Ford Bronco 1996–2026
Summary
- 7 model years in 2 generations, 1,076 owner complaints in total.
- No model year stands out as the most complained-about of its generation.
- 2021 drew the fewest complaints of their generation over the same span.
- These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
- Half of the complaints that give a mileage were filed by 25,000 miles (182 of them give one).
- Owners reported 34 crashes, 37 fires, 23 injuries and 3 deaths across these model years.
- 52 recalls and 5 federal investigations cover these model years.
1996–1996
Each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Fewer than three years of this generation are comparable, so no year is named.
| Model year | All complaints | First three years | Most reported system | Note |
|---|
| 1996 | 82 | 25 | Accelerator & Cruise Control | not compared |
2021–2026
Each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 185.
| Model year | All complaints | First three years | Most reported system | Note |
|---|
| 2021 | 230 | 111 | Engine | fewest complaints |
| 2022 | 385 | 201 | Windows, Wipers & Visibility | |
| 2023 | 230 | 185 | Windows, Wipers & Visibility | |
| 2024 | 82 | 82 | Electrical System | not compared |
| 2025 | 56 | 56 | Electrical System | not compared |
| 2026 | 11 | 11 | Body & Structure | not compared |
Windows, Wipers & Visibility is the largest group in 2 of the 3 compared years.
Every model year
A model year gets its own page when four sources cover it, it holds at least 50 complaints, and it either compares with the other years of its generation or shows one system in 40% or more of the complaints that name a component. The rest are listed here with their figures.
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Bulletins | Combined MPG | Page |
|---|
| 1996 | 82 | 2 | 1 | 93 | 12–14 | listed here |
| 2021 | 230 | 20 | 4 | 323 | 17–21 | yes |
| 2022 | 385 | 23 | 2 | 280 | 15–20 | yes |
| 2023 | 230 | 18 | 0 | 212 | 15–20 | yes |
| 2024 | 82 | 16 | 0 | 136 | 15–20 | listed here |
| 2025 | 56 | 19 | 0 | 104 | 15–20 | listed here |
| 2026 | 11 | 9 | 0 | 31 | 15–20 | listed here |
What owners report across all years
| System | Complaints | Share | Median mileage |
|---|
| Windows, Wipers & Visibility | 210 | 21% | 3,000 mi |
| Engine | 171 | 17% | 13,500 mi |
| Electrical System | 140 | 14% | 32,000 mi |
| Brakes | 113 | 11% | 33,990 mi |
| Fuel & Propulsion | 108 | 11% | 31,000 mi |
Shares are over complaints that name a component; a complaint naming several systems is counted under each.
Windows, Wipers & Visibility
Owner report The tubes running along the roof line according to my service report could not handle the heavy rain and was the resulted in a heavy stream of water inside my vehicle while driving. The water "backfilled" into the cabin through dome light just behind the sunglasses holder. Incident occurred on October 1, 2026 while I …
Owner report Rear defroster connector becomes detached from the defroster grid rendering it inoperable. Ford has acknowledged it is a common issue due to poor design. My local dealership repaired the broken tab and it once again broke off within a week or two. When I returned to the dealership, they refused to cover it under the ve…
Engine
Owner report My 2024 Ford Bronco repeatedly loses power without warning while driving, including on highways, suddenly slowing to approximately 32 mph. It also fails to accelerate from traffic lights, leaving me stranded in traffic. Dashboard warnings include Powertrain Malfunction, Service AdvanceTrac, Check 4x4, and Pre-Collision…
Owner report The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced an issue with the rearview camera while in use. The contact received a notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V124000 (Back Over Prevention), and the recall repair was subsequently performed. However, after the recall repair was completed…
Electrical System
Owner report I am the homeowner and the mother of the vehicle owner, [XXX]. I am submitting this statement about a fire involving her parked Ford Bronco in my garage. I was the only person home when I discovered the fire. At approximately 8:30 p.m. on XXX, I had just gotten out of my backyard pool when I heard a loud thump that see…
Owner report The contact owns a 2025 Ford Bronco. The contact received recall service at the local dealer under NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V468000 (Engine, Electrical System). The contact's daughter drove the vehicle to the residence and parked it inside the garage. The contact's daughter heard a noise coming from the garage, investi…
Largest recalls
| Campaign | Component | Filed | Vehicles |
|---|
| 05V388000 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 2005-09-07 | 4,500,000 |
| 25V315000 | BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE | 2025-05-09 | 1,076,138 |
| 25V455000 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP | 2025-07-07 | 850,318 |
| 26V124000 | BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE | 2026-03-03 | 849,310 |
| 26V468000 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD | ENGINE | 2026-07-20 | 565,691 |
Whether a recall has been done on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Open investigations
None open.
Service bulletins
Ford issued 1,179 service bulletins covering these model years, most often about unknown or other.
A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so a bulletin listed here may not be specific to one year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.
| Date | Component | Summary |
|---|
| 2026-10-27 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Some 2021-2023 Bronco vehicles equipped with a MT88 manual transmission may exhibit no 3rd gear engagement and/or a grinding noise going into 3rd and/or 4th gear. This may be due to the 3rd/4th gear shift fork. To correct this condition, re… |
| 2026-10-14 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | This bulletin supersedes 26-2297. Reason for update: Add 2022-2025 Transit vehicles. Some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above equipped with SYNC4 may experience a blank center display screen or black center display screen af… |
| 2026-10-12 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Some 2021-2024 Bronco vehicles may exhibit an illuminated red brake warning indicator with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) C0049:01 stored in the anti-lock brake system (ABS) module. This may be due to pin fitment at the brake fluid level sen… |
| 2026-10-08 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Some 2020-2026 Aviator/Explorer/F-150/Bronco/Ranger vehicles equipped with a 2.7L or 3.0L (non-diesel) engine may need the front engine cover removed and reinstalled for various reasons. The Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-01 Engine > Re… |
| 2026-09-24 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | This article supersedes TSB 25-2575 to update the Parts list to add the applicable body wiring harnesses and underbody shield bolts. Some vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit a "Sta-bar Disconnect Service Required" messa… |
| 2026-09-16 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Quality improvements include: -Addresses a bug that may cause updates to fail |
| 2026-09-09 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Quality improvements include: -ePrivacy enhancements |
| 2026-09-04 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 25S75 Recall remedy -Powertrain Control Module update to introduce logic to prevent low pressure fuel pump binding and maintain fuel flow to the engine. |
| 2026-08-25 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Some of the following vehicles: * 2023-2025 F-Super Duty built on or before 02-Feb-2025 * 2024-2026 Ranger/Bronco/Mustang * 2024-2025 F-150 built on or before 15-Jul-2025 * 2024-2025 Nautilus built on or before 16-Feb-2025 * 2025 Explorer… |
| 2026-08-22 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | For Various Ford and Lincoln vehicles, if diagnostics lead to the replacement of the front seat cushion cover J-clips, lower-level service parts are now available. Use service part W709919-S901 if the J-clip is completely detached from the … |
How to read this page
Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more after news coverage or a recall. That is why years are compared only with other years of the same generation, over the same span, and never with other models.
Sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications (data as of 2026-10-28).
- U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines and fuel economy.
This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection.