1FMCU12T3JUA958671988 FORD Bronco IIXL
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.
Executive Summary
1988 FORD Bronco II
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
- Common owner-reported issues: fire, electrical problems, stalling
- Complaint language indicates serious real-world safety incidents beyond routine mechanical failures
47 owner complaints filed — top areas: Electrical (30%), Engine/Powertrain (17%), Body/Structure (13%). Common issues: fire, electrical problems, stalling. 1 death and 12 injuries reported.
Title Brand Check
Mined from auction damage fields and listing titles — not a DMV title history pull
No auction records available. Title brand status could not be verified — request title history from seller or state DMV.
Vehicle Specifications
Decoded from NHTSA vPIC database
- Make
- FORD
- Model
- Bronco II
- Year
- 1988
- Trim / Series
- XL
- Body Style
- Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose 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)
Assembly Plant Quality
Ford Louisville Assembly
Builds Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator. Standard quality; some launch-year complaints.
Safety Intelligence
Composite analysis from NHTSA recall, complaint, and crash data
✓ 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.
Deferred Failure Risk
Components and defects approaching or past their known service milestones
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.
NHTSA Safety Recalls
CLEAR1 death reported across 47 complaints — a rate of 1 in 47 complaints involving a fatality.
Complaint Intelligence
47 complaints analyzed across 10 system categories
36% of complaints filed in Apr & Feb — may indicate temperature-sensitive or weather-related failures.
Owner Complaints
HIGH VOLUME47 safety complaints filed with NHTSA
THESE BRONCO II'S ARE SOMETHING ELSE. I JUST PURCHASED MINE. THERE ARE MINOR CRACKS IN THE FLOOR IN THE REAR OF VEHICLE, THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE BUSTED AND BRAKES ARE INCREDIBLY HARD TO USE TO STOP THE SUV. I FOUND RECALL ON THE 1988 RANGER FOR REAR DRUM BRAKES THAT WERE THE WRONG SIZE BUT I CANNOT FIND THAT RECALL FOR THE BRONCO II FIGURING IT WAS MADE WITH THE SAME PARTS WOULD THINK THAT THE DRUM SIZE MAKES IT HARD TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT PUMPING. THERE ARE A FEW OTHER PROBLEMS ALSO BUT THESE ARE THE BIGGEST ONES I HAVE HAD SO FAR. THE POWER STEERING PRESSURE HOSE REPLACEMENT MAKES THE POWER STEERING COME BACK. THERE IS ALSO A SPUTTERING NOISE MADE BY THE ENGINE WHEN TAKING OFF FROM STOP SIGNS OCCASIONALLY MAKING THE VEHICLE NOT ACCELERATE. THIS PROBLEM COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT BUT HAS YET TO AFFECT THE DRIVING OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1988 FORD BRONCO II. WHILE DRIVING LESS THAN 35 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DRIVER'S RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT FOUND A RECALL ONLINE DESCRIBING THE SAME FAILURE; HOWEVER, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 89V109000 (SUSPENSION:FRONT:WHEEL BEARING) ONLY PERTAINED TO THE 1989 FORD BRONCO II. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.
88 FORD BRONCO II ROLL OVER
WHILE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN, CONSUMER APPLIED BRAKES AND CROSSED OVER A PATCH OF SAND WITH THE WHEEL TURNED, CAUSING A ROLLOVER. ROOF OF VEHICLE COLLAPSED IN FRONT, INJURING DRIVER, COMPOUND BREAK OF COLLAR BONE AND OTHER MINOR INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS. *AK
LEFT REAR (BRIDGESTONE ROADHANDLER T 215/75 R15 100S TUBELESS STEEL BELTED RADIAL (M+S-T06R-DOT ICHF P2A 186) (M+S 82415 DOT) TREADED 2-PLY POLYESTER AND 2-STEEL/SIDEWALL 2 PLY POLYESTER TIRE, BEARING TIRE #186, TIRE SEPARATED,THE TREAD CAME LOOSE FROM THE CASING,CAUSING DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL,VEHICLE OVERTURNED 3 1/2 TIMES,TIRE WAS INSPECTED AND DETERMINED BY AN EXPERT TO BE MFG DEFECT INVOLVING ADHESION AND MISALIGNMENT OF THE TOP BELT TO THE BOTTOM BELT.(ATTORNEY FOR CLIENT)*JB
WHEN DRIVING VEHICLE STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK TFI IGNITION MODULE AND STARTOR FAILED. *YH
PARKING PAWL
WHILE DRIVING THE BRONCO GAS PEDAL STUCK, CAUSING THE BRONCO TO ACCELERATE TO A VERY HIGH RATE OF SPEED. BRONCO WENT OVER 7,000 RPM'S. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. DEALER FOUND THE THROTTLE BODY TO BE STUCK. VEHICLE WAS BEING REPAIRED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATON. *AK
BEFORE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED I WAS TOLD THE OIL WAS CHANGED AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS WRE CHANGED ALONG WITH SOME OIL GASKETS. I TOK THE VEHICLE TO MY FATHER HE CHECKED AND THE OIL NOR THE WIPERS WERE CHANGED. I WENT BACK AND WAS SENT TO A DIFFERENT GARAGE TO HAVE THESE THINGS DONE. LATER THAT WEEK I REPORTED OTHER THINGS AND WAS TOLD TO DRIVE IT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AND THEN COME BACK WITH THINGS I THOUGHT WAS WRONG. THE NEXT WEEK I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO THE OTHER GARAGE TO HAVE A FUEL PUMP PUT ON IT. I CALLED THE DAY BEFORE MY THIRTY DAYS WAS UP TO INFORM THEM I HAVE A BLOWN HEAD GASKET I WAS THEN INFORMED THE WARRANTY ONLY COVERED OIL PARTS OF THE ENGINE. WHEN I BOUGHT THE BRONCO I WAS NOT TOLD ONLY THE OIL PARTS OF THE ENGINE I WAS TOLD THE ENGINE. *AK
AN EXHAUST LEAK MELTED PLASTIC FUEL LINES AND STARTED FIRE UNDER VEHICLE BURNING LINES AND ALL ELECTRICAL WIREING UNDER VEHICLE, THUS CAUSING SHORTING OF MANY RELAYS IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
I WAS UNABLE TO GET THE DEALER THAT REPLACED THE ENGINE TO INVESTIGATE THE SUSPECTED LEAKING HEAD GASKET/CRACKED BLOCK PROBLEM WITH PAYING ADDITIONAL CHARGES. AFTER A MAJOR FAILURE RECENTLY, FORD REFUSED TO HONOR THE WARRANTY, AS I HAD GONE OVER THE # OF MILES (BUT STILL WITHIN THE 1 YEAR TIME). THE TFI MODULE PROBLEM HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR 3 YEARS, AND HAS CAUSED AS 4 STALLS AT STREET/HIGHWAY SPEED, PLUS 2 FAILURES AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. *AK
I, MYSELF WASN'T INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, BUT I WOULD LIKE TO REPORT TO YOU THAT:EVERY BRONCO II FO.MO.CO. PRODUCED, IS A MAJOR ROLLOVER HAZARD,WHICH CAN,AND HAS RESULTED IN,MANY FATALITIES. I WOULD APPRECIATE GREATLY, IF YOU WOULD PURSUE THIS MATTER BY MAKING FORD FIND,AND PERFORM AN ECONOMICALY VIABLE SOLUTION THAT WILL FIX THE BRONCO II'S PROBLEM. THERE ARE AROUND 700,000 OF THESE RIGS OUT IN THE U.S.WITH AROUND 600,000 PEOPLE DRIVING THEM EVERY DAY. HELP SAVE SOME LIVES. NO SAFETY DEFECT (S) LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK
UPON IMAPCT, VEHICLE BURSTED INTO FLAMES. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.
VEHICLE JUMPED OUT OF PARK AND ROLLED OVER A 5 FOOT BANK WHICH CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END, LEVER WAS BETWEEN PARK AND REVERSE.*ET
TRANSMISSION WILL ONLY ENGAGE IN REVERSE, MAKES CLICKING SOUND WHEN SHIFTED INTO FIRST BUT NO ENGAGEMENT
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 50 MPH, ENGINE CHECK LIGHT CAME.THE CONSUMER PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, POPPED THE HOOD AND FLAMES SHOT OUT FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CAME, AND PUT THE FLAMES OUT FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED DUE THE FIRE. WHEN THE FIRER DEPARTMENT GOT THERE IT WAS TOO LATE. *AK
WHEN ENTERING AND EXITING THE VEHICLE BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER'S SIDE DOORS WILL CLOSE ON THE OCCUPANT, CAUSING INJURIES DUE TO THE DOOR HINGE SPRINGS COMING OFF. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED THE SPRINGS ON ONE OCCASION. SPRING NEEDS REPLACING AT THIS TIME AGAIN. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK
DISTRIBUTOR FAILED.
ENGINE STALLS.
FLOOR HAS STRESS CRACKS APPROX. 3" FROM DRIVERS SEAT FRONT LEFT ATTACHMENT POINT. ALSO BOTH REAR SEAT MOUNTS (ON SEAT TRACKS) ARE CRACKED NEAR MOUNTING POINTS.
WHEN VEHICLE IS STARTED AND AS SOON AS IT IS PUT INTO DRIVE, IT ACCELERATES AT A HIGH SPEED. DEALER CAN'T SEEM TO FIND THE CAUSE. *AK
DRIVE SHAFT FAILED 3 TIMES.
VEHICLE IN PARKING LOT, GOT IN VEHICLE & PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE, VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED BACKWARDS, APPLIED BRAKES (ABS LIGHT ON) TO NO AVAIL, HIT TWO CARS, BRAKES STILL NOT WORKING. *AK
WHILE DRIVING 40MPH, THE TRUCK SHIFTED AND THEN THE VEHICLE ROLLEDOVER AND EJECTED THE DRIVER OUT OF THE SEAT, WHICH AT THE TIME THE SEAT BELT LOCKING CLIP CAME APART.*AK
TURNED ON IGNITION, TURNED ON HEADLIGHTS, NO HEADLIGHTS, CHECKED FUSE BOX, ALL WIRING HAD BURNED COMPLETELY OUT, REPLACED WIRING HARNESS, TOLD BY DEALER, HEADLIGHT SWITCH SHORTED OUT.*8AK
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE; AFTER HARD START, DROVE APPROXIMATELY 100 YDS, TURNED OFF ENGINE, TURNED ON AGAIN, HEARD LOUD POP. UNDERHOOD ON DRIVER'S SIDE ENGULFED WITH FLAMES, NO PRIOR WARNING; REPORTED BY FATHER OF OWNER.*AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN.*AK
FUEL CONNECTION FROM FUEL PUMP SHORTED OUT MELTING LINE AND RELAY. *SD
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE FUEL PUMP TO THE GAS TANK CAUSING WIRING TO BURN. *AK
THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
WIRING HARNESS UNDER DASH SHORTED, CAUSING FIRE.
NOTICED BURNING SMELL IN VEHICLE, HAS REPLACED BATTERY 3 TIMES. *AK
NOTICED BURNING SMELL IN VEHICLE, HAS REPLACED BATTERY 3 TIMES. *AK
ELECTRICAL SHORT OR SHOCK IN THE IGNITION SWITCH, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO CATCH ON FIRE IN THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK
THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AND DASH BOARD WHILE DRIVING. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
THE TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE IGNITION SWITCH. PLEASE DESCRIBE. *AK
CONSUMER STATES THAT STEERING COLUMN BECAME HOT TO TOUCH AND THEN SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. SHE CUT AUTO OFF AND CALLED HUSBAND. NO INJURIES.
CONSUMER STATES THAT STEERING COLUMN BECAME HOT TO TOUCH AND THEN SMOKE APPEARED FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. SHE CUT AUTO OFF AND CALLED HUSBAND. NO INJURIES.
ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE VEHICLE THE IGNITION CAUGHT ON FIRE. TT
WENT TO START THE TRUCK AND IT SUDDENLY CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED TO THE GROUND . PLEASE DESCRIBE. TT
THE SEATBELT RETRACTORS FOR THE REAR SEATS HAVE CRACKED AND THE SEATBELT RETRACTS UNDER THE SEAT. TT
THE THROTTLE STUCK CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPEED OUT OF CONTROL, ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. TT
BACK DOOR FLEW OFF DURING COLLISION, CAUSING CHILD TO BE THROWN THROUGH BACK DOOR/RESULTING IN INJURY. *SKD
AXLE BROKE, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL/ACCIDENT/ROLLOVER/INJURIES. *SKD
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AFTER STALLING DUE TO POSSIBLE LEAK IN FUEL LINES. *SKD
DURING WET WEATHER ABS SYSTEM DID NOT RESPOND, RESULTING IN RUNNING A STOP SIGN, AFTER PUMPING SYSTEM BRAKE RESPOND LATER. TT
UPON STARTING ENGINE STALLED OUT, THEN MADE SECOND ATTEMPT TO START, SUDDENLY VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT, DUE TO FUEL COUPLER MALFUNCTION. TT
Complaint Severity Analysis
NLP analysis of complaint language — not all complaints are equal
25 complaints use high-severity language including fire, rollover, burned — these are not minor inconveniences.
Complaint & Reliability Timeline
Annual complaints (blue) vs. composite reliability score (amber) — recall years marked in red
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.
Legal & Regulatory Actions
Known class action lawsuits, settlements, and manufacturer extended warranty programs
5-Year Total Cost of Ownership
Estimated based on EPA fuel data, risk-adjusted maintenance, and depreciation
Estimated 5-year cost of ownership: $46,614 (~$777/mo). Repair risk buffer is standard due to vehicle risk profile.
Negotiation Ammunition
Use these data-backed findings to negotiate the price down
Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Tailored for the 1988 FORD Bronco II — specific failure modes your mechanic must check, not a generic list
Recall Probability Forecast
Estimated likelihood of a new recall in the next 18 months based on NHTSA signals
5% baseline recall probability — no strong indicators of an imminent recall.
Maintenance Schedule
OEM-specified service intervals for this vehicle
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.
Auction History
Public sale records from Copart, IAAI, and auction aggregators
Searching Public Auction Records
Checking Copart, IAAI, BidFax, and other sources for 1FMCU12T3JUA95867. Results appear automatically when found.
Insurance Cost Estimate
Estimated annual premiums based on vehicle profile, theft data, and NHTSA safety ratings
Based on 2024 national avg ($2,011/yr full coverage). Individual rates vary by driver, location & insurer. Always compare 3+ quotes.
Manufacturer NHTSA Penalty History
Federal fines issued for recall delays and safety violations
FORD has been fined $17M+ by NHTSA. Most recently in 2015: Failure to timely file Early Warning Reports on defect data.
State-Specific Legal Protections
What consumer laws apply to this vehicle purchase in your state
Select your state to see what consumer protection laws, lemon law coverage, and title disclosure requirements apply to this vehicle purchase.
Complete Data Table
All decoded fields in a single flattened view
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]/Multipurpose 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 |
VIN Structure Decode
ISO 3779 character-by-character breakdown of this Vehicle Identification Number
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: 6/17/2026, 8:17:26 AM.