NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The connection between the transmission and transfer case may be misaligned from a previous repair, causing the transmission output shaft splines and transfer case input splines to wear.
This page covers 22 recalls, 207 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2023 Ford Bronco.
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.
Visibility and wiper complaints dominate the 2023 Bronco's complaint profile by a wide margin, with owners frequently reporting obstructed or impaired forward visibility, a pattern that stands out given how lopsided the volume is compared to other systems. Powertrain complaints come in second, with owners describing stalling, loss of power, and in a handful of cases engine failure at highway speeds accompanied by the check engine light illuminating. Engine-related reports include a smaller cluster describing underhood fires, with owners noting fluid leaks, unusual noises, and smoke entering the cabin through the vents before flames appeared. A separate isolated complaint describes brake behavior on cold inclines where the brakes partially release before grabbing hard, producing a noticeable lurch at a stop. Infotainment screen blackouts while the vehicle is in park show up in at least one report as well, though that appears to be a single account rather than a recurring theme.
207
Total Complaints
5
Crash-Related
3
Fire-Related
1
With Injuries
By System
The 2023 Ford Bronco has 22 recalls, the most serious involving multiple rollaway risks: the transmission park system can fail to hold the vehicle, a loose internal bolt can block the parking pawl, and drivetrain joint wear can cause a sudden loss of drive power.
On Wildtrak and Raptor trims, internal steering gear damage can lock the steering wheel and cause complete loss of control. Left-side lug nuts on certain vehicles may not be properly tightened and can loosen enough for a wheel to separate while driving. The low-pressure fuel pump can fail and stall the engine, and the engine block heater can develop a coolant leak that shorts out and creates a fire risk when plugged in.
Hard-top models have a separate cluster of issues: rear quarter glass panels can detach while driving, and the left-rear door child safety lock can fail to keep the door closed from inside. Front seat frame bolts may be loose, reducing how well the seat holds an occupant in a crash, and first-row seatbelt latches on 5-door models can be hard to reach. Rear shock absorbers can corrode and shed their reservoir onto the road. Three recalls cover rearview camera failures where the image freezes, disappears, or fails to appear when reversing. Some vehicles also carry a tire load label with incorrect capacity information.
At a glance
What can fail
The connection between the transmission and transfer case may be misaligned from a previous repair, causing the transmission output shaft splines and transfer case input splines to wear.
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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 →
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the transmission-to-transfer case joint and replace the transmission and transfer case if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Accessory Protocol Interface Module may overheat and shut down, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the APIM software, or the update will be delivered over the air, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolt that adjusts the front seat height may become loose or fall out, affecting seat stability.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the seat height-adjust pivot links and bolts, replacing them as needed at no cost.
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
The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, causing the engine to stall while driving.
What the fix does
Ford is developing a fix. A second letter with repair instructions will be mailed when available, expected in Q2 2026.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The 360-degree view camera may fail to show the rearview image when you put the vehicle in reverse.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rearview camera at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The child safety lock on the left-rear door may fail to work properly. This means the door could open from inside the vehicle even when the safety lock is turned on.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to bring your vehicle to a dealership. They will inspect and replace the rear door latch if needed.
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 image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse.
What the fix does
The accessory protocol interface module software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear shock absorbers can corrode and fail, causing the external reservoir to detach.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the rear shock absorbers at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The left-rear quarter glass may not be securely attached and could loosen or separate from the vehicle.
What the fix does
A dealership will remove and reinstall the left-rear quarter glass panel to secure it properly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The child safety lock on the left-rear door may fail to prevent the door from opening from inside the vehicle even when the safety lock is turned on.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you a notification. Take your vehicle to a Ford dealership to have the rear door latch inspected and replaced if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The left rear door can be opened from inside the vehicle even when the child safety lock is engaged.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the rear door latch if needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
On certain hard-top vehicles, the rear quarter glass panels on the left and right sides may not be properly attached and could loosen or separate from the vehicle.
What the fix does
Ford dealers will remove and reinstall the rear quarter glass panel(s) to secure them properly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear quarter glass panels on the hard top may not have been installed correctly, which could cause them to come off.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and reinstall the rear glass panels. Bronco Heritage models will have the rear left panel replaced.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission park system may have been damaged during assembly, preventing the parking pawl from fully engaging and allowing the vehicle to roll away.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the transmission at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Tire and Loading Information label on your vehicle shows an incorrect weight limit, which could lead to overloading the vehicle.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you a replacement label to cover the old one, or you can visit a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have it installed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The first-row seat belt latch plates may be hard to reach when stored, which could prevent proper use of the seat belts in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a sliding clip latch stop on the driver and front passenger seat belts at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The left-side wheel lug nuts may not have been properly tightened at the factory. They could loosen or fall off, causing a wheel to separate from the vehicle.
What the fix does
A dealer will inspect and tighten the lug nuts on the left side. They will replace any damaged lug nuts, studs, or wheels as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The lug nuts securing the driver's side wheels may not have been properly tightened during manufacturing.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the driver's side wheel lug nuts and retighten them if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The steering gear may develop internal damage, requiring more effort to turn the steering wheel or causing it to lock up completely.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the steering gear at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A loose bolt inside the automatic transmission can move and block the parking pawl, preventing it from engaging when you shift to park. This could allow the vehicle to roll if the parking brake isn't set.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to bring your vehicle to a dealership, where technicians will inspect the transmission and replace it if necessary.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A loose bolt in the automatic transmission may prevent the vehicle from actually engaging park gear, even though the gear shifter shows park position.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the transmission and replace it if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
