What 89 owners told NHTSA about the 2024 Ford Bronco Sport Early Release

The contact owns a 2024 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked outside, the front windshield cracked. The front windshield had a long horizontal crack. There was no warning light illuminated. Upon inspection, the crack had started from the inside of the windshield. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was inspected. The contact was informed that the windshield had cracked due to stress from sun exposure. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 3,500.

NHTSA ODI 11673709

The vehicle was bought brand new in February of this year, 2025. Was bought and has been driven by my daughter who turned [XXX] this year. She went to camp and the vehicle sat behind the house till she got back. the vehicle and front windshield face west and is exposed to the summer sun from 11:30 till 8pm. When she got back and went to drive the car on [XXX], there was a large stress crack in the middle of the windshield. (will attach pictures if possible with this online form). I had my neighbor check his security camera to see if anyone had vandalized the vehicle or if there had been any large object fall on the vehicle. after reviewing his recorded video, we both saw that no one touched the vehicle and that nothing fell on the windshield during the time it sat. I contacted Ford Motor Co. and they instructed me to take it to the dealership and have them take a look and then submit a claim if they thought it was a stress crack from the sun. I took the vehicle in to the dealership on June 26, 2025 and was told I would hear updates over the next few days. Over a week went by and I had to call the service dept at Wyatt Johnson Ford in Nashville. The Assistant service manager stated that Ford Warranty was denying the claim and stated that something else must have caused the crack. The Assistant Manager told me that the technician had written that they believed it was a stress crack from sun exposure and had submitted photos that backed up that claim. Also, on the work order, the Assistant Manager also wrote that it was a stress crack from sun exposure. There is a deep, horizontal crack in the middle of the windshield that has no origination marks or indentations which one would expect from the way that Ford Motor Warranty is denying the claim. I have asked the Assistant Manager to resubmit the claim and I sent him the photos I had taken as soon as it was first noticed. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11672335

I was driving down the highway, and my moonroof exploded. I thought something had exploded or someone had shot at me. No other cars were around me that could have caused something to pop up and hit the roof. I did take it to the dealership service where photos were taken and submitted for a possible claim on the warranty. I only have about 2000 miles on the vehicle. My first payment isn't even due yet. Ford warranty declined the claim. It looked like it exploded upwards leading me to think this was an installation or material issue. Glass that exploded out flew off the roof of the vehicle scratching it as it dragged along. This could have hit another driver if one had been following behind me. I am currently awaiting a callback from the insurance adjuster.

NHTSA ODI 11660926

The windshield on this vehicle is faulty. On online forms, others have commented on the same thing I am experiencing: the integrity of this windshield is so weak that within a couple months (sometimes just a few days) of having the vehicle, you can get multiple chips or cracks. On my last chip, I was driving on a Michigan highway at least 30 yards from other vehicles when something chipped my windshield. I've had the windshield chip while going 65mph on the high way, and also while my vehicle was at a standstill at a red light and the car in front of me pulled away quickly, kicking up debris. People often comment that they cannot afford to constantly keep up with the unending number of repairs needed to fix the windshield. As a result, they're driving with reduced visibility which impacts all drivers on the road. ADAS is built into the windshield- if cracks/chips occur in this area, the ADAS can become compromised. The windshield also contributes to the strength of the vehicle in rollovers- lack of stuctural integrtiy due to cracks/chips impacts that. Being an SUV that sits higher, the Bronco Sport is more prone to rollovers that lower sitting vehicles. Because the cost of replacing the windshield through Ford is so high (over $1000) many opt not to replace it or use a non OEM, aftermarket windshield which might not work as well with safety systems. This issue has been inspected by a Safelite auto glass technician - he remarked that this is extremely common with the Bronco Sport, this vehicle is one of the most common models he repairs. This component is available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA ODI 11655123