Ford bulletin SSM 54961
What it saysSome 2021-2023 Bronco vehicles may exhibit a condition where short drop windows, window bounce-back, and/or one-touch close does not operate properly. NHTSA’s full summary ↓
Ford filed this with NHTSA as a service bulletin dated Jun 23, 2026, received Jun 29, 2026, about the electrical system. 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 a condition where short drop windows, window bounce-back, and/or one-touch close does not operate properly. This may be due to loss of window initialization. Replacement or reprogramming of the DDM, PDM, and/or any other components may not resolve these conditions. The short drop windows feature may be restored by performing a reset procedure as described in the Digital Owner's Manual > Windows > Using Short Drop Windows > Resetting Short Drop Windows. If the customer is experiencing an inability to fully close the window due to repeated bounce-back events, the window bounce-back feature may be overridden by performing an override procedure as described in the Digital Owner's Manual > Windows > Window Bounce-Back > Overriding Windows Bounce-Back. The one-touch feature may be restored by performing a reset procedure as described in the Digital Owner's Manual > Windows > Opening and Closing the Windows > Resetting One-Touch Close. These symptoms may return after a successful reset/override of the feature. Show the customer where they can find these procedures in the Digital Owner’s Manual so they can have the option to perform the procedures on their own should any of these symptoms return. Inform customers that engineering is aware of these conditions and working on a solution which is expected to be available by the end of Q4 2026. Monitor Professional Technician System (PTS) for additional information.
Document filed under this number
| Document | Kind | Dated | NHTSA id | At NHTSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SSM 54961 | Service bulletin | Jun 23, 2026 | 11034139 | PDF, 71 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.
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. 223 of them name Visibility/Wiper, Electrical System — 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 electrical system
Source: same model, same component group75 other manufacturer communications filed against the Ford Bronco under the same component group (electrical system), newest first. The eight newest are listed; the rest are on the Ford list.
| Number | Kind | Dated | NHTSA’s summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSB 26-2442 | Service bulletin | Oct 14, 2026 | This bulletin supersedes 26-2297. Reason for update: Add 2022-2025 Transit vehicles. Some of the vehicles listed in the model statement abov… |
| SSM 55240 | Service bulletin | Oct 12, 2026 | Some 2021-2024 Bronco vehicles may exhibit an illuminated red brake warning indicator with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) C0049:01 stored in… |
| TSB 26-2380 | Service bulletin | Sep 24, 2026 | This article supersedes TSB 25-2575 to update the Parts list to add the applicable body wiring harnesses and underbody shield bolts. Some ve… |
| TCU-26.2.12.2.2 | Over-the-air update | Sep 16, 2026 | Quality improvements include: -Addresses a bug that may cause updates to fail |
| ECG-26.2.12.3 | Over-the-air update | Sep 16, 2026 | Quality improvements include: -ePrivacy enhancements |
| PCM-26.10.3 | Over-the-air update | Sep 10, 2026 | 25S75 Recall remedy -Powertrain Control Module update to introduce logic to prevent low pressure fuel pump binding and maintain fuel flow to… |
| PCM-26.11.5 | Over-the-air update | Sep 4, 2026 | 25S75 Recall remedy -Powertrain Control Module update to introduce logic to prevent low pressure fuel pump binding and maintain fuel flow to… |
| SSM 55118 | Service bulletin | Aug 25, 2026 | Some of the following vehicles: * 2023-2025 F-Super Duty built on or before 02-Feb-2025 * 2024-2026 Ranger/Bronco/Mustang * 2024-2025 F-15… |
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 54961 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 54961 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 54961 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.