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Ford Bronco — Years to Avoid

Reliability breakdown of every Ford Bronco model year. Based on NHTSA owner complaints, federal recalls, and safety investigations.

Model Years
36
Years to Avoid
2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021
Best Years
1999, 1998, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1972, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1967
2026
13 complaints9 recalls31 TSBs
2025Avoid
90 complaints19 recalls104 TSBs
2024Avoid
123 complaints16 recalls136 TSBs
2023Avoid
276 complaints18 recalls212 TSBs
2022Avoid
523 complaints23 recalls2 invest.281 TSBs
2021Avoid
308 complaints20 recalls4 invest.324 TSBs
1999Best Year
5 complaints0 recalls1 TSBs
1998Best Year
2 complaints0 recalls2 TSBs
1997
1 complaints1 recalls9 TSBs
1996
109 complaints2 recalls1 invest.89 TSBs
1995
131 complaints2 recalls1 invest.101 TSBs
1994
114 complaints5 recalls1 invest.93 TSBs
1993
45 complaints7 recalls71 TSBs
1992
56 complaints4 recalls6 invest.59 TSBs
1991
37 complaints2 recalls6 invest.48 TSBs
1990
77 complaints1 recalls6 invest.43 TSBs
1989
118 complaints2 recalls2 invest.31 TSBs
1988
68 complaints1 recalls1 invest.21 TSBs
1987
61 complaints1 recalls18 TSBs
1986
43 complaints1 recalls1 invest.18 TSBs
1985
24 complaints1 recalls1 invest.17 TSBs
1984
11 complaints4 recalls1 invest.10 TSBs
1983
4 complaints2 recalls1 invest.7 TSBs
1982
1 complaints1 recalls1 invest.7 TSBs
1981
2 complaints1 recalls1 invest.7 TSBs
1980
0 complaints4 recalls6 TSBs
1979
2 complaints6 recalls
1978
0 complaints6 recalls
1977Best Year
1 complaints2 recalls
1976Best Year
0 complaints2 recalls
1975Best Year
0 complaints2 recalls
1972Best Year
0 complaints1 recalls
1971Best Year
0 complaints1 recalls
1970Best Year
0 complaints1 recalls
1969Best Year
1 complaints0 recalls
1967Best Year
2 complaints2 recalls

How we calculate this

Each year receives a composite risk score based on NHTSA owner complaints, federal recalls, safety investigations, and technical service bulletins. Years scoring more than 2x the model's average are flagged as “years to avoid.” Years in the lowest risk bracket are marked as “best years.” All data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

Which Ford Bronco Years Should You Avoid?

Based on federal safety data, the 2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 Ford Bronco are the most problematic years, with significantly higher rates of owner complaints, recalls, and safety investigations compared to other model years.

If you're shopping for a used Ford Bronco, consider the 1999, 1998, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1972, 1971, 1970, 1969, 1967 model years — these have the fewest reported issues relative to other years.

36 model years analyzed