Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1978 Bronco.
The 1978 Ford Bronco is the subject of a model-specific complaint history spanning 1990 to 2024, a thirty-four-year record that captures reported issues across a broad timeline. Within that history, complaints peak at 345 in 2022 and fall to one in 1997, a spread that places this model year within a reliability record marked by wide variance between its highest and lowest documented years. In concrete terms, the 1978 Bronco’s documented reliability picture is defined by the contrast between its peak complaint volume in 2022 and its single reported incident in 1997.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 179.1 in |
| Overall width | 79.1 in |
| Overall height | 72.8 in |
| Wheelbase | 103.9 in |
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.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Ranger XLT 2-door Convertible 5.8L V8 | 13.70 sec | 19.90 sec | 161 hp | 4x4 |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
INTERCONTINENTAL AUTO PARTS IS RECALLING 1,937 FUEL FILTERS, P/NOS ALG 44/1 AND PUROLATOR F10024, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 14 AND FEBRUARY 13, 2008, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE FILTER'S OUTLET CAP MAY… Remedy: INTERCONTINENTAL WILL REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING MARCH 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT INTERCONTINENTAL AT 800-451-2593.
SOME OF THE STEEL WHEELS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED. THESE WHEELS, OVER A PERIOD OF TIME, COULD CRACK IN THE WHEEL RIM AREA THROUGH NORMAL OPERATION, WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. Remedy: DEALER WILL INSPECT AND, IF NECESSARY, REPLACE THE WHEELS ON THE INVOLVED VEHICLES.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.