Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1982 Bronco.
The 1982 Ford Bronco carries a remarkably clean reliability record, with just a single owner complaint on file—centered on tires—and one recall throughout its documented history. When placed against the model's broader complaint timeline spanning 1990 through 2024, which saw complaints climb as high as 345 in 2022 and dip as low as one in 1997, this model year sits firmly at the quietest end of the spectrum. For researchers tracking the Bronco's long-term reliability trajectory, the 1982 stands as a low-complaint outlier in the dataset, representing an early, minimally reported chapter well before the model's complaint volumes surged in later decades.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 177.6 in |
| Overall height | 73.2 in |
| Wheelbase | 104.7 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Ranger XLT Trailer Special 2-door 5.8L V8 | 14.10 sec | 19.60 sec | 160 hp | 4x4 |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The provided federal record omits the 1982 model year from its year-by-year breakdown, making it impossible to compare the target year directly to the immediate years before and after within the dataset. The 1982 model's isolated data reveals just one tire complaint—with the data not specifying the root cause—and zero crash or fire incidents. In contrast, the generational arc recorded in the dataset begins in 1990 with moderate issue volumes, peaks in the 1990s at 122 complaints in 1995, and then shows a massive surge in the 2021-2024 era, culminating in 345 complaints and 22 recalls in 2022. Because the 1982 Bronco falls well before this escalating arc of regulatory issues and carries a negligible federal complaint footprint, it avoids the documented systemic problems seen in later decades. Therefore, based strictly on this federal data, the 1982 Bronco is an excellent used buy with minimal documented regulatory risk.
All 1 complaints on record, top 1 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL AFTERMARKET FUEL PUMPS SOLD UNDER THE BRAND NAMES OF CARTER, ACCUFLOW, NAPA, TRUFLOW, PARTS DEPO, AND PARTS MASTER, SHIPPED BETWEEN AUGUST 2006 AND JULY 2007 FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE… Remedy: FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE FUEL PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 15, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL AT 248-354-7700.
Showing 5 of 7 bulletins on record with NHTSA.
| Bulletin | Date | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 01157 | 2001-08-06 | Unknown Or Other | INFORMATION REGARDING TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *SLC |
| 98246 | 1998-12-07 | Electrical System | FORD MOTOR COMPANY HAS RELEASED A NEW ELECTRICAL GREASE ( F8AZ - 19G208-AA ) TO REDUCE… |
| 9888 | 1998-04-27 | Power Train | INFORMATION ON A NEW TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHART. *YC |
| 97511 | 1997-03-03 | Power Train | FLUID- TRANSMISSION FLUID USAGE CHARTS. *JD |
| 9747 | 1997-02-17 | Structure | FRAME- RIVET REPLACEMENT WITH BOLTS- SERVICE TIPS. *JD |
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 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.