The fifth-generation Ford Bronco ran from 1992 through 1996 and was the last full-size Bronco before the nameplate went dormant until 2021. For 1992 Ford restyled the truck with the rounded sheet metal it shared with the redesigned 1992-1996 F-series, the body enthusiasts later nicknamed OBS for Old Body Style after the 1997 trucks arrived. It kept the removable fiberglass rear roof, a single rear liftgate with roll-down glass, and a 104.7-inch wheelbase carried over from the prior generation. Power came from Ford small-block V8s, the 5.0L (302) and the 5.8L (351 Windsor), both fuel injected; the 4.9L inline-six that earlier full-size Broncos offered was not part of this run. Trim levels were XL, XLT, and the top Eddie Bauer. A standard center high-mounted stop lamp arrived with the 1992 redesign, rear-wheel anti-lock brakes carried over from the previous generation and were standard throughout, and a driver-side airbag was added for 1994. Ford ended the Bronco after 1996 and replaced it with the four-door Expedition for 1997.
At a glance
- Years: 1992-1996 (fifth generation, the OBS Bronco)
- Body style: two-door full-size SUV with removable fiberglass rear hardtop and a rear liftgate with roll-down glass
- Platform: shares the rounded 1992-1996 F-series body, later nicknamed OBS (Old Body Style)
- Engines: 5.0L (302) V8 and 5.8L (351 Windsor) V8, both fuel injected
- Trims: XL, XLT, Eddie Bauer
- Brakes: front disc, rear drum; standard rear-wheel anti-lock brakes (carried over from the previous generation) throughout
- Safety: standard center high-mounted stop lamp from 1992; driver-side airbag added for 1994
- Wheelbase: 104.7 inches
- Replaced by: the four-door Ford Expedition for 1997
Year-by-year changes
| Year | Engines | Drivetrain & brakes | Notable changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 5.0L (302) V8, 5.8L (351 Windsor) V8 | manual or automatic, standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case; front disc, rear drum with standard rear-wheel ABS | Full restyle on the new rounded 1992-1996 F-series body (later called OBS); revised interior and dashboard; standard center high-mounted stop lamp. |
| 1993 | 5.0L (302) V8, 5.8L (351 Windsor) V8 | manual or automatic, standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case; front disc, rear drum with standard rear-wheel ABS | Carryover year with detail trim and equipment updates. The white 1993 Bronco of the 1994 O.J. Simpson police pursuit is a fifth-generation truck. |
| 1994 | 5.0L (302) V8, 5.8L (351 Windsor) V8 | manual or automatic, standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case; front disc, rear drum with standard rear-wheel ABS | Driver-side airbag added; side-impact-related interior and structural updates. |
| 1995 | 5.0L (302) V8, 5.8L (351 Windsor) V8 | manual or automatic, standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case; front disc, rear drum with rear-wheel ABS | Carryover year with equipment and option-package shuffling. |
| 1996 | 5.0L (302) V8, 5.8L (351 Windsor) V8 | manual or automatic, standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case; front disc, rear drum with rear-wheel ABS | Powertrains became OBD-II compliant; final model year of the full-size Bronco; replaced by the four-door Expedition for 1997. |
Engines and drivetrain
The 1992-1996 Bronco used Ford small-block V8 power throughout. The base engine was the 5.0L (302) V8 and the optional engine was the larger 5.8L (351 Windsor) V8, both fuel injected. The 4.9L inline-six that some earlier full-size Broncos carried was not offered in this fifth-generation run, leaving it a V8-only truck. The 5.8L gained a modest power increase during these years over the late-1980s versions of the same engine. For 1996, the final model year, the Bronco's powertrains became OBD-II compliant. Buyers could pair the engines with a manual or automatic transmission, and four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case was standard across the range; the full-size Bronco was built as a four-wheel-drive truck only, with no regular two-wheel-drive model.
Axles, suspension, and four-wheel drive
The fifth-generation Bronco kept the body-on-frame, solid-rear-axle layout of the full-size truck. It used a Twin-Traction Beam independent front suspension, the swing-axle beam design Ford ran on its four-wheel-drive light trucks of the era, shared with the four-wheel-drive 1992-1996 F-150. The 104.7-inch wheelbase carried over from the prior generation. Four-wheel-drive Broncos came with a transfer case for high and low range, making the truck a genuine two-speed four-wheel-drive rather than an all-wheel-drive crossover.
Brakes and safety equipment
The 1992-1996 Bronco used front disc and rear drum brakes. Rear-wheel anti-lock braking, which Ford had introduced on the previous fourth-generation truck, carried over and was standard throughout this run rather than being added partway through. The fifth generation then picked up a driver-side airbag for 1994. A standard center high-mounted stop lamp, the third brake light, came in with the 1992 redesign. These changes track the federal safety requirements light trucks were meeting in the mid-1990s.
Body, trims, and the OBS nickname
For 1992 Ford restyled the Bronco with the rounded front clip and smoother body sides it shared with the redesigned 1992-1996 F-series. After the 1997 F-150 switched to an all-new aerodynamic shape, enthusiasts began calling this 1992-1996 truck the OBS, for Old Body Style, and the name stuck to both the Bronco and its F-series siblings. The Bronco remained a two-door SUV with a removable fiberglass rear hardtop and a rear liftgate whose glass rolled down. Trim levels were the work-oriented XL, the better-equipped XLT, and the top Eddie Bauer, the last adding two-tone paint and upgraded interior appointments.
Why did Ford stop building the Bronco after 1996?
The 1996 model year was the last for the full-size Bronco. The two-door SUV market was shifting toward four-door family haulers, and Ford answered that with the Expedition, a four-door sport utility built on the new 1997 F-150 platform that arrived for the 1997 model year and effectively took the Bronco's place. The Bronco name then sat unused on a U.S. vehicle until the body-on-frame sixth-generation Bronco arrived for 2021.
What to know when buying a 1992-1996 Bronco
Because the fifth-generation Bronco shares its body, frame, and 5.0L and 5.8L V8 drivetrains with the far more common 1992-1996 F-150 and F-250, mechanical and many body parts are easy to source. Common areas to inspect on these trucks are rust in the rear quarters and tailgate, the condition and seal of the removable fiberglass top, and the function of the rear liftgate glass mechanism. Verify whether a given truck has the driver airbag, since it was added for 1994 rather than at the start of the run; rear-wheel ABS was standard across all years.
Frequently asked questions
What years was the fifth-generation Ford Bronco built?
The fifth-generation Ford Bronco was built from 1992 through 1996. It was the last full-size Bronco; Ford discontinued the model after 1996 and replaced it with the four-door Expedition for 1997. The Bronco name did not return on a production vehicle until the sixth generation arrived for 2021.
What does OBS mean on a 1992-1996 Ford Bronco?
OBS stands for Old Body Style. Enthusiasts use it for the rounded 1992-1996 Ford trucks, including the Bronco and the matching F-series, to distinguish them from the redesigned 1997 and later body. The 1992-1996 Bronco picked up the nickname because it shared that body with the 1992-1996 F-series.
What engines did the 1992-1996 Ford Bronco have?
The 1992-1996 Ford Bronco was a V8-only truck. The base engine was the 5.0L (302) V8 and the optional engine was the 5.8L (351 Windsor) V8, both fuel injected. The 4.9L inline-six offered on some earlier full-size Broncos was not available in this generation.
When did the Ford Bronco get a driver airbag and anti-lock brakes?
The fifth-generation Ford Bronco added a driver-side airbag for the 1994 model year. Rear-wheel anti-lock brakes were not new to this generation; they carried over from the previous full-size Bronco and were standard across all 1992-1996 trucks. A standard center high-mounted stop lamp, the third brake light, arrived with the 1992 redesign.
Is the O.J. Simpson Bronco a fifth-generation Bronco?
Yes. The white 1993 Ford Bronco involved in the June 1994 police pursuit of O.J. Simpson is a fifth-generation OBS Bronco, part of the 1992-1996 run. It was a standard two-door full-size Bronco of that era.
Sources
- Ford factory shop manuals, parts catalogs, and order guides for the 1992-1996 Bronco and F-series
- VIN and door data-plate decoding for engine, trim, and model-year verification
- Established Ford truck and Bronco reference works and owner registries
- Period road tests and manufacturer specification literature from the 1992-1996 model years
Asked all the time
What years was the fifth-generation Ford Bronco built?
The fifth-generation Ford Bronco was built from 1992 through 1996. It was the last full-size Bronco; Ford discontinued the model after 1996 and replaced it with the four-door Expedition for 1997. The Bronco name did not return on a production vehicle until the sixth generation arrived for 2021.
What does OBS mean on a 1992-1996 Ford Bronco?
OBS stands for Old Body Style. Enthusiasts use it for the rounded 1992-1996 Ford trucks, including the Bronco and the matching F-series, to distinguish them from the redesigned 1997 and later body. The 1992-1996 Bronco picked up the nickname because it shared that body with the 1992-1996 F-series.
What engines did the 1992-1996 Ford Bronco have?
The 1992-1996 Ford Bronco was a V8-only truck. The base engine was the 5.0L (302) V8 and the optional engine was the 5.8L (351 Windsor) V8, both fuel injected. The 4.9L inline-six offered on some earlier full-size Broncos was not available in this generation.
When did the Ford Bronco get a driver airbag and anti-lock brakes?
The fifth-generation Ford Bronco added a driver-side airbag for the 1994 model year. Rear-wheel anti-lock brakes were not new to this generation; they carried over from the previous full-size Bronco and were standard across all 1992-1996 trucks. A standard center high-mounted stop lamp, the third brake light, arrived with the 1992 redesign.
Is the O.J. Simpson Bronco a fifth-generation Bronco?
Yes. The white 1993 Ford Bronco involved in the June 1994 police pursuit of O.J. Simpson is a fifth-generation OBS Bronco, part of the 1992-1996 run. It was a standard two-door full-size Bronco of that era.
The wall · registered 1992–1996 Broncos
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Full year-by-year change log: 1992-1996 Ford Bronco
This log tracks the running and model-year changes to the fifth-generation Ford Bronco (1992-1996), the truck enthusiasts later nicknamed OBS, at the level of body, engine, drivetrain, brakes, and federally driven safety equipment. It is assembled from Ford factory shop manuals, parts catalogs, and order guides for the 1992-1996 Bronco and F-series, VIN and door data-plate decoding for engine and trim verification, established Ford truck reference works and owner registries, and period road tests and manufacturer specification literature.
1992
- Generation introduced. The 1992 Ford Bronco opened the fifth generation with a full restyle on the rounded new 1992-1996 F-series body, the shell enthusiasts later called OBS (Old Body Style) after the 1997 trucks arrived.
- Revised interior and dashboard. The 1992 Bronco received a redesigned interior and dashboard along with the new exterior sheet metal.
- Standard third brake light. The 1992 Bronco came with a standard center high-mounted stop lamp, the third brake light, new with this redesign.
- V8 engines. The 1992 Bronco was a V8-only truck, with the 5.0L (302) V8 as the base engine and the 5.8L (351 Windsor) V8 as the option, both fuel injected; the 4.9L inline-six of some earlier full-size Broncos was not offered.
- Drivetrain and brakes. The 1992 Bronco paired its V8s with a manual or automatic transmission, had standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case, and used front disc and rear drum brakes with standard rear-wheel anti-lock braking (RABS).
- Carryover dimensions. The 1992 Bronco kept the 104.7-inch wheelbase, the removable fiberglass rear hardtop, and the rear liftgate with roll-down glass from the prior generation.
- Trims. The 1992 Bronco was offered in XL, XLT, and the top Eddie Bauer trims.
1993
- Carryover year. The 1993 Bronco continued the fifth generation with detail trim and equipment updates rather than mechanical change.
- Engines unchanged. The 1993 Bronco kept the 5.0L (302) and 5.8L (351 Windsor) V8s, both fuel injected, with a manual or automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case.
- Brakes unchanged. The 1993 Bronco retained front disc and rear drum brakes with standard rear-wheel anti-lock braking carried over from the previous generation.
- O.J. Simpson pursuit. A white 1993 fifth-generation Ford Bronco was the vehicle in the June 1994 police pursuit of O.J. Simpson; it was a standard two-door full-size Bronco of the 1992-1996 run.
1994
- Driver-side airbag added. The 1994 Bronco gained a driver-side airbag, the most significant safety update of the fifth generation.
- Interior and structural updates. The 1994 Bronco received side-impact-related interior and structural updates accompanying the airbag addition.
- Brakes carried over, not new. The 1994 Bronco kept the rear-wheel anti-lock braking that had been standard since the prior generation; the airbag, not ABS, was the new safety item for this year.
- Engines unchanged. The 1994 Bronco continued with the 5.0L (302) and 5.8L (351 Windsor) V8s, a manual or automatic transmission, standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case, and the OBS body.
1995
- Carryover year. The 1995 Bronco carried over the fifth-generation OBS truck with equipment and option-package shuffling rather than mechanical change.
- Engines unchanged. The 1995 Bronco kept the 5.0L (302) and 5.8L (351 Windsor) V8s with a manual or automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case.
- Safety equipment unchanged. The 1995 Bronco retained the driver-side airbag added for 1994, standard rear-wheel anti-lock braking, and the standard third brake light, with front disc and rear drum brakes.
- Carryover specifications. The 1995 Bronco remained a two-door full-size SUV on the 104.7-inch wheelbase in XL, XLT, and Eddie Bauer trims.
1996
- Final model year. The 1996 model year was the last for the full-size Bronco, ending the fifth generation and the nameplate's first run.
- OBD-II compliant. The 1996 Bronco's powertrains became OBD-II compliant for the model year.
- Engines unchanged. The 1996 Bronco kept the 5.0L (302) and 5.8L (351 Windsor) V8s with a manual or automatic transmission and standard four-wheel drive with a two-speed transfer case.
- Safety equipment unchanged. The 1996 Bronco carried the driver-side airbag, standard rear-wheel anti-lock braking, the standard third brake light, and front disc and rear drum brakes.
- Replaced by the Expedition. The 1996 Bronco was succeeded by the four-door Ford Expedition for 1997, built on the new 1997 F-150 platform. The Bronco name then sat unused on a U.S. production vehicle until the sixth-generation Bronco arrived for 2021.