1985 Ford Bronco
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Ford › Bronco › 1985
These records cover every 1985 Ford Bronco. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
1 recall names the 1985 Ford Bronco. Newest first.
Metal burrs and sharp edges on fuel rails may have damaged adjacent o-ring seals during assembly. The defect could cause fuel leakage when engine IS operating.
Risk and remedy
Remedy
Fuel rails will be inspected for leaks, wetness or seepage of fuel and, if necessary, fuel rails and related components will be replaced without cost to the owner.
Owner complaints
20 complaints3 involved a crash8 involved a fire2 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Electrical system › Ignition
Vehicle fails to start after key IS in ignition. Vehicle towed. Was informed by mechanic problem was in ignition module.*ak *slc
- Seats
The seats of the vehicle are badly broken and are dangerous. *mjs
- Electrical system › Ignition
Vehicle shutdown without prior warning. vehicle acted like it wanted to stall.also,vehicle will start back up. dealership was aware.*ak
- Tires
Tire tread separation causing crash into conrete barier I have the still inflated tire with the tread that came off( dot number: hyhlf7a069 tire size: p235/75r15 )
- Tires
Just to let you know for your data base that these tires were purchased after market, so ford had nothing to do with it. one tire rolled the tread right off, separating right under the steel belt. but the tire held air. it happened on a mountain road, at about 85 degrees. I used the other 3…
Just to let you know for your data base that these tires were purchased after market, so ford had nothing to do with it. one tire rolled the tread right off, separating right under the steel belt. but the tire held air. it happened on a mountain road, at about 85 degrees. I used the other 3 tires until they had about 50,000 miles on them without any other problems. hadn't heard about any issue at that time so I didn't report it.( dot number: tire size: 235x15 )
- Seats › Front assembly › Head restraint
This IS the second bronco that I have owned that the driver seat has failed. The back of the seat falls back. *Ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Vehicle experiences continued stalling due to faulty ignition switch (tfi module), recall on component however vehicle not included and denied. Mjs
- Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Fuel tank shield rusted through and began to leak. (1ST vehicle on doc# 530326)
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Vehicle fire due to faulty ignition switch.(attorney for consumer).
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle caught fire.
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
While driving vehicle caught on fire in the engine. fire could be electical. Please describe details.
- Trailer hitches
Trailer hitch ball broke, causing trailer to detach/accident. (New jersey state police report)*sd
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Electrical short, causing the vehicle to catch on fire, (fire started in the speaker). *ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
An electrical short caused the ignition switch and wires in the steering column to burn after starting the vehicle. please describe.
- Suspension › Front
Vehicle lost control/served, resulting in rollover/accident/injury. *sd
- Electrical system › Ignition
Replacement of ignition switch, more service done had driven the vehicle days in for repair and while parked caught fire ea95-002 active. tt
- Fuel system, gasoline › Carburetor system
Had a gas leak cause by faulty carburetor which caused a fire. tt
- Visibility › Defroster/defogger/hvac system
Heater motor/fan not protected by vent screen, allowing pine needles to enter system, resulting in a fire. *aw
- Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Auxillary tank · Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Replaced fuel tanks twice, still leak. tt
- Equipment › Appliance › Air conditioner
I m sensor caught on fire without any prior warning. tt
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Front brk caliper seizure
Analysis:allegedly, during brake application the disc brake calipersseize, resulting in excessive pull and/or front brake lock-up.somereports cite a complete loss of vehicle control resulting in unforewarnedand unavoidable travel into opposing traffic lanes.consumers claim thatservice personnel have consistently…
Analysis:allegedly, during brake application the disc brake calipersseize, resulting in excessive pull and/or front brake lock-up.somereports cite a complete loss of vehicle control resulting in unforewarnedand unavoidable travel into opposing traffic lanes.consumers claim thatservice personnel have consistently attributed the problem to the use ofphenolic pistons which overheat and seize in the caliper bores.information provided by the manufacturer disclosed the complaint, accident,and injury statistics tabulated above.other manufacturer-supplied datadisclosed that two design changes with potential relevance to this matterwere made during the production years in question.in october 1981, thespecification of the maximum outside diameter of the piston was decreasedby 0.0250 mm and the minimum inside diameter of the caliper piston boreincreased by 0.024 mm.these changes were made to reduce the possibilityof premature wear of the front disc brake pads.a second design revisionwas made in september 1986 to reduce inadvertent chipping of the caliperpistons during brake pad replacement.warranty claim data were inconclus-ive in identifying a failure trend accompanied by risk of accidents.the history of bronco brake pull/drift complaints disclosed that ford hadknowledge of the problem.an august 1986, ford truck interoffice letterdiscussed the phenomenon and provided suggestions to remedy the problemin the field.the condition was defined as recession steer, manifest tothe vehicle operator as drift or pull upon brake application.in fact,the sensation was attributed to a net steer to the left when the frontsuspension moves rearward under braking forces.conclusion:seizure of the front caliper pistons has not been identifiedas the origin of the alleged problem.additionally, the historical dataalleging loss of vehicle control, accidents, and injuries do not identifya safety-related defect in either the braking or suspension system of thesubject vehicles.======
Service bulletins
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
- 6090087Information on identifying non-approved / alternate refrigerants which could cause safety, and performance concerns if installed in ford a/c systems.
- 6089681Subject on a wire harness terminal repair kit available for repairing electrical wiring harnesses.
- 623988Information regarding transmission fluid usage charts. *Slc
- 623944Some vehicles may exhibit heater core leaks. *Slc
- 612203Information regarding the new transmission cooler flusher- service tip. *Mjs
- 608431Information on the new flush and fill tool available through rotunda.
- 604059Ford motor company has released a new electrical grease ( F8AZ - 19g208-aa ) to reduce the possibility of moisture corrosion at the terminals.
- 601312Information on a buzzing or rattle noise from the exhaust system.
- 601290Information on tire company telephone numbers for customer assistance.
- 601238Information on a new transmission fluid usage chart.
- 51945Fluid- transmission fluid usage charts.
- 51689Frame- rivet replacement with bolts- service tips.
- 51669Noise- "popping/creaking"- front frame or suspension brackets- frame- "popping/creaking"- fastener replacement.
- 50997Transaxle - torque converter replacement guidelines and torque converter/transaxle cooling system cleaning procedures - service tip.
- 50908Torque converter - leak test procedure - service tip.
- 42080Unknown
- 41029Knocking noise on initial start-up.
Every Ford Bronco model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.