Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA about the 1992 Ford Bronco, and it carries 4 recalls. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 7 | 14% |
| Parking brake | 6 | 12% |
| Structure | 5 | 10% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 8% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 8% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 3 | 6% |
| Power train | 2 | 4% |
| Latches/locks/linkages | 2 | 4% |
| Tires | 2 | 4% |
| Steering | 2 | 4% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
ABOUT TWO MONTHS AGO MY TRANSMISSION WENT OUT IN MY 92 FORD BRONCO ON MY WAY TO WORK WITH A CO-WORKER WITH ME, I WAS PULLING UP TO A RED LIGHT AND WENT TO DOWNSHIFT TO FIRST BUT IT WASN'T THERE, TRIED SECOND NOT THERE E
NHTSA complaint: Power train
FUEL TANK DEVELOPED LEAKS DUE TO RUST CAUSED BY WATER TRAPPED BETWEEN BRUSH GUARD AND TANK BOTTOM. BRUSH GUARD DESIGNED WITHOUT HOLES TO ALLOW WATER TO DRAIN PROPERLY THUS TRAPPING WATER BETWEEN THE GUARD AND TANK BOTTO
NHTSA complaint: Fuel system
THE PARKING BRAKE DID NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER LOOKED ON NHTSA SITE AND DISCOVERED A RECALL (94V-169001) FOR THE SAME PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED A LOCAL DEALER WHO INDICATED THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE WAS NO
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
CONSUMER IS HAVING THE SAME DEFECT WITH THERE VEHICLE'S EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKES, AS STATED IN RECALL NUMBER 94 V 169 000 BUT THERE VIN NUMBER IS NOT INCLUDED. PH
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
TAILGATE RUSTS EXCESSIVELY, AND IT IS THE ONLY PART OF THE CAR TO DO SO.
NHTSA complaint: Structure
BOTH DOORS WILL NOT OPEN FROM INSIDE FIRST PASSENGER SIDE, MONTHS LATER DRIVER'S SIDE. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Latches/locks/linkages
I DONT KNOW IF RECALL IS STILL VALID, DEALER DOES NOT SHOW ON COMPUTER. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Structure
REPLACEMENT TIRES ON A FORD, BRONCO 1992, VNHL P23575R15. TWO FRONT TIRES HAVE CRACKS GOING ALL THE WAY AROUND. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND HE SAID THAT TREAD WAS ABOUT TO SEPARATE. *AK
NHTSA complaint: Tires
NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 1992 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.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE D
Risk: WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: FORD IS REPLACING ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15, 16, AND 17 INCH TIRES MOUNTED ON FORD TRUCKS AND SUVS. FORD REPORTS TREAD SEPARATION CAN
Risk: SHOULD THE TREAD SEPARATE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
Fix: THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON MARCH 31, 2002. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT 1-877-917-3673 OR GO ON-LINE TO WWW.FORD.COM FOR POSSIBLE ASSISTANCE.
WATER CAN ENTER THE DOOR LATCH RELEASE CABLE. IF THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN BELOW FREEZING TEMPERATURES, THE WATER IN THE DOOR LATCH RELEASE CABLE CAN FREEZE AND CAUSE THE LATCH MECHANISM TO MALFUNCTION.
Risk: THE MALFUNCTION OF THE DOOR LATCH RELEASE CAN RESULT INTHREE DIFFERENT PROBLEMS: 1) THE DOOR WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BE RELATCHED, 2) THEINSIDE DOOR HANDLE CAN BECOME INOPERATIVE, AND 3) THE DOOR COULD AP
Fix: REVISED DOOR RELEASE CABLES AND WATER SHIELDS WILL BE INSTALLED.
THE PARKING BRAKE CONTROL SELF-ADJUST PAWL DOES NOT LINE UP PROPERLY WITH THE SELF-ADJUST RACHET CAUSING THE PAWL TO SLIP OVER ONE OR MORE TEETH IN THE RACHET.
Risk: WHEN THE ABOVE OCCURS, IT CAN RESULT IN PARKING BRAKE SYSTEM INEFFECTIVENESS. THE PARKING BRAKE WILL NOT HOLD THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL FREELY, IF THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT LEFT IN GEAR.
Fix: A WEDGE WILL BE INSTALLED WHICH WILL SERVE TO LOCK THE PARKING BRAKE SELF-ADJUST MECHANISM PAWL INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE RACHET. ALSO, OWNERS WILL BE ADVISED TO RELEASE AND REAPPLY THE PARKING BRAKE W
| Reliability raw | 91 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 83 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 62 | average |
| Depreciation | 86 | excellent |
| Performance | 76 | good |
| Efficiency | 27 | below average |
Percentile ranks against other other in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 7 of them (14%). There are 4 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.
AVOIR scores its reliability 91/100 (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 83/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1992 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 75/100. 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.