Ford Bronco Complaints (1996)

82 consumer complaints on file.

#10126006July 8, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
DT: THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, THE FIRE MARSHAL SAID IT STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE INSURANCE AGENCY CAME TO PICK UP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE HOUSE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK THE FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10127153June 30, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
FIRE IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAUSED BY CRUISE CONTROL BRAKE SWITCH. MY FIRST INDICATION OF A PROBLEM WAS THAT MY CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK. I WENT TO MY GARAGE AND FOUND THAT A FUSE HAD BLOWN. WHEN I REPLACED THE FUSE, THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY, LOCATED DIRECTLY ABOVE THE BRAKE FLUID TANK, IMMEDIATELY IGNIGHTED, WHICH DESTROYED THE SWITCH AND MELTED PART OF THE BRAKE FLUID. WE PUT OUT THE FIRE WITH AN EXTINGUISHER, BOUGHT AND INSTALLED A REPLACEMENT SWITCH, AND IT NOW SEEMS TO BE WORKING OK. I HAD FIGURED IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, UNTIL I LEARNED IT HAS HAPPENED TO HUNDREDS OF OTHER PEOPLE AND THAT A "PARTIAL" RECALL HAS BEEN CONDUCTED BY FORD, BUT THE RECALL DID NOT INCLUDE MY VEHICLE. NOW I'M AFRAID I MAY HAVE ANOTHER FIRE. I BECAME AWARE OF THIS BY WATCHING A CNN NEWS STORY ON THE PROBLEM.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10122538May 31, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHILE CLEANING MY 96 BRONCO I NOTICED SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE HOOD. AFTER OPENING IT, I SAW THE CRUISE CONTROL BOX TO BE SMOKING HEAVILY. I POURED WATER ON IT AND COOLED DOWN THE SUPERHEATED DEVICE. EXCEPT FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL NOT WORKING, I DID NOT ENCOUNTER ANY OTHER PROBLEMS. LATELY I'VE BEEN READING ABOUT INVESTIGATIONS INTO POTENTIAL SYSTEMATIC DEFECTS OF THE CRUISE CONTROL OF FORD TRUCKS AND EXTENSIVE RECALLS DUE TO THAT PROBLEM. THE SYMPTOMS DESCRIBED ARE MATCHING WHAT HAPPENED TO MY CAR - I SEEM TO JUST HAVE BEEN LUCKY TO BE PRESENT. I REPORTED THE INCIDENT TO MY CAR DEALER AND TO FORD BUT BOTH DENIED A CLAIM BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL ON MY KIND OF VEHICLE. THERE HAVE BEEN RECALLS ON FORD F150 TRUCKS BUT I COULD NOT FIND ANY REGARDING THE BRONCO MODEL WHICH IS SURPRISING SINCE BOTH CARS ARE ESSENTIALLY THE SAME EXCEPT FOR THE FLAT BED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10116586April 7, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
CRUISE CONTROL AND BRAKE LIGHTS QUIT WORKING. REPLACED FUSE AND IT BLEW AND STILL NO BRAKE LIGHTS OR CRUISE. THE PROBLEM IS THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH THAT CONTROLS THE CRUISE GOES BAD AND CAUSES FUSE TO BLOW AND CRUISE DOES NOT WORK AND BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK. AFTER FINDING THE PROBLEM I REPLACED THE SWITCH WITH A NEW ONE FROM MOSES FORD. WITHIN TWO WEEKS FUSE BLOWN AGAIN AND SWITCH WAS BAD AGAIN. WHEN SWITCH GOES BAD IT ALLOWS BRAKE FLUID THROUGH SWITCH AND ONTO THE WIRING LEACHING UP HARNESS AND TO A LARGER HARNESS AND THE FLUID CAUSED A SHORT WHICH MELTED HARNESS. I FORTUNATELY SAW IT HAD MELTED AND HAVE LEFT HARNESS UNPLUGGED SINCE. NOW BECAUSE OF THE TWO DEFECTIVE SWITCHES IT RUINED CRUISE SERVO AND HARNESS. I WAS TOTALLY UNAWARE OF BRAKE LIGHTS BEING OUT UNTIL MY WIFE FOLLOWED ME HOME ONE NIGHT I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST CRUISE PROBLEM. FAILURE IS NOT CORRECTED AS THE DESIGN OF THE SWITCH IS POOR AND EACH ONE RESULTS IN SAME PROBLEM AND NOW MELTED HARNESS NEEDS REPLACED, WHICH ENTAILS REPLACING THE ENTIRE UNDERHOOD WIRING HARNESS AT A COST OF $400 PLUS LABOR. THERE IS A RECALL PENDING ON F150 FROM 1995-1999 BUT BRONCO IS NOT LISTED WHEN IN FACT THE BRONCO USES THE SAME HARNESS AND SWITCH AS THE F150. SAW THE ARTICLE ONLINE HEREHTTP://ABCNEWS.GO.COM/BUSINESS/WIRESTORY?ID=608161*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10115877March 25, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
WHILE PARKED FOR TWENTY HOURS CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH IGNITIED BY ITSELF. AS A RESULT, VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE OWNER WAS ABLE TO SAVE THE VEHICLE.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10114678March 24, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
IN REGAURD TO INVESTIGATION EA 05-005 HEADED UP BY BRUCE YORK; I HAVE A 1996 FORD BRONCO THAT THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH ALSO SHORTED OUT. IT DID NOT RESULT IN A FIRE BUT THE CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T WORK. THE WIRES ARE BURNT RIGHT NEXT TO THE SWITCH AND THE SWITCH IS FULL OF FLUID. I CURRENTLY DRIVE IT AS IS WITH THE WIRES PULLED AWAY BUT EVERY THING IS STILL IN THE TRUCK IF ANY INVESTIGATORS WANT TO SEE IT. I SEE NO MENTION OF THE BRONCO IN THE INVESTIGATION BUT THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME. I WAS FORTUNATE. NO FIRE
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108264January 30, 2005
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
THE TRUCK HAD BEEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH ON THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER OVERHEATED AND CHARRED THE AREA. REPLACED SWITCH AND CONTROL MODULE. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10108060January 27, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1996 FORD BRONCO, BURNED TO THE GROUND / A TOTAL LOSS. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. I WAS HAVING NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE THAT I KNEW OF. I HAD A FUEL PUMP PUT IN 4 MONTHS PRIOR FROM MY MECHANIC. THE FIRE STARTED UP FRONT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, AND MOVED TOWARDS THE REAR. EVERYTHING WAS IN SOME FORM OF MELTED AND OR JUST ASHES. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10107948January 26, 2005
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
AT APPROXIMATELY 2AM ON SEPTEMBER 8, 2004, I RECEIVED A CALL FROM MY NEIGHBOR INFORMING ME THAT MY 1996 FORD BRONCO WAS ON FIRE. WHEN I RAN OUTSIDE, THERE WERE FLAMES "SHOOTING" SEVERAL FEET INTO THE AIR. THE SOURCE OF THE FIRE WAS THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE FRONT TIRES HAD BLOWN FROM THE HEAT AND THE FIRE HAD MELTED THE DASH AND WAS INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPT WAS CALLED AND WERE ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE BLAZE WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF THEIR ARRIVAL. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS (I HAVE DIGITAL PICTURES). THE FIRE SEEMS TO HAVE STARTED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT SINCE THAT WAS THE AREA WHERE THE FIRE WAS THE HOTTEST. (THE LEAD WHEEL WEIGHTS ACTUALLY MELTED) SINCE THEN I HAVE HEARD QUITE A FEW STORIES OF SIMILAR OCCURRENCES WITH WITH FORD BRONCOS, EXPLORERS, AND F150 PICK UPS OF MODEL YEARS RANGING FROM 1996 THROUGH 2002. ONE OF THE COMMON ELEMENTS IN A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THESE EVENTS, ACCORDING TO A RECENT ARTICLE IN THE LOCAL NEWSPAPER, IS THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL ON THE VEHICLES THAT BURNT HAD FAILED. THAT WAS TRUE WITH MY VEHICLE. THE CRUISE CONTROL HAD NOT WORKED FOR THE LAST 6 MONTHS OR SO. MY VEHICLE HAD BEEN PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 18 HOURS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10095360November 3, 2004
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
THE CONSUMER COULD NOT GET VEHICLE OUT OF PARK ONE MORNING AND HAD TO REPLACE A FUSE. JUST AFTER VEHICLE STARTED SMOKE CAME FROM UNDER HOOD. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD, AND SAW A FIRE AT THE MASTER CYLINDER. THE CONSUMER PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A BOTTLE OF WATER. *AK THE MASTER CYLINDER PRESSURE SWITCH AND CONNECTOR WAS REPLACED. *SC
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10097128October 19, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
THE OIL PAN RUSTED THROUGH. IT WAS DISCOVERED AFTER THE MECHANIC AND THE CONSUMER OBSERVED OIL ON THE GROUND. *JB THE CONSUMER STATED THAT FORD RECALLED ANOTHER VEHICLE WITH THE SAME ENGINE AND SAME PROBLEM. *TC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10086147August 4, 2004
SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:COIL SPRINGS, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SHOP FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND I ASKED THE MECHANIC TO CHECK THE ROUTE. FRONT SUSPENSION DUE TO EXCESSIVE NOISE/VIBRATION. HE CONTACTED ME LATER TO ADVISE THAT THE COIL SPRING WAS BROKEN. THE ONLY THINGS RETAINING THE SPRING WERE GRAVITY AND GOD. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10049299December 6, 2003
SUSPENSION, STEERING
THE FOLLOWING IS A COMPLAINT ABOUT PRODUCT AND SERVICES . PRODUCT BEING 1996-97 MODEL VEHICLE FORD BRONCO VIN [XXX]. VEHICLE HAS BUILT-IN CONTROL AND ROLLOVER PROBLEMS BY DESIGN. THIS WAS A CONTRIBUTING FACTOR. WITH THE BRONCO CRASHING OFF THE MACKINAC BRIDGE MARCH 2, 1997 LOCATED IN MICHIGAN KILLING [XXX] OUR SON. THE VEHICLE WAS LEASED NEW, IN 1996 AND MEMBERS OF THE FAMILY EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY KEEPING VEHICLE IN ITS LANE OF TRAVEL, IT WOULD DRIFT AND BOUNCE ABOUT THE ROAD THERE WAS A ROLLOVER OF THIS VEHICLE AFTER IT IMPACTED A CURB ON MAY 11 1996. SERVICES BEING THE FORD BRONCO WAS TAKEN TO ROMEO FORD DEALERSHIP IN ROMEO MICHIGAN JAN 13 ,1997. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS BEFORE THE FATAL CRASH. THE TRUCK WAS EXPERIENCING PULLING TO ONE SIDE, STEERING INSTABILITY AND SUSPENSION PROBLEMS IT WOULD HAVE BEEN TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE IT STILL HAD A HANDLING PROBLEM BUT THE FATALITY HAPPENED BEFORE THAT COULD TAKE PLACE. *LA INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
1
#10040639September 25, 2003
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT ANY SPEED THE CONSUMER NOTICED A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION BUT HE'S NOT 100% SURE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *NLM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8023986December 9, 2002
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHILE APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL, AND IT HAD GONE TO THE FLOOR. THE CONSUMER PUMPED THE BRAKES, AND VEHICLE HAD COME TO AN ABRUPT STOP. PH THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED AND BURST WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKING FLUID TO LEAK. SCC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8006852April 2, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, SUSPENSION:FRONT, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING, PARKING BRAKE, VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM, STRUCTURE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR, SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO FORWARD. CONSUMER STATED TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK CRUISE CONTROL AND DOOR LOCKS ARE INOPERATIVE. EMERGENCY BRAKE LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED. FRONT END IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND PULLS TO THE LEFT. HEAD LIGHTS WILL NOT SHUT OFF. THERMOSTAT, RADIATOR, RADIATOR CAP, AND WATER PUMP WERE REPLACED. THE STRUTS THAT HOLD THE BACK WINDOW AND DOOR DID NOT HOLD, SPRINGS FOR THE BACK DOOR ARE INOPERATIVE. TRANSMISSION NEEDED ADJUSTMENT, BALL IN TRANSMISSION FAILED, VEHICLE WILL NOT SHIFT INTO 4-WHEEL DRIVE, AND UNIVERSAL JOINT WAS REPLACED. DRIVER SIDE SEAT BELT INOPERATIVE. ELECTRICAL SWITCH THAT ADJUSTS THE DRIVER SEAT SHORTED OUT AND CAUGHT FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, GROUND CABLE ON THE BATTERY BROKE CAUSING COMPUTER TO BE INOPERATIVE, STARTER SWITCH, SOLENOID, LOCK CYLINDER, CIRCUIT BREAKER, AND TEM SENSOR WERE REPLACED. AIR CONDITIONER FAILED AND VENTS DO NOT WORK. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8005110March 6, 2002
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
AFTER TURNING ON REAR DEFOGGER, REAR WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. THIS WAS THE THIRD TIME THAT THIS INCIDENT HAD OCCURRED. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THERE IS A TSB THAT STATES THE CURRENT WEATHERSTRIP CAUSED A CHEMICAL REACTION WITH THE SILVER IN THE HEATING ELEMENT AND REPLACING THE GLASS ONLY MAY NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *SLC
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#8001585January 4, 2002
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:COLUMN SHIFT, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER TRIED TO ENGAGE 4-WHEEL DRIVE, AND 4-WHEEL WOULD NOT ENGAGE, CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD LIGHT INDICATED THAT THE 4 WHEEL WAS ENGAGED, BUT IT WAS NOT. THIS DEFECTIVE SYSTEM COULD GIVE YOU A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY IF YOU WERE TO BELIEVE THE INDICATION LIGHT. THE CONSUMER WAS REQUESTING THE MANUFACTURER TO REPLACE THE FAULTY SYSTEM AT NO COST. *YH
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#754274November 8, 2001
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:PARK/NEUTRAL START INTERLOCK SWITCH
THE TRANSMISSION ON MY FORD BRONCO JUMPED OUT OF PARK WHILE RUNNING. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACK INTO A DITCH CAUSING AROUND 2,000 WORTH OF DAMAGE THAT I CANNOT AFFORD TO FIX. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS VEHICLE DOING THIS OR I WOULD NOT HAVE BOUGHT IT. I WISH FORD WOULD FIX MY VEHICLE AND REPAIR THE TRANSMISSION. PLEASE WORK THIS PROBLEM AND GET BACK TO ME, LUCKY NOBODY WAS HURT IN THIS ONE. *AK
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#878782January 23, 2001
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM
AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR AN HOUR CONSUMER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM VEHICLE . PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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