Complaints
43
Crashes
5
Fires
9
Injuries
5
Fatalities
—
Recalls
0
Worst 1986 Ford Bronco Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
#16 complaints
Electrical System:Ignition
Fires:1
#24 complaints
Tire Defects
Crash-related:4
#33 complaints
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1986 Ford Bronco.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System:Ignition | 6 | — | 1 | — | |
| Tire Defects | 4 | 4 | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 3 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash | 3 | — | 3 | — | |
| Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly | 3 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical System:Wiring | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Gasoline Fuel System | 2 | — | 1 | — | |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 1 | — | 1 | — | |
| Electrical System:Ignition:Switch | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wiring & Fuses | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Body Structure | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Structure:Body:Tailgate | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Front:Shock Absorber | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Suspension:Rear | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Tires:Tread/Belt | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages | 1 | 1 | — | — | |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 1 | — | — | — |
Electrical System:Ignition
6
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Tire Defects
4
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
3
Avg Miles
—
Seat Belts:Front:Buckle Assembly
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical Faults
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Ignition:Switch
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wiring & Fuses
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Disc
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Structure:Body:Tailgate
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Front:Shock Absorber
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension:Rear
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Tires:Tread/Belt
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Unintended Acceleration
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Linkages
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Wheel Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1986 Ford Bronco. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Other Ford Bronco Years
1986 Ford Bronco — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 1986 Ford Bronco reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 1986 Ford Bronco has 43 NHTSA complaints, 5 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical System:Ignition with 6 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1986 Ford Bronco?
Top reported problems: Electrical System:Ignition (6 complaints); Tire Defects (4 complaints); Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator (3 complaints). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
How safe is the 1986 Ford Bronco?
NHTSA complaints for the 1986 Ford Bronco include 5 crash-related reports, 9 fire reports, 5 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1986 Ford Bronco have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1986 Ford Bronco as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1986 Ford Bronco?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.
Wider context: See the full Ford Bronco reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 1986 Ford Bronco
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
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