1985 Ford Bronco Problems
- Complaints
- 20filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- —no mileage reported
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- —overall rating starts with 2011 models
- EPA fuel economy
- 13 mpgcombined, 4.9L 6-cyl 4WD/AWD · 13 city / 13 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 1985 Ford Bronco (complaints, recalls, investigations), EPA fuel economy. Report an error
NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 1985 Ford Bronco. The part named most often is electrical system, with 7 complaints (35% of the total), followed by fuel system (3) and engine cooling (2). Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 8 a fire, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 0 technical service bulletins for this model year. Fuel system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the fuel rail filed under the same part.
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 system7 35%
- Fuel system3 15%
- Engine cooling2 10%
- Seats2 10%
- Tires2 10%
- Equipment1 5.0%
- Other or unknown1 5.0%
- Suspension1 5.0%
Complaints by year filed
Trend: stable. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 1985 Ford Bronco 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 4WD | 4.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed manual | 15 | 20 | 16 | $4,200 |
| Bronco 4WD | 4.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed manual | 15 | 17 | 16 | $4,200 |
| Bronco 4WD | 4.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed manual | 12 | 16 | 14 | $4,800 |
| Bronco 4WD | 4.9L 6-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 13 | 13 | 13 | $5,150 |
| Bronco 4WD | 4.9L 6-cyl | 4-speed manual | 13 | 14 | 13 | $5,150 |
| Bronco 4WD | 4.9L 6-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 11 | 13 | 12 | $5,600 |
| Bronco 4WD | 5.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 12 | 16 | 13 | $5,150 |
| Bronco 4WD | 5.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 11 | 15 | 13 | $5,150 |
| Bronco 4WD | 5.0L 8-cyl | 4-speed manual | 11 | 13 | 12 | $5,600 |
| Bronco 4WD | 5.8L 8-cyl | 3-speed automatic | 10 | 12 | 11 | $6,100 |
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
- 84V162000Dec 26, 1984Fuel system, gasoline › Fuel injection system › Fuel railCovers: Ford Bronco 1985, F-250 1985, F-150 1985
Metal burrs and sharp edges on fuel rails may have damaged adjacent o-ring seals during assembly. The defect could cause fuel leakage when engine is operating.
Recall details for the 1985 Ford Bronco → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
NHTSA investigations
- PE87015Front brk caliper seizureClosed · Jan 15, 1987
Technical service bulletins
No technical service bulletins are on record for the 1985 Ford Bronco.
Other model years of the Ford Bronco
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 11 | 676 | 9 | — | 18 | — | Too new |
| 2025 | 56 | 13,192 | 19 | — | 18 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2024 | 82 | 6,000 | 16 | — | 18 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 230 | 11,000 | 18 | — | 17 | 50 · Typical | Too new |
| 2022 | 384 | 26,000 | 23 | — | 18 | 51 · Typical | Rising |
| 2021 | 230 | 25,250 | 20 | — | 18 | 32 · Fewer | Rising |
| 1996 | 81 | 120,000 | 1 | — | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1995 | 94 | 126,000 | 1 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Rising |
| 1994 | 91 | 130,000 | 3 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1993 | 40 | 99,500 | 5 | — | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1992 | 37 | 80,000 | 2 | — | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1991 | 32 | 120,000 | 1 | — | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1990 | 56 | 126,300 | 1 | — | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1989 | 84 | 159,500 | 2 | — | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1988 | 52 | 125,005 | 1 | — | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1987 | 34 | 120,000 | 1 | — | 13 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1986 | 27 | — | 1 | — | 14 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1985 | 20 | — | 1 | — | 13 | — | Stable |
| 1984 | 10 | — | 3 | — | 12 | — | Not enough data |
All Ford Bronco model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
How many NHTSA complaints does the 1985 Ford Bronco have?
NHTSA recorded 20 consumer complaints for the 1985 Ford Bronco as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 1985 Ford Bronco is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 7 complaints (35% of the total), followed by fuel system with 3.
Has the 1985 Ford Bronco been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 1985 Ford Bronco get?
The EPA rates the 1985 Ford Bronco (Bronco 4WD, 4.9L 6-cyl) at 13 mpg combined, 13 city and 13 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $5,150 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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.