1989 Bronco II — A mid-year restyle meets intense safety scrutiny

1989–1990 Ford Bronco II, post-restyle (new hood/fenders/bumper), teal/gray two-tone Photo by IFCAR, public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

This page covers the U.S.-market Bronco II, distinct from the same-year full-size Bronco. Ford's Ranger-shared mid-year update changed the hood, front fenders, bumper and instrument panel and slightly increased exterior dimensions. The page also preserves the 1989 safety controversy without implying that rear-wheel anti-lock brakes were four-wheel ABS or that disputed later litigation figures were audited facts.

Why it matters

1989 combined Bronco II's only substantial exterior/interior refresh with the year its handling became a prominent public and federal safety issue.

What this page covers

Market: United States; Ford Bronco II peer family, distinct from the 1989 full-size Bronco.

Body styles: Three-door compact body-on-frame wagon in pre- and post-restyle 4x2 or 4x4 form

What changed for this year

Mid-year front-end restyle: The Ranger-shared update brought a new hood, front fenders and a closer-fitting front bumper. Because it was a mid-year change, early and late 1989 vehicles can look different. [1] [2]
Dashboard and structural revisions: Secondary histories also identify a redesigned dashboard and instrument panel plus structural improvements. Exact production breakpoints remain to be verified against factory change notices. [1] [2]

Models and trims

Base through XLT: Base, XL, XLS and XLT continued in the secondary trim chronology, with Eddie Bauer as a premium XLT treatment. The mid-year restyle does not by itself prove every trim changed on the same date. [1] [3]

Engines and transmissions

2.9-liter fuel-injected V6: The electronically fuel-injected 2.9-liter Cologne V6 continued, reported by specialist sources at 140 hp and 170 lb-ft, with 4x2 and 4x4 configurations. [1] [2] [4]

Capability and specifications

Dimensions grew with the update: Secondary histories report length increasing from 158.3 to 161.9 inches and height from 68.2 to 69.9 inches. These before-and-after figures remain attributed pending factory dimensional sheets. [1] [2]
Published production split: Bronco II Corral reports 73,248 4x4 and 30,343 4x2 units, totaling 103,591 for 1989. The table does not identify its original Ford records, so the figures remain sourced rather than absolute. [5]

Colors and interiors

Post-restyle example, not a palette chart: The approved teal-and-gray photograph shows the 1989-1990 exterior treatment. It cannot establish all factory colors, two-tone combinations, upholstery or trim codes. [1] [6]

Options and packages

Mid-year configuration requires documentation: A 1989 vehicle can combine early or late body details with trim and drivetrain choices. Build date, certification label and original ordering material matter more than assuming all 1989 trucks match. [1] [2] [3]

Safety and recalls

Consumer Reports issued an Avoid rating: Contemporary May 1989 reporting says Consumer Reports rated Bronco II 'Avoid' after wheel lift during emergency-maneuver testing. The statement records the period finding, not a present-day test result. [7]
Federal investigation opened: NHTSA opened a rollover investigation in 1989 and later closed it after reviewing accident data. The existence of an investigation is not the same as a recall or a finding that every crash had one cause. [2] [7] [8]

Owner and buyer notes

Identify early versus late 1989: Use the build date, VIN, labels and body details to distinguish pre- and post-restyle examples; replacement front clips and dashboards can complicate visual identification. [1] [2]
Safety inspection must be vehicle-specific: Inspect tires, steering, suspension, brakes, wheel bearings, ride height, corrosion and modifications. Rear-wheel anti-lock hardware should be serviced correctly, and campaigns checked by VIN. [1] [7]

Stories from this year

A refresh under a harsh spotlight: The new front end and cabin arrived as public attention shifted toward emergency handling and rollover risk. That collision of product update and safety debate defines 1989 more than cosmetic change alone. [1] [7]
A photograph that spans two years: The approved image is identified as 1989-1990 rather than forced into an exact build date. The shared post-restyle appearance requires VIN and label evidence to distinguish the model years. [6]

Sources and footnotes

Bracketed references beside a fact lead to the document that supports it.

Bronco II Corral model history Specialist model history
Ford Bronco II overview Secondary chronology with cited references
MotoGallery Bronco II trim history Specialist trim history
The Ranger Station 2.9-liter V6 technical history Specialist technical reference
Bronco II Corral production numbers Enthusiast production table; sourcing method unstated
Wikimedia Commons 1989-1990 Bronco II image Public-domain vehicle photograph
Washington Post: Consumer Reports criticizes Bronco II handling Contemporary news archive
Center for Auto Safety Bronco II rollover report index Advocacy report; used with source qualification

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