Ford Bronco years to avoid (and the best years)
946 NHTSA owner complaints and 47 recalls across 5 model years, 2021 to 2025. Built from NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, generated October 26, 2026.
- 946complaints
- 47recalls
- 27reported crashes
- 13reported fires
- 17reported injuries
- 1reported deaths
Which Ford Bronco years should you avoid?
No Ford Bronco model year stands out from the others in NHTSA owner complaints. The typical Ford Bronco year has 222 complaints on file. The busiest year is the 2022 (375).
What are the best Ford Bronco years?
The Ford Bronco years with the fewest complaints on file are the 2023 (222) and 2021 (225). Model years after 2023 are left out: they have not been on the road long enough to compare.
NHTSA does not publish sales figures, so these are complaint counts, not a rate per car on the road. A year that sold more cars collects more complaints, and older years have had longer to collect them.
Every model year
| Year | Complaints | vs typical year | Recalls | Crashes | Injuries | Our read | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 50 | 0.2× | 19 | 5 | 2 | Some concerns to check | Electrical system |
| 2024 | 74 | 0.3× | 16 | 4 | 1 | Few red flags | Electrical system |
| 2023 | 222 | 1.0× | 18 | 6 | 3 | Few red flags | Wipers and visibility |
| 2022 | 375 | 1.7× | 23 | 6 | 4 | Some concerns to check | Wipers and visibility |
| 2021 | 225 | 1.0× | 20 | 6 | 7 | Few red flags | Engine |
Most reported problem areas
Share of the 946 complaints sorted by system, all years together.
- Engine & powertrain264 (28%)
- Structure & body234 (25%)
- Electrical & infotainment178 (19%)
- Brakes92 (10%)
- Steering, suspension & tires92 (10%)
Recalls (47)
Safety · 26V468000 · Jul 2026 · model years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
A short circuit in the engine compartment can create heat or spark, increasing the risk of a fire.
Structure · 26V403000 · Jun 2026 · model years 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
A detached fender flare can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
Engine · 26V343000 · May 2026 · model year 2025
A sudden loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Structure · 26V299000 · May 2026 · model years 2021, 2022
A detached section of roof can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 26V268000 · Apr 2026 · model years 2024, 2025
A seat with a dislodged bolt may not properly restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Transmission · 26V236000 · Apr 2026 · model years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
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.
Safety · 26V124000 · Mar 2026 · model years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Engine · 26V122000 · Mar 2026 · model year 2025
An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Safety · 25V888000 · Dec 2025 · model years 2021, 2022
A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Brakes · 25V823000 · Dec 2025 · model year 2025
An unexpected loss of power brake assist while driving can extend stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, a loss of power brake assist while ADAS features are engaged can result in the vehicle not braking as expected, increasing the risk of a crash.
Electrical system · 25V788000 · Nov 2025 · model year 2025
An instrument panel display that does not show critical information, such as warning lights or vehicle speed, increases the risk of a crash.
Safety · 25V721000 · Oct 2025 · model years 2021, 2022, 2023
A seat with a dislodged bolt may not properly restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Safety · 25V685000 · Oct 2025 · model years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Body & glass · 25V683000 · Oct 2025 · model year 2025
In the event of a crash, windshield detachment can increase the risk of injury.
Fuel system · 25V597000 · Sep 2025 · model year 2024
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Brakes · 25V488000 · Jul 2025 · model year 2025
An unexpected loss of power brake assist while driving can extend stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, a loss of power brake assist while ADAS features are engaged can result in the vehicle not braking as expected, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fuel system · 25V455000 · Jul 2025 · model years 2021, 2022, 2023
An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Safety · 25V397000 · Jun 2025 · model year 2025
A malfunctioning child safety lock that allows a rear door to be opened unintentionally can increase the risk of injury.
Airbags · 25V396000 · Jun 2025 · model year 2025
An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Safety · 25V273000 · May 2025 · model years 2022, 2023
Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 25V315000 · May 2025 · model years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 25V312000 · May 2025 · model years 2021, 2022
A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Suspension · 25V308000 · May 2025 · model years 2024, 2025
A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle steering and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 25V303000 · May 2025 · model year 2024
A malfunctioning child safety lock that allows a rear door to be opened unintentionally can increase the risk of injury.
Suspension · 25V310000 · May 2025 · model years 2024, 2025
A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle steering and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 25V311000 · May 2025 · model year 2025
A seat with loose or missing fasteners may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Suspension · 25V260000 · Apr 2025 · model year 2025
A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle steering and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 25V164000 · Mar 2025 · model years 2024, 2025
Unexpected vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
Suspension · 25V025000 · Jan 2025 · model years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
An external reservoir that detaches from a vehicle can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Suspension · 24V770000 · Oct 2024 · model years 2024, 2025
A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle steering and control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Engine · 24V635000 · Aug 2024 · model years 2021, 2022
A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Safety · 24V189000 · Mar 2024 · model years 2023, 2024
A malfunctioning child safety lock that allows a rear door to be opened unintentionally can increase the risk of injury.
Body & glass · 24V142000 · Feb 2024 · model years 2023, 2024
Detached rear glass panels may create a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
Safety · 23V598000 · Aug 2023 · model year 2021
Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 23V546000 · Aug 2023 · model year 2023
A vehicle rollaway can increase the risk of a crash.
Safety · 23V379000 · May 2023 · model years 2022, 2023
An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
Seat belts · 23V358000 · May 2023 · model years 2021, 2022, 2023
Difficulty accessing the seat belt latches may result in occupants not wearing their seat belts, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Safety · 23V283000 · Apr 2023 · model year 2023
Loose lug nuts may result in wheel detachment while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Safety · 23V165000 · Mar 2023 · model years 2021, 2022
A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Steering · 23V155000 · Mar 2023 · model years 2022, 2023
A steering wheel that locks-up can result in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Transmission · 23V070000 · Feb 2023 · model years 2022, 2023
The inability to secure the vehicle in the park position can result in a rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Airbags · 22V928000 · Dec 2022 · model years 2021, 2022
An improperly secured side impact sensor may cause the air bags to unintentionally deploy, or not to deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Safety · 22V825000 · Nov 2022 · model years 2021, 2022
A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
Body & glass · 22V451000 · Jun 2022 · model year 2022
A windshield that separates from a vehicle during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Safety · 22V411000 · Jun 2022 · model years 2021, 2022
A malfunctioning child safety lock increases the risk of injury to a child occupant.
Safety · 21V982000 · Dec 2021 · model year 2021
A misaligned radar module may prevent the vehicle from maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles when adaptive cruise control is active. In addition, the automatic emergency braking (AEB) system may react slowly, or not react at all, during a pre-collision assist braking event. Any of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Airbags · 21V770000 · Oct 2021 · model year 2021
Improper air bag deployment increases the risk of injury during a crash.