1990 Ford Bronco

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

71/100

Worth a look

AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 66 complaints with NHTSA about the 1990 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.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Electrical system	17	26%
Service brakes	11	17%
Seats	6	9%
Fuel system	6	9%
Tires	4	6%
Structure	4	6%
Suspension	3	5%
Power train	3	5%
Structure	2	3%
Engine and engine cooling	2	3%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

THE SEAT PAN UNDER THE SEAT TRACKS HAS CRACKED IN MY 1990 BRONCO WITH CAPTAIN CHAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED ON A PUBLIC PAVED STREET, AND COMING TO A NORMAL STOP. BACK IN OCTOBER 1990, I RECEIV
NHTSA complaint: Seats

CRACKED SEAT MOUNTS ON FLOOR BOARD. 1990 BRONCO, BUCKET SEATS, HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE 89-90 BRONCOS WITH CAPTIANS CHAIRS, THE FLOOR BOARD CRACKS AROUND THE BOLTS. THIS MAKES THE FRONT SEATS WOBBLE, BOUNCE, AND MOVE
NHTSA complaint: Structure

I WAS HEADING TO THE STORE WHEN MY GAS PEDAL FOR STUCK. I PRESSED THE BRAKES AND HELD THEM DOWN TO NO AVAIL. I ENDED UP CRASHING THROUGH SOMEONES YARD AND HITTING THEIR PROPERTY. MY BRONCO FINALLY STOPPED ABOUT 15 SECOND
NHTSA complaint: Structure

FLOOR PAN UNDER DRIVERS SEAT HAS CRACKED WHERE THE SEAT IS ATTACHED IN 1990 BRONCO. CAUSES SEAT TO SHIFT, SINK AND BOUNCE AND NOT FEEL SECURE TO VEHICLE. IDENTICAL PROBLEM IN MY 1989 FORD BRONCO AND WAS REPAIRED BY DEAL
NHTSA complaint: Structure

1990 BRONCO EQUIPMENT FAILED CAUSING AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. *TS A NEW POWER STEERING PUMP HAD BEEN INSTALLED PRIOR TO THE FIRE. *NM
NHTSA complaint: Engine and engine cooling

A PATTERN OF SAME SIZE CHUNKS ON THE SAME CIRCULAR COLUMN OF THE TIRES ARE BREAKING OFF. TIRE PSI AND BALANCING ARE EXCELLENT. NO OFF ROAD OR AGGRESSIVE DRIVING. TIRE ONLY 6 MONTHS OLD. *JB
NHTSA complaint: Tires

1990 FORD BRONCO IGNITION SWITCH FAILED. (SAFETY RECALL #96V071000 OF NOV95) FORD DEALER SAID NO RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE AND CHARGED ME $476.00. I CHECKED THE FORD WEBSITE AND THEY ONLY LIST RECALLS FROM JAN96, IS THERE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

1990 FORD BRONCO I BROUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN TO JIM DOYLE FORD ON DELAWARE AVENUE IN KENMORE N.Y, LAST WEEK. THE IGNITION SWITCH BROKE, AND WAS TO BE REPLACED VIA RECALL. THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED, AND I SMELLED
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 1990 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.

Electrical system:ignition 96V071000

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT.

Risk: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE OVERHEATING, SMOKE, AND POSSIBLY FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE VEHICLE.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

The seven scores

Reliability raw	80	excellent
Longevity est.	78	good
Maintenance	62	average
Depreciation	86	excellent
Performance	76	good
Efficiency	27	below average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 28% of other
Longevity: better than 38% of other
Running costs: better than 23% of other
Value retention: better than 97% of other

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 80: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 78: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 1990 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 62: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 1990 Ford Bronco?

Owners have filed 66 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and electrical system is the most reported area with 17 of them (26%). There is 1 recall on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 1990 Ford Bronco reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 80/100 (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.

How long will a 1990 Ford Bronco last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 78/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1990 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 1990 Ford Bronco?

AVOIR's read: worth a look, because a solid ownership case with specific caveats below. Its overall ownership score is 71/100. 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.