Most common 1996 Ford Bronco problems
Share of the 81 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Bronco complaints by model year
Best Bronco years: 2024. Years to avoid: 2022, 2021, 2023. Compare all years →
1996 Ford Bronco recalls (1)
Vehicle speed control
On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control, the speed control deactivation switch May overheat, smoke, or burn.
Remedy: By letter dated September 12, 2005, owners were instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 1996 Ford Bronco:
Engine compartment fires
Ea05-005 is closed with Ford?s actions in recalls 05v-017, 05v-388, and 06v-286, recalling approximately 6.7 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).the brake systems in these recalled vehicles generate a vacuum that can potentially cause the scds to fail and, in certain switch installation orientations, catch fire.Ford is also including the entire population of…
What 1996 Ford Bronco owners say
Speed control & acceleration all 22 →
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. …
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.
Brakes
While driving vehicle would not go forward. Consumer stated transmission went out. Dealer contacted. 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. …
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
Windows, wipers & sunroof
Back electric window implodes throwing glass into the Bronco. This is the second time it has happened. The first time it imploded we were sitting in the Bronco (it was not running) the sencond time it happened we were driving. The sound is so loud we almost ran off the road from fear. Neither time we were using the back window. I am afraid that either the glass blowing in will hurt someone or cause the driver to get into an accident. There has to be something wrong with the unit if this continues to be a problem. I want to find out if other Bronco owners are having the same problem. Thank you myra hopper
After turning on rear defogger, rear windshield shattered. This was the third time that this incident had occurred. Dealer notified. 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.
1996 Ford Bronco engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 5-speed manual | 4WD/AWD | 13 / 16 / 14 |
| 5.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 11 / 16 / 13 |
| 5.8L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 11 / 15 / 12 |
EPA ratings. Class: Small SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1996 Ford Bronco a good car?
There isn't enough complaint history for the Bronco to compare model years reliably. So far owners have filed 81 complaints with NHTSA.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Ford Bronco?
The speed control & acceleration — 22 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year, most often about cruise control. Next are the brakes (16) and windows, wipers & sunroof (11).
How many recalls does the 1996 Ford Bronco have?
There is 1 recall for the 1996 Ford Bronco, the most recent from September 7, 2005 (vehicle speed control). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Bronco?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2024. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2022, 2021 and 2023. See the full Ford Bronco years comparison.
At what mileage do 1996 Ford Bronco problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 120,000 miles; 4% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.