1985 Ford Bronco II Problems
- Complaints
- 13filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 106,000miles, 1 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 0campaigns on record
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 17 mpgcombined, 2.8L 6-cyl 4WD/AWD · 15 city / 19 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1985 Ford Bronco II (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 13 consumer complaints for the 1985 Ford Bronco II. The part named most often is electrical system, with 5 complaints (38% of the total), followed by engine cooling (3) and transmission and drivetrain (3). 1 of the complaints include a mileage, and 0% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 106,000 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 5 a fire, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 0 recall campaigns and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year.
This model year has fewer than 25 complaints on record, so the numbers below can change a lot with a few new reports.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Electrical system5 38%
- Engine cooling3 23%
- Body and structure2 15%
- Brakes1 7.7%
- Steering1 7.7%
- Suspension1 7.7%
- Vehicle speed control1 7.7%
Example complaints
Transmission and drivetrain: “The front seal on the a4ld automatic transmission in my 1985 Bronco Ii failed. When this happened the transmission fluid blew back across the exhaust pipe causing a lot of smoke. I have done a lot of research and find that this is a common problem with this vehicle and transmission.”
NHTSA complaint #10013955, filed 2003-04, 106,000 milesMileage when problems were reported
0% of the 1 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 106,000 and 106,000 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Fewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1985 Ford Bronco II version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronco II 4WD | 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 16 | 20 | 18 | $3,700 |
| Bronco II 4WD | 2.8L 6-cyl | 5-speed manual | 15 | 19 | 17 | $3,950 |
| Bronco II 4WD | 2.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 15 | 20 | 16 | $4,200 |
| Bronco II 4WD | 2.8L 6-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 14 | 19 | 16 | $4,200 |
| Bronco II 4WD | 2.3L 4-cyl · diesel | 5-speed manual | 23 | 27 | 25 | $3,850 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for the 1985 Ford Bronco II in the data used here. A recall can apply to some vehicles of a model year and not others, so check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA investigations
- DP97006Vehicle rolloverClosed · Dec 3, 1997
- EA89013Rollover propensityClosed · Feb 9, 1989
- PE87020Eng. And under dash firesClosed · Feb 6, 1987
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1985 Ford Bronco II.
Other model years of the Ford Bronco II
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 26 | 164,058 | 1 | — | 18 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 39 | — | 1 | — | 17 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 45 | 54,606 | 0 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 36 | 9,900 | 3 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1986 | 33 | 89,000 | 4 | — | 19 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1985 | 13 | 106,000 | 0 | — | 17 | — | Not enough data |
| 1984 | 13 | 111,000 | 2 | — | 17 | — | Not enough data |
All Ford Bronco II model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1985 Ford Bronco II have?
NHTSA recorded 13 consumer complaints for the 1985 Ford Bronco II as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1985 Ford Bronco II is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 5 complaints (38% of the total), followed by engine cooling with 3.
Has the 1985 Ford Bronco II been recalled?
NHTSA lists no recall campaigns for this model year in the data used here. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1985 Ford Bronco II get?
The EPA rates the 1985 Ford Bronco II (Bronco II 4WD, 2.8L 6-cyl) at 17 mpg combined, 15 city and 19 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,950 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 1985 Ford Bronco II reported?
Among the 1 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 106,000 miles and the middle half falls between 106,000 and 106,000 miles; 0% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.