NHTSA (USA)CriticalDo Not Drive
This page covers 16 recalls, 124 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport.
20 mpg combined
11.8 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 2023 Ford Bronco Sport, fuel system and electrical complaints make up the bulk of what owners describe. The most consistent fuel system reports involve strong fuel or exhaust-type odors entering the cabin through the HVAC vents while driving, and a burning oil or fluid smell noticed after extended highway use. Engine complaints overlap with this pattern, with some owners reporting fault warnings appearing mid-drive, including notices of detected engine faults alongside loss of four-wheel drive function and, in at least one case, the vehicle becoming unable to shift into any gear while in traffic. Electrical system reports are more scattered, including intermittent engine cutouts during normal operation. A single report describes airbags not deploying in a rear-end collision, followed by a warning through the Ford app flagging a possible issue with the front passenger airbag system.
124
Total Complaints
6
Crash-Related
5
Fire-Related
5
With Injuries
By System
The 2023 Ford Bronco Sport has 16 recalls, with the most serious being a cracked fuel injector on 1.5L-equipped vehicles that leaks fuel near hot engine components and raises the risk of an engine fire.
Several other recalls also carry fire or crash risk. The engine block heater can crack and leak coolant, causing a short circuit when plugged in. On the electrical side, the 12-volt battery can degrade and fail without warning, cutting power to accessories like hazard lights or killing drive power entirely; a related control module issue can prevent the vehicle from detecting a low battery charge, with the same result. Prior repair attempts for both the fuel injector and battery-related issues did not fully resolve those problems in all cases, which is why multiple campaigns exist for each.
On the chassis side, front lower control arm ball joints may have been incorrectly installed and can disconnect from the wheel knuckle, causing loss of steering control. Tires on certain vehicles may not hold consistent stiffness, which can affect stability and handling. The anti-lock brake module can develop an internal leak that causes the brake pedal to travel farther than expected or the vehicle to move unexpectedly during Auto Hold.
Visibility is a recurring theme in the remaining recalls: the windshield wiper motor can fail and leave the driver without wipers in wet conditions, and parking lights can flicker when the headlights are on. The rearview camera can also 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 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 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 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 windshield wiper motor may have a manufacturing defect that causes it to fail, stopping the wipers from working.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to bring your vehicle to a dealership for inspection and replacement of the wiper motor if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front windshield wiper motor may stop working, causing the wipers to fail.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield wiper motor as needed at no cost.
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
Some vehicles have tires that may not have been made correctly, causing them to have different stiffness than they should. This can affect how stable the vehicle feels while driving.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to visit a dealership, where technicians will inspect your tires and replace any that are faulty.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The tires may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause loss of vehicle handling and control.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the tires as necessary at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A fuel injector may crack, causing fuel to leak into the engine compartment.
What the fix does
Dealers will update engine software to detect fuel injector leaks and install a drain tube.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Valves inside the Anti-lock Brake System module may have been damaged during manufacturing, causing an internal leak in the ABS module.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the ABS module at no cost to you.
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 parking lights flicker when you turn on the headlights, which violates federal lighting standards.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the LED Driver module at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
