NHTSA (USA)CriticalDo Not Drive
This page covers 23 recalls, 643 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport.
19–21 mpg combined
11.2–12.4 L/100km
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 3 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport, powertrain and electrical complaints make up the largest share of what owners report, with brake issues close behind. On the powertrain side, owners frequently describe purge valve failures, water pump failures, and automatic transmission problems, including loss of reverse gear, internal mechanical failure, and check engine lights tied to transmission faults. These aren't isolated reports; purge valve and water pump issues in particular come up repeatedly across multiple complaints. The electrical system draws its own significant volume of complaints, though the narratives span a range of symptoms without one single dominant failure mode. Brake complaints are the third major cluster, with owners commonly describing squealing and grinding, especially in reverse at low speeds, that persists through multiple dealer visits and repair attempts.
643
Total Complaints
16
Crash-Related
15
Fire-Related
8
With Injuries
By System
The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport has 23 recalls, with the most serious involving multiple issues that can cause sudden loss of vehicle control, including rear suspension bolts that may be loose or missing, front lower ball joints that can separate from the steering knuckle, and incorrect front lower control arms that raise the risk of a rollover.
Several fire risks are present on vehicles with the 1.5L engine: a fuel injector can crack and leak fuel near hot engine components, and the engine oil separator housing can crack and leak oil, either of which can ignite. The engine block heater can also crack, leak coolant, and short-circuit when plugged in. On the drivetrain side, insufficient lubrication in the rear drive unit can cause it to seize, cutting drive power or causing a sudden loss of control.
The 12-volt battery can degrade and fail without warning, cutting power to the hazard lights and stalling the engine; prior repair attempts for this issue did not fully resolve it on some vehicles. A fuel delivery module can also leak inside the fuel tank and cause low fuel pressure, leading to a stall.
Braking concerns include rear brake linings that can extend stopping distances, and some vehicles may require greater pedal force when power brake assist is lost. The moonroof glass may not be correctly bonded to its frame and can detach while driving. A software issue can cause the rearview camera to display a blank image when reversing.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
At a glance
What can fail
The front lower control arm ball joints may have been installed or repaired incorrectly at the factory, which could allow the control arm to separate from the front wheel knuckle.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and repair the front lower control arm ball joints as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front lower ball joints may not be properly secured to the steering knuckles and could separate, resulting in loss of steering control.
What the fix does
A dealer will inspect and repair the front steering knuckles as needed to secure the ball joints.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine block heater can crack and leak coolant. When plugged in, the leaked coolant may cause an electrical short circuit.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the block heater at no cost, or install a blanking plug and remove the heater cord.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A fuel injector in the 1.5L engine may crack and leak fuel into the engine compartment.
What the fix does
Dealers will update engine control software and replace the fuel rail assembly and fuel injector.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image or fail to clear the image after backing up.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the rearview camera software at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine control and body control computers may fail to detect battery charge changes, causing the engine to stall, not restart after auto-stop, or hazard lights to malfunction.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to visit a dealership for a software update to the engine and body control computers.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The body and powertrain control modules may not properly detect changes in your 12-volt battery's charge level.
What the fix does
Dealers will recalibrate the body control module and powertrain control module at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel into the engine compartment on vehicles previously repaired under recalls 22V-859 or 24V-187.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the powertrain control module software at no charge to prevent fuel injector cracking.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The 12-volt battery may be defective, causing the engine to stall, fail to restart after a start-stop event, and disable the hazard lights.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to visit a dealership, where technicians will inspect and replace the 12-volt battery if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The 12-volt battery may degrade and suddenly fail, leaving the vehicle without electrical power.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the 12-volt battery and replace it if necessary at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The body and powertrain control modules may not properly detect changes in your 12-volt battery's charge level.
What the fix does
Dealers will recalibrate the body control module and powertrain control module at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine control and body control computers may fail to recognize when the 12-volt battery charge drops. This can cause the engine to stall, prevent restart after automatic stop-start, and disable hazard lights.
What the fix does
Ford updates the engine and body control computer software at a dealership to fix the battery charge detection.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A fuel injector can crack and leak fuel into the engine compartment.
What the fix does
Engine control software will be updated to detect fuel injector leaks, and a drain tube will be installed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine oil separator housing can crack, causing oil to leak from the engine.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the oil separator for damage or leaks and replace it and seals if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Some vehicles may not stop within legal minimum distance if power brake assist fails. Vehicles with electronic brake boosters are not affected.
What the fix does
A dealership will replace the front brake pads to restore proper stopping performance.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear brake linings may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can reduce braking performance and fail to meet federal brake system safety standards.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front brake pads at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The moonroof glass may not be securely attached to its frame, causing it to loosen and potentially separate from the vehicle.
What the fix does
A dealer will inspect the moonroof glass date code and replace it if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The moonroof glass may not be properly bonded to its frame, which could cause the glass panel to detach from the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the moonroof glass date code and replace the glass if needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel delivery module inside the fuel tank may develop a leak, reducing fuel pressure and potentially causing the engine to stall while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel delivery module at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolts connecting the rear suspension module to the subframe may be loose or missing, which could reduce vehicle stability and rear crash performance.
What the fix does
A dealer will inspect the rear suspension module bolts and tighten or replace them as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front lower control arms may be incorrect, potentially affecting suspension function.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the front lower control arms if needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear suspension subframe assembly may have bolts that are loose or missing, which can affect suspension stability.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the rear suspension bolts and secure or replace them as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear drive unit may not have enough lubricant, which can cause the rear drive axle to seize and stop working.
What the fix does
Dealers will check the rear drive unit lubricant level and refill it to full, or replace the axle if lubricant is below minimum.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
