VehicleVerdict

Ford Bronco years to avoid

The Ford Bronco years to avoid are 2022, 2021, 2023, 1995, 1989, 1994, 2024, 1996, 1990, 2025, 1988, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1986, 1991 — each drew complaint volumes well above the model's norm or has an open safety investigation. The 1980 is the cleanest year on record.

2,170

Total complaints

86

Recall campaigns

1967–2026

Years covered

16

Years to avoid

Complaints by model year

Ford Bronco NHTSA complaints by model year498 complaints1967: 2 complaints1969: 1 complaints1970: 0 complaints1971: 0 complaints1972: 0 complaints1975: 0 complaints1976: 0 complaints1977: 1 complaints1978: 0 complaints1979: 2 complaints1980: 0 complaints1981: 2 complaints1982: 1 complaints1983: 4 complaints1984: 11 complaints1985: 24 complaints1986: 43 complaints1987: 61 complaints1988: 68 complaints1989: 118 complaints1990: 77 complaints1991: 37 complaints1992: 56 complaints1993: 45 complaints1994: 114 complaints1995: 131 complaints1996: 109 complaints1997: 1 complaints1998: 2 complaints1999: 5 complaints2021: 303 complaints2022: 498 complaints2023: 262 complaints2024: 111 complaints2025: 74 complaints2026: 7 complaints
Ford Bronco NHTSA complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Bronco years to avoid

YearWhyComplaints
2022High complaint rate498
2021High complaint rate303
2023High complaint rate262
1995High complaint rate131
1989High complaint rate118
1994High complaint rate114
2024High complaint rate111
1996High complaint rate109
1990High complaint rate77
2025High complaint rate74
1988High complaint rate68
1987High complaint rate61
1992High complaint rate56
1993High complaint rate45
1986High complaint rate43
1991High complaint rate37

Every Bronco year

YearComplaintsRecalls
202677
2025avoid7419
2024avoid11116
2023avoid26218
2022avoid49823
2021avoid30320
199950
199820
199711
1996avoid1092
1995avoid1312
1994avoid1145
1993avoid457
1992avoid564
1991avoid372
1990avoid771
1989avoid1182
1988avoid681
1987avoid611
1986avoid431
1985241
1984114
198342
198211
198121
198004
197926
197806
197712
197602
197502
197201
197101
197001
196910
196722

Common questions

What are the worst Ford Bronco years?

Based on NHTSA complaint rates and open investigations, the Bronco years to avoid are 2022, 2021, 2023, 1995, 1989, 1994, 2024, 1996, 1990, 2025, 1988, 1987, 1992, 1993, 1986, 1991. The cleanest year on record is 1980.

What is the best year for the Ford Bronco?

By complaint volume, 1980 has the cleanest NHTSA record among Bronco years with enough data to compare.

How many recalls does the Ford Bronco have?

Across all model years, the Bronco has 86 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 2,170 consumer complaints on file.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through August 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated August 28, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.