What 143 owners told NHTSA about the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport Later Release

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport. While the contact’s girlfriend was driving approximately 75 MPH, the vehicle suddenly lost power and stalled. During the failure, the exterior lighting became inoperable, and several messages were displayed, including the message "No Key Detected". After exiting the vehicle, the doors locked and could not be unlocked. The child and child car seat located in the rear seat of the vehicle were manually shifted to the front driver’s side door and removed from the vehicle. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 27,000.

NHTSA ODI 11742318

We have been waiting for this solution to this recall and it’s made my family nervous to have vehicles that can catch fire at any point Our mental health has suffered

NHTSA ODI 11741992

On May 15, 2006 I was turning slowly into a parking space perhaps 3 to 5 miles an hour. My vehicle suddenly surged forwarded and accelerated on its own. I hit a wall. No warning lights appeared. No crash warning or any beeping of any sort. My car had a recall for the fuel injector. In October 2025 Ford sent out someone to adjust the software at my home. I do not believe a tube was ever inserted. Witnesses reported I was going slow and the car accelerated. I eat at the location almost every day so they watch for my car and whether there were 1 or 2 people. So it is not just a random witness. I do not know what parts are involved other than to say there was an un commanded acceleration and engine surge.

NHTSA ODI 11741370

I was driving on the highway and my car started making a lot of noise. I got a notice “The Engine system has detected a fault.” Then another notification saying 4 wheel drive was disabled and then my car stopped running, leaving me stranded in the middle of the highway. My car would start, but it would not go into any gear. When I tried putting it in gear, I got a notification that said “Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Speed Your Malfunction warning is on because your vehicle’s transmission cannot be shifted or moved out of park.” I had to wait in the middle of the highway for approximately 30-45 minutes for a tow truck to come, and the whole time, there were cars traveling 80 mph swerving to miss me. I was sincerely afraid for my life.

NHTSA ODI 11735518

There have been multiple occasions where I have started or shut down my 2023 Bronco Heritage Sport Limited and (for no reason I can explain) the speakers started making this extremely loud digital feedback noise, sometimes including the subwoofer. It's hard to stay in the car for too long with this noise going on at an extremely loud decibel. This vehicle has the B&O sound system. I tried a number of things but only after letting the car completely shut down for a few minutes did it eventually stop (There seems to be no volume control when this happens). Thankfully this happened during start up or shut down and not while I was driving, but I'm a little worried about that happening now since I don't know what caused it to happen.

NHTSA ODI 11718510

Dear Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, I am submitting this letter in support of a Texas Lemon Law complaint regarding my vehicle, which has experienced repeated mechanical failures that substantially impair its use, value, and safety. The vehicle has been subject to multiple manufacturer recalls and remains in the repair shop at this time. It is available for inspection upon request. The vehicle has exhibited a persistent knocking sound from the engine or drivetrain area, intermittent loss of power, and a brake system defect in which the brakes stick unexpectedly. These conditions have continued despite multiple repair attempts by an authorized dealership, including repairs related to manufacturer recalls. These defects constitute a serious safety concern. The loss of power occurred while driving and created a hazardous situation by preventing the vehicle from accelerating as expected in traffic. The brake sticking condition impaired my ability to maintain safe control of the vehicle and increased the risk of sudden or unintended braking, endangering myself, passengers, and other motorists. The issues have been reproduced and acknowledged by the dealership, as demonstrated by repeated service visits. The vehicle has been inspected and repaired by the manufacturer’s authorized service center on multiple occasions. No inspections have been conducted by law enforcement or insurance representatives. Prior to and following recall repairs, the vehicle continued to exhibit symptoms including the knocking noise and intermittent power loss. Any warning lamps or dashboard messages are UNKNOWN. Because these defects remain unresolved after a reasonable number of repair attempts and involve safety-related systems, I believe this vehicle meets the criteria for review under the Texas Lemon Law. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11712733

I went to start my 2023 Ford Bronco badlands edition. Upon ignition a loud bang comes from the speakers. It sounded like a gun went off inside the vehicle. My ears were ringing. Then a loud crackling sound could be heard continuously without going away. I tried to shut off the volume, but the knob didn’t work. I shut down the vehicle and the sound of the crackling still persisted.

NHTSA ODI 11705101

The transmission and/or shift-by-wire control system appears to have failed. While the vehicle was in motion, the system engaged “Park” and remained stuck in this position. The vehicle immediately became immobilized and could not be shifted out of Park. The vehicle remained locked in Park for 3 weeks. The failure occurred without prior warning and eliminated essential vehicle control functions. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? I could not cross the border in a tow truck with a stranger- so I had it repaired in Tijuana at a Ford Service Center. The vehicle was towed to an authorized Ford service facility (Ford Surman BC – Tijuana, Baja California), where technicians confirmed a defect-related failure and performed warranty repairs to restore functionality. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? Yes. An authorized Ford dealer inspected the vehicle and conducted the warranty repair. The manufacturer has been notified of the incident. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning indicators were displayed before the incident. After the uncommanded shift into Park and immobilization, the instrument cluster displayed multiple error messages including “Park Brake Fault – Service Now” and “Pre-Collision Assist Not Available.” Additional context: The vehicle had been serviced at an authorized Ford dealership in the United States less than one month prior to the incident and had fewer than 13,000 miles Vehicle broke down at night with my children in the vehicle. I incurred costs from tow trucks and rentals to get to work the following week. Now with this new Recall and no possible repair for it, this vehicle is extremely unsafe, I have been in communication with Ford and they claim they are going to do nothing about. Please help.

NHTSA ODI 11690184

On August 16, 2025 while accelerating on an on ramp to the PA turnpike my vehicle stopped acceleration which nearly caused an accident as I was trying to merge on turnpike and my vehicle stopped. A few days before my screen went black. I have had issues with this vehichle for the back up camera and the collision warning coming on when there was nothing near the vehicle (this was corrected by the dealership). I took my vehicle to the dealership on 8/25/25 concerning the black screen and loss of acceleration and was told no error code came up on the event.

NHTSA ODI 11683608

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the TPMS warning light illuminated. The contact stated that after driving for a while, the TPMS warning light turned off independently. Additionally, while the vehicle was parked and running, the horn started honking unintendedly and failed to turn off. The vehicle was driven for a while, and the horn became disabled and was inoperable. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic; however, it was not officially diagnosed. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by the independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was informed that there were no active recalls on the VIN for the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.

NHTSA ODI 11681265

Recall Action Soon Issue Since 07-18-2025 Fuel injector replacement For More Information Telematics Generated Issue Recall Action Soon Issue Since 03-14-2025 Drivers side seat buckle replacement

NHTSA ODI 11674865

The contact owns a 2023 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 contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the speedometer, TPMS, and back over prevention system malfunctioned, and the warning lights illuminated while activated on the infotainment center. The contact stated that the failures were intermittent but became constant failures. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and undisclosed repairs were performed on the sensors. The vehicle had been repaired twice. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The failure mileage was approximately 31,500. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11674476

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the contact was informed that the cold cranking amp battery installed during the vehicle assembly was incorrect and informed the contact that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V158000 (POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 43,000.

NHTSA ODI 11670167

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated while driving approximately 5 MPH, the vehicle stalled in the middle of a busy intersection. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. Additionally, while at a stop light with the Automatic Shut Off feature activated, the vehicle drove forward after releasing the brake pedal but immediately shut off. The vehicle was taken to several local dealers who were unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 34,000.

NHTSA ODI 11653929

As soon vehicle is turned off a message is displayed System off to save battery And I will not be able to use any of the telematics, specifically if I try to start the vehicle from the app

NHTSA ODI 11640797

Multiple intermittent occurrences of the following- Transmission: Shifts very rough 30-50mph. Excessively noisy. Far worse when weather is cold. Does not respond sometimes when pressing the accelerator. Feels as if the pedal is pushed and the car does nothing. Pulling back your foot and pressing again it goes. Noticed this trying to merge into traffic from a stop, pressing pedal to pass slower traffic at highway speeds. Have had two different Ford dealers look at the problem, neither has been able to diagnose an issue. Have an appointment with Ford dealer to evaluate again (third time) 2nd week of February due to dealer service dept schedule. Have been told to expect to leave the vehicle with them for 3-5 days for diagnosis. Have offered to take service mgr on test drive to show issue but not able to link schedules yet. Dealers have stated they cannot find an issue and have updated transmission software. Does not fix the issue. Electrical/body: Numerous problems with the following: Plugged in phone drops Apple CarPlay regularly or does not always recognize phone. (latest OS from Apple on both devices). Convenience features like seat memory, keyless entry (touch the door handle with key on you, door unlocks) intermittently not working. Rear hatch keyless entry has not worked in almost a year. Stereo system doesn't always display proper data in cluster, on radio screen. Does not always respond to steering wheel channel change button. Ford has updated software multiple times and above (except rear hatch) will work for a while then problems will start back up again. Vehicle has almost 30K miles and was purchased brand new in July 2023. Factory warranty expires at 36K and I do not want to be stuck with an extremely expensive repair if the transmission does go up after the warranty expires.

NHTSA ODI 11638089

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH and attempting to overtake the vehicle ahead, the message "Charging System Needs Service" was displayed. The contact stated that during the first failure, the "Charging System Needs Service" and "Shut the Vehicle Off" messages were displayed. The contact stated while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond, and lost automotive power. The vehicle was not taken to an independent mechanic or dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and transferred the contact to NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 21,000.

NHTSA ODI 11635337

I had the recall done that was suppose to fix the battery signaling the vehicle to shut off, but after I had it done I still got the message to either turn off the accessory power or to restart the engine.

NHTSA ODI 11627837

The dashboard and screen when black while I was driving down the highway. I was unable yo see my speed. I found a safe spot to pull the car over to see what was going on and the car would not start again. After jumping the car it still would not start then it had to be towed to ford where they still can’t figure out was wrong.

NHTSA ODI 11626688

In September my dad was driving my car in eco mode and the wrench light came on. I got an alert in my ford app that there was a transmission problem and lack of power issue. My dad and husband were in CO at the time with my car. They took it to a dealership and the light had gone off they said it was pulling turbo codes. They drove it back to AR and I took it in the shop and they said nothing was wrong and couldn’t find an issue. I did have the recall for loss of power fixed in May. When the light came on in the car in September there was a noticeable loss of power. I requested the redo the recall but they declined. I have not had a light come back on since then.

NHTSA ODI 11626067

I was able to start my vehicle in my driveway, without the key. Unknown to me at the time, the key was in fact in my house, in my bedroom, not in my purse, or on my body. But I was able to drive 15 miles without that key. Fortunately the automatic start/stop was engaged, if it hadn't been I could've been stranded at an intersection or worse, had an accident stalled at an intersection. Once the car was turned off it would not restart, it said "no key detected". I was left stranded in someone's driveway until my son drove to my home to retrieve the key. This should never happen, the car should never have been able to start with the key inside my house.

NHTSA ODI 11621848

The alarm was going off when I opened the lift gate to put bags in. The alarm would not turn off so I opened driver’s door and stepped on brake and started the car. Alarm went off but car suddenly went into reverse and catapulted me out of the car. Driver four was open and I got pinned under the care while it continued to Move in reverse. The vehicle ran over my left lower leg both knees and R thigh. It kept moving about 35-40’ in reverse. My brother was there and he tried to stop the care but was also knocked down by driver four and his R foot was run over.

NHTSA ODI 11618629

The display for all the support systems does not boot up properly. This means I cannot access any of the advanced systems, the radio, or any of the other related systems. This is the display in the center console/dashboard. It is not know if other systems are impacted without this display because you cannot see any of the system messages that normally appear on the screen. The camera stays on because the computer does not override.

NHTSA ODI 11614639

Bought this car new only 10 months ago, and have had to take it in constantly. 1. Within a few weeks after purchase, the bolts came flying off the wheels while driving on the freeway causing the wheels to nearly fly off! 2. Multiple recalls for the computer system, took it in at least 3 different times, screen was blacking out and electronics went down. 3. Tail lights went completely out. 4. 3 weeks ago while driving, the Bronco completely died in the middle of a heavy traffic intersection. All doors locked me in, had to manually push vehicle to the side and call for a tow. Towed it to Ford dealer, they said the fuel system went out, they’ve had it for 3 weeks and still don’t know what’s wrong with it!! I went to see the Gen Mgr, 2 employees there said I bought a lemon. GM said if I have a lemon then the whole fleets are lemons. This is a $43,000 car and I should not be having issue upon issue continually. I want them to replace my vehicle or give me a full refund! Very dangerous to drive a car that has severe safety issues!

NHTSA ODI 11613304

Radio screen goes black often sometimes going black and the radio still plays. Sometimes the screen goes completely out or is stuck on one screen and it will not reset even after turning car off and back on again

NHTSA ODI 11608181