AI Damage1990 Ford Bronco II: common problems
Owners of the 1990 Ford Bronco II filed 26 complaints with NHTSA, most often about engine and cooling and service brakes. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 26
- involving a crash
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Engine and cooling 19% of all complaints
- 2 Service brakes 19% of all complaints
- 3 Powertrain 12% of all complaints
- 4 Tires 12% of all complaints
- 5 Electrical system 8% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel system 8% of all complaints
- 7 Seat belts 8% of all complaints
- 8 Equipment 4% of all complaints
- Engine and cooling: 5 complaints (19% of all).
- Service brakes: 5 complaints (19% of all).
- Powertrain: 3 complaints (12% of all).
- Tires: 3 complaints (12% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner.
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (8% of all).
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.9 L · petrol · 6 cyl
- automatic, 4-speed
- manual, 5-speed
Drive: RWD, AWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 26 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and cooling | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| Powertrain | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Tires | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Seat belts | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Equipment | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Seats | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Structure | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Visibility | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
During a cross country trip we experienced severe tire blow out on our left rear tire at 65 mph on georgia highway 70 outside dalton ga. The blow our cause our '90 ford bronco ii to go off the highway and roll 8 times travelling a total of 250 feet.
My last two alternators burst into flames. The mechanic who changed the last one said that he "has replaced hundreds" in the last ten years
Firestone tire experienced tread separation causing vehicle to rollover, consumer sustained injuries from accident.
However, the seperated tire tread put a significant dent in the right front quarter panel before I was able to stop the vehicle. This tire had good, thick tread, and because it was not one of the types in firestone's recent recall, I believed it to be safe.
(1)accelerator sticks when pressed to the floor merging into main traffic flow. Two occurrences with original part (est. 121000/123000 mileage) and one occurrence after replacement (est. 124500 mileage). (2) large chips of paint (approx. 6"x4") peel off during high winds and/or driving speed up to 65mph.
The driver side door mirror flops down is unusable when driving on the highway. This occurs above 55 mph. I am concerned this might cause an accident because you have to look behind you and take your eyes of the road to see if it is clear to change lanes.
The driver side seat keeps repeatedly breaking. I am not a large person I do not weigh a lot and I am not rough or clumsy so I do not understand why the seat keeps beaking.
This pipe has rotted and is leaking and could cause a fire. Ford has no suggestions on how to repair.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 7,316 of 36,656 model years in the NHTSA data (top 20% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Bronco II has 17 complaints (13 years in the data). This year has 26, above average.
What to check before buying
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Tires. Tire age by DOT code, bulges, wear pattern.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 1990 Ford Bronco II?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: engine and cooling, service brakes, powertrain. Total complaints: 26. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: smoke, burning smell, fire (27%), brake failure (12%), seat belts (12%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 1990 Ford Bronco II?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 1990 Ford Bronco II from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 1990 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-05.