Ford Bronco reliability and problems by year
Owners have filed 979 complaints about the Ford Bronco with NHTSA since 2021, most often about visibility and wipers and engine. Ford has filed 0 warranty extensions and 5 service campaigns for it, and there are 50 safety recalls on file.
From NHTSA's public data files, downloaded 2026-10-10.
How reliable is the Ford Bronco? What NHTSA's records show
We don't give the Bronco a reliability score. NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. Here is what's on file for model years 2021 on.
- Owner complaints
- 979
- Filed with NHTSA, all model years
- Warranty extensions
- 0
- Filed by Ford
- Service campaigns
- 5
- Filed by Ford
- Safety recalls
- 50
- Each covers part of the model
Every model year compared
Complaints rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so a newer or rarer year will show fewer. Compare years of the Bronco with each other.
| Year | Complaints | Most named | Recalls | Warranty / campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | Electrical system (22%) | 9 | 0 |
| 2025 | 54 | Electrical system (30%) | 19 | 2 |
| 2024 | 78 | Other or unspecified (29%) | 16 | 1 |
| 2023 | 229 | Visibility and wipers (39%) | 18 | 2 |
| 2022 | 379 | Visibility and wipers (17%) | 23 | 3 |
| 2021 | 230 | Engine (30%) | 20 | 3 |
Look up one model year, or a VIN
See the complaints, recalls and warranty extensions for a single Bronco model year, with the typical mileage when owners reported each problem.
Acknowledged by Ford
Warranty extensions and service campaigns Ford filed with NHTSA for the Bronco, in its own words. A warranty extension means Ford pays for the repair beyond the normal warranty.
- Service campaignApr 2026· Transmission and drivetrain· model years 2025
Recommended Repair Prior to Sale Customer Satisfaction Program 26P04 Certain 2025 Model Year Bronco and Ranger Vehicles with 2.7L Engine Setting Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P04DB Powertrain Control Module Software Update
- Service campaignMar 2026· Backup camera and rear sensors· model years 2021–2025
Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Replacement If Required After Dealer Evaluation
- Service campaignAug 2025· Other or unspecified· model years 2021–2022
NEW VEHICLE DEMONSTRATION / DELIVERY HOLD Safety Recall 24S55 – Supplement #1 Dated: August 15, 2025 Customer Satisfaction Program 24N12 Dated June 19, 2025 New!
- Service campaignOct 2023· Equipment and accessories· model years 2023
Customer Satisfaction Program 23B42 Certain 2023 Model Year Explorer, Bronco, Ranger Vehicles Equipped with 2.3L Gas Engine - Engine Long Block Replacement
- Service campaignSep 2021· Electrical system· model years 2021–2022
Some 2021 F-150 vehicles equipped with SYNC 4 and built on or after 29-Apr-2021 and through 19-May-2021 may exhibit an inoperative Wireless App Projection feature with a Wireless App Projection Disabled message in the touchscreen.
What owners report most
The parts of the car owners named in their complaints, across every Bronco model year. Unverified, and not a failure rate.
- Visibility and wipers169 (17%)
- Engine156 (16%)
- Electrical system127 (13%)
- Other or unspecified122 (12%)
- Brakes89 (9%)
- Transmission and drivetrain75 (8%)
- Fuel and propulsion59 (6%)
- Suspension43 (4%)
Safety recalls
50 recalls cover at least one Bronco model year. Each covers a range of VINs, not every car. Check one car at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
The mounting bracket on the right-hand-side side curtain air bag may have a metal burr that can tear the air bag during deployment.
The engine piston domes may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in piston dome failure and lead to a loss of drive power.
The engine compartment wiring harness may become damaged and short circuit.
The fender flares may not be properly secured and detach from the vehicle.
The engine may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
The vehicle specifications listed on the tire placard and safety certification labels may be incorrect, including the VIN, capacity weight, seating capacity, front and rear gross axle weight rating (GAWR), tire and rim…
The 3-door and 5-door Molded-In-Color (MIC) hardtop roof panels may have been manufactured improperly, which can allow sections of the outer roof panel to separate and detach from the vehicle.
The front seats may have a loose or dislodged seat frame height-adjust pivot bolt.
The transmission to transfer case joint may be misaligned due to an incorrectly performed previous repair, which could lead to wear of the transmission output shaft splines and transfer case input splines.
The Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) may overheat and shutdown, which can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended.
The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
The rearview camera image may still be displayed after a backing event has ended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility.
The Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) module may malfunction while driving or when the driver is utilizing an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature, resulting in a loss of power brake assist.
The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may fail at startup.
The front seats may have a loose or dislodged seat frame height-adjust pivot bolt.
And 35 more recalls on NHTSA.
NHTSA investigations
Defect investigations NHTSA opened. Many close without a recall.
- PE24019Preliminary evaluation· opened Jul 2024, closed Sep 2025· Fuel system· model years 2021–2022
Low-pressure fuel pump failure
Led to recall 25V455.
- EA23002Engineering analysis· opened Sep 2023, closed Oct 2024· Engine· model years 2021–2022
Loss of Motive Power
Led to recall 24V635.
- PE22007Preliminary evaluation· opened Jul 2022, closed Oct 2023· Engine· model years 2021
Loss of motive power due to valve intake failure on Ford Bronco vehicles.
- DP22001Defect petition· opened May 2022, closed Jul 2022· Engine· model years 2021
Loss of Motive Power
NHTSA's own page for the 2026 Ford Bronco has the complaint text and every document.
Common questions
Is the Ford Bronco reliable?
We don't score reliability: NHTSA publishes complaint counts but no sales figures, so complaints can't be turned into a rate or compared between models. What's on file for model years 2021 on: 979 owner complaints, 0 warranty extensions and 5 service campaigns Ford filed, and 50 safety recalls. The model years with the most complaints are 2022 (379), 2021 (230), 2023 (229). Whether a known problem was fixed on one car is what its service records show.
What are the most common problems with the Ford Bronco?
Across every model year since 2021, owners' complaints to NHTSA most often name visibility and wipers (17%), engine (16%), electrical system (13%). Ford has filed no warranty extension for the Bronco with NHTSA.
Which Bronco model years have the most complaints?
2022 (379), 2021 (230), 2023 (229). Complaint counts rise with how many were sold and how long they've been on the road, so compare years of the Bronco with each other rather than with other models.
Has Ford extended the warranty on the Bronco?
Ford has filed no warranty extension for the Bronco with NHTSA in the years we hold.
How do I check recalls on a Bronco?
Enter the car's 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. That answers for one vehicle; the 50 recalls listed here are for the model, and each covers only part of it.