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Vehicle Stats/FORD/Bronco Sport Reliability
NHTSA Official DataUpdated Aug 2026Methodology

FORD Bronco Sport Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

Poor reliability signalOur verdict from 1,346 complaints and 64 recalls on NHTSA record

Comparing used FORD Bronco Sport options? We analyzed 6 model years (2021–2026) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.

1,346
Total Complaints
NHTSA filed
64
Safety Recalls
federal campaigns
55
Crash-Related
crash complaints
39
Fire-Related
fire complaints
49
Injuries Reported
across all years
6
Years Analyzed
2021–2026

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Found a FORD Bronco Sport? Check that exact car.

Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.

  • Accident & damage history
  • Odometer rollback records
  • Open recalls & title brands
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Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the FORD Bronco Sport has 1,346 owner complaints and 64 safety recalls across model years 2021–2026. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2021 drew the most complaints; 2026 drew the fewest.

FORD Bronco Sport — key reliability facts
Make
FORD
Model
Bronco Sport
Model years analyzed
2021–2026 (6 years)
Total NHTSA complaints
1,346
Safety recall campaigns
64
Crash-related complaints
55
Fire-related complaints
39
Worst model year (by complaints)
2021 (676 complaints)
Best model year (fewest complaints)
2026 (3 complaints)
Top reported issue area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Reliability signal
Poor
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) · Data last refreshed Aug 22, 2026
This Bronco Sport has 64 open recall campaigns on record. Check whether yours is affected.Check my VIN free →

By model year

FORD Bronco Sport: which years to avoid & which to buy

Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.

Years to avoid
2021676 complaints2023151 complaints2024101 complaints

These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.

Best years to buy
20263 complaints2024101 complaints2023151 complaints

These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.

Looking at a 2021 FORD Bronco Sport? It logged the most NHTSA complaints of any model year — averages won't tell you whether this exact car is affected.Check this VIN free →

Crash test ratings

NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings

New Car Assessment Program

NCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.

20242024 Ford Bronco Sport SUV 4WD
Overall Safety
5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover Risk
4/5
How to read NCAP stars
5 stars — Excellent
4 stars — Good
3 stars — Average
2 stars — Below average
1 star — Poor

Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings

What the complaint data suggests

Poor
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

Data engine & NHTSA methodology by Eduard Batog, Co-founder & Data Engineer. How we calculate this.

The FORD BRONCO SPORT has 1,346 NHTSA complaints and 64 recalls on record. 55 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Key findings
  • 1,346 total complaints filed with NHTSA
  • 64 federal recall campaigns
  • 55 crash-related complaints on record
Top concerns
  • Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
  • Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Verify service records for frequently complained components
Worst years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.

Best years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.

What to check before buying used
  • Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
  • Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
  • Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect Complaint volume is influenced by sales volume — popular models naturally accumulate more complaints

Problems by model year (best vs. worst)

2021
676
2023
151
2024
101
2026
3

Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026

Safety recalls

NHTSA safety recalls

64 recalls found

Safety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.

Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

#25V467000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMNovember 7, 2025
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

#25V467000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMNovember 7, 2025
Safety recall

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER

#25V685000EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATEROctober 10, 2025
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM

#24V267000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCMDecember 4, 2024
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCM

#24V267000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE/BCMDecember 4, 2024
Safety recall

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

#24V594000VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTORSeptember 8, 2024
Safety recall

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR

#24V594000VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTORSeptember 8, 2024
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

#24V187000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEMAugust 3, 2024
Safety recall

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

#24V683000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
Safety recall

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

#25V158000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
Safety recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

#25V442000BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Safety recall

SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT

#26V340000SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
Safety recall

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE

#22V686000EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

#22V859000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
Safety recall

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE

#23V021000SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
Safety recall

TIRES

#24V223000TIRES
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

#25V019000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
Safety recall

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

#25V158000POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM

#25V165000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
Safety recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

#25V442000BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2021–2026. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.

Common problems

What goes wrong most often

The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 1,346 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.

01
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM346 complaints
02
POWER TRAIN286 complaints
03
ENGINE285 complaints
04
SERVICE BRAKES198 complaints
05
UNKNOWN OR OTHER189 complaints
06
FUEL SYSTEM147 complaints
07
GASOLINE145 complaints
08
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM142 complaints

Owner complaints

NHTSA complaint reports

1,346 total

These are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMAug 2026

I purchased a new 2024 Ford Bronco Sport on XXX from Sayville Ford in [XXX]. They failed to disclose an unremedied safety recall (24V-267) on the vehicle that was issued on XXX and still sold me the vehicle. When I went back to them after seeing that there was a recall on the car, they denied the existence of the recall despite me showing them the recall notice on both the NHTSA and Ford websites. Last year there was another safety recall for leaking fuel injectors (25V-467) that I brought my car in for service, and they claimed to have done a software fix. Upon checking the recall checked on the NHTSA website (6 months after service) it lists that the safety recall work was never performed, despite the dealership keeping my car for the entire day and telling me the work was performed. This dealership has been evasive and deceptive when I have confronted them about these issues and should be examined and fined for their practices. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

STRUCTUREAug 2026

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the hood independently unlatched and flew open. The front windshield was cracked, and other damage to the vehicle was sustained. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The contact stated that the failure was a known failure with similar vehicles. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was informed that an inspector had inspected the vehicle. The contact was informed that the failure was not a manufacturer defect and the case was denied. The failure mileage was approximately 31,000.

UNKNOWN OR OTHERAug 2026

I am reporting ongoing infotainment and electrical failures in two 2024 Ford Bronco Sport vehicles (same trim), unresolved after two years of ownership on both. Apple CarPlay/Android Auto frequently freezes, disconnects, or becomes unresponsive while driving, forcing the driver to interact with the screen to restore functionality — a distraction hazard that can cause loss of navigation or hands-free operation while driving, increasing collision risk. Recovery often requires powering the vehicle off for several minutes. The center display screen also becomes hot to the touch during normal use, and the wireless charging pad overheats connected phones after 10–30 minutes, suggesting a hardware thermal design defect, not a software/app compatibility issue. Both vehicles have been to the dealership multiple times; only brief diagnostic scans were performed, with no reproduction of the overheating and no repair. Staff repeatedly claim they are "waiting on an iOS update," which does not explain hardware symptoms like screen heat or the multi-minute power-cycle required. Ford's 2025–2026 Bronco Sport received major hardware/software upgrades (larger screens, updated SYNC, standard wireless CarPlay), consistent with a redesign — leaving 2024-and-earlier owners stuck with hardware Ford has since replaced, with no recall or retrofit offered. Separately, Ford's July 2025 recall (25S76) for cracked fuel injectors/underhood fire risk on 2021–2024 Bronco Sport has only received an interim software alert update; the permanent hardware fix remains incomplete. This pattern of infotainment instability, overheating, and an unresolved fire-risk recall reflects unaddressed hardware/design defects warranting investigation.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMAug 2026

On August 10, 2026, I conducted a recall search on NHTSA website for my 2024 Bronco Sport Big Bend edition. The search showed the following recall : JUL 16, 2025 Manufacturer Recall Number 25S76 NHTSA Recall Number 25V467 Recall Status Recall Incomplete, remedy not yet available Summary ON YOUR VEHICLE THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT A FUEL INJECTOR MAY CRACK, WHICH MAY RESULT IN FUEL ACCUMULATING ON THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. Safety Risk LIQUID FUEL AND OR FUEL VAPOR THAT ACCUMULATES NEAR A HOT SURFACE, SUCH AS HOT ENGINE OR EXHAUST COMPONENTS MAY IGNITE RESULTING IN AN UNDER-HOOD FIRE, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY. Remedy PARTS ARE NOT CURRENTLY AVAILABLE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY IS WORKING TO PROVIDE PARTS FOR THIS REPAIR. WHEN THE REMEDY BECOMES AVAILABLE, FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL NOTIFY YOU VIA MAIL TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH YOUR DEALER FOR REPAIRS TO BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. Ford Motor Company has had more than a year to identify and implement a solution to address the above-mentioned recall. As a Ford consumer, I believe this issue should have been treated as a higher priority, particularly given the amount of time that has passed since the original recall was issued. I understand that developing a safe and effective solution can take time; however, waiting more than a year without a resolution is unacceptable. As a consumer, I expect Ford Motor Company to take this matter seriously and provide a timely solution to affected customers.

FireUNKNOWN OR OTHERAug 2026

My car began experiencing overheating and kept disabling 4WD while I was driving, smoke began to come out of the front hood and tailpipe. Took to repair shop and they stated my transfer case and harness was burned completely with unknown reason why this could occur. I see there is a recall for other bronco models for the same exact issue

SERVICE BRAKESAug 2026

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and making a right turn, there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle remained at the residence. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200.

Read 14 more owner reports
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEAug 2026

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30-60 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle shuddered and stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEJul 2026

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The contact had not experienced a failure.

FireELECTRICAL SYSTEMJul 2026

The contact owned a 2024 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving into the driveway and coming to a complete stop, the contact became aware of steam coming from underneath the hood and believed that the engine was overheating. No warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel prior to the vehicle catching on fire. The contact and his wife were inside the vehicle were in the vehicle during the failure. The driver and the passenger exited the vehicle safely. There was grey and white odorless smoke coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the fire originated in the engine compartment. There was significant concrete damage to the driveway and a tree by the residence. The fire was extinguished by the local Fire Department. A fire report was filed but was unavailable. No police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. No injuries were sustained. The leasing company of the vehicle was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,000.

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMJul 2026

Vehicle has had a fire recall for over one year with no remedy or fix available.

VISIBILITY/WIPERJul 2026

The wiper will be on and if I turn it on high it will just be low or medium

POWER TRAINJul 2026

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. Additionally, the transmission was lagging. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the failure was not duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The failure was a persistent failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 19,000.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINEJul 2026

This is not a complaint against the dealership, but against the individual that was in charge of compliance. I am an attorney in Maine and it started with the fact that under main law, a dealer has to give two keys and if they don’t have it for free calibrated, and I got one key in the master key was not given, and there was issues with that and the compliance guy and finance a warranty guy whose name I forget, but they know who he is cause I’ve talked to them. He told me he had never heard of it and I showed him the statute and I just didn’t argue but then February 7 six days after the recall for the 25V685000 engine block heater, recall compliance date was over with the first visit that occurred of cooling overheating because of that and I know about the recall from researching it, but this compliance finance warranty guy search his computer, so he looked like even though it’s the second one that pops up on my vin and lied to my face saying that there’s no recall about coolant systems and heater blocks, and not liking to be pissed on and until it’s raining I just said OK so it’s another problem occurs and there is a recall. You do understand that I like the family that owns this place. I’m going to come after you because if there’s any engine damage or whatever you have. To comply with recalls, and I didn’t let him know I knew about it.. well 30 days after suspension of my license when my boat battery goes down, I will clean the boat both cars sitting in the parking lot to start driving it and I turned on the coolant overheating again and as the heater block does cause a crack I fixed crack please do not come down with the dealership. It’s only a good family. Please ask for the Man office straight out the door with gray hair. That’s the one that I’m don’t know what I’m talking about. I don’t know if he has any license or anything, but he should be fined if anybody. Because there are two incidences because it was their opportunity to cure under law 7 of Feb 1st

SEATS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEJul 2026

Front seats Cause back and hip pain and fatigue on trips over 30 mins- head rest don’t adjust to help compensate putting in awkward positioning. The automatic braking or whatever signifies your close to objects in the front has randomly breaked hard with nothing near me almost resulting in being rear rear ended.

SEAT BELTS,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEJun 2026

Passenger seatbelt doesn’t loosen up driven normal. Adaptive cruise control doesn’t work, never has. I didn’t know about it until Monday I am taking it to a ford dealership today at Ken Garff Ford. .

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMJun 2026

How long does Ford have to fix a recall for fuel injection that could cause a fire? I was notified 11 months ago and there still is no word of a correction to the issue

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJun 2026

I am reporting ongoing electrical and infotainment system failures in my 2024 Ford Bronco Sport that present a potential safety risk to the driver and others on the road. The vehicle’s infotainment system, specifically Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, does not operate reliably. Connections frequently fail, freeze, disconnect, or become unresponsive during normal driving. When this occurs, navigation, hands‑free communication, and other driver‑assistance functions become unavailable or require repeated attempts to reconnect. This malfunction creates a driver distraction hazard, as the driver is compelled to look at and interact with the center display while the vehicle is in motion in an attempt to restore CarPlay functionality. Loss of navigation guidance or hands‑free operation while driving may increase the risk of a collision. In addition, the wireless charging pad causes excessive heat buildup. After approximately 10–30 minutes of continuous contact, mobile devices become abnormally hot, and the infotainment display screen itself also becomes noticeably hot to the touch. This suggests a potential thermal management or hardware design defect. Overheating electronics raise concerns about equipment damage, device shutdown, or further system instability while driving. The vehicle has been taken to a Ford dealership multiple times for these issues. The dealership performed only brief diagnostic scans and did not attempt to reproduce the overheating condition under real‑world operating time. No repairs or corrective actions were performed, and the issues remain unresolved. Based on repeated failures, overheating, and lack of corrective action, I believe this may be a design or hardware specification issue affecting the infotainment and charging systems, rather than an isolated incident. The combination of infotainment instability, overheating, and driver distraction presents a potential safety concern that warrants investigation.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMJun 2026

I was driving my 2024 Bronco Sport, my car started stalling, power was being lost, got stuck on railroad tracks, lights on dash board of icons appeared & engine was shutting down mid drive with no warning or issues. 13,500 miles on the car

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTUREJun 2026

On XXX, driving at a relatively low rate of speed coming off the on-ramp from [XXX] onto [XXX], the hood of our Thrifty rental vehicle, a 2024 Ford Bronco, suddenly and without warning, flew up and completely obstructed the windshield. As we had just entered the highway we were quite fortunate to have been in the right hand lane and able to safely pull into the breakdown lane. And even more fortunate that there were not cars immediately ahead or behind us that we could have hit. And third, very fortunate that the force of the hood did not shatter the windshield. The hood flew up with such force that it essentially "wedged" itself into the side edges of the car and had to be manually dislodged to be closed. Some tube or coil-like structure on the right side of the car had been split in two by the force (later learned this was the windshield wiper fluid hose). Two other points of importance - it was very windy that day. And there was absolutely no warning on the dashboard system that the hood was ajar or anything to that effect. We drove at a very low rate of speed to the next exit to find a service station where the car could be inspected before driving the 3 hours on to [XXX]. The mechanic stated the problem had been with the hood latch, but it appeared safe for us to drive. On returning the car to Thrifty, a verbal report was immediately given, but it seemed strange to me that no paperwork was filled out. The woman processing cars wrote down "windshield wiper hose" and left to move some vehicles. I waited for about 10 minutes, but she didn't return. Research upon my return home revealed similar problems reported with other Ford Broncos - both with the hood opening unexpectedly while driving and with faulty dashboard warning systems. [XXX] I was contacted by Thrifty's 3rd party vendor handling "damage incidents" - PurCo and related these events. They claim Thrifty sees no problem on their end. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

UNKNOWN OR OTHERJun 2026

Vehicle's "infotainment center" is totally dead. No backup camera & I am disabled, have great difficulty turning around to see when I back up (I've had a cervicle spinal fusion which limits my field of vision). Dealer states no other complaints & Ford cannot provide a fix for even just the backup camera problem until Oct.

Showing 20 of 1,346 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

Check the exact car

Before you buy, check the exact FORD Bronco Sport

These pages show model-year patterns across 6 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.

The basics

How to read this data

Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used FORD Bronco Sport, in plain English.

01

What is an NHTSA Complaint?

An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The FORD Bronco Sport has 1,346 complaints on record across 6 model years.

02

What is a Safety Recall?

A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The FORD Bronco Sport has 64 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.

03

What Are Crash Complaints?

Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 55 of the FORD Bronco Sport's 1,346 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.

04

How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?

The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.

05

Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?

Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.

06

Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN

Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all FORD Bronco Sport vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two FORD Bronco Sport vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.

07

What Are NHTSA Investigations?

When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The FORD Bronco Sport has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.

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By state

Check a FORD Bronco Sport by state

Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used FORD Bronco Sport.

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Keep researching before you buy

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FORD Bronco Sport reliability — frequently asked questions

Is the FORD Bronco Sport reliable?

Poor. The FORD Bronco Sport has 1,346 NHTSA owner complaints and 64 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.

Which FORD Bronco Sport years to avoid?

Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2021 (676 complaints), 2023 (151 complaints), 2024 (101 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.

What are the most common FORD Bronco Sport problems?

Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (346 complaints); POWER TRAIN (286 complaints); ENGINE (285 complaints).

Does the FORD Bronco Sport have recalls?

Yes — 64 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the FORD Bronco Sport. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

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FORD Bronco Sport Problems by Year, Recalls & Years to Avoid | VinSpectorAI