The Ford Bronco II is a special-purpose vehicle built from 1983 to 1990 over 2 generations. Most were assembled in the United States — 100% of those on record. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6. Worth buying? It depends heavily on which year you buy at 3.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).
What the Bronco II is
The Ford Bronco II is a special-purpose vehicle that Ford built from 1983 to 1990 — 8 model years. Our measurements put it at 2 generations, the current one starting in 1989. It has been offered with 4-cyl, V6 power. Its closest siblings in the Ford range: Transit, Transit Connect.
Where the Bronco II is built
A badge says where the company is registered; the VIN says where the car was bolted together. We counted the first three characters — the manufacturer identifier — across 143 Bronco IIs on record.
| Assembled in | Share | VIN starts with | Years seen |
|---|---|---|---|
| the United States | 1FM | 1984-1990 |
Check your own: the first three characters of a Ford VIN decide which of these 2 lines your Bronco II belongs to. What every character in a Bronco II VIN means →
Got the full 17 characters? A free VIN check on a Ford Bronco II adds what the decoder can't see: open recalls, theft and total-loss records, and the safety ratings for that exact build.
Bronco II generations, and what changed
These boundaries are not copied from a brochure — they fall out of the measurements. Where the Bronco II's length or wheelbase jumps between consecutive model years the platform changed: a facelift moves a bumper by centimetres, a new generation moves the whole car — for the Bronco II that gives 2 distinct generations below.
| Generation | Length | Wheelbase | Weight | vs previous | Weight change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983-1988 | 402 cm | 239 cm | - | - | - |
| 1989-1990 | 412 cm | 239 cm | 1511 kg | +10 cm | - |
Ford Bronco II tire size, oil type & owner specs
The fitment Bronco II owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.
Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.
What engines does the Ford Bronco II have? Power & range
The Ford Bronco II is offered with 2 powertrains — 2.9L 6-cyl, 2.3L 4-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 2 for the Ford Bronco II, against one or two on most rivals.
| Engine | Displacement | Transmission | Drive | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| V6 | 2.9L · 6-cyl | Manual 5-spd | RWD | Regular |
| 4-cyl | 2.3L · 4-cyl | Manual 5-spd | RWD | Regular |
Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.
The Bronco II by the numbers
What the federal and market records say about the Ford Bronco II. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.
| Topic | Bronco II | Detail |
|---|---|---|
| Recalls | 15 campaigns | NHTSA, all years |
| Owner complaints | 232 filed | What breaks and when |
| Reliability | 3.5 / 5 | Best and worst years |
| Insurance | $1,113/yr | Estimated full coverage |
Frequently asked questions
What kind of car is the Ford Bronco II?
The Bronco II is a special-purpose vehicle, built from 1983 to 1990 across 2 generations. Engines offered: 4-cyl, V6.
Where is the Ford Bronco II made?
Across 143 cars in our records the split is: the United States (100%). The first three characters of a VIN identify the plant's manufacturer and country — that is where these shares come from, not from a press release.
How many generations does the Bronco II have?
2 by our measurements, the latest starting in 1989. We draw the boundaries where length or wheelbase jumps between model years — a facelift moves a bumper, a new generation moves the whole car.
What is the Ford Bronco II warranty?
New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.
Is the Bronco II reliable?
It scores 3.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.
How do I check a specific Bronco II?
This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.
More in Ford
| Model | Years | Recalls | Best MPG | ForCar score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F-150 | 1981–2026 | 462 | 72 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Ford Bronco | 1981–2026 | 146 | 27 mpg | 3.5/5 |
| Ford Mustang | 1981–2026 | 240 | 26 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Ford Explorer | 1991–2026 | 212 | 39 mpg | 4.0/5 |
| Ford Escape | 2001–2026 | 226 | 41 mpg | 4.5/5 |
| Ford Ranger | 1982–2026 | 278 | 58 mpg | 3.5/5 |