Crash, fire or injury
Electrical system	16	8
Engine and engine cooling	6	2
Fuel system, gasoline	6	3
Vehicle speed control	4	2
Service brakes, hydraulic	3	1
Wheels	2	1
Equipment	2	0
Power train	2	0
Tires	2	1
6 other systems	7	4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

1 recall

1987 Ford Bronco recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

no report yet

Delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Recall 87V-139 · Sep 4, 1987 · 3,600,000 vehicles

Risk. COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.

Best & worst years

1987 vs. every other Bronco year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Bronco median. How we score

2 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 2 1 4 10 20 27 34 52 84 56 32 37 40 91 94 81 1 2 2 23138923685 57 11

'67'69'70'71'72'75'76'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'84'85'86'87'88'89'90'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'21'22'23'24'25'26

Avoid
Caution
Solid
Best
Not rated

In owners' words

What Bronco owners report

Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

I HAVE A 1987 FORD BRONCO XLT THAT I BOUGHT FROM J AND L AUTO. IT HAS NO BRAKE LIGHTS, NO BLINKERS AND THE HEAD LIGHTS ARE STUCK ON BRIGHT. THE BACK WINDOW IS PLEXY GLASS, ALSO NONE OF THE HOSE ARE HOOKED UP UNDER THE HOOD. THIS MAKES IT RUN REAL RICH AND THE OIL LEAKS SO BAD THAT EVERY WEEK I HAVE…
Complaint 10000948 · Jan 11, 2003

IGNITION SWITCH LOCKS IN STARTER AND OFF MODE; FORD STARED MOTORS OVERHEATED TO POINT WHERE THEY SMOKED, BURNT/MELTED. *AK
Complaint 983652 · Apr 26, 1996

THIS TIME JUST ABOUT EXIT FROM FREEWAY IT WAS AT NIGHT TIME WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH VEHICLE STALLED. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY, NEXT DAY, ENGINE STARTED AND TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND HE COULD NOT FIND THE CAUSE. CONSUMER FELT THIS HAPPENED WHEN IGNITION MODULE GOT HOT.*AK THE VEHICLE USED TO RESTART…
Complaint 873954 · Oct 26, 2000

Own a 1987 Bronco?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.