Ford Bronco problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 5 model years (2021–2025), NHTSA has logged 936 owner complaints and 47 safety recalls for the Ford Bronco. That averages 47.1 complaints per year on the road — a typical number of complaints (index 1.12 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Off-road SUVs segment it ranks #2 of 3 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 67.8.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
Across five model years from 2021 to 2025, the Ford Bronco has recorded 936 owner complaints and 47 safety recalls, averaging 47.1 complaints per year which is a typical number with an index of 1.12 against all tracked vehicles. While the trend is improving with 2023 and 2024 models running 29% below earlier years, the 2022 model year stands out as having the highest rate at 79.0 complaints per year and should be researched most carefully because it runs at least 50% above the model's own average. The most common problem area is Body & structure accounting for 25.7% of complaints, which are 2.8 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles, while recurring terms include "wipers", "rain", "slow", "heavy" and "intermittent". Owners reported 17 injuries and 0 deaths across all model years, with the latest defect investigation covering "Low-pressure fuel pump failure" opened on 2024-07-29 and closed on 2025-09-19.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 29% below the 2021 and 2022 models (97 early complaints per model year versus 118).
The 2022 model year has the highest rate (79.0 complaints per year) and the 2024 model year the lowest (27.7). The 2022 model year runs at least 50% above the model's own average — the one to research most carefully. The 2024 model year sits well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Body & structure (25.7% of complaints), followed by Engine (17.1%) and Electrical (15.2%). Body & structure complaints are 2.8 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Recurring terms in owner reports: “wipers”, “rain”, “slow”, “heavy” and “intermittent”. 39 complaints (4.2%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 17 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 279 complaints versus 198 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising. The 2022 model year generated the most recent reports (111). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 19 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 47 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (21), 3 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning, 2 fixable over the air. 4 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model; the latest is “Low-pressure fuel pump failure” (opened 2024-07-29, closed 2025-09-19).
Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Toyota 4Runner; Jeep Wrangler have more.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 225 | 39.7 | 0.94 | 84 | 1.37 | 44 | 20 | Engine | View › |
| 2022 Years to research carefully | 369 | 79.0 | 1.88 | 153 | 2.07 | 111 | 23 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2023 | 219 | 59.6 | 1.42 | 149 | 1.79 | 39 | 18 ⚠ | Body & structure | View › |
| 2024 Fewest complaints | 74 | 27.7 | 0.66 | 45 | 0.64 | 42 | 16 ⚠ | Electrical | View › |
| 2025 | 49 | 29.3 | 0.7 | — | — | 43 | 19 ⚠ | Electrical | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 279 · Previous 12 months: 198 Rising
Problem areas
Electrical ›
142 · 15.2% · 0.96 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- prevention33
- camera37
- available46
- cross traffic13
Transmission / powertrain ›
57 · 6.1% · 0.52 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- manual transmission12
- scraping7
- grinding10
- gear15
Wheels, tires & suspension ›
55 · 5.9% · 2.36 vs. all vehicles · Falling
- suspension recall20
- notification suspension20
- rear shock20
- absorbers12
Airbags & seat belts
32 · 3.4% · 0.9 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- belts recall5
- notification seat5
- airbag8
- seatbelt6
Steering
23 · 2.5% · 0.38 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- steering18
- wheel9
- turning6
- left7
Lighting
15 · 1.6% · 1.03 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- headlights11
- snow8
- led6
- heat5
Driver-assist systems
11 · 1.2% · 0.2 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- collision4
- warning6
- side4
- braking3
Other
7 · 0.7% · 0.41 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- wipers153
- rain115
- slow108
- heavy73
- intermittent78
- setting55
- visibility64
- suspension recall23
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 19 months
What owners report
On XXX, our 2023 Ford Bronco, VIN [XXX], was stopped on an incline. The vehicle was not moving, and the driver exited the vehicle believing it was in Park. The vehicle was actually still in Drive. A passenger remained in the vehicle.
I was going really slow down an easy dirt road in 4L and all of the sudden the steering wheel spun violently two full turns left in under a second on its own. This threw my right arm off the wheel where it hit the shifter with force leaving a large bruise.
When making a right turn with the turn signal on, as you complete the turn and straighten the steering wheel the left turn signal turns on as the right turn signal turns off.
On August 26, 2026, my 2022 Ford Bronco experienced a serious safety related failure while I was driving. The vehicle displayed a sway bar disconnect system warning and became disabled, leaving me stranded on the side of the road.
3 different incidents have came up with recalls that have been going on for awhile this a working vehicle that makes my money to pay for the loans, which for over a year have not made me any money costing me to lose money out of my own pocket, ford has not…
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Off-road SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Toyota 4Runner | 326 | 10.1 | 0.24 | Stable | Rising | 12 | Brakes |
| 2 | Ford Bronco | 936 | 47.1 | 1.12 | Improving | Rising | 47 | Body & structure |
| 3 | Jeep Wrangler | 5,757 | 138.4 | 3.29 | Improving | Rising | 41 | Steering |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 47
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 3
- Over-the-air fix: 2
Safety recalls: 2021 (20) · 2022 (23) · 2023 (18) · 2024 (16) · 2025 (19)
Investigations
- Low-pressure fuel pump failure Closed
On July 29, 2024, the Oï¬ce of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE24019 to investigate complaints of low-pressure fuel pump failures in MY 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles. Some consumers reported that the failure occurred without warning while driving, resulting in a complete loss of motive power with no ability to restart the engine. Ford determined that several other vehicle models contain low-pres…
- Loss of Motive Power Closed
On July 22, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) granted a Defect Petition (DP22001) and opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE22007) to investigate allegations of loss of motive power in model year (MY) 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles equipped with 2.7L EcoBoost engines. Complainants were reporting sudden engine failure while driving resulting in a loss of motive power, often without the abilit…
- Loss of motive power due to valve intake failure on Ford Bronco vehicles. Closed
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition dated March 16, 2022, requesting an investigation regarding allegations of defective intake valves in model year (MY) 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles equipped with the 2.7L Eco-boost (âNanoâ) engines. The petitioner alleged these vehicles are experiencing loss of motive power at any highway speeds with no-restart as a result of catastro…
- Loss of Motive Power Closed
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received three petitions on March 17, March 18, and March 29, 2022, which requested a defect investigation into an alleged defect of the valves on model year (MY) 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles equipped with the 2.7L Eco-boost engines. The petitioners alleged that MY 2021 Ford Broncos vehicles are experiencing loss of motive power at highway speeds with no-rest…
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Bronco model year has the most complaints?
The 2022 model year has the highest rate (79.0 complaints per year) and the 2024 model year the lowest (27.7).
Is the Ford Bronco getting better or worse?
The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 29% below the 2021 and 2022 models (97 early complaints per model year versus 118). In the last 12 months owners filed 279 complaints versus 198 in the previous 12 months — the pace is rising.
What are the most common Ford Bronco problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Body & structure (25.7% of complaints), followed by Engine (17.1%) and Electrical (15.2%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “wipers”, “rain”, “slow”, “heavy” and “intermittent”.
How does the Ford Bronco compare with other Off-road SUVs?
Within the Off-road SUVs segment it ranks #2 of 3 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 67.8. Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Toyota 4Runner; Jeep Wrangler have more.
Does the Ford Bronco have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 47 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (21), 3 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning, 2 fixable over the air. 4 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model; the latest is “Low-pressure fuel pump failure” (opened 2024-07-29, closed 2025-09-19).