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2023 Ford Bronco

Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist, all in a shareable PDF

211 owner complaints · 17 recalls · data verified July 11, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Cautionwillitcar.com

Why caution?

Has a "park it / park outside" recall, the most serious kind. Verify the fix was done before buying.

17 recall campaigns (4 safety-critical). Confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the seller's VIN.

Visibility & wipers problems dominate (45% of complaints).

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)64
Severity (30%)70
Recall load (20%)8
Trend (10%)69

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20222026

The road ahead

What breaks on a 2023 Ford Bronco, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k miEngine~3k mi · 19 reportsTransmission & drivetrain~10k mi · 19 reports

Also reported (mileage varies): Visibility & wipers (94) · Electrical system (22) · Brakes (16) · Suspension (13)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.

Visibility & wipers

45%

94 complaints · 7 in the last 2 years

UNKNOWN Windshield wipers will change speeds without driver intervention. While in steady to heavy rain, wipers will slow to intermittent after a few minutes of being …

Electrical system

10%

22 complaints · 10 in the last 2 years

The vehicle experienced recurring electrical system failures beginning in December 2023. The vehicle intermittently would not start and on several occasions lost power…

Engine

9%

19 complaints · typically near 3k mi · 8 in the last 2 years

Going 80 on the fwy. It stared shaking, engine light came on. Immediately go off the fwy as soon as I stopped it died and wouldn’t start.

Transmission & drivetrain

9%

19 complaints · typically near 10k mi · 7 in the last 2 years

Automatic 10 speed transmission has unpredictable shifting from 1st through 3 gears, offten with long lags between shifts, losing power temporarily, especially from 1s…

Recalls (17)

Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.

Structure · 26V403000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Bronco vehicles. The fender flares may not be properly secured and detach from the vehicle.

Risk: A detached fender flare can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the fender flares as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed August 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in late August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S47. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning August 7, 2026.

Power Train · 26V236000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Bronco vehicles. The transmission to transfer case joint may be misaligned due to an incorrectly performed previous repair, which could lead to wear of the transmission output shaft splines and transfer case input splines.

Risk: Excessive wear of the transmission and transfer case splines may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the transmission to transfer case joint and replace the transmission and transfer case as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 8, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in July 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S26. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 15, 2026.

Back Over Prevention · 26V124000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Ford Bronco and 2021-2024 Ford Edge vehicles. The Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) may overheat and shutdown, which can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended.

Risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: The APIM software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 13, 2026. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S09. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 5, 2026.

Seats · 25V721000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco vehicles. The front seats may have a loose or dislodged seat frame height-adjust pivot bolt.

Risk: A seat with a dislodged bolt may not properly restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the pivot links and bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 28, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SB5. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 28, 2025.

Equipment · 25V685000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.

Fuel System, Gasoline · 25V455000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, 2021-2022 Lincoln Navigator, Mustang, F-150, and 2022 Expedition vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving.

Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump on super duty vehicles and update the powertrain control module (PCM) software on all other affected vehicles, free of charge. Interim notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 16, 2025. Second letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated 2nd Quarter 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S75.

Back Over Prevention · 25V273000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Bronco vehicles. The 360-degree view camera may not display a rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse.

Risk: Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S48. This recall expands previous recall number 23V-598.

Back Over Prevention · 25V315000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco, F-150, 2021-2024 Edge, 2022-2025 Escape, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, 2022-2024 Expedition, 2022-2025 Transit, 2021-2023 Mach-E, 2024 Ranger, Mustang, 2021-2023 Lincoln Nautilus, 2022-2024 Navigator, and 2023-2024 Corsair vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse.

Risk: A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on June 26, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Owner notification letters were sent on October 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S49.

Suspension · 25V025000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco vehicles. The rear shock absorbers may corrode and fail, resulting in detachment of the external reservoir.

Risk: An external reservoir that detaches from a vehicle can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the rear shock absorbers, as necessary free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 15, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S01.

Latches/locks/linkages · 24V189000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Bronco 4-door vehicles. The left-side rear door may be opened from the inside of the vehicle when the child safety lock is in the "ON" position.

Risk: A malfunctioning child safety lock that allows a rear door to be opened unintentionally can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the child safety locks and replace the rear door latch, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 9, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S15.

Visibility · 24V142000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Bronco and Bronco Heritage vehicles. The rear quarter glass panels may have been improperly installed to the vehicle hard top, which can allow them to detach.

Risk: Detached rear glass panels may create a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the rear glass panels on Bronco vehicles. On Bronco Heritage vehicles, dealers will replace the rear left-hand removable quarter glass panel. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Bronco owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2024. Bronco Heritage owner letters were mailed June 12, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S10.

Power Train · 23V546000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Bronco vehicles. The transmission park system may have been damaged during assembly, which can prevent the parking pawl from fully engaging and result in a vehicle rollaway.

Risk: A vehicle rollaway can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the transmission, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S44.

Equipment · 23V379000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Bronco, 2023 Super Duty F-250, and 2019-2023 Ranger vehicles. The Tire and Loading Information (TREAD) label states the incorrect load carrying capacity, which can result in an overloaded vehicle. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims."

Risk: An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: Ford will mail a new TREAD label to install over the existing label, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the new label installed, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C18.

Seat Belts · 23V358000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco vehicles built with the 5-Door body style. The first-row seat belt latch plates may be difficult to access from their stowed position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: Difficulty accessing the seat belt latches may result in occupants not wearing their seat belts, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Fix: Dealers will add a sliding clip latch stop to the driver and front passenger seat belts, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 14, 2023. Owner letters informing owners that parts are available were mailed on October 2, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C16.

Park itWheels · 23V283000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Bronco and Ranger vehicles. The lug nuts on the driver's side wheels may have been improperly tightened.

Risk: Loose lug nuts may result in wheel detachment while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, retighten the lug nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 2, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S17.

Steering · 23V155000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Bronco Wildtrak and 2022 Bronco Raptor vehicles. Internal damage to the steering gear may require increased steering effort or cause the steering wheel to lock-up.

Risk: A steering wheel that locks-up can result in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 31, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S09.

Power Train · 23V070000

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150, Mustang, Explorer, Bronco, and 2023 Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The transmission may contain a loose bolt which could prevent the transmission from engaging the park gear, although the gear shifter position may indicate that the vehicle has been shifted to "PARK."

Risk: The inability to secure the vehicle in the park position can result in a rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transmissions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S06.

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What owners say

Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2023 Ford Bronco as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only, so always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.