No production: Ford did not offer a body-on-frame Bronco for this model year.
This is a complete non-production record, not a placeholder. The original full-size Bronco ended June 12, 1996 and the nameplate did not return for a production model until 2021. For 1997, Ford shifted the Michigan truck plant and full-size SUV strategy toward Expedition.
Why it matters
1997 was the first of 24 consecutive model years without a production Bronco and the launch year for its four-door full-size Ford successor, Expedition.
What this page covers
Market: United States; Bronco nameplate non-production year.
Body styles: No production Ford Bronco body style
What changed for this year
- Nameplate paused
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No Ford vehicle carried the Bronco nameplate for the 1997 model year. The last fifth-generation Bronco had left Michigan Truck on June 12, 1996.
- Expedition arrives
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Ford launched the four-door Expedition for 1997 on F-150-derived architecture, replacing the Bronco's position in the full-size SUV lineup rather than continuing its two-door removable-roof format.
Models and trims
- No Bronco trims
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There were no 1997 Bronco XL, XLT, Eddie Bauer, Sport or special-edition production trims. Those labels on a vehicle or advertisement belong to a different model year or nameplate.
Engines and transmissions
- No Bronco engines or transmissions
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Ford published no 1997 Bronco production powertrain lineup because it did not sell a 1997 Bronco. Expedition powertrains belong to a different nameplate and are not substituted here.
Capability and specifications
- Production total
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Zero production Broncos for model year 1997. This is a nameplate-status fact, not a missing production estimate.
- Gap position
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1997 is year one of the 24-model-year 1997-2020 production gap; the production Bronco returned for 2021.
Colors and interiors
- No factory Bronco palette
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There are no 1997 Bronco paint, upholstery or trim codes. A color listing described as 1997 Bronco data is likely miscoded, generic, or for another Ford truck.
Options and packages
- No Bronco packages
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No factory 1997 Bronco option or appearance package existed. Expedition, Explorer and F-Series packages must not be imported into the Bronco chronology.
Safety and recalls
- No 1997 Bronco VIN population
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Because there was no production model, there is no legitimate 1997 Bronco vehicle population for year-specific equipment or recall claims. A VIN decoder should identify any titled vehicle as another model year or model.
Owner and buyer notes
- Investigate a '1997 Bronco' listing
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Check the VIN's tenth character, federal certification label, title and build date. Common explanations include a 1996 truck first registered in 1997, a listing error or an Expedition mislabeled as a Bronco.
Stories from this year
- Ford chose four doors
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The new Expedition addressed the growing family-SUV market with four doors and more passenger capacity. Ford's product shift—not a missing archive—explains why the Bronco chronology stops in 1996.
- The plant kept working
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Michigan Truck transitioned to Expedition production rather than closing, tying the first gap year directly to Ford's new full-size SUV strategy.
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