FordBronco1996Overview/ford/bronco/1996/base/

1996 Ford Bronco

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1996 Bronco.

Body SUV

The 1996 Ford Bronco, an SUV requiring 6.0 quarts of 5W-20 API engine oil, recorded 107 owner complaints with Vehicle Speed Control leading the issues and two recalls issued. Across the model's documented history from 1990 through 2024, this model year falls well below the 2022 peak of 345 complaints but significantly above the 1997 low of just one complaint. That positioning suggests the 1996 Bronco occupies a middle tier in the nameplate's reliability trajectory — neither the cleanest nor the most troubled year, but one with a defined pattern of speed-control concerns and a modest recall count.

Model year202520242023202119961995199419931992

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity6.0 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque100 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 65 · 650 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 65 · 650 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP235-75R15XLOEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5-J inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length183.5 in
Overall width79.1 in
Overall height74.4 in
Wheelbase104.7 in
Curb weight4599 lb
Track (front / rear)65 / 64.6 in

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-20 API engine oil, 80W-90 · GL-5 · 75W-140 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-5-7-2-6-3-7-8.

Lubricants & capacities

Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear Oil80W-90 · GL-5 · 75W-140
Differential Gear Oil Capacity5.5 Pints rear, Ford 8.8 and 9.0
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt
Engine Oil5W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity6.0 qt
Power Steering FluidATF

Engine torques

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings19-24 ft-lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings40-45 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts79-85 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts75-85 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine BoltsLower: 23-; Upper: 12-
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18-24 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts23-25 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts18-24 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts100 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug11.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain Plug11.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-7-2-6-5-4-8
Cylinder Firing Order1-5-7-2-6-3-7-8
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)825 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)25 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)750 LD rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)25 rpm
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)700 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity2.37 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeOil must meet ford specification WSHM1C231B
Oil Capacity11.00-12.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number65
Standard BCI Cranking Performance650 cca
Standard BCI Group Number65

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)35-45
RPM30-45 @ Idle rpm
Engine Oil Pressure40-65 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM1500 rpm
Intake Valve Lash0.092 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.192 in

Brakes

Torque to Knuckle22-27 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.060; Rear: 0.030 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0052 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From1.02 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To1.02 in
Rotor Discard at or Under0.963 in
Rotor Finish0-65 μin
Drum Nominal Diameter11.03 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages
135-40 ft. lbs.35–40 ft. lbs
256-60
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages
125-35 ft. lbs.25–35 ft. lbs
245-55 ft. lbs.45–55 ft. lbs
385-95
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 3 stages

Prep (W) Windsor engine

185 ft. lbs.85 ft. lbs
295 ft. lbs.95 ft. lbs
3105-112

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 5,000 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 5,000 miClutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft Slip Yoke (lubricate) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Shift Linkage (lubricate) · Steering Linkage (lubricate)
Every 5,000 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace)
Every 10,000 miClutch Master Cylinder (inspect fluid level) · Driveshaft Slip Yoke (lubricate) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Shift Linkage (lubricate) · Steering Linkage (lubricate)
Every 12,000 miBattery (inspect)
Every 15,000 miBrake System (inspect) · Disc Brake Caliper Guide Pin (lubricate) · Engine Coolant System (leak inspection) · Fuel Filter (replace) · Transfer Case Shift Linkage (lubricate)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Engine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill) · Locking Hub (inspect) · Parking Brake System (inspect) · Throttle Body Lever Stud (lubricate)
At 50,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 60,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 60,000 miAir Injection System (inspect) · PCV Valve (replace) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · Transmission 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.

From 1990 to 1999, the Ford Bronco experienced a significant increase in complaints and Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs), peaking between 1994 and 1996. The 1996 model falls at the end of this upward trend, recording 107 complaints and 118 TSBs, representing a slight decrease from the 1995 peak of 122 complaints and 135 TSBs. Primary concern areas for 1996 include Vehicle Speed Control (18) and Hydraulic Service Brakes (16), with an additional 24 fire complaints and 9 crash complaints. The data does not specify the root causes for these issues or the nature of the two recorded recalls. While 1996 shows a marginal improvement over 1995, it remains highly problematic compared to the near-zero complaint rates seen from 1997 to 1999. Because this year sits within a high-complaint arc and includes reports of fires and crashes, it is not a recommended year to buy.

2
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
118
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
107
Owner complaints
9 involved a crash · 24 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 107 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Vehicle Speed Control18
Service Brakes, Hydraulic16
Visibility13
Electrical System8
Tires6
Power Train5
Air Bags5
Steering5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 2 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

05V388000Vehicle Speed ControlReported 07/09/2005

ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN. Remedy: BY LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 12, 2005, OWNERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED. OWNERS WHO HAVE…

06E026000Exterior LightingReported 23/03/2006

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL… Remedy: PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 118 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
031812003-09-15Electrical SystemREMOTE KEYLESS ENTRY (RKE) - SERVICE TIPS. *TT
031482003-07-21Power TrainNEW TRANSMISSION COOLER FLUSHER - SERVICE TIPS. 2003 ESCORT AND SUPER DUTY F SERIES…
021762002-09-02Exterior LightingLAMP-BRAKE-INVADVERTENT DISABLING OF BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK. *MJ
012462001-12-10Engine And Engine CoolingENGINE OIL SYSTEM PRIMING PROCEDURES, SERVICE TIPS FOR REPORTS OF PREMATURE ENGINE…
011812001-09-17Power TrainBRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB

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

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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
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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 1996 Bronco take?

6.0 qt of 5W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 1996 Bronco have open recalls?

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