2021 Ford BRONCO problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
225 owner complaints analyzed
20 distinct recall campaigns
25,250 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: . 40 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 68 of 225 complaints (30.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 27 | 12.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 26 | 11.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 17 | 7.6% |
| Engine operation | 15 | 6.7% |
| Steering behavior | 9 | 4.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 5 | 2.2% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 68 |
| Unknown Or Other | 28 |
| Electrical System | 27 |
| Suspension | 23 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 21 |
| Service Brakes | 19 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 14 |
| Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking | 11 |
Engine: 68; Unknown Or Other: 28; Electrical System: 27; Suspension: 23; Fuel/Propulsion System: 21; Service Brakes: 19; Visibility/Wiper: 14; Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking: 11
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 19 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 5 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 5; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 185 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 7 |
| 2022 | 77 |
| 2023 | 27 |
| 2024 | 22 |
| 2025 | 60 |
| 2026 | 32 |
2021: 7; 2022: 77; 2023: 27; 2024: 22; 2025: 60; 2026: 32
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 27 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 26 complaint narratives. Fuel system concerns appears in 17 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11453655 · 2022-02-23 (February 23, 2022)
The 21 Bronco is sold and marketed as being set up and safe to flat tow recreationally. The problem is with the 2.7l engine which has an Electric Brake Booster. After 45 mins the Battery Management system turns the Electric Brake Booster off. Thus the brakes are not powered and the required by law, brake system (3rd party) can not apply enough pressure. This is a SERIOUS design flaw. I have reached out to FORD, they denied that there is a global problem and asked me to contact my dealer. The dealer search TSB's and other systems and saw …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11453655 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11453673 · 2022-02-23 (February 23, 2022)
Flat Towing my 2021 Ford Bronco with 2.7 V6 engine. After connecting my Bronco to the motorhome and putting it in the tow mode the following will occur. About 45 mins after turning the ignition off and closing the doors the EBB (Electronic Brake Boost) in the Bronco shuts down leaving the Bronco without any brake boost and leaves the supplemental brake system ineffective. When first connecting the Bronco to the motorhome the brake boost is active and the supplemental bakes system must be set to match, or it will lock up the brakes on the Bro…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11453673 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11450871 · 2022-02-07 (February 7, 2022)
On November 14th, 2021, the 2.7 ecoboost engine on my 2021 Bronco, with 2744 miles, shut off without warning. I was traveling on the interstate, going approximately 75 mph, with my girlfriend and elderly mother as passengers. The Bronco lost all acceleration and the "service engine" light came on. Fortunately, I was able to coast to the nearest exit ramp. After bringing the vehicle to a stop, I attempted to restart the Bronco to no avail. The starter would engage, but the engine would not fire back up. I unhooked the battery cable in an attempt…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11450871 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11451437 · 2022-02-10 (February 10, 2022)
The Wiper Motor or electrical controlling the Wiper Motor. When the two high wiper blade settings are selected, the wipers run for around 30-40 seconds, then slow down and eventually stop. You can watch it happen. This has happened while having snow and rain on my windshield. In order to get them to start going again full speed you need to turn the switch. I feel this takes my focus off of the road during unfriendly road conditions and puts me and others at risk. The condition has been reproduced by my dealership and I have had my truck to the …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11451437 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11470405 · 2022-06-22 (June 22, 2022)
On June 9, 2022, while traveling on an Interstate Highway at about 80 mph, the engine sputtered and died without any warning light activation. The vehicle failure caused an extremely unsafe condition which caused me to navigate without power, in moderate traffic, from the #1 lane, across the #2 lane and onto the shoulder. The failure caused me to perform this high risk maneuver in front of an approaching big rig traveling in the #2 lane. The vehicle was towed to the nearest Ford dealership where an inspection determined the fuel pump had fai…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11470405 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11531708 · 2023-07-11 (July 11, 2023)
While sitting in the Bronco talking on the phone in a parking lot, it shuddered and then stopped. It could not be restarted. Had to have it towed to the dealership. Current diagnosis is that there is a faulty fuel pump.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11531708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11448171 · 2022-01-20 (January 20, 2022)
The 2.7 L engine failed going down the interstate in the middle lane. Complete loss of power. Was fortunate to be able to coast to the shoulder. Dealer says the engine failed and needs to be replaced.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11448171 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11468924 · 2022-06-13 (June 13, 2022)
About 1 hour into our trip the vehicle started to shutter while at highway speed, no warning lamps or notices were indicated when the shutter started and I assumed it was a road vibration. We came to a stop sign about 2-3 miles after the shutter was noticed and the vehicle stalled at the intersection and would not restart. At that point the check engine light, in dash notifications and Fordpass app notices indicated a serious mechanical malfunction. The vehicle needed to be put in neutral and pushed to the side of the road by me and my son t…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11468924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11463296 · 2022-05-03 (May 3, 2022)
On Monday, March 7, 2021, my Ford Bronco First Edition with the 2.7 engine experienced catastrophic engine failure. I was driving near my home when my vehicle stopped running. I did feel a strange pull in my steering and tires; but I was also driving on ice and assumed it was the traction control system at play. I was wrong. It was my engine losing compression and my engine failing. My dash lit up with a series of errors (all in quick succession and could not catch them all) and my vehicle lost all power and control. As mentioned above, …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11463296 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11474809 · 2022-07-19 (July 19, 2022)
Within days of buying this 2021 Bronco in April 2022, the power steering and drive modes (e.g., Eco, Sport) stopped working and we got the following error message: [See Steering Assist Fault - Service Required] We called the dealership in Georgia, which is far from our home, and they advised us to take it to one closer to us; the problem would be covered under warranty. We made the first available appointment with the dealership in Havana FL and took our vehicle in on July 11th. We showed the photo saying "service required" and explained th…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11474809 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11451158 · 2022-02-09 (February 9, 2022)
Driving in town at a speed of 30 mph (speed limit 35). Engine dropped a valve. Engine was destroyed internally and locked up. I quickly put the transmission in neutral and pulled off to the side of the street. This could have been a bad accident if it had happened on a highway at speeds. Ford has an issue with these engines. They know that there is an issue and they are waiting on them to fail and then fix them. I am a member of a forum (www.bronco6g.com) with a few bronco owners and there are at least 35 engines that have failed. Someone is g…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11451158 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11455572 · 2022-03-07 (March 7, 2022)
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that when shifting into the park, the front camera sensors would activate when there was no object nearby and there would be a chime. The vehicle was driven to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front sensors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200.
Owner-reported narrative. 200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11455572 at NHTSA ↗