1986 Ford Bronco II: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1986 Ford Bronco II. The newest campaign is 88V145000. NHTSA received the report on 2 Sep 1988. The NHTSA record gives the component Seats. NHTSA has 33 complaints on file for this model year. 10 NHTSA investigations name this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 88V145000, in the NHTSA record

Install a fuse within the power lumbar electrical circuit.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 30 Sep 2026. Recall file through 30 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

4 campaigns, newest first. 3,728,450 units in total.

88V1450002 Sep 1988Seats
87V1390004 Sep 1987Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
85V13000018 Oct 1985Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
85V11600024 Sep 1985Electrical System / Wiring / Front Underhood

88V145000Received 2 Sep 1988. 90,000 units.
Seats
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Wiring for the power lumbar seat system was routed directly beneath the seat cushion springs and may be abraded by the springs.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
This could result in a short circuit which may createsufficient heat to start a fire in the seat cushion pad and/or trim cover.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Install a fuse within the power lumbar electrical circuit.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 13 Oct 1988.
87V139000Received 4 Sep 1987. 3,600,000 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Spring lock fuel line coupling may not be properly engaged.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
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 fire risk.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Install retainer clips over the couplings to prevent coupling separation and fuel leakage.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 12 Oct 1987.
85V130000Received 18 Oct 1985. 30,564 units.
Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Nylon fuel lines on the fuel return side of the fuel pressure regulator assembly may crack. Consequence of defect: fuel line could leak and, if an ignition source is present, create the potential for a fire.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Replace nylon fuel hoses with rubber hoses.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.
85V116000Received 24 Sep 1985. 7,886 units.
Electrical System / Wiring / Front Underhood
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The electronic engine control wiring harness insulation may be damaged due to copper spikes produced during the welding of its wires. This creates a potential for a short circuit between the wires which energize the fuel pump, causing some fuel injectors to open, discharging fuel into the engine. Consequence of defect: fuel discharged into the engine would eventually leak through the exhaust system to the ground. This could result in a fire if a source of ignition is present.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Repair wiring harness, check engine and catalyst for damage.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

33 complaints, 40 component mentions.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. This model year has fewer than 50 component mentions, so the table shows the number of mentions only.

1986 Ford Bronco II: component mentions in complaints
Component		Mentions
Engine and Engine Cooling		9
Electrical System		9
Seat Belts		8
Vehicle Speed Control		3
Seats		3
Fuel System, Gasoline		2
Tires		2
Equipment		1
Steering		1
Visibility		1

The table shows the 10 components with the most mentions, of 11.

Complaints that report a crash: 4
Complaints that report a fire: 16
Injuries in the complaints: 3
Deaths in the complaints: 0
Date of the newest complaint: 7 Jul 2019

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Complaints about the 1986 Ford Bronco II, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 1996, with 10 complaints.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 1986 Ford Bronco II
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
DP97006	Defect petition	VEHICLE ROLLOVER	Structure	3 Dec 1997	5 May 1999
PE92029	Preliminary evaluation	WHL SEPARATION/TORQUE LOSS	Suspension	16 Mar 1992	31 Aug 1992
PE90117	Preliminary evaluation	FUEL TANK CORROSION	Vehicle Speed Control / Linkages	12 Sep 1990	27 Dec 1990
EA90042	Engineering analysis	THROTTLE STICKING	Vehicle Speed Control / Linkages	31 Aug 1990	31 Dec 1991
EA89013	Engineering analysis	ROLLOVER PROPENSITY	Suspension	9 Feb 1989	31 Oct 1990
EA88033	Engineering analysis	UNDER SEAT FIRES	Electrical System	11 May 1988	23 Jan 1989	88V145000
PE88008	Preliminary evaluation	LUMBAR SWTCH HRNESS FIRES	Electrical System	18 Nov 1987	11 May 1988
EA87020	Engineering analysis	ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES	Vehicle Speed Control / Linkages	7 May 1987	24 Sep 1987	87V139000
PE87020	Preliminary evaluation	ENG. AND UNDER DASH FIRES	Vehicle Speed Control / Linkages	6 Feb 1987	26 May 1987
DP86004	Defect petition	INCORRECT TIRES	Tires	21 Jan 1986	31 Mar 1986

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

19820
19842
19850
19864
19873
19880
19891
19901
19920
19930
19940
19960

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 1986 Ford Bronco IIThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1986 Ford Bronco II: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/ford/bronco-ii/1986/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 30 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 30 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 30 Sep 2026
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: FORD MOTOR COMPANY

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1986 Ford Bronco II?: 3,728,450 units in 4 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Ford Bronco II have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the Ford Bronco II, model years 1982 to 1996. 4 of them name the 1986 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 1986 Ford Bronco II name most often?: Engine and Engine Cooling: 9 of 40 component mentions.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1986 Ford Bronco II open?: No. Each of the 10 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.