Home · 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Early Release · Complaints

What 664 owners told NHTSA about the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Early Release

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (664)Crash / fire / injury (32)Electrical system (203)Transmission & drivetrain (171)Engine (139)Brakes (124)Fuel system (106)Visibility & wipers (26)Engine & cooling (23)Suspension (21)Driver assistance (14)Steering (14)

32 of 664 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters · page 2 of 2

Feb 25, 2022Electrical systemEngineFuel systemFire

I started my car on 2/15. Drove about .5 miles down the street through a fast food place. Drove another .9 miles down the street. I heard a pop and pulled over immediately and the car was already on fire. The car had around 3542 miles on it. I had just leased it in September. Ford says this was the only vehicle that this has happened too. The inspection is happening with the insurance company as well as Ford Motor Company. No prior issues and no warning signs on the car before the fire.

NHTSA ODI 11454100

Jan 29, 2022Electrical systemBrakesDriver assistanceCrash

Both interior liftgate lights inoperative. However, the "liftgate ajar light", and came on without warning as I was driving. I had not opened the litigate. Radio system skips & pops. fails to load tor loads slowly. Brakes failed to fully engage quickly on a slow turn, causing a total loss accident. Vehicle has 645 miles on it. I love my Bronco Sport. But..is it safe to drive if I order a new one? Can there be a cross check done by VIN to ensure I'm not getting one with the same problem? Specifically, the brakes? The brake issue worries me Please advise. Thank you for your help. Sincerely, [XXX]. Vehicle purchased at Pundmann Ford, Saint Charles. Mo. 63301 on 12/3/2021 [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11449342

Jan 7, 2022BrakesCrash1 injury

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V922000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while reversing at 5 MPH, the brake pedal was stiff while depressed and the brakes failed to engage, causing the contact to crash into a parked vehicle. The contact received medical treatment at the hospital for whiplash and back injuries. No police report was filed. The dealer was made aware of the failure and has possession of the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and was reviewing the buyback. The manufacturer informed the contact not to drive the vehicle and turn it in to the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 9,000.

NHTSA ODI 11446596

Jul 20, 2021AirbagsCrash2 injuries

On July 10th this vehicle was hit at a high rate of speed by another vehicle. I was a passenger in this ford Bronco sport, non of the airbags went off. The driver of the Bronco and i were both injured.

NHTSA ODI 11425733

Jul 17, 2021AirbagsCrash2 injuries

My Bronco was running while parked and another driver struck my driver side fender at about 60mph. Which spun my car about 180° and about 15 feet from where i was parked. None of the airbags went off even though the vehicle should have sustained sufficient sideways motion. The fuel shut off was activated and the radio notified me of a crash but my 911 assist wasn't set. I asked ford and my body shop who haven't been able to tell me why my airbags didn't deploy

NHTSA ODI 11425233

Jul 9, 2021Fire

UNKNOWN I purchased a new 2021 Ford Bronco from the Ford dealership in Gaithersburg, MD in May 2021. On June 24th with 700 miles on the odometer I began a cross country drive to Wisconsin for a family vacation. Spent the week up North in Minocqua. Returned to Oconomowoc WI for the 4th of July weekend. On Monday July 5th my 15 year old nephew and I began the drive back to MD. Around 3:00pm we ma de our first stop at a convenience center in Elkhart IN. I parked my car and we went in to use the restrooms, while in the restroom my nephew heard someone say that there was a car on fire in the parking lot. It was my Ford Bronco. A total loss. I had no notice of any sort of issue with the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11424044

Apr 20, 2021Visibility & wipers1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 FORD BRONCO SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND AND BECAME AWARE THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW HAD SHATTERED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND PARKED IN A NEARBY PARKING LOT. THE CONTACT'S GRANDSON WAS SEATED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD SOME SCRATCHES TO HIS LEG BUT DID NOT REQUIRED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT CALLED MATT BOWERS FORD (3724 VETERANS MEMORIAL BLVD, METAIRIE, LA 70002, (504) 887-8410) AND WAS REFERRED TO A GLASS REPAIR FACILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,500.

NHTSA ODI 11413103

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Working with the data? Download all 664 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 19, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Early Release verdict →