Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 43 complaints with NHTSA about the 1986 Ford Bronco, and it carries 1 recall. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 17 | 40% |
| Tires | 5 | 12% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 9% |
| Seat belts | 3 | 7% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 7% |
| Vehicle speed control | 2 | 5% |
| Structure | 2 | 5% |
| Suspension | 2 | 5% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 5% |
| Steering | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
WE HAVE SPEND MORE THAN 500.00 ON PART FOR THIS TRUCK IT JUST KEEP STOPPING FOR NO REASON, SHOP PEOPLE SAY ITS THE FUEL SYSTEM, IT HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. STILL IT STOPS THEY DO NOT KNOW EXCEPT THE FUEL SYSTEM. WE H
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
RIGHT REAR TIRE HAD BEEN REPAIRED WITH FOUR STRING-PLUG ONLY REPAIRS. THERE WAS NO PATCH ON THE INNER-LINER AS RECOMMENDED BY THE RMA. *LA AS A RESULT OF THE IMPROPER PLUG-ALONE REPAIRS, AIR WAS ALLOWED TO MIGRATE IN
NHTSA complaint: Tires
YOU BROADCASTED THE RECALL SETTLEMENT FOR FORD IGNITION MODULES,YETMY LOCAL DEALERS SEEM OBLIVIOUS TO THE RECALL ,WHAT DO I NEED TO GET ANOTHER IGNITION MODULE THAT YOU PEOPLE GOT FORD TO SETTLE ON. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
DRIVING AT 65 MPH VEHICLE ENGINE DIED; HAVE REPLACED PART 3 TIMES IN LAST YEAR. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
STALLED GOING ROUND CORNERS, STALLING AT STOPS. ENGINE RACED, FIXED AFTER YEARS LOW MILES. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
WOULD BE DRIVING VEHICLE AT LOW SPEED & NOTICED HOW BUMPY TIRES WERE FEELING. PULLED OVER & CHECKED. TREAD WAS SEPARATING & THEY WERE OUT OF ROUND. ALSO HAD LUMPS IN THE TIRES. HAVE NOT BEEN IN TOUCH WITH FIRESTONE OR FO
NHTSA complaint: Tires
THE TREAD UNZIPPED FROM THE TIRE IDENTICAL TO THAT OF THE FIRESTONE DEFECT, CAUSING MY BRONCO II TO LOSE CONTROL AND FLIP THREE TIMES INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. (DOT NUMBER: A3UL423186 TIRESIZE: P205/75R15)
NHTSA complaint: Tires
THE TREAD UNZIPPED FROM THE TIRE IDENTICAL TO THAT OF THE FIRESTONE DEFECT, CAUSING MY BRONCO II TO LOSE CONTROL AND FLIP THREE TIMES INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC.( DOT NUMBER: A3UL423186 TIRE SIZE: P205/75R15 )
NHTSA complaint: Tires
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1986 Ford Bronco. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.
SPRING LOCK FUEL LINE COUPLING MAY NOT BE PROPERLY ENGAGED.
Risk: COUPLING COULD DISENGAGE DUE TO FUEL PRESSURE,VIBRATION, AND ENGINE MOVEMENTS; THIS WOULD CAUSE LOSS OF FUEL WHICH, INPRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, CREATES A FIRE RISK.
Fix: INSTALL RETAINER CLIPS OVER THE COUPLINGS TO PREVENT COUPLING SEPARATION AND FUEL LEAKAGE.
| Reliability raw | 86 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 81 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 62 | average |
| Depreciation | 86 | excellent |
| Performance | 76 | good |
| Efficiency | 33 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 43 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 17 of them (40%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 86/100 (excellent) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 81/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1986 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 74/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.