U.S. public vehicle records

2021 Ford BRONCO SPORT: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

684 owner complaints analyzed

16 distinct recall campaigns

39,500 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2021 model year. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 194 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 199 of 684 complaints (29.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Electrical and battery issues	155	22.7%
Braking behavior	140	20.5%
Transmission and shifting	95	13.9%
Engine operation	65	9.5%
Fuel system concerns	31	4.5%
Steering behavior	24	3.5%

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.

Electrical System

199

Power Train

171

Engine

144

Service Brakes

101

Unknown Or Other

Fuel/Propulsion System

Fuel System, Gasoline

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Electrical System: 199; Power Train: 171; Engine: 144; Service Brakes: 101; Unknown Or Other: 96; Fuel/Propulsion System: 59; Fuel System, Gasoline: 53; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 25

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 63; 25,000 to 49,999: 57; 50,000 to 74,999: 38; 75,000 to 99,999: 24; 100,000 to 149,999: 12; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (63). 490 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.

2021

2022

2023

120

2024

168

2025

193

2026

2021: 30; 2022: 78; 2023: 120; 2024: 168; 2025: 193; 2026: 95

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 155 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 140 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 95 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 11406545 · 2021-04-05 (April 5, 2021)

THE VEHICLE STALLED [HALTED] ON MY DAUGHTER WHILE IN MOTION IN MOVING TRAFFIC. THE VEHICLE BECAME INOPERABLE AND WAS TOWED TO DEPAULA FORD ALBANY NY. THE VEHICLE STALLED AS A RESULT OF A FAULTY FUEL PUMP AND ONLY HAS 1449 MILES. MY DAUGHTER COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED AS A RESULT OF THE VEHICLE DISABLEMENT IN FLOWING TRAFFIC ON A BUSY CITY STREET. FUEL PUMP REPLACEMENTS ARE A "SUBSTANTIAL DEFECT" THAT IMPAIRS THE CAR'S USE, VALUE, AND MOST IMPORTANT SAFETY. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY DEFECT TO THE FUEL AND EMISSION SYSTEM. FUEL PUMP PROBLE…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,449 miles reported. Look up ODI 11406545 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11413103 · 2021-04-20 (April 20, 2021)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 FORD BRONCO SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, SHE HEARD AN ABNORMAL SOUND AND BECAME AWARE THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR WINDOW HAD SHATTERED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND PARKED IN A NEARBY PARKING LOT. THE CONTACT'S GRANDSON WAS SEATED IN THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND HAD SOME SCRATCHES TO HIS LEG BUT DID NOT REQUIRED MEDICAL ASSISTANCE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT CALLED MATT BOWERS FORD (3724 VETERANS MEMORIAL BLVD, METAIRIE, LA 70002, [phone removed]) AND WAS REFERRED TO A GLASS REPAIR FACILI…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11413103 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11413559 · 2021-04-23 (April 23, 2021)

THE PRE COLLISION ASSIST / WARNING IS NOT WORKING AT ALL. SOMEONE WAS CUT INTO MY LANE IN FRONT OF ME AND I WAS ALMOST HIT HIM SO I NEED TO HIT THE BRAKE IN THE LAST SECOND BUT NO WARNING SHOWED UP AT ALL. AFTER THAT I TRIED TO TEST IF THE PRE COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM IS WORKING OR NOT SO I TRIED TO FORCE THEM SUCH AS I DROVE INTO LIKE ALMOST HIT TO ANOTHER OBJECT/ CAR WITHOUT HITTING BRAKE BUT I NEVER GET OR SEE ANY WARNING ON THE SCREEN.I EVEN SETTING THE SENSITIVITY ON HIGH! BUT IT NEVER WORKED AT ALL. I USED TO DROVE THE CAR THAT HAS …

Owner-reported narrative. 90 miles reported. Look up ODI 11413559 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11414295 · 2021-04-28 (April 28, 2021)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 FORD BRONCO SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO STEVEN'S JERSEY CITY FORD (740 NJ-440, JERSEY CITY, NJ 07305) BUT NOT YET DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FRONT AXLE WAS REPAIRED PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT HE WOULD RECEIVE A CALLBACK. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 2,294.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,294 miles reported. Look up ODI 11414295 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11414378 · 2021-04-28 (April 28, 2021)

NOT EVEN 200 MILES, ENGINE BEGAN RATTLING AND STALLING OUT. I WAS STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AT A GREEN LIGHT. DEALERSHIP CLAIMS TORQUE CONVERTER PROBLEM. BRAND NEW BADLANDS PACKAGE. 2 LITER 4CYL ECOBOOST 250HP

Owner-reported narrative. 198 miles reported. Look up ODI 11414378 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11418461 · 2021-05-25 (May 25, 2021)

while driving my shifter was accidentally tapped and went into neutral I went to a parking lot & at a slow speed I could put the car into reverse or park so if you are driving at 65 MPH it can be shifted and will be a safety issue I'm sure

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11418461 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11418683 · 2021-05-26 (May 26, 2021)

Stress fracture in windshield while it was sitting in a parking lot all day. Cameras on premises verified nothing hit the car.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11418683 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11418897 · 2021-05-28 (May 28, 2021)

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated with the accelerator pedal depressed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11418897 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

16 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

21V011000 · Power Train:Driveline:Driveshaft

Reported: 2021-01-15 (January 15, 2021)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Edge, 2020 Lincoln Nautilus and Ford Escape and 2021 Lincoln Corsair and Ford Bronco Sport vehicles. An inadequate amount of lubricant in the rear drive unit may cause seizure of the rear drive axle.

Consequence: If the rear drive unit seizes, there may be a loss of drive and/or a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the rear drive unit lubricant level. Axles found to have lubricant at the minimum level will be filled to the full level. Axles found to be below the minimum lubricant fill level will be replaced, free of charge. This recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S02.