2025 Ford Bronco Sport

Do not drive

Owners filed 41 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine. It has been recalled 7 times.

Too new to rank against other Ford Bronco Sport years; complaints take a few years to arrive. Which Ford Bronco Sport years to avoid →

Most common 2025 Ford Bronco Sport problems

9 of the 41 complaints (22%) are about the engine.

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Engine6
000
Air Bags · airbags5
303
Power Train · transmission4
000
Steering3
100
Engine and Engine Cooling · engine3
000
Unknown or Other2
000
Suspension2
000
Structure › Body · body and frame2
000
Service Brakes · brakes2
101
Seat Belts2
000

7 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Suspension › Front › Control Arm › Lower Ball Joint26V340000Do not drive
Filed May 27, 20264,653 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Bronco Sport and 2022-2026 Maverick vehicles. The front lower control arm ball joints may have been incorrectly installed or incorrectly repaired at the vehicle assembly plant, allowing the control arm to disconnect from the front wheel knuckle.

Risk. A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and repair the front lower control arm ball joints as necessary, free of charge.Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S36. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 29, 2026.

Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification › Front Passenger26V201000
Filed Mar 31, 20263,170 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Bronco Sport and Maverick vehicles. The Occupant Classification Sensor (OCS) unit may fail to correctly detect the presence of an adult or child in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk. Failure to correctly detect a passenger may result in the air bag not deploying as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will replace the passenger seat occupant classification sensor, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C19. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 2, 2026.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Emission Control › Gas Recirculation Valve (egr Valve)26V122000
Filed Mar 3, 202647,804 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger, Lincoln Nautilus, Mustang, Maverick, Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Corsair, Bronco Sport, and Bronco vehicles. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.

Risk. An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will replace the EGR valves, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 31, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S10. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 4, 2026.

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel25V788000
Filed Nov 14, 2025229,609 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Bronco and Bronco Sport vehicles. The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may fail at startup.

Risk. An instrument panel display that does not show critical information, such as warning lights or vehicle speed, increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy. The instrument panel cluster software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC3.

Engine25V372000
Filed Jun 3, 2025404 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Escape, and 2025 Bronco Sport vehicles. The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.

Risk. An oil leak can result in loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S61.

Equipment › Electrical › Engine Block Heater25V343000
Filed May 23, 20256,781 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus, 2023-2025 Escape, 2023 Lincoln Corsair, 2025 Lincoln Corsair, Maverick, and Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with a 1.5L or 2.0L MPC engine and an engine block heater. The engine block heater may overheat when the vehicle is parked with the block heater plugged in.

Risk. An overheated engine block heater can increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy. Dealers will replace the block heater element and inspect the electrical cord, replacing it if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug coupled, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Owner notification letters were mailed June 9, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S52.

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel25V049000
Filed Jan 31, 2025298 vehiclesFord Motor Company

Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Bronco Sport, Escape, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may not illuminate at startup or while driving. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 101, "Control and Displays" and 102, "Transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect" as well as FMVSS numbers 126, 108, 135, 138, 208, and 305.

Risk. An instrument panel display that fails to show critical safety information, such as the speedometer or warning lights, increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Dealers will replace the instrument panel cluster, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 17, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C02.

All 7 campaigns on file, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Oct 29, 2026ME

The sunroof exploded and the glass shattered. The safety risk is from the glass shattering and the trauma from the noise of the explosion. The 2025 Ford Bronco was towed to the Ford dealership and has been inspected and repaired. The service manager submitted the claim to the Ford Motor Company under the warranty. Pictures and the inspection report are available at the Ford dealership if needed. There was no warning or symptoms of the problem prior to the failure.

Visibility/Wiper
Filed Oct 23, 2026VA

On XXX, while driving unimpeded on XXX in [XXX] at ~65 mph in clear, mild weather, the tempered rear liftgate glass spontaneously imploded without warning, producing an explosive bang and showering the cargo area and passenger cabin with shattered glass fragments. Key safety and technical facts: 1. No external impact: Traveling on an open stretch of highway with no nearby vehicles throwing debris. No other glass or body panels sustained any impact marks. 2. Defroster inactive: The rear defroster heating elements were completely turned off. 3. Failure pattern: Exhibited characteristics of internal tension, hinge/strut stress, or manufacturing defect rather than external blunt force. Safety hazard: Spontaneous shattering at highway speeds caused an immediate startle/distraction hazard in high-speed traffic, sudden loss of rearward visibility, and risk of occupant laceration from flying glass shards. Manufacturer response: A formal warranty claim was submitted on XXX, to Southern Ford along with photographic evidence and preserved glass fragments. Ford Motor Company refused to cover the replacement under the factory bumper-to-bumper warranty, dismissing the spontaneous structural failure as external damage. I request NHTSA investigate spontaneous rear liftgate glass failures on 2025 Ford Bronco Sport vehicles. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Engine
Filed Oct 4, 2026NJ

On about 5 or 6 occasions over the course of one year, my brand new 2025 Ford Bronco Sport with the Big Bend trim with the VIN number in this report has completely lost engine power with severe engine hesitation with a highly rhythmic / even-patterned computer-controlled-like clicking and severe engine shaking (!!!) and a near stall while traveling from anywhere between 5 and 50 mph and the speed grinds down to a crawl, because it most often happens on an incline (maybe once on flat ground, and never downhill), and either way can be extremely dangerous! Fuel tank was full or half full on every occasion. Oil changed every 5k miles. Luckily at the higher speed, I was on a quiet hilly state highway road. I suspect it can happen at any speed though, which makes it even more dangerous! It is as if fuel stopped getting to the engine in these cases, or a computer failure in the fuel system, but I can be completely wrong about the cause. It is impossible to recreate on command obviously, being that it only happened 5 or 6 times over the course of one year, so neither myself or the dealer can recreate it on command. I complained about it to my local dealer that I bought it from, but they said they saw no codes stored, and of course couldn't recreate it. They suggested I got bad gas, but it has happened this many times. Impossible. It began happening at about 5k miles most noticeably. I currently have 12k or so on it. It's not like a throttle body or any injector or fuel system should

Power Train
Filed Sep 16, 2026WA

Vehicle was taken to Bowen [XXX] ([XXX]) for a transmission rebuild under RO #XXX, following repeated transmission failures. Dealer performed a complete teardown and rebuild of the transmission (replacing clutch components, seals, gaskets, fluid, reprogramming solenoids), and the repair order states the vehicle was road tested after repair with no DTCs present and "operating as designed." Vehicle was picked up on XXX at 11:20 AM. Approximately 24 hours later, on XXX at approximately 3:49 PM, while the vehicle was stationary, the instrument cluster displayed a "Shift System Fault, Service Required" warning, and the vehicle would not shift into any gear other than Park. The vehicle had to be towed by Ford Roadside Assistance back to Bowen [XXX] (tow reference #XXX). This is part of a pattern of recurring transmission-related failures on this vehicle since purchase, resulting in the vehicle being out of service for a substantial period across multiple repair attempts. A shift system fault rendering the vehicle undriveable in park-only mode, occurring within 24 hours of a certified "repair complete" transmission rebuild, raises serious concerns about the reliability and safety of the transmission system in this vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Sep 15, 20266,900 milesNV

The contact owns a 2025 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving at low speeds, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the failure could not be duplicated. Upon returning to the residence, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V122000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the recall repair was performed; however, the failure returned two days after the repair. The failure continued for several weeks, and the vehicle was taken back to the dealer; however, the dealer failed to duplicate the failure. A technician stated that the failure was likely due to the excessive hot climate in which the vehicle was being driven and that the hesitation was normal vehicle operation. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact informed the manufacturer that he did not feel safe driving the vehicle. The contact was then informed that the vehicle did not qualify under the Lemon Law, and the contact was provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 6,900.

Electrical System
Filed Sep 9, 2026CA

The contact owns a 2025 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving downhill on the freeway with the adaptive cruise control engaged, the transmission independently shifted into neutral, the vehicle lost power, and failed to accelerate as needed. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road and shifted back into drive. The contact exited the freeway, and the vehicle was towed to a dealer. The contact stated that the word “CANCEL” in orange was displayed on the instrument panel, and the vehicle went into LIMP Mode. The dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The engine had seized but was operating under reduced power.

Suspension
Filed Sep 1, 2026ME

Both front lower control arm ball joints on my 2025 Bronco Sport failed prematurely at approximately 13,000 miles. Upon removal, both ball studs showed heavy corrosion and clear evidence of water intrusion past the factory boot seals. One boot's upper metal retainer was visibly deformed, allowing water into the joint. This level of corrosion should not exist on a vehicle this new and indicates a defective component or seal, not normal wear. I have retained both failed parts and have photographs documenting the condition. This is the same component covered under Ford's active do-not-drive safety recall 26S36 (NHTSA campaign 26V-340) for front lower control arm ball joint defects on 2021–2026 Bronco Sport vehicles. My VIN is not included in that campaign, but I experienced failure of the identical safety-critical component. I am reporting this so NHTSA is aware the defect may extend beyond the current recall population. When I brought the vehicle to my local Ford dealer and requested inspection under the new vehicle warranty, the service department refused to inspect the vehicle at all, citing a 1.5-inch aftermarket leveling kit. No inspection was performed and no determination was made that the modification caused or contributed to the failure. A leveling kit does not cause water intrusion past a factory boot seal. Because the dealer refused service on a safety-critical component, I replaced both ball joints at my own expense to keep the vehicle safe to drive. I have opened a

Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking
Filed Aug 2, 2026KY

The car breaks without warning until it’s already hit them when no one is behind us as we’re backing up it just hits the breaks.

Steering
Filed Aug 2, 2026IL

1. The Electronic Power Assisted Steering (EPAS) module and/or the front passenger-side suspension components failed, causing a complete loss of steering control and an un-commanded, continuous violent pull to the right. Yes, the vehicle and all malfunctioning components are completely intact and available for immediate inspection upon request. 2. Safety was put at extreme risk during highway speeds. The vehicle violently and continuously swerved directly toward the right-hand passenger side. There were 5 total occupants in the SUV, including my daughter-in-law and my three young grandchildren. My [XXX] granddaughter was strapped in a car seat directly next to that right passenger door, placing her in the immediate impact zone of a high-speed crash hazard. I had to physically fight the locked steering wheel with extreme physical force to prevent a catastrophic collision. 3. Not yet. The incident just occurred on XXX, and the vehicle is fundamentally unsafe to operate. It is currently parked and waiting to be transported via a professional flatbed tow truck to Murgado Ford of Chicago for a full mechanical and software diagnostic teardown. I have not yet contacted the dealership because they were unavailable on August 1 and closed on XXX 4. No. The vehicle is currently parked in a safe location in front of my home and has not yet been touched or inspected by any outside parties, police, insurance representatives, or the manufacturer. 5. No. There were absolutely no warning lamp

Air BagsCrash1 injured
Filed Jul 29, 202620,500 milesCO

The contact owned a 2025 Ford Bronco Sport. While the contact’s brother-in-law was driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle, causing the vehicle to flip over and slide between 50 and 75 yards. During the crash, the Forward Collision Avoidance system failed to activate, and the front driver’s side air bags did not deploy. The driver was later taken to the hospital and treated for a concussion and arm and leg abrasions. A Police report was filed at the scene, and the vehicle was towed away and later deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,500.

Engine
Filed Jul 23, 2026WA

This is a fourth occurrence related to NHTSA complaints 11749893, 11750183, and 11751201. The vehicle was previously diagnosed and repaired under warranty for the same 'Shift System Fault: Service Required' condition (transmission main control valve body replacement, RO #609213, completed July 21, 2026). Approximately 14 hours after pickup, on July 22, 2026, the identical fault recurred, the Check Engine light illuminated, and the vehicle died while driving. The vehicle was towed to Bowen Scarff Ford in Kent, WA and checked in the same day (RO #609522) for further diagnosis. This is now the second documented repair attempt for the same defect.

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Jul 22, 202612,000 milesTN

The contact owns a 2025 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V122000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); 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 hesitated while accelerating. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.

Structure › Body
Filed Jul 20, 2026MA

My daughter was driving the vehicle. She left home, drove 2 miles to drop someone off, and returned home on a 2 lane road with a 30mph speed limit. Approximately half way home, while travelling approximately 30-35mph, the hood on the vehicle flew open. It shattered the windshield, bent the hood, and because the hood flew so far back, the top of both front side panels were bent back. The last time the hood had been opened was long before to have the oil changed. There were no warning lights about the hood, and the vehicle had been used quite a bit that day, and at speeds higher than it was travelling when the hood flew open, before the incident occured. We are concerned about latch failure.

Suspension
Filed Jul 17, 20261,800 milesMT

The contact owns a 2025 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V340000 (Suspension). The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the vehicle failed the inspection. The contact was informed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 1,800.

Engine
Filed Jul 17, 2026WA

This is a third occurrence related to NHTSA complaints 11749893 and 11750183. On July 15, 2026, at approximately 7:30-7:42 AM, while driving to a scheduled Ford service appointment, the vehicle exhibited hesitation and delayed acceleration at multiple intersections, not isolated to one location. Although the vehicle's auto start-stop feature has been manually disabled, the hesitation at each stop felt similar to that feature engaging and re-engaging the engine. The vehicle then stalled completely at an intersection and would not move for approximately 10 minutes. The check engine light illuminated for the first time during this incident. Kent Police Department was contacted, event number 2026-44221. The vehicle was subsequently dropped off at a Ford dealership on July 15, 2026 for diagnosis under warranty.

Engine
Filed Jul 14, 2026WA

This is a second occurrence of the Shift System Fault previously reported in NHTSA complaint 11749893. On July 13, 2026, while parked, the vehicle again displayed a 'Shift System Fault - Service Required' warning, followed by a 'Service Vehicle Soon' message. The vehicle would not shift out of Park. This incident was captured on video, which is available upon request. The vehicle has an appointment scheduled with a Ford dealership for diagnosis under warranty.

Power Train
Filed Jul 12, 2026WA

While driving home and stopped at a red light, the dashboard displayed a "Service Required" warning followed immediately by a "Shift System Fault" message. The vehicle would not accelerate and stalled in the middle of the road with traffic going around me. I was unable to move the vehicle until I was able to restart it, which took at minimum 2 tries and 5 minutes. The warning cleared after restarting but the vehicle had been purchased 11 days prior with only 18,241 miles. The problem has not yet been confirmed by a dealer but I am scheduled to take it in for inspection. No prior warning lamps appeared before this incident. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request.

Air BagsCrash2 injured
Filed Jul 6, 2026CO

I was in a car accident on the front/side of the drivers side of our ford Bronco sport. The steering wheel airbag did not deploy. But all other side airbags did.

Air Bags
Filed Jul 2, 2026TX

The contact owns a 2025 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V201000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and informed that the vehicle was sold and released to the contact as a new vehicle with an open recall attached. The dealer requested that the vehicle be returned to the dealer for the recall repair. The dealer consistently pushed back the appointment to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Air Bags
Filed Jun 22, 20261,236 milesMO

The contact owns a 2025 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V201000 (Air Bags). Upon starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light was illuminated. The local dealer was contacted and referred the contact to the manufacturer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and declined a buyback due to the vehicle not qualifying under the Lemon Law. The approximate failure mileage was 1,236.

Power Train
Filed Jun 20, 2026NC

The powertrain stopped shifting properly and unable to drive smoothly and at a proper speed. Pulled over and and it could not be shifted out of PARK. Had to be towed to a Ford dealer shop. Ford App sent message: POERTRAIN MALFUNCTION REDUCED POWER

Unknown or Other
Filed Jun 6, 2026NY

I checked my front right and left steering knuckles and saw they are very badly rusted I bought the vehicle new Jan 20 2026 I noticed this when I checked on the recent Ford recall 26S36 I took photos of both right and left front knuckles with the front suspension arm assembly. Both are rusted

Engine
Filed Jun 5, 2026OR

Just seen notice that there is a recall notice about the engine and part of the front suspension, just wondering if it affects my vehicle.

Structure › Body
Filed Jun 3, 2026AZ

The rear right side exterior panel is showing a warping condition that is present without any evidence of impact, damage, misuse or outside/inside influence. The defect adversely effects the body panel by distorting the side body panel noticeably. Given the age of this vehicle and absence of any external damage this should be covered under the manufacturer's warranty as it is a manufacturer issue.

Air BagsCrash
Filed May 11, 2026WA

Car crash on 01/26/2026, and the airbags did not deploy

Fuel/Propulsion System
Filed Apr 23, 2026WA

While driving my 2025 Ford Bronco Sport (approximately 14,600 miles), I made contact with an object on the roadway that did not feel like a severe impact. Immediately afterward, the vehicle began leaking fuel from the underside. The vehicle was not driveable due to the active fuel leak and had to be towed to a dealership for inspection. This situation posed a significant safety risk due to the presence of leaking fuel, which could increase the risk of fire or environmental hazard. There were no warning lights, messages, or prior symptoms before the incident occurred. The issue began immediately following the contact with the object. The vehicle has not yet been fully inspected at the time of this report, but it is currently at a Ford dealership awaiting evaluation. Based on the nature of the incident, there is concern regarding the durability and protection of the fuel tank when exposed to common road hazards. A fuel system failure under these conditions may present a safety concern.

Vehicle Speed Control
Filed Apr 13, 2026NC

UNINTENDED CRUISE CONTROL ACCELERATION TO 85 MPH Engaged cruise control to set speed approx 72mph and within 30-45 seconds the cruise control suddenly without warning reverted to 85mph. Startled, I immediately hit brakes and cruise disengaged with no accident. Following days, in safe traffic setting I repeated the pattern of setting highway cruise speed and within 30-45 seconds vehicle cruise setting reverted to exactly 85mph. Obviously, this is a serious safety risk defect requiring immediate attention. On Friday, I brought the vehicle for diagnosis/repair to dealership where I purchased it. After 2 days their technicians reported that they had never encountered this unintended cruise control acceleration before and had submitted the problem to Ford headquarter "engineers" to help guide them. I have sent email to dealership GM to inform him of this serious defect, and informed the Ford Customer Relationship Center (case# [XXX]) INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed Apr 1, 202610,000 milesTN

The contact owns a 2025 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V122000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling or accelerating from 0 - 25 MPH, the vehicle was shaking and failed to accelerate properly. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available for the recall repair. The dealer referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

Service Brakes
Filed Mar 4, 2026MN

Every morning when I back out of my driveway the brakes squeel as if the wear pad indicators have reached end of life. I took this to the dealer and they said this is completely normal

Forward Collision Avoidance › Warnings
Filed Feb 20, 2026MO

I am submitting a safety concern regarding the 2025 Ford Bronco Off‑Road. Within 24 hours of purchasing my vehicle, a front sensor failed. The dealership reported that the sensor was damaged by a small rock while driving on normal paved roads. The repair cost is approximately $1,500 and is not covered under warranty. My concern is that a critical sensor—part of the vehicle’s safety and driver‑assistance systems—can be disabled by minor road debris. If this component is so vulnerable that everyday driving conditions can render it inoperable, it may pose a broader safety issue for consumers. This appears to be a design vulnerability that could affect many owners, potentially compromising safety features and creating significant financial burden. I am requesting that NHTSA review whether the placement and durability of this sensor meet reasonable safety expectations. Thank you for your time. Sincerely, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Visibility
Filed Jan 12, 202689,000 milesOR

The contact owns a 2025 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the sunroof glass shattered. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be inspected; however, the dealer stated that the cause of the failure was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.

Seat Belts
Filed Dec 14, 2025OR

I'm concerned Ford has a defective seat belt buckle and can be a safety issue, causing passengers to forego using the seat belts since the belt tongue cannot be retained in the buckle. I brought my new 2025 Bronco Sport to the dealership i bought it from for failed rear seat safety belt buckles (drivers side and center) and was told it wasn't under warrantee because "there's something stuck in it". I was offered a $700 estimate to replace the buckles. Instead I went home to look at it myself. Drivers side was because the tongue of the belt insert had been bent over 45 degrees. A flathead screw driver freed the tongue, and the buckle was undamaged, and continues now to work great after. The center buckle wouldn't latch a belt tongue. I disassembled the plastic casing, and a white part fell out (in photo its on the seat next to the buckle) ... which turned out to be a broken internal part. The broken part is at the upper end of the spring and attachs to the brown slide at the bottom of the buckle (which activates the buckle switch) and has a pawl that engages the steel pin that extends across the buckle. It broke at the spring interface, and therefore lost function (no spring force to activate the internal latching mechanism).

Seat Belts
Filed Oct 31, 2025CO

I removed a car seat from back passenger seat, closed the door, buckled another child into the rear drivers side , drove to grocery no more than 25mph, as I was pulling into parking spot, car came to hard stop, jerked us, got out walked around the car to find that the rear passenger seatbelt did not retract yet was long enough to get caught under my back tire causing the car to stop hard while foot was in gas. Safety concern, what if we were in the highway going hi speeds? Why are the seatbelts that long that it can get caught under a tire? There is no person that would need that much belt who could even fit in the back of this tiny car.

SteeringCrash
Filed Oct 2, 2025CA

Traveling on I5 SB, near Longview, WA. Vehicle steering whell was jerked from my hands. I blacked out briefly from side window impact. Vehicle rolled over into trees and bushes next to the freeway. When I was able to finally see the vehicle at the tow yard. The Right front wheel assy, had seperated from the vehicle and was placed in the rear area of the vehicle. It had been sheared off in the accident. That is why I suspect a DEFECT. This vehicle line has been cited in several mishaps associated with steering issues, and a recall has been issued.

Service BrakesCrash1 injured
Filed Aug 21, 2025FL

Brake failure caused a crash. Car was damaged.

Power Train
Filed Aug 8, 2025VA

2025 Bronco Do not drive your vehicle until your recall service is complete. Safety Recalls* Loose or missing upper ball joint fastener Recall incomplete Loose or missing upper ball joint fastener Recall incomplete Front upper control arm to knuckle ball joint loose or missing fastener Recall incomplete Inspect seat bolt presence and torque - recall is unable to be performed at this time. Please check the fsa landing page for more details. Recall incomplete Do not drive - front lower arm to frame attachment fastener inspection Recall incomplete Transmission main control valve body replacement Recall incomplete Rear door child safety lock inspection Recall incomplete Passenger airbag replacement Recall incomplete

Steering
Filed Aug 4, 2025PA

THE STEERING MOVED SUDDENLY BY ITSELF; several times on highways. Never had a vehicle do that before.

Wheels
Filed Jul 31, 2025ID

This year does not have a spare tire included. Dealer said we have vehicle help in case of problem. We have many sections of highways here in Idaho that does not have cell service. This is a safety concern in case you are in one of these areas if you have total tire failure. I think a spare tire is needed in these situations. Thank you.

Seats1 injured
Filed May 15, 2025VA

Drivers side: the track the power seat slides back/forth in. Since purchasing the vehicle 4/18/25 I have cut the back of my right leg getting into the vehicle on that track multiple times requiring the bleeding to be stopped and bandaging. At least 5 times to date and I've had the vehicle about a month. I try to be extremely careful getting into the vehicle because I know that piece will cut my leg every time but sometimes, I'm not thinking and inevitably I get cut again but I really shouldn't have to worry about that, it's obviously a design flaw. I also thought I could try to remember to put the seat all the way up when I get out but then it's a pain to get back in and again, I don't think I should have to worry about that either. There should be some sort of cap or something on the end of it do that won't happen. Have included a picture below. Called the Ford part department and they suggested covering that area with tape which WILL work BUT really, it's a new vehicle and covering a part of the vehicle with tape to keep from getting cut by it shouldn't be how to solve the problem. It ruins the aesthetics of the vehicle, and I shouldn't have to do that to begin with. The piece shouldn't be that sharp or should have some time of protective covering over it.

Electrical System › Instrument Cluster/Panel
Filed Apr 11, 202580 milesFL

The contact owns a 2025 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 MPH, the instrument cluster turned blank. The vehicle was steered to the side the side of the road and was restarted; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed that the instrument cluster needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80.

Engine
Filed Mar 11, 2025NY

Vehicle was 2 weeks old at 100 miles engine light came on. Received notices that a engine misfire occurred and stated continued driving could further damage engine. Vehicle was towed to dealership where diagnosis said no fix currently available but can continue to drive?

All 41 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2021
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20268600Do not drive
2025 — this page41700Do not drive
2024115870Do not drive
20231631460Do not drive
202237015130Do not drive
202171216170Do not drive

Compare every Bronco Sport year →

Reading this record

NHTSA has issued a do-not-drive warning for a recall on this vehicle.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: May 27, 2026. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.