FordBronco1991Overview/ford/bronco/1991/base/

1991 Ford Bronco

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1991 Bronco.

The 1991 Ford Bronco, documented with a 6.0-quart engine oil capacity and a 5W-30 API viscosity specification, accumulated 37 total owner complaints over its service life, with the Electrical System emerging as the top complaint area alongside 2 recalls. Measured against the Bronco's full 1990–2024 complaint history — which peaks sharply at 345 complaints in 2022 and bottoms out at a single complaint in 1997 — the 1991 model year sits firmly in the lower-complaint tier, signaling a comparatively stable chapter in the model's reliability arc and suggesting that this particular year gave owners relatively little trouble relative to what came later.

Model year202520242023202119961995199419931991

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30 APIOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

ThermostatRT1087

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length180.7 in
Overall width79.1 in
Overall height74 in
Wheelbase104.7 in
Curb weight4425 lb

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Bronco of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

10.0 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.00 sec — 1988 XLT 2-door
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
1988XLT 2-door 5.0L V810.00 sec17.40 sec185 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 6.0 qt of 5W-30 API engine oil, DOT 3 brake fluid.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil Capacity5.5 Pints rear, Ford 8.8 and 9.0
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt
Engine Oil5W-30 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt
Power Steering FluidATF
Transfer Case FluidATF

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 30,000 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 Slip Yoke (lubricate) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Power Steering System (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Disc Brake Caliper Guide Pin (lubricate) · Parking Brake System (inspect) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate) · Transfer Case Shift Linkage (lubricate)
Every 30,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Breather Filter (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Locking Hub (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Air Injection System (inspect) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Idle Air Bypass Solenoid (inspect) · PCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plug Wires (replace)
Every 100,000 miDrive Axle 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 1991 Ford Bronco represents the statistical low point for federal complaints within its primary 1990-1996 production arc, registering just 37 complaints compared to 66 in 1990 and a subsequent climb to 49 in 1992. Across this generation, complaint and recall volumes trended sharply upward after 1991, escalating to a peak of 122 complaints and 7 recalls in 1995, which places the 1991 model at the favorable, lower-risk start of this trajectory. For the target year specifically, the electrical system leads complaint categories with 13 reports, and the data notably records 10 fire incidents and 2 crash complaints, though the root causes for these incidents are unspecified in the federal record. While massive later-in-life data spikes—such as 345 complaints in 2022—reflect the realities of an aging fleet rather than original manufacturing defects, 1991 remains the cleanest baseline year of its era. Consequently, 1991 stands out as a strategically sound year to purchase, provided you prioritize a rigorous pre-buy inspection of the electrical system and fire-vulnerable components.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
48
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
6
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
37
Owner complaints
2 involved a crash · 10 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 37 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System13
Fuel System, Gasoline4
Steering3
Vehicle Speed Control3
Engine & Engine Cooling3
Tires3
Seats3
Power Train2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

01X001000Tires:Tread/BeltReported 22/05/2001

THIS IS NOT A SAFETY RECALL IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE SAFETY ACT. HOWEVER, IT IS DEEMED A SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BY THE AGENCY. EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION: FORD IS REPLACING ALL FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT 15, 16, AND 17 INCH… Remedy: THE REPLACEMENT/REIMBURSEMENT PROGRAM FOR THIS CAMPAIGN EXPIRED ON MARCH 31, 2002. HOWEVER, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT FORD AT 1-877-917-3673 OR GO ON-LINE TO WWW.FORD.COM FOR POSSIBLE…

96V071000Electrical System:IgnitionReported 25/04/1996

THE IGNITION SWITCH COULD EXPERIENCE AN INTERNAL SHORT CIRCUIT. Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 48 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
01B772001-10-01TiresOWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM SUPPLEMENT 7 REVISED INFORMATION - REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF…
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…
981672000-04-07Power TrainTRANSMISSION-E40D-NO 2-3 UPSHIFT. SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A NO 2-3 UPSHIFT CONDITION…

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. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

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 1991 Bronco take?

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

Does the 1991 Bronco have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.