Ford bulletin SSM 51726
What it saysSome 2021-2023 Bronco vehicles may exhibit the HVAC switching out of recirculation without input. NHTSA’s full summary ↓
Ford filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Jun 16, 2023, received Jun 28, 2023, about the visibility/wiper. It names 3 model years (2021–2023). A service bulletin is not a safety recall: it is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a condition, and whether the work is paid for depends on the warranty in force. Quoting the number at a service desk can save a diagnosis.
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What the bulletin says
Source: NHTSA's summary of the manufacturer's communicationSome 2021-2023 Bronco vehicles may exhibit the HVAC switching out of recirculation without input. This may be due to the air flow mode door inlet strategy while in recirculation mode. This strategy periodically purges the cabin air every 30-60 minutes depending on conditions the vehicle is operated in. If monitoring the Air Inlet Door PID with FDRS, it can go to approximately 50 % movement of the Air Inlet Door while in recirculation mode. During this climate control system strategy operation the recirculation button light should not go off. This is normal operation of the climate control system and no repairs should be attempted. If the recirculation button/light goes off then reference Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 412-00.
Document filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id | At NHTSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSM 51726 | Service bulletin | Jun 16, 2023 | 10237978 | PDF, 106 KB |
The summary is NHTSA’s abstract of the document, as filed under 49 CFR 579.5. One communication is usually filed as several documents — the bulletin, a dealer notice, an owner letter — and the number on any of them finds this page. A PDF link is shown only once NHTSA’s own server has been seen to serve that document; the rest are checked over the following nights. Quote the number at a service desk; it is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
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Model years it names
Source: as the manufacturer filed themA vehicle page’s bulletin list shows the newest few communications filed against that model year; the count there is every one.
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What owners reported
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseOwners of the 3 model years this bulletin names have filed 847 complaints with NHTSA since 2015. 171 of them name Visibility/Wiper — the same broad component group this bulletin is filed under. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so that means the same area of the vehicle, not necessarily the same fault.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco. The contact stated while driving in rainy weather at an undisclosed speed, the windshield wipers reduced speed and became inoperable. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the mechanic was able to duplicate the failure; however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure.
2023 Ford Bronco · Visibility/Wiper · filed with NHTSA Feb 22, 2023 · ODI 11508580
When operating the wipers at either of the highest/fastest settings (LOW and HIGH), after about 45 seconds, the wipers will revert to intermittent. This happens at various driving speeds (not specific to driving slow or fast). When driving in heavy rain, it is very dangerous to suddenly not have adequate wipers
2021 Ford Bronco · Visibility/Wiper · filed with NHTSA Feb 28, 2022 · ODI 11454580
Wipers would not stay working as they should on any setting during heavy snow, sleet, and rain. Vehicle has several intermittent settings, as well as (2) continuous wiping settings. The all settings would work as they should for around 60 seconds, then slow down to a very slow intermittent wipe.
2022 Ford Bronco · Visibility/Wiper · filed with NHTSA Mar 30, 2022 · ODI 11458921
In depth: 2023 Ford Bronco visibility and wiper problems → · 2022 Ford Bronco visibility and wiper problems →
A complaint is one owner’s account, not a defect finding, and a bulletin is not a recall. Nothing here says this bulletin was issued because of these complaints, or that the repair it describes fixed them. Complaint files on this site begin in 2015.
More bulletins about the visibility/wiper
Source: same model, same component group11 other manufacturer communications filed against the Ford Bronco under the same component group (visibility/wiper), newest first. The eight newest are listed; the rest are on the Ford list.
| Number | Kind | Dated | NHTSA’s summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| SSM 54665 | Service bulletin | Mar 16, 2026 | Some 2026 F-150/Bronco/Ranger/Mustang Mach-E vehicles may exhibit a blank center display screen after deactivating transport mode. To correc… |
| IPC-25.21 | Over-the-air update | Mar 5, 2026 | "25SC3 Recall remedy: -Instrument Panel Cluster update to prevent a potential black screen at start up" |
| SSM 53981 | Service bulletin | Jun 25, 2025 | Some 2021-2024 Bronco vehicles may exhibit a rattle from the front windows with the windows placed in the partially down position and drivin… |
| SSM 53814 | Service bulletin | May 20, 2025 | Some 2021-2024 Bronco vehicles may exhibit a water leak from the a-pillar, overhead console/upfitter switches and/or sun visors |
| TSB 25-2212 | Service bulletin | May 19, 2025 | Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit a repeat loss of window initialization which results in a loss of short… |
| 23B35 | Service bulletin | Nov 1, 2023 | Certain 2021-2023 Model Year Bronco Vehicles - Wiper Motor Software Update |
| 23-PU0813-DORUP2 | Service bulletin | Sep 19, 2023 | "Priority Update 23-PU0813-DOR-UP2 for 2022 Bronco vehicles is now available. Quality Improvements include: -Update the strategy to learn… |
| SSM 51850 | Service bulletin | Aug 8, 2023 | Some 2021-2022 Bronco vehicles equipped with a soft top roof may exhibit loose exterior fabric on the rear window assembly. This may be due… |
Quote the number at the service desk. It is what the dealer’s system is keyed on.
Every manufacturer communication NHTSA holds for Ford, by the number printed on the letter.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR 579.5Is Ford SSM 51726 a recall?
No. A service bulletin is a manufacturer communication filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR 579.5; a safety recall carries an NHTSA campaign number (two digits, a letter, six digits) and a federal duty to repair for free. Check the vehicle’s recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or on its page here.
Is the SSM 51726 repair free?
Not automatically. A service bulletin describes how to diagnose or repair a condition; who pays depends on the warranty in force, any extension, and the dealer. Quoting the number can save a diagnosis either way.
Which vehicles does SSM 51726 cover?
The manufacturer filed it against 3 model years: 2023 Ford Bronco, 2022 Ford Bronco, 2021 Ford Bronco. Whether one particular vehicle is affected is a matter of its VIN and its build, not its model year alone.