- The problem
- 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.
- The fix
- Fuel rails will be inspected for leaks, wetness or seepage of fuel and, if necessary, fuel rails and related components will be replaced without cost to the owner.
Vehicle safety record
1985 Ford Bronco Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 20 complaints about the 1985 Ford Bronco with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system (7) and the fuel system (3). Those complaints describe 3 crashes, 8 fires and 2 injuries. It is covered by 1 recall, the latest in December 1984 for the fuel rail. For comparison, the 1984 has 10 and the 1986 has 27.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Bronco year, for its age
#9 most complained-about 1985 vehicle
- Complaints
- 20
- Recalls
- 1
- Crashes
- 3
- Fires
- 8
- Injuries
- 2
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1985 Ford Bronco problems
Share of all 20 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1985 Ford Bronco recalls 1
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
What owners say
Be the first Bronco owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
20 complaints about the 1985 Ford Bronco
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
Vehicle fails to start after key is in ignition. Vehicle towed. Was informed by mechanic problem was in ignition module.*Ak *slc
The seats of the vehicle are badly broken and are dangerous. *Mjs
Vehicle shutdown without prior warning. Vehicle acted like it wanted to stall.Also,vehicle will start back up. Dealership was aware.*Ak
Tire tread separation causing crash into conrete barier I have the still inflated tire with the tread that came off( dot number: hyhlf7a069 tire size: p235/75r15 )
Just to let you know for your data base that these tires were purchased after market, so ford had nothing to do with it. One tire rolled the tread right off, separating right under the steel belt. But the tire held air. It happened on a mountain road, at about 85 degrees. I used the other 3 tires until they had about 50,000 miles on them without any other problems. Hadn't heard about any issue at that time so I didn't report it.( Dot number: tire size: 235x15 )
This is the second bronco that I have owned that the driver seat has failed. The back of the seat falls back. *Ak
Vehicle experiences continued stalling due to faulty ignition switch (tfi module), recall on component however vehicle not included and denied. Mjs
Fuel tank shield rusted through and began to leak. (1St vehicle on doc# 530326)
VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE.
Vehicle fire due to faulty ignition switch.(Attorney for consumer).
While driving vehicle caught on fire in the engine. Fire could be electical. Please describe details.
Electrical short, causing the vehicle to catch on fire, (fire started in the speaker). *Ak
An electrical short caused the ignition switch and wires in the steering column to burn after starting the vehicle. Please describe.
Trailer hitch ball broke, causing trailer to detach/accident. (New jersey state police report)*sd
Replacement of ignition switch, more service done had driven the vehicle days in for repair and while parked caught fire ea95-002 active. Tt
Vehicle lost control/served, resulting in rollover/accident/injury. *Sd
Had a gas leak cause by faulty carburetor which caused a fire. Tt
REPLACED FUEL TANKS TWICE, STILL LEAK. TT
I m sensor caught on fire without any prior warning. Tt
Heater motor/fan not protected by vent screen, allowing pine needles to enter system, resulting in a fire. *Aw
Ford Bronco: every year compared
All Bronco years1985 Ford Bronco vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 Ford Bronco | 20 | 1 | C | |
| 1985 Toyota 4RUNNER | 2 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 1985 Ford Bronco II | 13 | 1 | B | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1985 Ford Bronco
Does the 1985 Ford Bronco have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 1985 Ford Bronco: fuel rail (December 1984). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 1985 Ford Bronco?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the electrical system (7), fuel system (3), seats & seat belts (2).
How many complaints has the 1985 Ford Bronco had?
20 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on January 3, 1995 and the latest on April 6, 2001. Of these, 3 describe a crash and 8 a fire, and together they report 2 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 1985 Ford Bronco a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 53 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Ford Bronco year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Ford Bronco years have the most complaints?
2022 (390), 2023 (236), 2021 (232). See every Ford Bronco year compared.
What should I do if my 1985 Ford Bronco has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data