Best Ford Bronco years to buy, and which to avoid

There's no consensus year, and Velocity Restorations says condition matters more than year. It calls 1969–72 'the sweet spot' for the 302 V8 with a vintage feel, and 1973–77 the most refined, with power steering, the automatic and, from 1976, front disc brakes. Autotrader Classics notes the stronger Dana 44 front axle from mid-1971 and that the 1976 steering linkage was poorly received, while CJ Pony Parts calls 1974–75 among the most desirable and most available years. Originality and uncut fenders move the price more than the model year does.

Every Ford Bronco (1966–1977) year, change by change →

It depends what you want, because there's no consensus best year: Bronco Zone owners argue engines (the 351 'feels like a truck motor', the 302 is smoother) and OBD-I versus OBD-II rather than model years. The 1978–79 trucks are the only ones with a solid front axle and 400 V8s, and they bring the most money. The 302 got fuel injection in 1985, the 351 and the five-speed manual came in 1988, and four-wheel ABS and a driver's airbag followed in 1993 and 1994. From 1994 the top is effectively fixed, and the 1996 trucks have OBD-II diagnostics.

Every Full-size Bronco year, change by change →

1989–1990. The Ranger Station says the 2.9's cylinder heads were redesigned for 1989 (look for '89TM' castings and rectangular rocker pedestals), largely ending the cracking that plagues 1986–88 engines, and that 1989-on A4LD automatics are noticeably better than the 1985–87 units its builder's guide says to stay away from. A late-1990 4x4 may also have the stronger Dana 35 front axle. If you do buy a 1986–88, check the oil for coolant, or for proof the heads have been swapped.

1. 1986Fuel-injected 2.9 Cologne V6 (140 hp); Mitsubishi 2.3 turbodiesel offered; Touch-Drive electric-shift transfer case late in the year. The Ranger Station says 1986–88 2.9 heads are known to crack, and rates 1985–87 A4LD automatics the least reliable.Beware
2. 1987Rear-wheel ABS standard; 2WD sales begin in earnest (22,286 sold per NHTSA). Still crack-prone 2.9 heads and the early A4LD, which The Ranger Station's builder's guide says to stay away from.Beware
3. 1989Facelift to match the Ranger: new hood, fenders, bumper and dashboard, 161.9 in long. Redesigned 89TM 2.9 heads largely eliminate the cracking, and The Ranger Station rates 1989-on A4LDs noticeably better than 1985–87. Ball joints move from the TTB beam to the knuckle. XLT Plus package.Sweet spot
4. 1990Final year, with the 89TM heads. BW1354 on electric-shift trucks; Dana 35 TTB on 4x4s built from November 1989; some 2WD trucks get a true 2WD transmission. Production ends in early 1990 and the Explorer replaces it for 1991.Sweet spot

Every Ford Bronco II year, change by change →

Avoid 2021–22 unless the paperwork is perfect: CarGurus says to steer clear of both, and they carry the 2.7 intake-valve recall (24V-635) and the 2026 molded-in-color roof-panel recall. CarGurus calls 2023 the best year, with no investigations and fewer complaints, as long as its recalls are fixed. Later trucks get MIC 2.0 or painted tops, the HOSS 3.0 steering gear on 2024 Badlands and Sasquatch, and a full HOSS 3.0 option for 2025, but 2024–25 trucks have their own front-suspension fastener recalls, so check any year's VIN. Jalopnik, citing Bronco Nation, notes relatively little discussion of failures on the 2.3 four.

1. 2021Production starts June 14, 2021 at Michigan Assembly. 2.3 (manual or auto) and 2.7 (auto) EcoBoost; Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Badlands, Wildtrak and First Edition; Sasquatch package. CarGurus says to steer clear of 2021–22: the year with the most recalls, including 2.7 intake valves (24V-635), molded-in-color roof panels and airbags.Beware
2. 2022Bronco Raptor (four-door, 3.0 twin-turbo V6, 37s) and the four-door-only Everglades edition arrive. Still inside the 2.7 valve recall, and 2021–22 molded-in-color roof panels are recalled in 2026; CarGurus says to avoid it.Beware
3. 2023Heritage Edition and Heritage Limited Edition arrive, both with a painted top instead of the molded-in-color one. CarGurus' pick of the generation, with fewer complaints than 2021–22, provided the recalls are done.Sweet spot

Every Bronco (sixth generation) year, change by change →