Transmission jumps out of overdrive, afterwards hard shifts in all gears after high rpms. The fix is to stop, cut the engine off and the transmission resets for lack on a better term. When the bronco is in od and is just crusing, not in a pull, is when the od jumps out. Like any other thing it does not happen all the time.
The worst 1996 Ford Bronco problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Acceleration22
- Brakes16
- Visibility13
- Electrical10
- Transmission8
- Suspension5
- Engine4
- Tires4
- Body3
- Lights3
- Steering3
- Airbags2
- Seat belts2
- Seats2
- Wheels2
Specific symptoms reported on the 1996 Ford Bronco
Recalls 1
Vehicle speed control
- What is wrong
- On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn.
- Risk
- A fire at the switch could occur.
- 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. Owners who have had their speed control deactivated are being notified that parts will be available and advised to make an appointment to reconnect the speed control beginning in february 2006. Owners who did not have their speed control deactivated are being notified to have their system remedied beginning in february 2006. Owners are urged to avail themselves of the free disconnect service as soon as possible because of the significant risk of fire. Owners may contact ford at 1‑800‑392‑3673. (note: also see recalls 05v017 and 06v286)
Recall number 05V388000 · Recall details
See all 1 recalls for the 1996 Ford Bronco
Defect investigations
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 1998 explorers.ford has informed odi that testing to determine the cause of failures in the 1998 explorers will continue after this investigation is closed.odi believes that the vehicles exhibiting the factors causing scds failure described in this report correlate well with the observed failure rates on these vehicles by model and model year.the closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist in the non-recalled vehicles manufactured with scds that are not included in ford?s recalls.odi will continue to monitor the non-recalled population for incidence of engine compartment fires.the agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.see attached closing report for details.
EA05005
Technical service bulletins for the 1996 Ford Bronco 89
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Remote keyless entry (RKE) - service tips
- New transmission cooler flusher - service tips
- Lamp-brake-invadvertent disabling of brake shift interlock
- Engine oil system priming procedures, service tips for reports of premature engine failure
- Brake shift interlock
- Some vehicles may exhibit heater core leaks
- Subject regarding contamination from prior transmission concerns or excess wear may be trapped in the...
- Transmission- E40D/4R100-1989-99-MAIN controls, separator plates and separator plate gaskets usage chart
- Vehicles may experience solid particle contaminants from prior transmission concerns or excess wear, may...
- Information regarding the new transmission cooler flusher- service tip
1996 Ford Bronco fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.0L 8‑cyl | 4WD | 11-13 | 16 | 13-14 |
| 5.8L 8‑cyl | 4WD | 11 | 15 | 12 |
What 1996 Ford Bronco owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Head light dimmer switch/turn signal switch. After head lights have been running for a few minutes, the head lights will begin to flash on/off in either high beams or low beams. I have found the issue to be in the high beam switch itself. If this had happened on a busy street or in a location where people were crossing the road it could have been very bad. Research showed this to be a very common issue and should be changed. There is even a harness for sale that routes power around this switch and through a relay setup to correct this issue. I'm sure ford should be fixing this issue before someone gets hurt, due to inability to see...
Tl* the contact owns a 1996 ford bronco. While parked, the contact noticed smoke coming from under the hood. The contact attempted to extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher but was unable to control the fire. The fire department reported to the scene and a report was filed. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign id number: 05v388000 (vehicle speed control) but was advised by the manufacturer that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was destroyed. The approximate failure was 180,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 ford bronco with indico thornbird 385* 14 * 16 tires(na) dot number kpbc80507. The tires were vibrating; therefore, the contact had them rotated. During the rotation the contact was told that the lining inside of all four tires curled up. The manufacturer insisted that this was not a previous concern on indico tires. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage on the tires was 4000.
1996 ford bronco caught fire over weekend while my family and I were driving home. Monday ford had it towed into the local dealership to repair and now, three days later they are telling me that they will not repair it since I knew about the problem. I argued that I had no idea and they say that they mailed me a card at the end of 2007. The vehicle is at the dealership and they want me to come pay cash for the reapairs. Please help.
Tl*the contact owns 1996 ford bronco. The contact stated that when the cruise control switch was engaged, the vehicle begin to accelerate beyond its set speed. The contact was driving 55 MPH. The contact did not call the manufacturer. The dealer informed the contact that the cruise control switch needed to be replaced. The contact replaced the cruise control with a used cruise control switch and that has remedied the failure. The contact stated that the faulty cruise control could have caused a crash. The failure mileage was 203,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 ford bronco. While the vehicle was parked in a lot, it suddenly caught fire. Flames and smoke appeared from the hood of the vehicle. The fire department extinguished the fire and a report was filed. The vehicle has not yet been repaired. Through numerous research, the contact discovered the federal safety agency campaign id number 05v388000 (vehicle speed control). He called the manufacturer and they acknowledged the defect and stated that they would investigate to determine if the fire was linked to the recall. The contact believes that he should have received a recall notice. The current and failure mileages were 136,000.
Tl*the contact owns a 1996 ford bronco. Sparks were dripping below the driver's side of the vehicle. The contact's neighbor attempted to extinguish the fire with the garden hose, but was unsuccessful. Eventually, several neighbors were able to extinguish the flames with garden hoses and fire extinguishers. The flames appeared from the driver's side wheel and inside the passenger compartment. The police and fire departments were called to the scene and a report was filed. The fire department continued to extinguish the fire inside the vehicle. They also disconnected the battery in fear that it may cause an electrical fire. The vehicle was deemed as destroyed by the insurance company. The cause of the failure was unknown. The current and failure mileages were less than 130,000. Updated 4/28/09 *cn updated 04/30/09.*jb updated 12/08/09. *lj updated 12/10/09.
My vehicle was parked in the yard for several hours, and I was working in my shop about 30 feet away. I started smelling burning plastic, and I thought that the neighbors were burning trash. When the odor became stronger, I looked out the door of my shop. There was smoke pouring out from under the hood, and from the front of the grille. I ran and got the garden house, and stuck it in the wheelwell, in a hole that had burned through the inner fender. Once the fire seemed nearly out, I opened the hood to finish quenching the flames.
Drove 1996 ford bronco 3 blocks and parked it in closed up garage. Came back a few days later and found it burnt up. Fire burnt under hood and dash. It scorched the vehicle parked next to it and damaged inside of garage.
Compare the 1996 Ford Bronco
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Other model years
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Questions about the 1996 Ford Bronco
Is the 1996 Ford Bronco reliable?
Owners have filed 81 complaints about the 1996 Ford Bronco, fewer than a typical Bronco model year.
What is the most common problem with the 1996 Ford Bronco?
Acceleration and speed control, with 22 complaints, typically around 140,000 miles. Next is brakes (16).
How many recalls does the 1996 Ford Bronco have?
1 recall, covering vehicle speed control.
Was there a recall on the 1996 Ford Bronco acceleration?
Yes, 1 recall: 05V388000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Ford Bronco have the most acceleration problems?
The Ford Bronco model years with the most acceleration complaints are 1996 (22 complaints) and 1995 (14 complaints).
What gas mileage does the 1996 Ford Bronco get?
Official estimates for the 1996 Ford Bronco range from 12 to 14 mpg combined. The most efficient version (5.0L 8-cyl, 4WD) gets 11-13 city and 16 highway.
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