Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: a solid ownership case with specific caveats below.
Owners have filed 52 complaints with NHTSA about the 1993 Ford Bronco, and it carries 7 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 | 13 | 25% |
| Power train | 9 | 17% |
| Tires | 6 | 12% |
| Electrical system | 4 | 8% |
| Fuel system | 4 | 8% |
| Suspension | 4 | 8% |
| Structure | 3 | 6% |
| Engine and engine cooling | 2 | 4% |
| Steering | 2 | 4% |
| Parking brake | 1 | 2% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
MY 1993 FORD BRONCO HAS AN ESOF (ELECTRONIC SHIFT ON THE FLY) TRANSFER CASE. WITH FOUR WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGED, ON ROAD AND OFF, WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS COASTING THE TRUCK WILL SUDDENLY ACT LIKE IT IS NO LONGER IN GEAR. SHIF
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD BRONCO. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND CAUSED ANOTHER VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE UNKNOWN INJURIE
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD BRONCO. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH WHILE COASTING HE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESPOND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEFECT WAS ONLY OCCURRED AFTE
NHTSA complaint: Power train
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD BRONCO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED, THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS ENGAGED AND FAILED TO RESPOND. THERE WAS A RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 94V169001 (PARKING BRAKE).
NHTSA complaint: Parking brake
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD BRONCO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE PARKED HE ATTEMPTED TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE BUT IT DROPPED TO THE FLOOR BOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT TH
NHTSA complaint: Service brakes
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1993 FORD BRONCO. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V336000). THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WOULD NOT BE AVAILABLE UNTIL DECEMBER OF
NHTSA complaint: Vehicle speed control
1993 EDDIE BAUER BRONCO RIGHT FRONT TIRE BLEW OUT. *TS WHEN THE TIRE BLEWOUT THE CONSUMER LOST CONTROL O THE VEHICLE AND ENDED UP IN A SHALLOW DITCH. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE BACK ON THE ROAD AND PUT T
NHTSA complaint: Tires
TOGGLE SWITCH ON SUNROOF HAS ALREADY BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND NOW IT HAS GONE OUT AGAIN. DOES NOT STOP ON ITS OWN FOR OPEN AND CLOSE. I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING THAT CONTINUES TO BREAK.
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 1993 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.
FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY
Risk: AS A RESULT, THE FUSE IS LOCATED IN THE OUTPUT CIRCUIT RATHER THAN IN THE INTENDED INPUT POWER FEED CIRCUIT, AND MAY NOT OFFER THE INTENDED PROTECTION IN THE EVENT OF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT TO GROUND.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
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.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Risk: THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNDERHOOD FIRE.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION
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.
| Reliability raw | 91 | excellent |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 82 | excellent |
| Maintenance | 54 | 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 52 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 13 of them (25%). There are 7 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 82/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 1993 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 73/100. 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.