2021 FORD BRONCO SPORT Complaints

Transmission failed - vehicle completely lost power alternating with shuddering and full stopping without braking at slower speeds. Vehicle revved at very high RPMs at low speed, and struggled to shift. Sometimes, when shifted into reverse, vehicle would unexpectedly roll forward almost an entire car length. Transmission fully failed on freeway doing highway speeds of 75+ MPH. Full transmission failure has been confirmed by Ford dealer.

On December 13, 2025, we drove to Flagstaff, Arizona from Tucson, Arizona, where we live. As we came into town, the Bronco began to lurch and seemed to have difficulty shifting. I managed to make it to the Babbitt Ford service center’s parking lot, where it seized and died altogether. It stayed at Babbitt Ford where they worked on it until February 3, 2026. They replaced the transmission at great expense. On Feburary 3, we drove it home to Tucson. The next day, February 4, it died in the road twice, once in a major intersection. The first time it eventually resarted. The second time it died completely and required a special tow truck because we couldn't even get it into neutral to roll. It was towed to Holmes Tuttle Ford where they kept it for a week but were able to eventually restart it. They had it for 5 days, ran a diagnostic and reset the system. They drove it for over 80 miles and couldn’t recreate the problem. Then on February 25, I drove to Phoenix. While in Phoenix, it again inextricably had trouble shifting, died and wouldn’t start. I then had it towed to Camelback Ford. On March 6, Camelback Ford called and said they ran numerous tests and still can’t pinpoint the problem and the vehicle still won’t start or shift into neutral.

I chose the engine and fuel questions as I believe these would be the issue. While driving on the I 10 east towards [XXX] there are areas on the freeway that you drive upward from a flat freeway service to (up hill). Today 04/22/2026, my bronco sport lost drive power from 65 mph to 45 mph which caused the warning lights of the engine and wrench notifications to come on. It was a little difficult and scary but I was able to get off the freeway safely and park. I looked under the hood and under the car for leaks but there were non found and after about 30 minuets, I got back on the freeway and went back home. Back in July of 2025, I believe their was a recall for the fuel injector system and I think this issue of today is based on that recall. I have not been able to confirm with Ford if this has anything to do with the 2025 recall and I have not seen any repair options. I have however, seen other's reporting the same issue. I don't know if you can doing anything but I wanted to provide my experience of today. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I own a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport Base (VIN: [XXX] ) equipped with the 1.5L EcoBoost 3-cylinder engine. I am experiencing a complete and repeated loss of engine coolant with no visible external leak. Upon inspection, air bubbles were observed rising through the coolant reservoir when coolant was added, indicating combustion gases are entering the cooling system through a compromised seal. On multiple occasions upon startup, sweet-smelling white smoke has been emitted from the exhaust, consistent with coolant burning in the combustion chamber. The vehicle has overheated as a result of coolant loss. These symptoms are consistent with the known 1.5L EcoBoost cracked engine block or head gasket failure defect affecting 2021 Ford Bronco Sport and 2020-2022 Ford Escape vehicles. I have been advised by a ford dealership mechanic that the vehicle is unsafe to drive due to the risk of engine failure and potential engine fire. The vehicle has been parked and is not being driven. I am filing this complaint as a safety concern given Ford’s history of engine fires related to this defect, which was the basis of recall 22S43 and ongoing federal class action litigation. I am requesting NHTSA investigate whether an expanded recall or additional consumer remedy is warranted for this vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions, cold condensation dripped onto the right leg and the floorboard smelled like rotting fish. The contact added that the condensation line should have leaked outside of the vehicle, not inside the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,450.

I brought my car in for an emissions state inspection, I was than told the machine wouldn’t connect to my car and the reasoning being was that the gateway module needed to be reprogrammed. I was aware ford had this issue so I was prepared with paperwork from the customer satisfaction program that states any bronco manufactured at the Hermosillo plant between the dates of February 2020 and October of 2021 was covered under a customer satisfaction program 22N15 to repair the gateway module one time regardless of mileage or years on the vehicle. At first I was lied to and told my car wasn’t manufactured at the Hermosillo factory but upon further investigation with another repair shop simply by verifying my vin number it certainly was manufactured their on the date of September 9th 2021. I explained all this to ford of sayville and ford corporation, but they both denied my claim without any reasoning other than its not part of your vin….I asked could you tell me why and never got an answer besides we aren’t covering the repair. My vehicle meets all the criteria for the known problem that ford distributed this vehicle with, I was forced to pay the $260 for a repair that should be covered by ford plain and simple. I ask that you can please help me resolve this matter and maybe help any future scammed consumers from dealing with the lies of ford. Thank you

The listed safety recall was entered July 16, 2025. To date there is no remedy, parts not available. The Ford app shows no active recalls. I contacted Ford regarding this and they advised there was a temporary, interim fix available since August 2025 but no correspondence has ever been sent. I have been in contact several times with the dealer and was never advised of this interim fix. Ford rep advised some dealers don’t have the equipment for the temporary fix. Ford did have a Customer Satisfaction Program regarding this but I was advised that they would only complete if there was signs of an issue to the high flow injectors. It has now been 9 months since the recall and every time I’ve checked “no remedy/parts not available”!

Vehicle stutters when accelerating under normal driving conditions, causing uneven acceleration which can be dangerous in a situation where I am merging into traffic or turning from a stop onto a roadway. I believe this may be connected to the fuel injector recall which has been open without repair options since July 2025.

My 2021 ford bronco sport had a very dangerous issue on April 4th 2026. Nearly run over by a huge semi. Traveling at 70 miles per hour on I- 5 my vehicle had a sudden loss of power and wrench light went on, no prior signs. Semi traveling behind me nearly crashed into semi in the next lane as he slammed on his brakes and veered to the left to avoid running me over. Caused a big problem with the transmission .. Ford dealership now has car. Corning ford, Ca Unsafe to ever drive again with no remedy to fix this deadly problem. Recall 25s76 Powertrain control module. Third time this vehicle had a reset for this recall issue.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the infotainment screen went black or displayed a half-operating screen. An unknown warning light was illuminated with the message "Attention Needed - Service Engine Soon" displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and it was determined that Part Number: BE52 needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer where it was diagnosed, and determined that an unknown part needed to be replaced after retrieving DTC: P0496. The vehicle was not repaired. While the vehicle was parked, the vehicle hesitated while starting. The vehicle was taken to another dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the battery charge was lower than 40 percent but did not need to be replaced. The vehicle was taken to another dealer where it was determined that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but within 24 hours there was an unknown warning light illuminated with an audible chime. The contact believed that the failure was associated with the body control module (BCM). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 52,000.