FordBronco II1988Overview/ford/bronco-ii/1988/base/

1988 Ford Bronco II

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1988 Bronco II.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1988 Ford Bronco II is a compact sport utility vehicle equipped with an Automatic 4-speed transmission and maintained with 5.0 quarts of 5W-30 API-grade engine oil, delivering EPA-rated fuel economy of 15 city, 20 highway, and 17 combined mpg according to available records. Among the 47 total owner complaints logged for this model year, the Electrical System emerged as the primary concern, while notably zero recalls were issued for the 1988 Bronco II—a stark contrast to the higher complaint volumes seen in subsequent years, with 1990 reaching a peak of 29 complaints before the model experienced its lowest complaint count of just 1 in 1992. This early车型的 complaint profile suggests that while the 1988 Bronco II experienced service issues concentrated in its electrical architecture, the absence of mandatory recalls and the improvement trajectory through the early 1990s indicate that documented problems were addressable through targeted repair rather than systemic redesign.

Model year199019891988198719861984

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity5.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy15/20/17 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Serpentine beltJK61006B discontinued
ThermostatRT1087

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length158.3 in
Overall width68.1 in
Overall height68.1 in
Wheelbase94.1 in
Curb weight3166 lb

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined15 / 20 / 17 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 5.0 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil Capacity5 Pints, rear
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity5.0 qt
Transfer Case FluidATF
Transfer Case Fluid Capacity3 PINTS

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 60,000 mi; coolant every 30,000 mi. The big-interval services (every 30,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

At 7,500 miTire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 7,500 miClutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Power Steering System (inspect) · Shift Linkage (lubricate)
Every 15,000 miDisc Brake Caliper Guide Pin (lubricate) · Parking Brake System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Transfer Case Shift Linkage (lubricate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
Every 60,000 miAir Injection System (inspect) · Idle Air Bypass Solenoid (inspect) · PCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plug Wires (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 1988 Bronco II's federal complaint profile shows Electrical System as the leading category with 11 reports, followed by Structure, Power Train, and Fuel System each at 4, alongside 8 crash complaints and 14 fire complaints — the latter figure being particularly notable. The year-by-year record begins at 1990 with elevated activity (29 complaints, 2 recalls, 4 investigations, 24 TSBs) before dropping sharply to near-zero levels from 1992 onward, suggesting 1988 precedes a documented peak year. Without 1988's aggregate complaint, recall, or investigation totals in the provided dataset, direct numerical comparison to adjacent years is not possible, though the 1990 spike implies the generation's regulatory scrutiny intensified after the 1988 model year. The data does not specify root causes for the electrical, structural, or fire-related complaints. Given the significant fire complaint count and the absence of complete 1988 federal metrics, a pre-purchase inspection focusing on electrical and fuel systems is essential. This year carries elevated risk indicators that warrant thorough due diligence before purchase.

0
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
19
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
47
Owner complaints
8 involved a crash · 14 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 47 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System11
Structure4
Power Train4
Fuel System, Gasoline4
Vehicle Speed Control3
Engine & Engine Cooling3
Steering3
Service Brakes, Hydraulic,Structure2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

No recall campaigns on record with NHTSA for this vehicle as of the last data refresh.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 19 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
011562001-08-06VisibilitySOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT HEATER CORE LEAKS. *SLC
011572001-08-06Unknown Or OtherINFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC
0023102000-11-13Power TrainSUBJECT REGARDING CONTAMINATION FROM PRIOR TRANSMISSION CONCERNS OR EXCESS WEAR MAY BE…
00152000-01-10Power TrainINFORMATION REGARDING THE NEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER- SERVICE TIP. *MJS
992221999-10-18Electrical SystemSUBJECT ON A WIRE HARNESS TERMINAL REPAIR KIT AVAILABLE FOR REPAIRING ELECTRICAL WIRING…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Bronco II. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
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Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 1988 Bronco II take?

5.0 qt of 5W-30 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1988 Bronco II have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 0 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Bronco II get?

EPA figures are 15 city / 20 highway / 17 combined mpg.