1FMCU12T3JUA958671988 FORD Bronco IIXL
Executive Summary
1988 FORD Bronco II was analyzed across NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, crash test data, and public auction records. Owner complaints include 1 reported death and 12 injuries — an extremely serious pattern that warrants further investigation.
- ▸1 death reported in owner complaints — a serious red flag
- ▸8 complaints involved a crash — unusually high incident rate
- ▸Complaint language indicates serious real-world safety incidents beyond routine mechanical failures
No auction records available. Title brand status could not be verified — request title history from seller or state DMV.
- Make
- FORD
- Model
- Bronco II
- Year
- 1988
- Trim / Series
- XL
- Body Style
- Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV)
- Vehicle Type
- MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV)
- Drive Type
- 4x2
- Fuel Type
- Gasoline
- Engine
- 6-cyl 2.9L 140 hp
- Doors
- 2
- Manufacturer
- FORD MOTOR COMPANY
- Assembly
- LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY, UNITED STATES (USA)
- GVWR
- Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)
Builds Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator. Standard quality; some launch-year complaints.
✓ No high-risk recall components found
- ▸14 complaint(s) involved a fire
- ⚠1 death(s) reported in complaints
- ⚠12 injuries reported in complaints
Lemon law eligibility depends on state law, number of repair attempts, and days out of service. Consult an attorney for actual eligibility.
Worn chain tensioners cause timing chain skip or snap — common on GM 5.3L/6.2L, Ford EcoBoost, VW/Audi EA888, BMW N47/N63. Listen for cold-start rattles.
Water pump failure causes rapid overheating. If the engine overheats even once, head gasket damage is likely — turning a $400 part into a $3,000+ repair.
Degraded transmission fluid destroys clutch packs and solenoids. CVT transmissions are especially sensitive — neglected fluid can result in a $4,000–$8,000 replacement.
Degraded coolant loses corrosion inhibitors and attacks aluminum engine components. Can cause head gasket failure and water pump corrosion.
Worn spark plugs cause misfires that can foul and crack catalytic converters. A $150 tune-up can prevent a $1,200 catalytic converter replacement.
Dirty or failing injectors cause rough idle, reduced fuel economy, and increased emissions. Cleaning costs $100–$200; replacement $800–$1,600.
1 death reported across 47 complaints — a rate of 1 in 47 complaints involving a fatality.
36% of complaints filed in Apr & Feb — may indicate temperature-sensitive or weather-related failures.
25 complaints use high-severity language including fire, rollover, burned — these are not minor inconveniences.
The blue line shows 47 total NHTSA complaints filed over 9 years, with the worst year being 1996 (16 complaints, including 1 crash report).
The amber reliability line shows an improving trend — scores have risen from the earlier years toward 100/100 more recently, suggesting the most serious issues are older and may have been addressed through repairs or recalls.
Notably, despite 47 complaints on file, no recall has been issued — either the defect pattern has not met NHTSA's threshold for a formal campaign, or a recall may be forthcoming.
Red dots on the amber line flag 6 years (1995, 1996, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2004) where complaints included crash events — these are the highest-severity incidents in the dataset.
Estimated 5-year cost of ownership: $46,614 (~$777/mo). Repair risk buffer is standard due to vehicle risk profile.
5% baseline recall probability — no strong indicators of an imminent recall.
Maintenance intervals vary significantly by make, model, year, engine, and driving conditions. Always follow the manufacturer's official schedule — not generic industry estimates.
Tip: Request the seller's service records and compare against the manufacturer schedule. Missing intervals are a negotiation point.
Based on 2024 national avg ($2,011/yr full coverage). Individual rates vary by driver, location & insurer. Always compare 3+ quotes.
FORD has been fined $17M+ by NHTSA. Most recently in 2015: Failure to timely file Early Warning Reports on defect data.
Select your state to see what consumer protection laws, lemon law coverage, and title disclosure requirements apply to this vehicle purchase.
Vehicle Identity
| VIN | 1FMCU12T3JUA95867 |
| Model Year | 1988 |
| Make | FORD |
| Model | Bronco II |
| Trim | XL |
| Vehicle Type | MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV) |
Body & Configuration
| Body Style | Sport Utility Vehicle (SUV)/Multi-Purpose Vehicle (MPV) |
| Doors | 2 |
| Drive Type | 4x2 |
| Fuel Type | Gasoline |
Engine
| Engine Cylinders | 6 |
| Displacement (L) | 2.9 |
| Horsepower | 140 |
Manufacturer
| Manufacturer | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| Assembly City | LOUISVILLE |
| Assembly Country | UNITED STATES (USA) |
VIN Structure
| WMI (Chars 1–3) | 1FM |
| Check Digit (Char 9) | 3 |
| Model Year Code (Char 10) | J |
| Plant Code (Char 11) | U |
| Sequence (Chars 12–17) | A95867 |
Safety Data
| NHTSA Recall Count | 0 |
| NHTSA Complaint Count | 47 |
Disclaimer: Data sourced from NHTSA public APIs and scraped auction listings. For informational purposes only. Not a substitute for a paid vehicle history report. Retrieved: 4/21/2026, 8:13:02 AM.