Reliable Auto DB

2021 Ford Bronco Sport reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 691 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport over 6 years — 76 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 4 Bronco Sport years on this site. NHTSA has 16 recalls on file, including Front lower ball joint, Engine block heater, and Fuel injection.

2022 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend
Photo by MercurySable99, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

691

Per year

76

Recalls

16

Years on the road

6

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (209 of 691), then Powertrain (181) and Engine (147). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 40,000 miles, and the middle half falls between 16,000 and 63,450 miles. Those filings include 18 that report a crash, 17 that report a fire, and 8 that report an injury.

Next to 2022

The 2022 Bronco Sport has 356 complaints, 55 per year. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (16)

Recall Front lower ball joint 2026-05-27 · NHTSA campaign 26V340000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Bronco Sport and 2022-2026 Maverick vehicles. The front lower control arm ball joints may have been incorrectly installed or incorrectly repaired at the vehicle assembly plant, allowing the control arm to disconnect from the front wheel knuckle.
Remedy Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and repair the front lower control arm ball joints as necessary, free of charge.Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S36. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 29, 2026.
Vehicles affected 4,653
Recall equipment, electrical, engine block heater 2025-10-10 · NHTSA campaign 25V685000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Remedy Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
Vehicles affected 59,006
Recall gasoline fuel system, fuel injection 2025-07-11 · NHTSA campaign 25V467000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco Sport and 2020-2022 Escape vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.
Remedy Dealers will update the engine control software. In addition, dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel rail assembly and fuel injectors, free of charge. As an interim repair, dealers will update the engine control software, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed August 29, 2025. Second letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in July 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S76. This recall expands and replaces previous recall numbers 22V-859, 24V187, and 25V165. Vehicles previously remedied under 22V-859, 24V187, and 25V165 will need to have the new final remedy performed once it is available.
Vehicles affected 694,271
Recall back-over prevention, software 2025-06-27 · NHTSA campaign 25V442000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Remedy Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
Vehicles affected 200,237
Recall gasoline fuel system, fuel injection 2025-03-14 · NHTSA campaign 25V165000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2021-2023 Bronco Sport vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 22V-859 or 24V-187. A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.
Remedy Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S21.
Vehicles affected 33,576
Recall powertrain, automatic transmission, transmission control module 2025-03-14 · NHTSA campaign 25V158000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco Sport and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 24V-267. The body and power train control modules may fail to detect a change in the 12-volt battery state of charge.
Remedy Dealers will recalibrate the body control module and power train control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 23, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S26.
Vehicles affected 48,041
Recall electrical system, 12V/24V/48V battery 2025-01-17 · NHTSA campaign 25V019000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco Sport and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles. The 12-volt battery may experience degradation and suddenly fail.
Remedy Dealers will inspect and if necessary, replace the 12-volt battery, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 2, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S02. Vehicles in this recall were previously repaired under 24V-267 and will need to have the new remedy completed.
Vehicles affected 272,817
Recall electrical system, body control module 2024-04-12 · NHTSA campaign 24V267000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco Sport and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles. The body and power train control modules may fail to detect a change in the 12-volt battery state of charge.
Remedy Dealers will recalibrate the body control module and power train control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 4, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S24.
Vehicles affected 456,565
Recall gasoline fuel system, fuel injection 2022-11-18 · NHTSA campaign 22V859000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape and 2021-2023 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.
Remedy Dealers will update the engine control software to include fuel injector leak detection and install a drain tube, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed January 9, 2023. Remedy parts are expected to be available in 1st Quarter of 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed February 28, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S73. This recall includes all vehicles previously recalled under 22V-191. Vehicles previously remedied under 22V-191 will need to have the new remedy performed.
Vehicles affected 521,746
Recall engine and cooling, engine, oil and lubrication 2022-03-25 · NHTSA campaign 22V191000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2021-2022 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. The engine oil separator housing may crack and develop an oil leak.
Remedy Dealers will inspect the oil separator for damage or oil leaks, and replace the oil separator and seals, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 18, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S21.
Vehicles affected 345,451
Recall hydraulic brakes, foundation components, disc, caliper 2021-11-23 · NHTSA campaign 21V922000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco Sport and Escape vehicles. The rear brake linings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can affect braking performance. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Remedy Dealers will replace the front brake pads, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 17, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C31.
Vehicles affected 114,666
Recall visibility, sunroof 2021-10-15 · NHTSA campaign 21V809000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Bronco Sport vehicles. The moonroof glass may not have been bonded correctly to the moonroof frame, which could result in the glass panel detaching from the vehicle.
Remedy Dealers will inspect the moonroof glass date code and replace the glass, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S46.
Vehicles affected 1,036
Recall gasoline fuel system, delivery, fuel pump, control module 2021-08-10 · NHTSA campaign 21V625000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, and 2021-2022 Bronco Sport vehicles. The fuel delivery module may leak inside the fuel tank, causing low fuel pressure which could result in an engine stall.
Remedy Dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. Interim notification letters (remedy not available) were mailed on September 30, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 14, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S38.
Vehicles affected 13,773
Recall suspension, front, control arm 2021-02-16 · NHTSA campaign 21V074000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Bronco Sport vehicles. These vehicles may have been produced with incorrect front lower control arms.
Remedy Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the front lower control arms, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 9, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S03.
Vehicles affected 106
Recall suspension, rear 2021-02-16 · NHTSA campaign 21V075000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Bronco Sport vehicles. The rear suspension subframe assembly may have loose or missing bolts.
Remedy Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear suspension bolts, and secure or replace the bolts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S04.
Vehicles affected 1,638
Recall Driveshaft 2021-01-15 · NHTSA campaign 21V011000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Edge, 2020 Lincoln Nautilus and Ford Escape and 2021 Lincoln Corsair and Ford Bronco Sport vehicles. An inadequate amount of lubricant in the rear drive unit may cause seizure of the rear drive axle.
Remedy Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the rear drive unit lubricant level. Axles found to have lubricant at the minimum level will be filled to the full level. Axles found to be below the minimum lubricant fill level will be replaced, free of charge. This recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S02.
Vehicles affected 147

NHTSA's count is every vehicle in that campaign. A campaign can cover other model years and other models.

Complaints by component (691 total)

Electrical system
209
Powertrain
181
Engine
147
Service brakes
101
Fuel and propulsion system
60
Fuel system, gasoline
58
Hydraulic brakes
27
Engine and engine cooling
24
Suspension
23
Steering
15
Visibility
15
Forward collision avoidance
14
Speed control
13
Visibility and wipers
11
Exterior lighting
10
Air bags
7
Structure
7
Back-over prevention
6
Seat belts
6
Wheels
4
Lane departure
3
Seats
2
Communication
1
Diesel fuel system
1
Fire-related
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Other or not sure
1
Parking brake
1
Tires
1
Show 21 more Show less
Crash-flagged

18

Fire-flagged

17

Injury reports

8

Death reports

0

Of the 197 complaints that include an odometer reading, the median is 40,000 miles. The middle half fall between 16,000 and 63,450 miles.

Complaints filed per year

3020217820221202023168202419320251022026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "On Saturday, September 19, 2026, around 10:30 am, as I was backing out of my garage, wit the speed of 3 to 4 miles, when I back into the street, luckily, there were no other cars on the street, my house is closed to an…"
    Steering, Suspension · filed 2026-09-21
  • "The contact owned a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. Before starting the vehicle, the contact noticed an unknown fluid leaking near the front driver's side tire and detected a fuel odor inside the vehicle. While driving at an…"
    fire-related · filed 2026-09-16
  • "On 9/15/26, while actively driving with my child, the monitor screen suddenly turned black and an error message of "Vehicle Network Communication Error", a few seconds later my dashboard turned black, no display…"
    Electrical system, Engine, Fuel and propulsion system · filed 2026-09-16
  • "The vehicle's entire powertrain and transmission system failed completely. The vehicle will not turn on, will not start, and the electronic rotary gear shifter is physically locked out, refusing to shift into Park or…"
    Powertrain, Electrical system, Engine · filed 2026-09-15
  • "The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, exhaust fumes and a fuel odor entered the cabin, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The engine misfired, and…"
    Suspension, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline · filed 2026-09-15

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2021 Ford Bronco Sport SUV 4WD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Bronco Sport four-wheel drive 2L, 4-cyl Automatic (8-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 21 26 23 MPG $2800
Bronco Sport four-wheel drive 1.5L, 3-cyl Automatic 8-speed All-wheel drive 25 28 26 MPG $2500

Specs and fitment

1st generation, 2021–present
Body styles SUV
Oil 5W-30 synthetic blend (2.0L EcoBoost) , 5.5 qt capacity
Tire size 225/65R17 (Base/Big Bend/Badlands) to 235/65R17 (Badlands optional/First Edition); 225/60R18 (Outer Banks)
Towing capacity 2,200 lbs

Known issues for this generation

Ford is recalling 2021-2024 Bronco Sports built with the 1.5L engine after a fuel injector was found to crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment, which in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire (NHTSA campaign 25V467; the campaign covers 694,271 vehicles in total because it also includes 2020-2022 Escapes). It expands and replaces three earlier campaigns, 22V-859, 24V-187 and 25V-165. Dealers update the engine control software as an interim repair and replace the high-pressure fuel rail assembly and the fuel injectors as the final remedy. A separate 2025 recall covering the same 2021-2024 model years updates the rearview camera software after a software error could leave the camera image blank or leave it on the display after the backing event ended (NHTSA campaign 25V442).

Compare

Next year 2022 Ford Bronco Sport See every Ford Bronco Sport model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport reliable?

Owners have filed 691 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport over 6 years — 76 per year. That is the most complaints per year among the 4 Bronco Sport years on this site. NHTSA has 16 recalls on file, including Front lower ball joint, Engine block heater, and Fuel injection.

What are common problems with a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (209 of 691), then Powertrain (181) and Engine (147). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 40,000 miles, and the middle half falls between 16,000 and 63,450 miles. Those filings include 18 that report a crash, 17 that report a fire, and 8 that report an injury.

Is the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2022 Bronco Sport has 356 complaints, 55 per year. The 2021 has more complaints per year than the 2022.

Has the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport been recalled?

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport has 16 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport?

Owners have filed 691 complaints about the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport is 24.5 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What generation is the Ford Bronco Sport?

1st generation, in production since 2021.

Does the Ford Bronco Sport have fuel injector problems?

Yes; 2021-2024 models with the 1.5L EcoBoost were recalled after injectors could crack and leak fuel, a fire risk (NHTSA 25V467).