1989 Ford Bronco from North America - Comments

The rear engine seal leaked when the truck was new, fortunately repaired under warranty.

The gas tank rusted from the outside-in from water captured between the scrape plate and the tank. I am on my third tank now. The replacement tanks cost about $600 each, OEM.

The rear window motor mechanism began to fail after about 4 years. I spent several hundred dollars to have it fixed at the dealer, but it still doesn't raise without being assisted by either jogging the direction down and up repeatedly in short bursts, or physically pushing the glass up, which is best done with a person on each side of the glass. The wiring harness that connects the rear gate to the body is subject to wear from flexing and had to be replaced after a few years. This was done by the dealer for about $200.

At about 75,000 miles, the engine began to run very poorly. The problem required the replacement of all six injectors plus the master injector at a cost of nearly $3000. I later learned that routine port cleaning (at about $150 per application) is mandatory for this injection system.

The tail gate rusted out in 2000, due to the fact that there is no adequate drain. The new gate cost $1008 just for the part. I believe the accumulation of water in the tail gate contributed to the electric window motor's poor performance.

Several components in the dash began to rattle when the truck had only 30,000 miles. The dealer did not want to address these issues.

The vinyl seat on the driver side had seam separations after only a few years of daily use, exposing the foam. There was nothing unusual regarding the seat's use, and I believe that any reasonable material and stitching would have held.

A small component failed in the steering column, preventing the ignition key from engaging, after about 100,000 miles, requiring a towing and a $600 dealer repair, mostly for the labor to disassemble the steering column.

This vehicle is a lot of fun to drive. It handles well and especially has a great turning radius. However, it has demanded an unusual amount of repairs for things that normally should not wear out. Of course it has also had a share of "expected" repairs, like a new air conditioner compressor ($2000 with labor), one water pump, two heater cores, two alternators, an overhauled transmission at about 110,000 miles.

Next time buy a plastic replacement gas tank.

Quit going to the dealer and paying those prices.

FYI: All Bronco tailgates rust out of the bottom. Ford did not have any drain holes. Drill them yourself or replace the tailgate with a fiberglass one ($800) or get the lower replacement panel for $35 on ebay (body shop will have to cut bottom qtr of tailgate skin off and weld the replacement panel in est $300)

You have a six, should have bought the V8 with 302 or 351, I would be frustrated too.

You should quit whining. there are a lot more people out there with the same problems that aren't complaining, but beating the heck out of the trucks on the trails! if it was such a money pit you should have got rid of it a long time ago.

I doubt the full size came with a V-6... actually I am almost positive they didn't. I believe the reviewer is refering to the Bronco II, and therefore should have posted this review in the appropriate section.

If I may correct you. Full Sized Bronco's Did come with the option of a straight six 300 CID. engine. I owned one. I got 14 miles to the gallon with it. The 350 that I have now only gets about 8. I would still have it, but the ignition caught fire and fried the truck.

Oops my bad. I didn't pay attention and saw later where you said V-6. I was mainly reading the original post and did not see a reference to a V-6 only a six. Sorry, I will shut up now.

Ford did have a straight 6 in the fullsize Broncos, I know, I own one now. It's a 4.9. I bought it about a month ago and the only problems I've really had so far is the tranny seals are leaking, but that's due to a "mechanic" who did work on it before and didn't put the tranny back in right. And also, for getting 14 miles you musta been a speed demon, I get around 18-20 in town, and that's with 32" tires. However I do have a manual which makes a difference.

The gate is also rotting out on the bottom, and top. the rear window also broke out (before I bought it) and the gate needs to be replaced.

I also have a 1989 Full size Ford Bronco 4x4 and it also has the bottom of the rear tailgate rusted out. I would like information where to buy the fiberglass one? I also cannot get the 4x4 to work (I think it is an electrical problem with the switch). Any help would be appreciated!

I have an '88 full size with the 302. It has better than 274K miles on the clock and no way would I trade it. I also have the leaking rear engine seal, have replaced the radiator, heater core, alternator, A/C system, distributor, tailgate and getting ready to replace the rear glass motor. Door window motors have been replaced several times. We have a TL and an SC300--the Bronco is my go to every driver. When you figure 18 years and 274K miles, the repairs are easily amortized, especially when you do most of the work yourself. Besides, the grand kids love it.

I also had a 1989 full size bronco, it was a money pit from day one. First thing to go was back window motor, then all the universals had to be replaced, including the ones in the front drive axles, transmission shifted poorly, the engine did not perform well, resulting in numerous sensors being replaced, then finally the head gaskets went out.

For those folks who actually know what they are doing with their Ford Bronco and accept that Ford trucks of this vintage were prone to a few problem rust spots, let me offer this advice. There are aftermarket manufacturers out there making fiberglass replacements for just about every body panel on the full-size Bronco, including the tailgate, which DID INDEED have drain holes in it, but moisture caught in the gate between the inner and outer sheet metal would allow rust to begin along the bottom seam, which was LOWER than the drain holes. Replace the tailgate and seal the inside of it with a spray-on truck bed liner and the problem will not return. The same is true of the openings for the rear wheels.

The full-size Bronco was indeed available with a six cylinder engine from the mid 80's through the mid 90's. The 300 CID (4.9L) in-line six not only pulled harder at the bottom of the rpm range than her only slightly larger 302 CID (5.0L) V8 counterpart, it also outlived most Ford small-block V8's in these trucks.