Selling a Ford Bronco II, running or not

The youngest Bronco II is a 1990, and the last ones were built in January of that year. NHTSA holds only 205 complaints on it, but 72 of those report a fire, and the truck spent years under federal review for rollovers.

A short SUV built on the Ranger

Ford built the Bronco II beside the Ranger at its Louisville, Kentucky, plant from January 1983 to January 1990. It came only as a three-door wagon. NHTSA describes a body-on-frame truck with a 94-inch wheelbase, a 56.9-inch track, coil springs in front and leaf springs in back.

• 1984-1985: a carbureted 2.8 Cologne V6 with 115 hp. Every truck through 1986 had four-wheel drive.
• 1986: a fuel-injected 2.9 V6 with 140 hp replaced it. Wikipedia lists a Mitsubishi 2.3 turbodiesel as optional for 1986-1987, though EPA records show a diesel Bronco II as early as 1985.
• 1987: a two-wheel-drive version was added, by NHTSA's account.
• 1989: a restyle to match that year's Ranger.

NHTSA counted 762,976 sold in the U.S. over the seven model years. The best year was 1988, at 147,725. For 1991 the larger Explorer took its place.

Fires: fuel couplings, fuel lines and seat wiring

About one complaint in three reports a fire. Several separate faults were behind them:

• Spring-lock fuel couplings. NHTSA's PE87-020 on engine and under-dash fires in 1984-1986 trucks found couplings that had come apart and released gasoline through the engine bay. Engineering analysis EA87-020 then merged three fire reviews on 1986 Bronco IIs and Rangers. It named the couplings as the main cause and led to 87V139, a Ford-wide coupling recall.
• Nylon fuel return lines, 1986. Recall 85V130 swapped nylon return lines that could crack and leak for rubber hoses. Its 30,564 count covers 1986 Rangers as well as Bronco IIs.
• Engine wiring, 1986. Recall 85V116: welding left copper spikes that could cut through the harness insulation. The campaign's 7,886 count includes 1986 Rangers too. A short could run the fuel pump and open injectors.
• Power lumbar seats. PE88-008 began with twelve reports from Ford of fires under the seat on 1986-1987 trucks. It went on to EA88-033 and recall 88V145, which added a fuse to wiring routed straight under the seat springs.

Owners name other sources too. One 1988 owner wrote that an exhaust leak "melted plastic fuel lines and started fire under vehicle." A 1990 owner said two alternators in a row burst into flames.

The rollover reviews

A 1988 petition, DP88-020, asked NHTSA to look at rollovers on the 1984 Bronco II. The agency opened EA89-013 on February 9, 1989, covering 1984-1989 trucks. When it closed on October 31, 1990, its peer analysis had found the Bronco II's rollover rate similar to other SUVs.

A second petition came in December 1997. NHTSA denied it on May 14, 1999. In that denial, the agency said the truck's rollover complaint rate was "much lower than those of many of the peer vehicles." It added that rollover complaints dropped sharply after EA89-013 closed. One recall touches the handling warning itself. Under 87V070, owners of 17,420 Bronco IIs and Rangers from 1987 were mailed new sun visor sleeves because the handling and maneuverability sticker did not meet the rules for permanent adhesion.

Owners' own rollover reports are hard reading. One 1989 owner said the roof buckled "like an aluminum soda can" after a single roll on gravel.

The other recalls

• 84V023, 1984: front locking hub cams that weren't heat treated properly could crack when four-wheel drive engaged.
• 83V134, 1984: shoulder belt D-ring bolts weren't anchored strongly enough to meet the federal standard.
• 89V109, 1989: missing retaining keys could let the front wheel bearing nut loosen, and in the worst case the wheel and hub could come off. A 1988 owner pointed out that the recall covered only the 1989.
• 91V189, 1990: on automatics, the park pawl may not catch the park gear, so a truck that looks parked can roll. NHTSA revisited it under RQ97-015 from 1997 to 1999.
• 87V039, 1987: 84 trucks with aluminum wheels got the wrong lug nuts.

Complaints by model year

As of October 10, 2026. A recall listed under two years counts in both rows.

Fix or sell?

Our sources hold no Bronco II repair costs. A written quote, set against the price a working Bronco II of your year fetches, is the only honest comparison. If it has burned, read selling a fire-damaged car. If it has been parked for years, car sitting for years covers what to check first.

How the sale goes

1. Note the year and engine, whether it's a 4x4, and the miles if known.
2. Ask for an offer online, or call (877) 421-6008.
3. Explain where it's parked: a yard, a barn, a driveway or a lot. Say whether it rolls and whether the tires hold air.
4. Don't strip it. Leave the engine, transfer case and wheels on. If anything is already pulled, tell us; what's missing shapes the offer.
5. For the paperwork, the tow operator takes the title and checks your ID. Each state handles plates its own way; see after you sell.

No title? Read selling a junk car without a title. Related Fords: the Ranger, the Explorer and the Bronco, or all Ford models.