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1996 Ford Bronco electrical problems

10 complaints (12% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 116,489.

owner complaints
10
of this car's complaints
12%
typical mileage
116,489
crashes
0
recalls
0

Which part fails

  • Wiring: front underhood
    3
  • Wiring: fuses and circuit breakers
    1
  • Ignition
    1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Ford Bronco electrical problems in other years

199019952026

Specific symptoms reported on the 1996 Ford Bronco electrical

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Fire or smoke 19

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Related investigations

Engine compartment firesOpened March 22, 2005, closed August 2, 2006

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

What 1996 Ford Bronco owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Mar 25, 2009 · Acceleration, Electrical · 130,000 miles · CA · fire

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.

Filed Nov 17, 2008 · Acceleration, Electrical · 140,000 miles · AZ · fire

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.

Filed Aug 18, 2005 · Electrical · 86,000 miles · CA · fire

1. General use of the vehicle 2. Cruise control stopped working. Brake fluid dark/leaking out. Brake pressure switch caught on fire and burned. 3. I will have to get a new switch.

Filed Mar 24, 2005 · Electrical · 105,000 miles · WA

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

Filed Jan 27, 2005 · Electrical · 131,000 miles · AZ · fire

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.

Filed Jan 26, 2005 · Electrical · 93,000 miles · FL · fire

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.

Filed Nov 3, 2004 · Electrical · 116,489 miles · MD · fire

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.

Filed Apr 2, 2002 · Acceleration, Body · ID · fire

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.

Filed Sep 11, 1997 · Electrical, Steering · CA

Steering tie rod failed.

Filed Feb 24, 1997 · Electrical · NY

Rear window exploded 4 times due to use with rear defroster circuitry.

Questions about the 1996 Ford Bronco electrical

Does the 1996 Ford Bronco have electrical problems?

Owners have filed 10 complaints about the electrical of the 1996 Ford Bronco, 12% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 1996 Ford Bronco electrical problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 116,489 miles.

Was there a recall on the 1996 Ford Bronco electrical?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

What year does the Ford Bronco have the most electrical problems?

The Ford Bronco model years with the most electrical complaints are 2022 (40 complaints), 2021 (29 complaints) and 2023 (26 complaints).

Other 1996 Ford Bronco problems

Acceleration 22Brakes 16Visibility 13Transmission 8Suspension 5Engine 4Tires 4Body 3Lights 3Steering 3Airbags 2Seat belts 2Seats 2Wheels 2

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