FordBronco II1989Overview/ford/bronco-ii/1989/base/

1989 Ford Bronco II

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1989 Bronco II.

Transmission Automatic 4-spd

The 1989 Ford Bronco II, equipped with a 4-speed automatic transmission, achieves EPA fuel economy of 15 city, 20 highway, and 17 combined mpg and requires 6.0 quarts of 5W-30 API oil. Its reliability record shows 42 total owner complaints and one recall, with the electrical system as the top complaint area. For context, the model’s complaint history from 1990 to 1996 ranges from a high of 29 complaints in 1990 to a low of 1 in 1992, placing the 1989 model’s 42 complaints above the highest count in that span.

Model year199019891988198719861984

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
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

ThermostatRT1087

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length162.2 in
Overall width68.1 in
Overall height70.5 in
Wheelbase94.1 in
Curb weight3287 lb
Track (front / rear)56.7 / 57.1 in

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 6.0 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 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 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 Slip Yoke (lubricate) · Driveshaft U-Joint (lubricate) · Engine Oil (drain & refill) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Power Steering System (inspect)
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 provided federal record contains no model years prior to 1990, so direct comparison to earlier years is unavailable, but 1989 sits immediately before the 1990 high-water mark of 29 complaints, 2 recalls, 4 investigations, and 24 TSBs. After 1990, the record collapses to 1–4 complaints annually for 1992–1996, with zero recalls, zero investigations, and far fewer TSBs, showing the generation’s federal activity was heavily concentrated at the 1990 model year. Against that arc, 1989 sits just before the 1990 peak, and its target-year data logs 11 fire complaints, 3 crash complaints, and the highest complaint volume in electrical, fuel, engine cooling, and visibility systems. The data does not specify root causes for the fire or crash incidents, leaving the severity of those risks undetermined. Given the 11 fire complaints and its position adjacent to the generation’s highest-activity year, 1989 is a riskier buy than the substantially quieter 1992–1996 models.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
20
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
42
Owner complaints
3 involved a crash · 11 a fire
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 42 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Electrical System8
Fuel System, Gasoline7
Engine & Engine Cooling6
Visibility5
Tires4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic3
Latches/Locks/Linkages2
Electrical System,Vehicle Speed Control1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

89V109000Suspension:Front:Wheel BearingReported 05/07/1989

FRONT WHEEL BEARING ADJUSTING NUT RETAINING KEYS MAY BE MISSING FROM FRONT AXLE ASSEMBLIES, ALLOWING THE NUT TO LOOSEN. Remedy: INSTALL RETAINING KEYS IN FRONT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WHERE MISSING.

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 20 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
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 1989 Bronco II take?

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

Does the 1989 Bronco II have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 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.