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

The front and rear brake system has repeatedly malfunctioned across at least 7 dealer visits since 2022 on my 2021 Ford Bronco Sport (VIN: [XXX] ). Brake squealing and grinding (particularly in reverse at low speeds) have persisted despite multiple repair attempts. Ford's own SSM 52515 acknowledges engineering was working on a fix and that rotor resurfacing is "not a guaranteed fix." TSB 23-2308 was performed in March 2024 (caliper bushings/guide pins replaced). In June 2024 a dealer verbally confirmed a brake recall was coming in Oct/Nov 2024 and that rotors would be covered — that recall never materialized. Front brake pads were replaced under Recall 21C31 in September 2022 at ~8,797 miles. Front pads and rotors required full replacement again in April 2025 at ~28,833 miles — just 20,000 miles later and well below the typical 50,000–70,000 mile service life — at my out-of-pocket cost of $747. Rear brakes were documented as "in the red" in January 2026 at ~38,000 miles. The vehicle is currently at a Ford dealership. In August 2024, one dealer attributed the issue to driving habits despite Ford's own TSBs acknowledging the defect. Brake wear across both axles is abnormally premature for a [XXX] vehicle. Across brake-related and recall visits the vehicle has been out of service for approximately 30 days. Relevant: TSB 23-2308, TSB 25-2143, SSM 52515 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11736446

Since my car hit 40000 miles it has had nothing but issues. I've had it in the shop at least 10 times. My brakes went out while driving with my [XXX] old, I've had loss of power, smell of exhaust in the cabin for the last 3 months and dealership says it can't be fixed, yesterday I had complete engine failure while on the freeway. Stalled and wouldn't start back up for 5 min. The dealership has never fully fixed anything but has only updated the computer system. I feel very unsafe in this vehicle. We still owe on this vehicle so trading it in is not an option since its not even worth the down payment I put down. It has a fuel injector recall that can't be fixed yet due to not having the parts available. What are we suppose to do if we can't drive the vehicle and can't buy a new one. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11714165

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the message "Faulty Battery and Charging System" flashed on the screen, and the vehicle failed to immediately start. The contact stated that while driving later, several messages, including the messages "Faulty Power Steering" and "Faulty ABS" were displayed, and the vehicle suddenly stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V267000 (Electrical System, Power Train), which the contact related the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 56,000.

NHTSA ODI 11701887

On November 11, 2025, my 2021 Ford Bronco Sport experienced a complete brake system failure while driving. The brake pedal suddenly became extremely hard, and there was no braking power at all. The vehicle had to be stopped using the parking brake. This same issue occurred previously in July 2025, when the brake vacuum booster failed and was replaced at the Ford dealership. The problem has now recurred less than six months later. The vehicle is not safe to drive and is available for inspection upon request. My safety and the safety of others were put at risk because the brakes failed completely without warning while the vehicle was in motion. If traffic conditions had been heavier, a collision could have occurred. The issue has not yet been confirmed by the dealership for this most recent occurrence, but the same Ford dealer that repaired it in July handled the prior failure. The vehicle will be towed there again for inspection. No warning lamps or dashboard messages appeared before or during either failure. The only symptom was a sudden loss of brake assist and a hard, unresponsive brake pedal. This appears to be a repeated failure of the brake vacuum or brake assist system, which I understand has been part of a previous Ford recall (21C31) affecting 2021 Bronco Sport models. But my VIN number was not included in the Recall. This is my second reporting and needs to be recalled.

NHTSA ODI 11698868

Low engine oil pressure sensor flashes & can’t accelerate past 40mph

NHTSA ODI 11693097

There is a load moaning sound when backing the vehicle up or making a turn which significantly effects steering and stoping. Ford dealership said that tires were not rubbing body and tie rods were ok. This ford bronco sport only has 25K miles on it and never taken off road. Ford said to live with the sound until it bothered us? They said that it didn't need brakes but a new brake job could possibly fix problem? Independent repair shop said that it wasn't a brake issue but didn't know what the problem was. This load sound must be a defect for this vehicle because others on the web have expressed the same problem but ford has not put out a recall as of this date.

NHTSA ODI 11686962

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

Upon starting the vehicle, brakes were extremely hard to press down and barely responded. A great deal of effort was needed to bring the car to a stop at below 5 miles an hour. If I had been driving instead of pulling out of a parking lot, this could have caused a significant accident.

NHTSA ODI 11681544

While driving, the brake pedal suddenly required extreme pressure to stop the vehicle safely. I pulled over and parked in a parking lot. Upon opening the hood, I heard a hissing sound. During inspection, I found that the brake booster vacuum hose had broken at the check valve connection near the brake fluid reservoir. A temporary fix restored brake assistance. With the resulting significant loss of brake assist, I was forced to apply near full body weight on the brake pedal to slow and stop the vehicle. This could have easily resulted in a serious crash if traffic conditions were different. The issue has not yet been inspected by a dealer or any others, but the vehicle and the failed component are available for inspection upon request. No warning signs, symptoms, or lights were experienced or observed before the hose failure.

NHTSA ODI 11681611

Brake Valve Failure while driving

NHTSA ODI 11670152

The brakes make a loud and terrible squeeking noise (moan noise) when driving the vehicle in reverse and braking. There is something terribly wrong and may initiate a problem at a later date when driving forward. Ford is aware of the problem and issued TSB22-2326 in August 2022, revised to 23-2041 in February 2023, revised to 23-2308 in October 2023 and revised again to 25-2143 in April 2025. THEY HAVE SUCCESSFULLY DELAYED THE RECALL FOR THREE YEARS NOW THAT ALL 2021 BRONCO SPORTS ARE OUT OF WARRANTY. This is rediculous and dangerous.

NHTSA ODI 11662345

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that upon reversing the vehicle and depressing the brake pedal, there was an abnormal vibration sound coming from the brakes. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the rear brake parts were faulty and needed to be cleaned and replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 46,000.

NHTSA ODI 11661452

I was driving 70mph on [XXX] in New Jersey when all of a sudden with no prior warning the battery light came on and my vehicle became very hard to control, I felt it shutting down so I immediately pulled to the only shoulder which happened to be on the left. The car shut down and would not start again. A State Trooper said I can not stay on the left shoulder and decided to push my car to the next exit. Since it was an electrical problem my car kept locking up and would not stay in neutral and the steering kept locking as well. I was being pushed on the left shoulder with car speeding past me while my car was locking up which also cause my tires to blow out, I was afraid for my life but the officer continued to push me. This is the second time my vehicle shut down on me leaving me in a dangerous situation, I'm afraid that next time it happens It could cause me to get seriously injured or my life! I had to have it towed to the dealership and I was charged almost $1000 for repairs and 2 weeks later I received a recall letter on this issue for the software. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11658236

When reversing the vehicle, the rear breaks will make a whale sound I have video

NHTSA ODI 11653979

When I bought my vehicle in 2021. The brakes makes a squeaky noise when backing up. I took to dealer and the mechanic said it was normal his wife have the same car and her Bronco does the same thing. The brakes still makes noise when backing up and it’s year 2025. I’m thinking about going to another brake pad but buying a new vehicle for it to squeak is not right.

NHTSA ODI 11652163

Like the other people state. Rear brakes make a moaning noise when backing up. First thing in the morning when trying to back the vehicle out of the garage. I put it in reverse, and it holds like the brakes are sticking. You have to hit the throttle to make the care move and you hear a pop noise like the brakes released. My garage is not on a incline or any kind of slope. We took the car to the dealer and they stated Ford knows about it but there is no fix. You need new brakes and rotors that cost over $800. If Ford knows about it why do I have to pay when they know it's a problem?

NHTSA ODI 11649570

I was unaware of any previous recalls before I purchased my Bronco Sport used. There is an active recall that has no remedy for the battery. I am actively having issues with my fuel system. It was inspected more than once. Diagnostics returned zero issues 3 times and no warning lights. I insisted further inspection this time which revealed bad purge valve, charcoal canister full of fuel, coolant leak resulting in water pump replacement needed. No warning lights. No codes, active or stored. Due to the absence of codes, they will not replace my fuel injectors per customer satisfaction program 22N18. Was not ever informed that recalls 22S73, 22S21, and 21C31 were either inspected or completed on my vehicle as it was not ever disclosed to me and the Ford website only state "scheduled maintenance" was performed. I still cannot obtain documentation of those previous service records so that I may be informed on what could have led to the current issues I am having with this vehicle. I have 3 kids I drive around and do not feel safe putting them in it anymore due to official documents issued by Ford that state my car could either lose power in the middle of driving it, or catch on fire due to a cracked fuel injector.

NHTSA ODI 11648129

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in reverse(R), there was an abnormal screeching sound coming from the rear brakes while depressing the brake pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer and an undisclosed recall repair was performed; however, upon retrieving the vehicle, the failure worsened. The dealer was notified of the failure but offered no additional assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NTHSA Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11645546

Rear brakes are noisy, they make a grinding noise. Ever since we got the vehicle . Screens turn black while driving , can control infotainment system Water gets into the vehicle when it rains or when getting car washed

NHTSA ODI 11636940

The vehicle has been in the shop since day one with many many problems! The TURBO failed under warranty so they replaced it without doing proper procedures. A few months later the turbo failed again out of warranty but this time cracked the head causing damages I can not afford!! The vehicle is sitting at the dealership not fixed!! I want out of this lemon!!! I tried getting them to buy it back when I took it to the shop three different times due to break issues they could not fix but a Ford representative told me it "had too many miles" I work out of this vehicle and have not been able to work now for three months!! Note...after the first TURBO was replaced I told the dealership the vehicle was loosing antifreeze but all they did was pressure check the radiator. A few months later engine failure due to turbo failure!!

NHTSA ODI 11634796

Breaks squeal while in reverse.

NHTSA ODI 11631718

While in reverse when you press on the breaks they squeal.

NHTSA ODI 11626891

My 2021 Bronco Sport suddenly died on [XXX]. The parking brake engaged unexpectedly, locking all four brakes and resulting in a significant skid mark. An error message flashed: “Park Not Available. Apply Park Brake Before Exiting,” and the park gear light blinked. I turned off the engine again, but the car was dead when I tried to restart it. After getting a jump start, the car turned on. However, the parking brake engaged again shortly after. I was able to drive it off the road. My wife, a research librarian, found that many others have reported issues related to “Sudden Death Syndrome." See below. [XXX] [XXX] ). The car was towed from PA, where we were visiting, to Stanford Ford, where we purchased it on [XXX]. On 11/13, the dealership told us there was a short circuit in the wiring connected to the solenoid and estimated $900.00 for labor. At noon on 11/15, the technician was test-driving the car. By 4:17 PM, I was told it was ready. 5 min. later, they told me it wasn't ready due to another issue. At 11:15am on 11/18, we were informed the issue was a short circuit in the transmission, costing $13,000. How is that possible? The car is only three years old! We've faced many recalls with this car, the last just this past August, but the most dangerous issue is the unexpected engagement of the parking brakes, causing chaotic behavior. Given the number of similar incidents, it's hard to believe there hasn't been a recall. We could have been injured or even killed if we had been driving over 40 mh and driving in heavy traffic, or worse, on the highway. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11626201

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while reversing during morning startup and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle made an abnormal loud moaning sound. The contact stated that the abnormal loud sound increased over time. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer several times, where the failure was acknowledged, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was opened, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.

NHTSA ODI 11623595

Brakes Made loud squeaks noise when in reverse. Have taken into dealer multiple times and not fixed. They say an issue with Bronco Sports but my vin does not show on recall. Worried about brake failures or issues that could arise. They replaced front rotors and deglazed pads. Spent 462.19 and problem never fixed.

NHTSA ODI 11622873