Ford Bronco Reliability
1,963 NHTSA complaints (1981–2025). Complaint rate: 20.4 per 1,000 vehicles.
Ford Bronco Generations
Manufacturer redesigns the car every few years (a “generation”). Each generation has different engineering and common issues. Click a generation to see year-by-year breakdown.
| Generation | Years | Complaints | Crashes | Volume | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gen 1 | 1966–1977 | 0 | 0 | Show years | |||
| Gen 2 | 1978–1979 | 0 | 0 | Show years | |||
| Gen 3 | 1980–1986 | 84 | 10 | Show years | |||
| Gen 4 | 1987–1991 | 361 | 16 | Show years | |||
| Gen 5 | 1992–1996 | 455 | 29 | Show years | |||
| Gen 6 | 2021–present | 1,054 | 41 | Hide years | |||
| 2021 | 270 | 8 | View 2021View→ | ||||
| 2022 | 420 | 10 | View 2022View→ | ||||
| 2023 | 240 | 8 | View 2023View→ | ||||
| 2024 | 79 | 7 | View 2024View→ | ||||
| 2025 | 45 | 8 | View 2025View→ |
Which Years to Buy & Avoid
Years auto-clustered by complaint volume relative to this model's median.
Bottom line: Avoid the 2021–2023 Ford Bronco. The 1998–1999 models had significantly fewer reported issues. Most common issue across all years: VISIBILITY/WIPER.
Avoid These Years
Average
Better Years
Too New
Need 3+ years on the road for reliable complaint data.
A model's reputation is just the start.
Even within the “good” years, individual cars can have hidden accidents, title issues, or odometer rollbacks. Check the actual VIN before you buy — full history report for $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA complaint count per model year
Common Ford Bronco Problems
Most reported component complaints to NHTSA
| Component | Complaints | Crash % |
|---|---|---|
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 168 | 0.6% |
| ENGINE | 133 | 2.3% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 113 | 5.3% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 102 | 4.9% |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 78 | 7.7% |
| POWER TRAIN | 74 | 0.0% |
| SUSPENSION | 71 | 1.4% |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP | 59 | 10.2% |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 53 | 15.1% |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 42 | 4.8% |
Year-by-Year Breakdown
NHTSA complaint count per model year — click any year for full problems & recalls breakdown.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981GOOD | Gen 3 | 2 | 0 | — | View 1981View→ |
| 1983GOOD | Gen 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | View 1983View→ |
| 1984GOOD | Gen 3 | 11 | 1 | 6 | View 1984View→ |
| 1985GOOD | Gen 3 | 24 | 4 | 10 | View 1985View→ |
| 1986 | Gen 3 | 43 | 5 | 9 | View 1986View→ |
| 1987 | Gen 4 | 61 | 3 | 12 | View 1987View→ |
| 1988 | Gen 4 | 68 | 5 | 24 | View 1988View→ |
| 1989AVOID | Gen 4 | 118 | 2 | 19 | View 1989View→ |
| 1990 | Gen 4 | 77 | 5 | 15 | View 1990View→ |
| 1991 | Gen 4 | 37 | 1 | 10 | View 1991View→ |
| 1992 | Gen 5 | 56 | 1 | 2 | View 1992View→ |
| 1993 | Gen 5 | 45 | 4 | 2 | View 1993View→ |
| 1994AVOID | Gen 5 | 114 | 6 | 14 | View 1994View→ |
| 1995AVOID | Gen 5 | 131 | 8 | 19 | View 1995View→ |
| 1996AVOID | Gen 5 | 109 | 10 | 35 | View 1996View→ |
| 1998GOOD | — | 2 | 0 | — | View 1998View→ |
| 1999GOOD | — | 5 | 0 | 1 | View 1999View→ |
| 2021AVOID | Gen 6 | 270 | 8 | 2 | View 2021View→ |
| 2022AVOID | Gen 6 | 420 | 10 | 6 | View 2022View→ |
| 2023AVOID | Gen 6 | 240 | 8 | 1 | View 2023View→ |
| 2024TOO NEW | Gen 6 | 79 | 7 | 1 | View 2024View→ |
| 2025TOO NEW | Gen 6 | 45 | 8 | 1 | View 2025View→ |
See also: Ford Broncoaccident & safety statistics from our vehicle history database.
Buying a Ford Bronco?
Check the specific VIN for hidden accidents, title issues, and full vehicle history — just $4.99.
Check VIN Free