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

On 2/19/26 the Vehicle would not go in reverse. This is the second time the vehicle has failed to reverse. The vehicle was towed and fixed by don chalmers ford the first time this happened. Now they stated the vehicle was one day past warranty and would not tow/fix issue. I dropped the vehicle at dc ford on Friday 2/20. Today they called and said they think it is the same issue that was fixed with the transmission and would charge 6-8 thousand to fix it. More if we wanted a new transmission. I have read several reports from other consumers that the ford 2021 bronco sport has transmission issues. This vehicle has also had several recalls that I have had fixed by ford. All maintenance has been performed by ford as well. This is an unsafe vehicle and ford has failed to insure its costumers are safe and treated fairly.

NHTSA ODI 11720562

I am experiencing pulsing and lunging while accelerating and cause loss of power and unsafe driving.

NHTSA ODI 11712701

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the vehicle started jerking abnormally. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the failure was due to the torque converter. The contact was informed that the transmission fluid needed to be flushed and refilled. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and offered to cover 60 percent of the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11712462

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, there was a loud scraping sound coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle jerked abnormally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the failure was associated with the torque converter. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 91,000.

NHTSA ODI 11708392

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V019000 (Electrical System) and 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the passenger-side of the vehicle, and the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that approximately a minute later, the vehicle restarted independently. The contact stated that upon shifting to drive(D) and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact shifted to reverse(R), and the vehicle accelerated forward unintendedly. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact test-drove the vehicle in a parking lot, and the failure persisted. The contact stated that while the hand brake was off, the brakes failed to function and seized. The vehicle was towed to the residence, where the contact test-drove the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as intended. However, the contact was concerned about the failure, and the vehicle was towed to the dealer, where the recall repair of the 12-volt battery was completed, and the PCM software update were performed. Additionally, the contact was informed that the DTC codes found indicated that the transmission had failed. The transmission was not repaired due to cost. The contact picked up the vehicle and drove the vehicle back to the residence with no issues. The contact stated that the battery failed to function as intended, and the vehicle failed to start two days later . The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle on a separate occasion, the message "Parking Not Available" was displayed. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle briefly lost motive power before slamming into gear while driving. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the mechanic shop of the previous owner for inspection most recently. The previous owner repaired the rear differentials; however, the failure persisted. The check engine warning light and the power train warning lights were illuminated. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 53,000.

NHTSA ODI 11707850

The main symptom is chatter/shudder during low speed turning events. This is due to a faulty rear differential unit. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer. No lamps or other warnings present prior to the failure. The manufacturer has issued multiple TSBs, latest being TSB 25 2351.

NHTSA ODI 11704284

For over a year now my car has been making a chatter/shudder noise during low speed turning. The car even shut off completely on me once while turning on a busy highway. There is a recall out (21S02) for my exact car, but built between 10/29/2020-12/11/2020. My build is not within the range however after getting it inspected, I have this exact issue with my axle having lubricant below the minimal fill level. I am worried that I will lose control of my car again and end up in a life-threatening accident.

NHTSA ODI 11701343

The contact's son owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. While the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver heard an abnormal grinding sound coming from the rear differential. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed vent tube and water intrusion. The contact was informed that the water intrusion damaged the clutch and gears. The contact was informed that the rear differential and vent tube needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was provided a discount on the cost of the part. In addition, the contact was informed that the failure was a known failure with the model vehicle; however, a recall had not been initiated. The failure mileage was approximately 81,421.

NHTSA ODI 11700762

On or about 1/16/2025 I started to have issues battery would get display on the display screen it said to turn off ignition or draw Cato conserve battery and on the ford a] it said all or some options would be disabled to save battery and also the vehicle would shudder upon slow acceleration going forward straightforward I took it to the for inspection and they said it was OK. On 11/19 -2025

NHTSA ODI 11700695

We experienced premature failure of the rear differential, which was told to us to be a "know defect" by our dealership service department. Ford has been made readily aware of this failure point and potential safety concern-- it is well-documented on the internet, including this NHTSA website, yet fails to issue the proper and appropriate recalls. Consumers are expected to foot the bill for this known manufacturing failure point, which is not only inappropriate, but also extremely dangerous. Failure of the rear differential carries a known potential risk of catastrophic failure-- an immediate recall should be issued for any models affected.

NHTSA ODI 11699200

I am submitting this letter to report a potentially widespread safety defect in the 2021 Ford Bronco related to the rear differential assembly. Many owners, including myself, have experienced or are concerned about premature failure of the rear differential under normal driving conditions. This issue can lead to loss of vehicle control and represents a significant safety risk on public roads. Ford Motor Company appears aware of the recurring nature of this defect but has not, to date, issued a recall or extended coverage for affected vehicles. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this issue as a possible design or manufacturing defect that warrants a formal recall or technical action from Ford. Description of Issue: Premature rear differential failure / widespread owner reports Problem has been reported to Ford Motor Company as well as Sutton Ford Dealership. They did the inspection and diagnosed it. I took my vehicle to that dealership numerous times and told them about the noise I was experiencing and it came back no problems found. This truck has had several recalls and problems since it rolled off the assembly line.

NHTSA ODI 11696884

Vehicle is experiencing issues with shuttering from the rear differential and a 4wd fault code with vehicle just out of warranty. Rear differential speed sensor has failed and possibly need entire rear differential unit relaxed I’m told. Also water pump on engine has failed prematurely with ford avoiding responsibility

NHTSA ODI 11696691

On 7/22/2025 Luther Ford, When asked to drive the vehicle into the service area, the car would not go in to drive. It would not move at all. The service advisor stated we need to have the transmission taken out and taken apart to see what the issue is. He said that the transmission was needing to be replaced, and with the transmission, it is mostly because of an issue with the motor as well, but this cannot be diagnosed until the transmission issue is corrected. The vehicle is still at Luther Ford in Fargo waiting on repair. Ford offered limited financial assistance for this. With myself still owing $5758.38. There have been multiple times that I have requested the dealership drive the vehicle because of the vehicle shifting hard or cutting out when stepping on the gas. On 3/3/2023 20,991 miles I had taken the vehicle in to RM Stoudt in Jamestown, ND because the car was shifting hard, and was cutting out while in low gear/speeds. I do have documentation of this. Nothing was done at this time by the dealership. 10/3/2024 46,277 miles I had the bronco into Devils Lake Cars for an issue with the CV Shaft and warranty work. I also asked them to drive the vehicle because it is STILL not driving correctly and is not shifting correctly and wanted it to be corrected before warranty was up. Nothing was done at the dealership. Before 60,000 I called Devils Lake Cars. I stated that the vehicle is still having issues. I was not going to be able to get to the dealership as I live in a remote area, until after it goes over the 5/27/25 62,354 miles I finally got an appointment and the vehicle in at Devils Lake Cars, they documented thatthey drove the vehicle and there were NO issues. I requested the next time that we are in, that we ride with the service agent so we can prove the issues we are constantly having. 7/22/25 2500 miles later, the car is no longer able to even be put into drive and this brings us to the current situation and the transmission is needing to be replaced

NHTSA ODI 11696176

The car would "skip" while driving. If paused at a light/stop sign, I would hit the gas and the RPMs would increase, but the car would not drive, then it would jerk and go. When driving, my foot would be at a consistent pressure on the gas, but the car would slow down as if I lifted by foot. Then the car would jerk and increase in speed again. There were no warning lights or messages at any of those moments. Due to concerning safety, I was driving to the shop to have it evaluated when I broke down at a stop light. 5 minutes before breaking down, the first light came on with a message in the Ford app stating "powertrain malfunction". When at a light, the automatic break kicked on and would not let me drive. When evaluated at the local dealership they said "there are multiple DTCs for internal transmission issues: DTC P0751/P2700 for a clutch mechanical fault, and P07E4 indicating the vehicle is unable to engage park. The A clutch is dragging, causing it to intermittently creep forward in neutral. The transmission will need to be replaced to correct the issue." The cost to replace it is $10,000+.

NHTSA ODI 11694940

car is shuddering below 35 mph. The RPM gauge is bouncing. Had the transmission fluid drained and filled. Took it to our local repair shop and there are metal shavings in the transmission fluid.

NHTSA ODI 11695119

My wife's 2021 Ford Bronco Sport has had a complete transmission failure and the vehicle has less than 75,000 miles on it. We're told by Ford that the Powertrain warranty ends after 60,000 miles. This has been a disaster for us as we're paying a note on a vehicle that we cannot drive because it will cost $10-11K to repair. I've never owned a vehicle that has had so many problems in my life.

NHTSA ODI 11694122

I was driving home from work one day on a Monday and my vehicle had a bunch of warning notifications pop up such as pre collision assist not available, blind spot assist not available, etc as well as a wrench icon popped up and stayed on stating to service 4wd. I stopped driving my vehicle until I could get it serviced. I then took my vehicle to ford to get it diagnosed on Friday of the same week ford stated they would be able to diagnose it for $150 then repair and labor costs would come after. Well they never looked at my vehicle Friday so they told me to bring it back the next Monday I brought it back they said they would diagnose it a few hours later I received a call stating they “think” it’s my AWD module located under the passenger seat but they would not know if that was the problem until they got under the seat and that would cost me an extra $500 for them to inspect it. From research I have been doing they should have been able to tell me if it was exactly that module or not by plugging a J2534 into the main module and using the FDRS application that all ford dealers use. From more research I have been doing this is a very common problem with 2021 ford broncos concerning the AWD module. The faulty AWD module could be caused from a faulty battery which was a recall on my specific vehicle they stated they tested my battery that day but I’m not sure if they actually did because I tested it at home and it was reading low and I just had that battery replaced by ford in March of 2025. As well a faulty AWD module in a 2021 Bronco Sport could be related to a recall, especially the recall for the powertrain control module (NHTSA Campaign 25S26) which can cause AWD system faults. Additionally, there was a separate, earlier recall (Customer Satisfaction Program 21B19) specifically addressing a faulty transistor in the AWD module itself. My car is was not a candidate for this recall but I believe it is apart of it as well as others who are experiencing this problem.

NHTSA ODI 11693737

At 70K automatic transmission stated to cause jerking motions while in lower speeds when starting to drive from lower speeds. Took car to dealership and i need a new transmission. I have read on Bronco Forum from other Bronco Sport BADLANDS edition, that their transmission has failed too at various mileage, ranging from 30K-66K. Of course this is dangerous if there is a complete failure of transmission. FORD's warranty on power train ends at 36K. The cost is $8700 to replace. transmissions don't die at 70K. according to car experts, transmissions should last 120K-200K. I can't believe there is a recall for some Bronco Sports and not ALL Bronco Sports.

NHTSA ODI 11693548

!!!ALWAYS GET A SECOND OPINION WITH "TRANSMISSION ISSUES"!!! I will NEVER get a Ford again! I'm updating my previous issue #11688946 I received my 2021 Ford Bronco Sport in early 2023. I noticed a shutter when accelerating from a stop, I took it to the dealership and had the 3rd fuel injector recall completed (still waiting for a remedy to the most recent #25V467). The dealership stated my vehicle should run fine now. The shutter persisted and worsened and a new issue developed, my RPM's would slightly bounce while going at a steady speed. 09/19/2025 BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP I GO!Just for them to "diagnose" the issue I had to pay $165.00. AND they tried to charge me double stating it took them 2hrs. My BS was dropped on less than 2hrs of them calling me. DIAGNOSIS: torque converter. They recommended a flush and fill for $300-$400. 09/25/2025 I bought an OBD-II and plugged in to see if there were any codes. The codes I got make way more sense than a new transmission. -U0140:00-08--BCM missing communication -U1A00:87-08--APIM private communication network malfunction -U2013:01-08-- Switch pack issue Also the EVAP system vapor pressure as well as Oxygen sensor current (B1-S1) is functioning incorrectly and randomly drops below the normal range. My transmission is fine... All they had to do is updated/reset my BCM when they had it as well as perform a "relearn". But they didn't!!! Clearly these are not always transmission issues but service work is what makes dealerships more money.

NHTSA ODI 11693477

RDU (Rear Drive Unit) is beginning to I think fail and I have read on other forums with other people saying there’s failed and can be a safety risk. They are put at risk if the RDU fails while driving resulting in an accident. I haven’t gone to the dealership yet or let anyone else know. I thought doing a simple fluid change would do but it still persist. I’ve done research to understand what’s wrong. There was no warning lights but shuddering or grinding noise would occur and I believe it appeared a few hundred miles ago then go worse overall.

NHTSA ODI 11691082

I own a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport that has had repeated premature failures of critical components. At ~52,000 miles the water pump failed and was replaced along with coolant and belts. Less than 21,000 miles later (at ~73,000 miles) the water pump has failed again, with coolant leakage and a burning coolant smell. Ford has issued TSB 23-2104 acknowledging coolant leaks at the water pump/hose connection, yet no recall or extended coverage has been offered. This is not the only issue. My alternator has also failed twice and required multiple replacements in under 4 years of ownership. Having two major components (water pump and alternator) fail repeatedly within such a short period clearly shows a systemic defect, not normal wear and tear. Safety risks: coolant leaks can drip or vaporize onto hot engine components, creating a fire hazard. Alternator failure risks sudden loss of power and stalling in traffic. Both are unacceptable in a vehicle this new. The dealership confirmed the latest water pump diagnosis and quoted over $1,000 in labor alone, placing an unreasonable financial burden on the owner. This is the second water pump and second alternator within 73,000 miles. Ford and its dealers know this is an ongoing issue in Bronco Sports, as confirmed by widespread owner reports and TSBs, but continue to deny responsibility. A recall or customer satisfaction program should be issued to address these repeated failures.

NHTSA ODI 11690595

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission failed to shift into the intended gear. The vehicle only operated in low gear. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,200.

NHTSA ODI 11689402

The Vehicle was serviced as normal, everything came back in good shape. A few days later the transmission began to slip. The vehicle was taken back to the dealership where I was told that the Torque Converter was broken and the vehicle would require a full transmission replacement costing a total of $8K. The vehicle currently has 102,357 Miles on it.

NHTSA ODI 11689186

Seeing that the 2021 Does Bronco Sport has had a total of 16 transmission complaints/issues I'll go ahead and add mine. My Bronco sport started shuttering during acceleration as well as the RPM needle slightly bouncing up and down. I brought my Ford into the Ford dealership for a diagnosis, I paid $165 for them to look at it and them later tell me that my torque converter is going out. They recommended a flush and fill to help with the longevity, stating that would be between $300-$400. That's when I asked how much it would cost for them to fix the torque converter they stated between $3,500-$4,000. Really something I did not want to hear especially knowing that we are on our 15th recall but this one has no solution. Still waiting on the answers for recall #25S76 and #25V467.

NHTSA ODI 11688946

While driving with my [XXX] son in the vehicle, the vehicle suddenly shut down completely in the middle of the street at a red light. Nothing was functional and we were unable to move the vehicle out of the street. A tow truck came in 3 hours and towed the vehicle to the dealership. The dealership advised that it was the battery which they replaced. When merging lanes on the interstate with oncoming traffic, the gas accelerator would not accelerate to speed up. I had to step all the way down on it several times until the vehicle was finally able to accelerate. This has also occurred while at a red light and stop sign. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11686526