What 330 owners told NHTSA about the 2022 Ford Bronco Sport Later Release

I was driving the car and had been noticing an aroma, that I couldn't identify all morning. I happened to look over to the passenger side of the car and smoke was coming from the front of the seat. It was just about to catch fire. The seat heater was on and I turned it off. I poured water from a water bottle on the burned spot, that is about the size of your hand, and it sizzled until it cooled down. I contacted my dealer and sent them a photo. They had never heard of this occurring on any vehicle with heated seats ever happening before.

NHTSA ODI 11711596

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Bronco Sport. While driving approximately 50 MPH, the contact received an alert indicating that the engine was overheating, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over and became aware that the coolant reservoir was empty. Upon opening the hood, there was white smoke coming from the engine, with a strong coolant odor coming from the vehicle. After adding coolant, the vehicle restarted but only drove a short distance before the coolant leaked out. The vehicle was driven to the residence, where a mobile mechanic inspected the vehicle and determined that it was not repairable and that the engine had cracked from overheating due to the loss of coolant. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11710716

At a little over 75,000 miles, I had a warning light come on that basically said there was a problem shifting between 7th & 8th gear and it put my car into safe mode. After getting it to a dealership, I'm told it needs a new transmission and was quoted $10,000. That's incredible excessive for a 3 year old car and reading through many online forums, I'm not the only one this has happened to with this car.

NHTSA ODI 11710414

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that there were strong exhaust fumes inside the cabin of the vehicle while idling and while driving the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that no exhaust fumes were detected. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. Additionally, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.

NHTSA ODI 11710445

Transmission is going out. Costly repair $13,000 Seems to be a known issue but no recall? Let’s do better for your customers

NHTSA ODI 11709858

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact turned on the heated steering wheel feature, and 30 seconds later, the steering wheel cover began to catch on fire with a blue flame; the contact discovered smoke coming from the steering wheel cover. The contact disengaged the heated steering wheel feature, where the flame self-extinguished. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact discontinued the usage of the heated steering wheel feature in order to avoid a large fire. A fire department report was not filed. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer; however, a dealer was contacted and made aware of the failure and informed that the vehicle caught on fire to resolve the failure with the vehicle's insurance. The vehicle was not repaired, but the contact was advised to buy a new steering wheel. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11708784

The car's OBD (on board diagnostic) is not functional. This means that if a check engine light comes on it's impossible for the mechanic to know why. This means the car can never complete a state inspection and more seriously if there's an electrical problem, could result in a fire. I took the car to a Ford dealership and they verbally told me that lots of Ford cars are having this problem and that it is a manufacturing problem, not a specific problem only with my car. They want anywhere from $1600 - $4000 to repair/reprogram the OBD. They told me that they've done this "repair" for many customers and it's a manufacturing problem. In my opinion this should be a recall, not a repair customers have to pay for, most importantly because it could be dangerous bc mechanics can't access the car info if the check engine light comes on, and also the car can never be inspected which is not the fault of the car owner.

NHTSA ODI 11705981

Brake booster failed. Lost brake assist while driving. Car became unsafe to drive immediately.

NHTSA ODI 11703637

I am reporting a premature transmission failure on my 2022 Ford Bronco at approximately 85,000 miles. The vehicle required a full transmission replacement after experiencing internal transmission failure described by a Ford service manager as “something came apart inside the transmission.” The dealership quoted $13,000 for transmission replacement. Independent transmission specialists quoted approximately half that amount, indicating the dealership pricing is inflated. A major drivetrain failure at this mileage is abnormal and suggests a manufacturing defect. This issue renders the vehicle unsafe and unreliable and occurred far earlier than the expected life of a transmission. I am concerned this represents a systemic defect in Ford Bronco transmissions and request this complaint be documented and investigated.

NHTSA ODI 11703414

Recurring Safety Defect: Powertrain Cooling System Failure causing Engine Overheating, Coolant Intrusion, and Loss of Motive Power. The vehicle has experienced three catastrophic cooling system failures within a 9-month period, posing a crash and fire risk. Incident 1 (February 2025): Water pump failure caused significant coolant loss. Diagnosed and repaired by authorized dealer under warranty. Incident 2 (June 2025): Vehicle leaked coolant and emitted visible smoke and burning odors from the exhaust. Dealer diagnosed internal turbocharger failure resulting in coolant intrusion into the engine and exhaust system. The catalytic converter was damaged by coolant burn-off and required replacement. This failure kept the vehicle out of service for 38 days. Incident 3 (November 2025): The vehicle engine overheated again while driving, triggering the "Fail-Safe" cooling mode. This resulted in a sudden reduction of motive power (limp mode), creating a collision hazard at highway speeds. The Check Engine light illuminated. Dealer diagnosis confirmed codes P1285 (Cylinder Head Overtemperature) and P05A1 (Active Grille Shutter failure). The manufacturer's dealer has confirmed the current failure but refuses to acknowledge it as part of the recurring powertrain thermal defect. The safety risk involves sudden deceleration in traffic due to overheating protection mode and potential fire risk from repeated coolant leaks onto hot engine components. The vehicle is currently at the dealer and available for inspection.

NHTSA ODI 11703132

Transmission failed, Ford diagnosed it as needing the torque converter replaced, however, after this was fixed at a transmission shop, the problem persisted and that mechanic said the transmission needs to be rebuilt. My safety was out at risk when my vehicle stalled at an intersection and would not accelerate. Also, on two occasions, when the vehicle was put into reverse, it jerked forward and did not go backwards. Luckily nothing was hit in front of my vehicle, although it could have due to being in a parking spot when theirs happened. Ford confirmed an issue on 11/3/25 and another independent mechanic replaced the converter, but stayed the transmission needs to be rebuilt after that did not correct the problem. He states that the torque converter would not cause the reverse issues. Initially, no warning lamps came on, but now the wrench light and check engine light are on. Ford app gave two errors, one on 11/13/25: Powertrain malfunction/reduced power What Is Happening? The transmission control module has detected a concern when trying to shift to 8th gear. A failsafe logic disables 7th gear for the remainder of this key cycle. What Should I Do? Have your vehicle checked by an authorized dealer as soon as possible And one on 11/21/25 Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Power: What Is Happening? The powertrain control system has detected one of the transmission clutches did not apply within the expected time as expected. Some transmission gears may not being available resulting in delayed or harsh shifts into another gear. Additional alerts that may provide additional information may accompany this alert. What Should I Do? Have your vehicle checked by an authorized dealer as soon as possible. Vehicle already had Powertrain issues last year when transaxle assembly was replaced and there was an issue with the exhaust, which ended up falling off the engine after Ford worked on it. Also, had to replace vacuum pump the year before that.

NHTSA ODI 11702698

Dash Panel Display blanked out while driving in the morning and was dark out. It happened at least 4 times during a 45min drive into work. Could not see the speed I was going or any gauges which I don't think any of the Safety stuff was working.

NHTSA ODI 11702399

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that on every occasion while entering the vehicle, there was a fuel odor coming through the vents. The check engine warning light illuminated briefly during one occasion. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer twice and was diagnosed with a cracked coolant pump. The dealer determined that the coolant pump and the purge valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but the failure persisted. The vehicle was then taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was fluid leaking nearby the catalytic converter; however, the mechanic was unable to take the catalytic converter apart. The mechanic also determined that the fuel injectors, the exhaust clamps and gaskets, and Oxygen sensors needed to be replaced, and the turbo charger required coolant and oil feed lines replacements. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 70,000.

NHTSA ODI 11700758

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11700760

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11700506

At approximately 7:00 p.m., it was already dark, and I relied on my vehicle’s rear parking-aid sensor to assist me while backing out of my driveway. However, the rear collision/parking-aid sensor did not activate and provided no audible or visual warnings. Because the sensor failed to operate, I continued reversing and unintentionally collided with a vehicle parked across the street. The malfunctioning sensor is still installed on the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. The absence of any warning put my safety and the safety of others at risk, as I had no indication that another vehicle was behind me. There were no warning lamps, messages, or symptoms before the incident, and the failure was first noticed when the expected alert did not occur. After the accident, I contacted a Ford dealership and confirmed that the sensor had not activated at the time of the incident. I also verified afterward, in daylight conditions, that the sensor does work normally and provides warnings when objects are behind the vehicle. The issue has not yet been reproduced or inspected in person by a dealer or an independent service center, and the manufacturer has not examined the component. My insurance company has been notified of the collision.

NHTSA ODI 11700337

There has been a recall on this issue for 4 months with no options to have it fixed. The recall clearly states that a fire may start under your hood due to the issue, which seems like an issue that should be addressed asap.

NHTSA ODI 11700429

All of a sudden, when I would shift the gear to neutral or reverse the car would only drive forward. While there are other recalls related to this issue for other models, there isn’t a recall for this 2022 model. The ford dealership said it needs a new transmission and that would cost around $10,000.

NHTSA ODI 11699146

The firewall on the passenger side was not sealed correctly causing water to enter behind the glove box affecting the blower motor and causing water to enter the vehicle. Causing mold under the carpet. The leak was confirmed at the Ford dealership

NHTSA ODI 11698649

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer and two other dealers were contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11697604

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ODI 11696303

Car shutters and makes a lot of noise in low gears and speed. Car still has issues after repairs. Local shop unable to make final repairs due to tools needed... Ford dealer will not cover due to mileage even with TSB- 25-2351

NHTSA ODI 11694027

Along with the current unable to be fixed PCM recall, the customer service satisfaction program regarding the drivers side buckle replacement and the replacement of high-pressure fuel injectors that I was told they will only replace if there is an issue because it is not considered a recall. I have had multiple other recalls that were done and several issues that weren't related to recalls. In the first year the bushings were replaced to ease the loud noise when backing up. At 36,0000 miles I had no heat. The water pump failed and was fixed under powertrain warranty. At 41000 miles (just over warranty) the AC stopped working. The condenser failed and was my responsibility to pay. Ford did work out a deal with me on that repair due to all of the other issues I had previously. Currently, my drivers side back seatbelt does not work, the car shudders when driving and recently my forward collision indicator goes off for no reason. I have not reached out to have these items checked yet as I have spent far to much time dealing with Ford. I bought this car to feel safe and confident on the road and I have never felt that. The lack of compassion from Ford for all the money wasted in missed work and repairs because they cannot produce a quality vehicle is abhorrent.

NHTSA ODI 11693134

They sent me 2 papers about recalls and refused to fix it. Whatsoever, they tell me the fuel injection has to go out so they would fix it before even though they know it's bad. The second is a seat belt that click sometimes so basically they won't fix that either until it breaks completely. So what they're saying is basically the car can one be set on fire and 2 when I'm in a car crash, and I go through the window and If it fails, then they'll fix the problems.Is my understanding of it even though they're admitting there's a recall and they're refusing.To fix ithen, they said.Then when you've been at the software to fix the feeling injection problem.So why they selling cars?They don't have the software to fix the car.So I want something done about it.[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11692726

I own a 2022 Ford Bronco Sport (VIN: [XXX] ) that experienced a premature and unsafe transmission failure at about 75,000 miles. The issue began earlier with jerking and hesitation after stops and worsened until the vehicle displayed “Transmission Not in Park” and would not start. This created a dangerous situation at intersections and parking areas. Sioux City Ford diagnosed the issue and replaced the valve body under partial goodwill in July 2025, but the problem persisted. My service advisor said the new valve needed to “relearn” after 700 miles, but symptoms continued and the vehicle eventually became undriveable. I contacted Ford multiple times and was assigned case numbers, but received no resolution. The transmission was later confirmed failed by an independent certified shop, which replaced it at my expense ($7,711.96) along with towing ($246.10) and rental costs ($511.63). The defective parts remain available for inspection. This is a 2022 vehicle with less than 80,000 miles, and a complete transmission failure at this mileage is unreasonable and unsafe. Many other Bronco Sport owners have reported similar failures, jerking, and “Transmission Not in Park” errors linked to Ford’s 8F35 transmission. Ford has also issued Recall 24V-267000 and TSB 22B38 for related issues. This failure is not isolated and poses a significant safety concern for drivers. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11691511