Ford Bronco Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Ford Bronco model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 1997 drew the fewest (1) and the 2021 the most (229).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 Among the fewest complaints |
1 | 0 | Fuel system | — | — |
| 1998 Among the fewest complaints |
2 | 0 | Air bags | — | — |
| 1999 Among the fewest complaints |
2 | 0 | Electrical system | — | — |
| 2026 Still collecting reports |
8 | 9 | Electrical system | — | 15–20 |
| 1986 | 27 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 11–17 |
| 1991 | 32 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 12–14 |
| 1987 | 34 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 11–15 |
| 1992 | 37 | 2 | Structure | — | 12–14 |
| 1993 | 40 | 5 | Service brakes | — | 12–14 |
| 1988 | 52 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 11–15 |
| 2025 Still collecting reports |
53 | 19 | Electrical system | — | 15–20 |
| 1990 | 56 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 12–14 |
| 2024 Still collecting reports |
77 | 16 | Unknown or other | — | 15–20 |
| 1996 | 81 | 1 | Vehicle speed control | — | 12–14 |
| 1989 | 84 | 2 | Electrical system | — | 11–15 |
| 1994 Among the most complaints |
91 | 3 | Service brakes | — | 13–14 |
| 1995 Among the most complaints |
94 | 1 | Service brakes | — | 13–14 |
| 2023 | 227 | 18 | Visibility/wiper | — | 15–20 |
| 2021 Among the most complaints |
229 | 20 | Engine | — | 17–21 |
| 2022 | 379 | 23 | Visibility/wiper | — | 15–20 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Ford Bronco years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2021 Ford Bronco: 229 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 69 (30%); Electrical system 29 (13%); Suspension 24 (10%).
Reports mention 6 crashes, 3 fires, 7 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 25,500 miles. 20 recall campaigns listed.
1995 Ford Bronco: 94 complaints
Most-reported: Service brakes 34 (36%); Electrical system 14 (15%); Vehicle speed control 14 (15%).
Reports mention 7 crashes, 18 fires, 3 injuries, 2 deaths. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 127,000 miles. 1 recall campaign listed.
1994 Ford Bronco: 91 complaints
Most-reported: Service brakes 40 (44%); Electrical system 10 (11%); Vehicle speed control 9 (10%).
Reports mention 6 crashes, 12 fires, 3 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 130,000 miles. 3 recall campaigns listed.
The Ford Bronco years with the fewest complaints
1998 Ford Bronco: 2 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 1 (50%); Visibility 1 (50%).
Reports mention 1 injury. 0 recall campaigns listed.
1999 Ford Bronco: 2 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 1 (50%); Engine and engine cooling 1 (50%); Equipment 1 (50%).
Reports mention 1 fire. 0 recall campaigns listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Ford Bronco owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2025 | 53 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | — |
| 2024 | 77 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 6,000 |
| 2023 | 227 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 11,000 |
| 2022 | 379 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 27,800 |
| 2021 | 229 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 25,500 |
| 1999 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 81 | 6 | 23 | 6 | 2 | 120,000 |
| 1995 | 94 | 7 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 127,000 |
| 1994 | 91 | 6 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 130,000 |
| 1993 | 40 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1992 | 37 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1991 | 32 | 1 | 10 | 2 | 3 | — |
| 1990 | 56 | 3 | 13 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1989 | 84 | 2 | 18 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1988 | 52 | 5 | 21 | 8 | 0 | — |
| 1987 | 34 | 3 | 12 | 2 | 10 | — |
| 1986 | 27 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 0 | — |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Ford Bronco recalls
- FORD/ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION (1988–1991 model years; 7,900,000 vehicles across all models; filed Apr 1996; 96V071000)
- SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (1994–1996 model years; 4,500,000 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 2005; 05V388000)
- SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (1993 model year; 3,600,000 vehicles across all models; filed Aug 2007; 07V336000)
- FUEL:FUEL LINES:METALLIC (1986–1987 model years; 3,600,000 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 1987; 87V139000)
- Rearview Camera Image May Not Display (2021–2024 model years; 1,076,138 vehicles across all models; filed May 2025; 25V315000)
All 65 Ford Bronco recall campaigns · Ford Bronco problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Ford Bronco years FAQ
Which Ford Bronco year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 1997 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (1). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Ford Bronco years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2021, 1995 and 1994 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the electrical system. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Ford Bronco problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the electrical system (273 of 1,606 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Ford Bronco have?
NHTSA lists 65 recall campaigns covering the Ford Bronco. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Ford Bronco recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.