1989 Ford Bronco
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
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Vehicles › Ford › Bronco › 1989
These records cover every 1989 Ford Bronco. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
Recalls
2 recalls name the 1989 Ford Bronco. Newest first.
The ignition switch could experience an internal short circuit.
Risk and remedy
Risk
This condition could cause overheating, smoke, and possibly fire in the steering column area of the vehicle.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the ignition switch.
Tire reserve load label may not have been installed.
Risk and remedy
Risk
Vehicle would not comply with fmvss 110.
Remedy
Install proper label.
Owner complaints
84 complaints2 involved a crash18 involved a fire3 injuries
What owners report most
Latest complaints
- Steering › Column
Tl*the contact owns a 1989 ford bronco. The contact was unable to start the vehicle because the key would not turn in the ignition. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The dealer replaced the ignition switch under nhtsa campaign ID number 96v071000 (electrical system…
Tl*the contact owns a 1989 ford bronco. The contact was unable to start the vehicle because the key would not turn in the ignition. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The dealer replaced the ignition switch under nhtsa campaign ID number 96v071000 (electrical system: ignition). The dealer was unable to start the vehicle due to a defective steering column. The steering column had to be replaced at the owners expense before the recall repair was performed. The approximate failure mileage was 153,000 and the current mileage was 153,000.
- Electrical system › Ignition › Switch
Consumer parked the vehicle at a restaurant and went inside to eat. within ten minutes the consumer noticed fire trucks coming into the restaurant's parking lot. Consumer went outside to investigate what was going on, and noticed that his vehicle was on fire. The fire department extinguished the…
Consumer parked the vehicle at a restaurant and went inside to eat. within ten minutes the consumer noticed fire trucks coming into the restaurant's parking lot. Consumer went outside to investigate what was going on, and noticed that his vehicle was on fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. Consumer had the vehicle towed to the dealership, and mechanic determined that the ignition switch caused the fire. *Ak
- Structure › Frame and members
The floor pan underneath the driver's side seat had thrown. if vehicle was involved in an accident or brakes had to be depressed suddenly driver's side seat belt would rip out because it was attached to the floor pan. There was tsb/ recall in all data b93900801 for the floor pan reinforcement(not in artemis). artemis has investigation pe90036, but it's for the floor board.*ak
- Electrical system › Wiring
Vehicle had been sitting over night when it caught on fire. fire department stated steering column and dash played a major part in fire. please provide any further information.*ak
- Electrical system › Ignition
With no warning my bronco died while I was traveling at 45 mph in work traffic. I had to push the bronco out of traffic, and then wait 2 hrs. For a tow truck to tow me to a mechanic, witha repair bill of $184.00 to replace the defective ignition module. I want to be reimbursed $184.00. this should not have failed - I could have been killed!!!!!*ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Vehicle hesitated and smoke coming from hood area. vehicle burned to the ground.*ak
- Electrical system › Wiring › Front underhood
Consumer experienced some electrical problems which caused vehicle to catch on fire, the fire department could not say what exactly caused the fire.*ak. Consumer stated vehicle stalled 3 times previously.*jb
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
While driving could hear a lot of noise. Had contacted dealer, but they could not determine what was causing the noise. please provide more information. *Ak
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
While driving would step on brake pedal to stop or to reduce the speed of the vehicle, but brakes will not activate on time. Had contacted dealer. please provide more information.*ak
- Electrical system › Ignition
Vehicle stalls at any time/ any speed. Dealer IS replacing ignition for third time.*ak
- Fuel system, gasoline › Storage › Tank assembly
Gas tank IS rusting and leaking fuel from the tank leaving small amounts of fuel on the ground. please give any further details.*ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Vehicle stalled when engine overheated. *Ak
- Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Gasoline
Twice the engine just quit running without any warning, I left the vehicle at my fathers home over night the first time and the next morning it started up. I drove it for about a week k and it just quit running again , this IS very dangerous because the mechanic could't find a problem(it started up the next day again).
- Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip
When applying brakes brake lights did not come on until consumer pressed brakes a second time. Consumer stated that someone could rear end him because brake lights were not coming on.*ak
- Electrical system › Ignition › Module
Vehicle stalls intermittently while driving especially on hot days, after the vehicle IS allowed to cool off the vehicle starts again, consumer believes this problem IS related to a faulty tfi module. nlm
- Electrical system › Ignition
Ignition coil, ignition switch,ignition control module in distributor has been replaced many times and car still stalls when tempertures reach warm degrees outside.*ak
- Seats · Structure › Frame and members
Seat jams due to floor flexing. the problem was identified under nhtsa items no. Sb017182, sb019336, sb019393, sb019395, sb019879, which called for floor reinforcement. no notification was provided to owner. dealer at the time of the sb's was salinas valley ford, salinas, ca. no recall notice in the ford system for this vin according to phil long ford. owner IS expected to bear cost of repair.
- Electrical system › Ignition
My truck stalled on the freeway twice.once on the bay bridge,the other time on i280.both times my truck was running fine then all of a sudden it would just shut stall.the time on the bridge was very terrifying,if traffic was heavy there definitely would have been a collision.i hope somebody doesn't get hurt before ford decides to rectify the situation.
- Electrical system › Ignition
No summary
- Tires
Tires were analyzed by firestone dealer and they said they should be replaced. not under recall or replacement program. tires were produced at the decatur, il facility were a majority of the problem tires were produced. they are defective and should be replaced by the company who produced them. why wouldn't all tires produced at that facility be recalled/replaced?( dot number: vd60aw4467 tire size: 31x10.5x15 )
- Tires
I noticed about a week before the tire blewout that while we were iddling through the local walmart parking lot the vehicle rocked back and forth. about a week later the vehicle was parked in the garage and I noticed a blister on the left rear tire in the tread section. I checked the other tires…
I noticed about a week before the tire blewout that while we were iddling through the local walmart parking lot the vehicle rocked back and forth. about a week later the vehicle was parked in the garage and I noticed a blister on the left rear tire in the tread section. I checked the other tires and it appeared that two other tires looked and felt out of round. at that time I ordered over the internet from tirerack.com a complete set of wheels and tires (265/70r17). within the next couple of days the left rear tire blew out. this was the second set of firestone firehawks 31x10.50r15lt m/s on the vehicle. the first set was replaced at approximately 66,000 miles and seemed to profrom acceptable. the second set which was the problem set, had roughly 36,000 miles on them. in thinking back about the rocking motion at idle speed, this was first noticed many months ago. initially I thought the tires were out of balance and would have them re-balanced at either a firestone or expert tire store. the rocking motion at that time was hardly noticable, progressing at a very slow pace until this august. being aware of proper inflation and serviceing of tires both sets of the firestone firehawks were maintained at 35 psi (rated at 50 psi max.). since it IS a four wheel drive vehicle alignment and tire rotation IS at the very least done annually.*ak( dot number: VD60 tire size: 31x10.50 )
- Tires › Tread/belt
Peoo 020; was traveling about 57mph on the highway and heard a noise. she pull over to the side of shoulder. front drivers side tire tread had separated. Did damage to vehicle. tire IS firestone firehawk #SS10 p215/70r15. there were no injuries she also contacted firestone. *Ak
- Tires › Tread/belt
Consumer's daughter was driving about 55 mph and left rear tire began to peel off and became separated from the belt. *ak
- Tires
In the summer of 1998 (july-august) I had three tire failures. the first tire located on the right rear failed traveling 65 miles per hour on I-75. the tread separated leaving the core inflated. I lost traction on the wheel and the vehicle became hard to control as it when off the road. I was…
In the summer of 1998 (july-august) I had three tire failures. the first tire located on the right rear failed traveling 65 miles per hour on I-75. the tread separated leaving the core inflated. I lost traction on the wheel and the vehicle became hard to control as it when off the road. I was able to stop the bronco and change the tire and continue driving. the second failure occurred when my wife was driving on the left rear a week later on I-4 at 65 miles per hour, the tire separated and deflated and caused about $500.00 damage to the left rear quarter panel. the next week on I-75 the vehicle became unstable and hard to control I stopped the bronco and found the right left rear tire was starting to separate and changed to tire out. I asked my firestone dealer at that time what they thought the problem was with the tires and was told that it was probably the age of the tires. I replaced all the tires on the bronco and kept one of the old atx tires as a spare on 08/13/1998.( dot number: vd60at4493 tire size: 31x1050r15 )
- Unknown or other
My paint IS peeling and I was told that there was a recall on this concern for my truck in which I was never informed nor sent any paperwork- also I have been told that others have filed law suits due to this and one and have gotten their vehicles re-painted- if I had been notified I would have…
My paint IS peeling and I was told that there was a recall on this concern for my truck in which I was never informed nor sent any paperwork- also I have been told that others have filed law suits due to this and one and have gotten their vehicles re-painted- if I had been notified I would have brought my truck in sooner- now I have to paint my truck at my expense- please advise. IS there in fact still a recall in effect or was there one I still may be able to get coverage with? No safety defect listed in the summary. *ak
Defect investigations
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
- Ford truck inconsistent vehicle control.
See close resume
- Floorboard fracture
There is no summary currently available
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
- 616522Subject regarding contamination from prior transmission concerns or excess wear may be trapped in the transmission fluid cooling system.
- 613350Service tip information regarding the reverse clutch piston and piston seal usage.
- 613007Some vehicles may exhibit a drift or pull to the left while braking.
- 612343Vehicles may experience solid particle contaminants from prior transmission concerns or excess wear, may be trapped in the transmission fluid cooling system IS not properly flushed, fluid in-line filter kit. *Mjs
- 612203Information regarding the new transmission cooler flusher- service tip. *Mjs
- 609737Transmission- e40d/4r100-1989-99-main controls, separator plates and separator plate gaskets usage chart. Yd
- 608431Information on the new flush and fill tool available through rotunda.
- 606420Ford motor company now recommends sae 5W-30 viscosity grade for servicing any ford gasoline-powered vehicle regardless of model year.
- 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.
- 601010Recommended guidelines for towing behind recreational vehicles.
- 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.
- 50940Windshield and interior glass - fog/film.
- 50908Torque converter - leak test procedure - service tip.
- 45086Delayed forward engagement and/or heat stained forward clutch plates after installing center support service.
- 45085Revised design transmission rear case bushing.
- 42080Unknown
- 41029Knocking noise on initial start-up.
- 39222New torque-to-yield cylinder head bolt kit.
- 39125Vehicles may exhibit a shift concern.
- 37765Upgrade kit for the E40D transmission.
- 37741Transmission overheating, converter cover discoloration, clutches burned and burnt fluid
Every Ford Bronco model year
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.