FORD BRONCO · model year

2021 FORD BRONCO

266 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash reports, and 17 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2021FORDBRONCO carries 266 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 8 crashes, 2 fires, 11 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall Not Rated/5 rating, with Not Rated/5 front crash, Not Rated/5 side crash, and 3/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2021 BRONCO is engine with 67 filings, followed by electrical system (23) and unknown or other (22). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 17 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 4 investigation files overlapping the 2021 BRONCO. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

266
Complaints
8
Crashes
2
Fires
11
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

266 filings

Crashes Reported

8 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

NHTSA NCAP overall: Not Rated/5 — Not rated · Front: Not Rated/5 · Side: Not Rated/5 · Rollover: 3/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE67
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM23
UNKNOWN OR OTHER22
SUSPENSION21
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM16
VISIBILITY/WIPER14
SERVICE BRAKES14
BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING10
LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION9
BACK OVER PREVENTION8
AIR BAGS6
STRUCTURE:BODY5
POWER TRAIN5
STRUCTURE5
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE5

Recalls (17)

23V59800025/08/2023

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Lincoln Aviator, 2018-2021 Lincoln Navigator, 2022-2023 Ford Transit, and 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles. The rearview camera, or 360-degree view camera if equipped, may not display a rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse.

25V72100023/10/2025

SEATS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco vehicles. The front seats may have a loose or dislodged seat frame height-adjust pivot bolt.

24V63500023/08/2024

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco, F-150, Edge, Explorer, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with either a 2.7L or 3.0L Nano EcoBoost engine. The engine intake valves may break while driving, which can result in engine failure and a loss of drive p

25V88800018/12/2025

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco vehicles equipped with 8-inch SYNC infotainment screens that were previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 23V165. The rearview camera image may still be displayed after a backing event has ended. As such, these vehicles fai

23V35800018/05/2023

SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco vehicles built with the 5-Door body style. The first-row seat belt latch plates may be difficult to access from their stowed position. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standa

25V02500017/01/2025

SUSPENSION:REAR:SHOCK ABSORBER

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco vehicles. The rear shock absorbers may corrode and fail, resulting in detachment of the external reservoir.

21V98200016/12/2021

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: SENSING SYSTEM: RADAR

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Ranger and Bronco vehicles. The cruise control radar module was misaligned during production.

22V92800014/12/2022

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:SIDE IMPACT

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco vehicles. The right or left side impact sensors may not be properly secured to the vehicle.

25V31500014/05/2025

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco, F-150, 2021-2024 Edge, 2022-2025 Escape, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, 2022-2024 Expedition, 2022-2025 Transit, 2021-2023 Mach-E, 2024 Ranger, Mustang, 2021-2023 Lincoln Nautilus, 2022-2024 Navigator, and 2023-2024 Corsair vehicle

25V68500010/10/2025

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it t

22V41100010/06/2022

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LOCK

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain four-door 2021-2022 Bronco vehicles. The passenger-side rear door may be opened from inside of the vehicle when the child safety lock is in the "ON" position.

23V16500010/03/2023

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco vehicles equipped with 8-inch SYNC infotainment screens that were previously remedied under recall 22V-825. The rearview camera image may still be displayed after a backing event has ended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with

25V31200009/05/2025

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco vehicles equipped with 8-inch SYNC infotainment screens that were repaired incorrectly under recall 22V-825. The rearview camera image may still be displayed after a backing event has ended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with

25V45500007/07/2025

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, 2021-2022 Lincoln Navigator, Mustang, F-150, and 2022 Expedition vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving.

22V82500003/11/2022

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco vehicles equipped with rearview camera systems and 8-inch screen displays. The rearview camera image may still be displayed after a backing event has ended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor

26V12400003/03/2026

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Ford Bronco and 2021-2024 Ford Edge vehicles. The Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) may overheat and shutdown, which can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended.

21V77000001/10/2021

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Bronco vehicles. During passenger air bag deployment, an air bag vent could open prematurely and result in an improper deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "

Recent Complaints

20260218ENGINE

A Safety Recall was issued on the vehicle with no remedy. The recall was in reference to the Engine Intake Valves and stated; "The engine intake valves may crack and break, which could result in loss of motive power and increase the risk of a crash". It also stated, " Prior to losing motive power, an engine malfunction indicator lamp may illuminate in the cluster and the driver may notice that the vehicle is running rough". This issue was the result of Ford manufacturing using a material that had "hardness issues". This all came out prior to the vehicle reaching the end of its warranty mileage. A test was required on the engine at the dealership at which time, the technician determined there was no need to perform the "recall test" (confirmed by video sent to us). On or around Dec. 17th, while my wife was driving the vehicle and entering a gas station, the check engine light came on, and the vehicle began losing power. She parked and immediately contacted the Ford dealership. Th

20260205LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

The wiring harness is rubbing against the bumper, causing it to wear and eventually cut through. This causes an error to my BSM/Cross Traffic alert. I have an extended warranty, but it doesn't cover it. This is a problem I have seen on the Bronco6G forums.

20260205BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING

The wiring harness is rubbing against the bumper, causing it to wear and eventually cut through. This causes an error to my BSM/Cross Traffic alert. I have an extended warranty, but it doesn't cover it. This is a problem I have seen on the Bronco6G forums.

20260201FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Component or system that failed or malfunctioned: The fuel delivery system, specifically the fuel pump, which is subject to an active safety recall. The recall states that fuel pump failure can result in loss of fuel pressure and flow, leading to engine stall. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. How safety was put at risk: A sudden engine stall while driving would result in an immediate loss of propulsion and power, creating a significant risk of collision, particularly at highway speeds or in traffic. This creates a dangerous situation for the driver, passengers, and surrounding vehicles due to the inability to accelerate or maintain speed. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or service center: The defect has been confirmed by the manufacturer through an official safety recall. At this time, there is no repair remedy available. The vehicle has not yet been repaired due to lack of an available fix. Has the vehicle or component been inspected: T

20260201ENGINE

Component or system that failed or malfunctioned: The fuel delivery system, specifically the fuel pump, which is subject to an active safety recall. The recall states that fuel pump failure can result in loss of fuel pressure and flow, leading to engine stall. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. How safety was put at risk: A sudden engine stall while driving would result in an immediate loss of propulsion and power, creating a significant risk of collision, particularly at highway speeds or in traffic. This creates a dangerous situation for the driver, passengers, and surrounding vehicles due to the inability to accelerate or maintain speed. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or service center: The defect has been confirmed by the manufacturer through an official safety recall. At this time, there is no repair remedy available. The vehicle has not yet been repaired due to lack of an available fix. Has the vehicle or component been inspected: T

20260201POWER TRAIN

Component or system that failed or malfunctioned: The fuel delivery system, specifically the fuel pump, which is subject to an active safety recall. The recall states that fuel pump failure can result in loss of fuel pressure and flow, leading to engine stall. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. How safety was put at risk: A sudden engine stall while driving would result in an immediate loss of propulsion and power, creating a significant risk of collision, particularly at highway speeds or in traffic. This creates a dangerous situation for the driver, passengers, and surrounding vehicles due to the inability to accelerate or maintain speed. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or service center: The defect has been confirmed by the manufacturer through an official safety recall. At this time, there is no repair remedy available. The vehicle has not yet been repaired due to lack of an available fix. Has the vehicle or component been inspected: T

20260122ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the parking assist fault warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed wiring harness. The contact was informed that a wire from the wiring harness was burned. In addition, the contact was informed that if the wire continued burning it might start a fire. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The claim for the repair was denied. The failure mileage was approximately 28,000.

Mileage: 28,000

20260121ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

I received an alert on the dash stating there was an issue with the blind spot monitoring/rear cross traffic system. It was erroring off and on for that entire drive. When I got home, I googled the issue and it appears it's a known issue with '21 and some early '22 broncos where they factory installed the blind spot module wiring harness too close to the rear bumper. Over time, the wires rub and eventually rub bare and corrode or short out. I went out to take a look and sure enough, I had rubbed through on the driver side (photo) and the passenger side was nearly rubbed through. I have an extended warranty and it's at the dealership today. This is a manufacturing defect and should be covered (even if out of warranty) in my opinion. We will see what kind of story the dealer can come up with to wiggle out of it being covered under warranty.

20260121BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING

I received an alert on the dash stating there was an issue with the blind spot monitoring/rear cross traffic system. It was erroring off and on for that entire drive. When I got home, I googled the issue and it appears it's a known issue with '21 and some early '22 broncos where they factory installed the blind spot module wiring harness too close to the rear bumper. Over time, the wires rub and eventually rub bare and corrode or short out. I went out to take a look and sure enough, I had rubbed through on the driver side (photo) and the passenger side was nearly rubbed through. I have an extended warranty and it's at the dealership today. This is a manufacturing defect and should be covered (even if out of warranty) in my opinion. We will see what kind of story the dealer can come up with to wiggle out of it being covered under warranty.

20260121LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

I received an alert on the dash stating there was an issue with the blind spot monitoring/rear cross traffic system. It was erroring off and on for that entire drive. When I got home, I googled the issue and it appears it's a known issue with '21 and some early '22 broncos where they factory installed the blind spot module wiring harness too close to the rear bumper. Over time, the wires rub and eventually rub bare and corrode or short out. I went out to take a look and sure enough, I had rubbed through on the driver side (photo) and the passenger side was nearly rubbed through. I have an extended warranty and it's at the dealership today. This is a manufacturing defect and should be covered (even if out of warranty) in my opinion. We will see what kind of story the dealer can come up with to wiggle out of it being covered under warranty.

20260121FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL

While driving I lost most/all ADAS system. I received several alerts that kept repopulating. No Cross Traffic working No Blind Sport working No Cruise Control No Forward Collision working No Lane Departure working I took the rear assembly by the taillight and rear bumper. The wires and electrical components are corroded. Koons Ford Annapolis Maryland is requiring $1520 parts and labor.. This is a major safety problem as it was not designed correctly. Many Bronco Owners are going through this..

20260121LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

While driving I lost most/all ADAS system. I received several alerts that kept repopulating. No Cross Traffic working No Blind Sport working No Cruise Control No Forward Collision working No Lane Departure working I took the rear assembly by the taillight and rear bumper. The wires and electrical components are corroded. Koons Ford Annapolis Maryland is requiring $1520 parts and labor.. This is a major safety problem as it was not designed correctly. Many Bronco Owners are going through this..

20260121BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING

While driving I lost most/all ADAS system. I received several alerts that kept repopulating. No Cross Traffic working No Blind Sport working No Cruise Control No Forward Collision working No Lane Departure working I took the rear assembly by the taillight and rear bumper. The wires and electrical components are corroded. Koons Ford Annapolis Maryland is requiring $1520 parts and labor.. This is a major safety problem as it was not designed correctly. Many Bronco Owners are going through this..

20260117ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Bronco wire corrosion cross traffic refers to a known issue where wiring under the rear bumper, often for the blind spot/cross-traffic sensors, chafes, frays, and corrodes, causing system faults and failures, sometimes due to design flaws or environmental exposure to salt, requiring inspection and repair of the harness. This problem triggers error messages like "Cross Traffic System/Blind Spot System Fault" in the instrument cluster, impacting safety features, with potential fixes involving harness repair, protective sheathing, or sensor replacement. My car’s wiring was corroded due to this flaw and required a repair exceeding $1,000.

20260117BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING

Bronco wire corrosion cross traffic refers to a known issue where wiring under the rear bumper, often for the blind spot/cross-traffic sensors, chafes, frays, and corrodes, causing system faults and failures, sometimes due to design flaws or environmental exposure to salt, requiring inspection and repair of the harness. This problem triggers error messages like "Cross Traffic System/Blind Spot System Fault" in the instrument cluster, impacting safety features, with potential fixes involving harness repair, protective sheathing, or sensor replacement. My car’s wiring was corroded due to this flaw and required a repair exceeding $1,000.

20251230SERVICE BRAKES

Brake Light issue: Red Brake Light appears when driving over 40 MPH. To fix issue Tube Vacuum had to be replaced. Part# MB3Z 2420 This seems to be an on going issue with 2021 Broncos.

20251226UNKNOWN OR OTHER

A serious safety recall advised in July of 2025 still has not been fixed.

20251223SUSPENSION

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V025000 (Suspension); 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 while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was bouncing. Additionally, the rear-end swayed while driving over a bump. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

Mileage: 40,000

20251222ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Location of wiring from the factory for Blind Spot Warning and Cross Traffic Alert systems is not protected. The wiring has frayed and broken due to the wiring being unprotected, loose and rubbing on the rear bumper, causing the systems to not function. This is a blatant design defect from the factory, causing two safety systems to fail. Reporting now as, to the best of my knowledge, the manufacturer has not issued a TSB or recall and dealerships have acknowledged the issue.

20251222LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION

Location of wiring from the factory for Blind Spot Warning and Cross Traffic Alert systems is not protected. The wiring has frayed and broken due to the wiring being unprotected, loose and rubbing on the rear bumper, causing the systems to not function. This is a blatant design defect from the factory, causing two safety systems to fail. Reporting now as, to the best of my knowledge, the manufacturer has not issued a TSB or recall and dealerships have acknowledged the issue.

Compare 2021FORDBRONCO to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2021 FORD BRONCO have?
The 2021 FORD BRONCO has 266 NHTSA complaints, 8 crashes, 2 fires, 11 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2021 FORD BRONCO?
The 2021 FORD BRONCO received an overall NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5, front crash rating of Not Rated/5, side crash rating of Not Rated/5, and rollover rating of 3/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2021 FORD BRONCO?
Yes, the 2021 FORD BRONCO has 17 recall(s). The most common affected component is BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 FORD BRONCO?
The most-complained component for the 2021 FORD BRONCO is ENGINE with 67 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Is the 2021 FORD BRONCO safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2021 FORD BRONCO has an NHTSA safety rating of Not Rated/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.