351 of the
1,977 complaints filed about the Ford Bronco Sport
are about the electrical system —
18% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2021.
I purchased a new 2024 Ford Bronco Sport on XXX from Sayville Ford in [XXX]. They failed to disclose an unremedied safety recall (24V-267) on the vehicle that was issued on XXX and still sold me the vehicle. When I went back to them after seeing that there was a recall on the car, they denied the existence of the recall despite me showing them the recall notice on both the NHTSA and Ford websites. Last year there was another safety recall for leaking fuel injectors (25V-467) that I brought my car in for service, and they claimed to have done a software fix. Upon checking the recall checked on the NHTSA website (6 months after service) it lists that the safety recall work was never performed, despite the dealership keeping my car for the entire day and telling me the work was performed. This dealership has been evasive and deceptive when I have confronted them about these issues and should be examined and fined for their practices. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11757676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Pre-Collision System warning activated unexpectedly. The vehicle then accelerated by itself unexpectedly and the accelerator/throttle was engaged by itself. Breaks were then hard to push and vertically impossible to slow down. At the time, there was no vehicle or obstruction immediately around the vehicle other than a possible box, or small obstruction in the road. Yes the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Due to the unexpected activation of the pre-collision system followed by unexpected acceleration by itself, caused the vehicle to move unexpectedly and resulted in a collision with another vehicle, creating a safety risk to the occupants of both vehicles. No. The problem has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. No. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or any other party. The police did come to the accident and a police report was filed. Yes. The vehicle's Pre-Collision System warning activated unexpectedly immediately prior to the incident. There were no other known warning lamps or messages before the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated by itself and collided with another vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11757261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle was slowing down after leaving a stop light and within a short distance completely shut down no lights no power nothing wouldnt start to put in neutral so we can get it from the middle of traffic on a 2 lane highway. After about 15 minutes of trying to see what the issues was it turned over and we put the car in gear and pushed ot to the side of the road
NHTSA complaint #11757286 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am reporting a safety concern involving the transmission in my 2022 Ford Bronco Sport equipped with the 1.5L engine and 8-speed automatic transmission (8F35). I purchased this vehicle new in May 2022 with approximately 6 miles on it. At approximately 83,000 miles, the vehicle displayed a “Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Power” warning through FordPass. The notification stated that a transmission clutch had not applied within the expected amount of time and warned that I may experience limited functionality, including unavailable gears. I took the vehicle to an authorized Ford dealership, All Star Ford Denham Springs, for diagnosis. On August 4, 2026, the dealership informed me in writing that the vehicle has an internal transmission failure and metal in the transmission fluid. The technician determined that the transmission requires complete replacement. I was subsequently quoted approximately $13,000 for the repair. I am concerned that an internal transmission failure of this nature could result in reduced propulsion, unavailable gears, abnormal shifting, or loss of vehicle mobility, particularly if the failure occurs while the vehicle is being driven. Thus being it did fail in the middle of a highway with the gas pedal no longer working. The car was then towed to the dealership and would not even go into neutral to remove the car from the trailer I am requesting that NHTSA review this failure and determine whether similar transmission/clutch failures are occurring in other 2022 Ford Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with the 8F35 transmission and whether this represents a broader safety defect. Ford has previously issued Customer Satisfaction Program 22B38 involving certain 2022 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with the 8F35 transmission. That program described a manufacturing issue involving a transmission clutch component and a potential long-term durability concern. I understand that my vehicle has not been confirmed to be included in that program
NHTSA complaint #11755823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1. The Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) module and/or the front passenger-side suspension components failed, causing a complete loss of steering control and an un-commanded, continuous violent pull to the right. Yes, the vehicle and all malfunctioning components are completely intact and available for immediate inspection upon request. 2. Safety was put at extreme risk during highway speeds. The vehicle violently and continuously swerved directly toward the right-hand passenger side. There were 5 total occupants in the SUV, including my daughter-in-law and my three young grandchildren. My [XXX] granddaughter was strapped in a car seat directly next to that right passenger door, placing her in the immediate impact zone of a high-speed crash hazard. I had to physically fight the locked steering wheel with extreme physical force to prevent a catastrophic collision. 3. Not yet. The incident just occurred on XXX, and the vehicle is fundamentally unsafe to operate. It is currently parked and waiting to be transported via a professional flatbed tow truck to Murgado Ford of Chicago for a full mechanical and software diagnostic teardown. I have not yet contacted the dealership because they were unavailable on August 1 and closed on XXX 4. No. The vehicle is currently parked in a safe location in front of my home and has not yet been touched or inspected by any outside parties, police, insurance representatives, or the manufacturer. 5. No. There were absolutely no warning lamps, error messages, dashboard lights, strange noises, or any other symptoms prior to the failure. This catastrophic loss of control happened completely out of nowhere at highway speeds, and nothing like this has ever happened to this vehicle before. Crucially my lane keeping assist feature was manually turned off when this happened, meaning the vehicle overrode the settings to violently pull me to the right. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11754307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I've had a Blindspot warning light alert, told by dealership this is an electrical issue, after a web search, I see this is a common and known issue for Ford, yet no recall has been issued. I also have another know, common powertrain issue with my rear differential. The vehicle makes noise when turning, unstable when driving. The vehicle is less than 5yrs old and under 60k miles. Both issues are safety issues and could cause an electrical fires or vehicle stalling. I am scheduled for a 2nd inspection on 7/31 and hopefully repair.
NHTSA complaint #11753350 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owned a 2024 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving into the driveway and coming to a complete stop, the contact became aware of steam coming from underneath the hood and believed that the engine was overheating. No warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel prior to the vehicle catching on fire. The contact and his wife were inside the vehicle were in the vehicle during the failure. The driver and the passenger exited the vehicle safely. There was grey and white odorless smoke coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the fire originated in the engine compartment. There was significant concrete damage to the driveway and a tree by the residence. The fire was extinguished by the local Fire Department. A fire report was filed but was unavailable. No police report was filed. The vehicle was destroyed. No injuries were sustained. The leasing company of the vehicle was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 15,000.
NHTSA complaint #11753141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Fuel system issues. Current recall has been since July of 2025 with NO FIX AVAILABLE. Engine light has been on and off for two months now with mobile app giving warning but there is no way to fix the issue as of now, and not since the Recall was issued almost a year ago. Bronco has not started up again on multiple occasions after getting fuel. Also has a very strong smell of fuel vapor/fuel at every deceleration or stop making it hard to breathe inside vehicle, as well hurting our chest and head to inhale inside the cabin of vehicle. Bronco is beginning to cut out while driving and/or when coming to a stop. We have a small child and are in fear of a serious malfunction or fire, and are concerned of the fumes we are constantly ingesting while driving vehicle. That on top of the risk of car cutting out at a bad time or catching on fire while driving is causing us to want to trade it in/get rid of it but we need a vehicle to get back and forth to work and get our child to school. We need something done to get a different vehicle that’s safe for our family/child. I am a disabled veteran that feels helpless with my wife and child using this vehicle every day. I’m scared for their safety more than anything else.
NHTSA complaint #11744018 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am reporting ongoing electrical and infotainment system failures in my 2024 Ford Bronco Sport that present a potential safety risk to the driver and others on the road. The vehicle’s infotainment system, specifically Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, does not operate reliably. Connections frequently fail, freeze, disconnect, or become unresponsive during normal driving. When this occurs, navigation, hands‑free communication, and other driver‑assistance functions become unavailable or require repeated attempts to reconnect. This malfunction creates a driver distraction hazard, as the driver is compelled to look at and interact with the center display while the vehicle is in motion in an attempt to restore CarPlay functionality. Loss of navigation guidance or hands‑free operation while driving may increase the risk of a collision. In addition, the wireless charging pad causes excessive heat buildup. After approximately 10–30 minutes of continuous contact, mobile devices become abnormally hot, and the infotainment display screen itself also becomes noticeably hot to the touch. This suggests a potential thermal management or hardware design defect. Overheating electronics raise concerns about equipment damage, device shutdown, or further system instability while driving. The vehicle has been taken to a Ford dealership multiple times for these issues. The dealership performed only brief diagnostic scans and did not attempt to reproduce the overheating condition under real‑world operating time. No repairs or corrective actions were performed, and the issues remain unresolved. Based on repeated failures, overheating, and lack of corrective action, I believe this may be a design or hardware specification issue affecting the infotainment and charging systems, rather than an isolated incident. The combination of infotainment instability, overheating, and driver distraction presents a potential safety concern that warrants investigation.
NHTSA complaint #11744032 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle is experiencing powertrain performance issues, including a persistent stutter, vehicle shuddering, and erratic RPM jumping while driving at 45-55 mph. These symptoms began immediately following the latest software flash in January 2026 and have progressively gotten worse. An Independent mechanic and a transmission specialist have inspected the vehicle and are unable to resolve the issue because no diagnostic trouble codes are being generated. There is a safety and engineering concern that the continuous reprogramming of the PCM & BCM has altered the vehicle’s operations outside of its initial factory design parameters. The vehicle has suffered an immediate drop in performance and fuel economy. In June 2026, I received another notification about Recall 25S76, not being completed yet by Sam Leman Ford. After several attempts to reach someone, I called an authorized secondary Ford dealership, Heller in Bloomington, who pulled the VIN data and stated they could not verify if the 25S76 recall was properly completed by the original servicing dealer. It seems as if there is a tracking failure on the manufacturer's side. While she stated there were notes by a service tech for mobile repair, the fact that I got another notification about the same recall’s intermediate repair not being completed, that signified to her it may not have been. Heller Ford stated the only way to know, is to attempt a 4th PCM reprogramming. If the manufacturer rejects the warranty reimbursement, the cost of the diagnostic labor hours will be billed to me. Consumers should not be held financially responsible for verifying faulty manufacturer documentation, nor should software patches be used as a substitute for replacing a physically defective, fire-prone component. By allowing the manufacturer to alter the vehicle's electrical and powertrain architecture rather than mandating a hardware replacement, consumers are left driving vehicles with degraded performance and an active hazards.
NHTSA complaint #11743680 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2026 Bronco SportDescription Your vehicle may display a blank instrument panel cluster ipc screen upon startup. This may occur when the vehicle is restarted within a specific time interval after turning the vehicle off. Safety Risk A blank ipc screen will prevent the driver from seeing critical vehicle information such as the speedometer, warning lights, and warning messages. The inability to see this information increases the risk of a crash. Remedy Software is now available to repair your vehicle. Ford Motor Company has authorized your dealer to update the instrument panel cluster free of charge. Next Steps Contact your dealer for more information to schedule the free service. NOTE: Recall incomplete Recall service not available right now. We have a remedy but parts are not available right now. We will inform you when the service is available. Or, you can contact your dealer.
NHTSA complaint #11743715 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving my 2024 Bronco Sport, my car started stalling, power was being lost, got stuck on railroad tracks, lights on dash board of icons appeared & engine was shutting down mid drive with no warning or issues. 13,500 miles on the car
NHTSA complaint #11743378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Purchased a Ford Bronco Sport brand new in 2021. I received a recall notice for my bronco sport last July. I took my vehicle to the Ford dealership and they told me there was no remedy available. The recall states that my vehicle could catch on fire and crash at any time while I’m driving it. Ford still does not have a remedy almost a year later and they don’t know when they will have one. They don’t have parts even though my VIN number is affected. Ford expects me to risk my life and the life of my passengers, who happen to be my grandsons, by driving this vehicle on a daily basis. At any time, my car can catch on fire because of the fuel injector recall. I filed a claim with the Ford buyback program, but was denied because my vehicle warranty has expired. The recall didn’t even come out until after my warranty had expired. Recall info: Campaign 25S76/25V467
NHTSA complaint #11743285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On XXX, driving at a relatively low rate of speed coming off the on-ramp from [XXX] onto [XXX], the hood of our Thrifty rental vehicle, a 2024 Ford Bronco, suddenly and without warning, flew up and completely obstructed the windshield. As we had just entered the highway we were quite fortunate to have been in the right hand lane and able to safely pull into the breakdown lane. And even more fortunate that there were not cars immediately ahead or behind us that we could have hit. And third, very fortunate that the force of the hood did not shatter the windshield. The hood flew up with such force that it essentially "wedged" itself into the side edges of the car and had to be manually dislodged to be closed. Some tube or coil-like structure on the right side of the car had been split in two by the force (later learned this was the windshield wiper fluid hose). Two other points of importance - it was very windy that day. And there was absolutely no warning on the dashboard system that the hood was ajar or anything to that effect. We drove at a very low rate of speed to the next exit to find a service station where the car could be inspected before driving the 3 hours on to [XXX]. The mechanic stated the problem had been with the hood latch, but it appeared safe for us to drive. On returning the car to Thrifty, a verbal report was immediately given, but it seemed strange to me that no paperwork was filled out. The woman processing cars wrote down "windshield wiper hose" and left to move some vehicles. I waited for about 10 minutes, but she didn't return. Research upon my return home revealed similar problems reported with other Ford Broncos - both with the hood opening unexpectedly while driving and with faulty dashboard warning systems. [XXX] I was contacted by Thrifty's 3rd party vendor handling "damage incidents" - PurCo and related these events. They claim Thrifty sees no problem on their end. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11743267 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport. While the contact’s girlfriend was driving approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost power and stalled. During the failure, the exterior lighting became inoperable, and several messages were displayed, including the message "No Key Detected". After exiting the vehicle, the doors locked and could not be unlocked. The child and child car seat located in the rear seat of the vehicle were manually shifted to the front driver’s side door and removed from the vehicle. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 27,000.
NHTSA complaint #11742318 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
We have been waiting for this solution to this recall and it’s made my family nervous to have vehicles that can catch fire at any point Our mental health has suffered
NHTSA complaint #11741992 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On May 15, 2006 I was turning slowly into a parking space perhaps 3 to 5 miles an hour. My vehicle suddenly surged forwarded and accelerated on its own. I hit a wall. No warning lights appeared. No crash warning or any beeping of any sort. My car had a recall for the fuel injector. In October 2025 Ford sent out someone to adjust the software at my home. I do not believe a tube was ever inserted. Witnesses reported I was going slow and the car accelerated. I eat at the location almost every day so they watch for my car and whether there were 1 or 2 people. So it is not just a random witness. I do not know what parts are involved other than to say there was an un commanded acceleration and engine surge.
NHTSA complaint #11741370 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My car was parked in my driveway and I parked it up by the driveway door when I came out the next day my car was at the end of the driveway nobody broke in it it was still locked but that was strange then it seemed like every time I'm driving this car it doesn't want to give me power to drive the car I just took it out of town and red lights start popping on inside the dashboard stating something about transmission fluid cooling something I have been to the dealership quite a few times in reference to the car not getting enough power They keep saying nothing wrong with this car but it's something is wrong with this car I've had this car 2 years I've only put $21,000 mi on it each time I put those kind of miles put miles on the car I was driving out of town and each time was scary because the car act like it don't want to go I just came back from Tulsa Oklahoma on the way back home the dashboard was lighting up saying emergency cooling transmission some stuff something is wrong with this car and I keep taking it back to the dealership and they keep telling me it's nothing wrong with this car I'm literally scared to drive this car.
NHTSA complaint #11738678 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
January 10, 2026. My battery abruptly stalled. It was charged drove a few feet in the car just stopped. The car was towed, and the battery was deemed faulty and needed replacement. May 10. The engine coolant light came on. The car would turn on and then abruptly stalled. Mid traffic. The car again was towed and it was deemed had a faulty coolant pump. I asked for the fuel injection system to be looked at and they said my card does not have a Vin recall. These two prior issues established the fact that something is wrong with my vehicle and should have been included in the main Ford recall. I would like my VIN number added for the safety of my car and to be able to get the updates necessary for the fuel injection cracks that occur in this year bronco. The dealership is refusing to do this.
NHTSA complaint #11737742 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving on the highway and my car started making a lot of noise. I got a notice “The Engine system has detected a fault.” Then another notification saying 4 wheel drive was disabled and then my car stopped running, leaving me stranded in the middle of the highway. My car would start, but it would not go into any gear. When I tried putting it in gear, I got a notification that said “Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Speed Your Malfunction warning is on because your vehicle’s transmission cannot be shifted or moved out of park.” I had to wait in the middle of the highway for approximately 30-45 minutes for a tow truck to come, and the whole time, there were cars traveling 80 mph swerving to miss me. I was sincerely afraid for my life.
NHTSA complaint #11735518 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.