2021 Ford Bronco Sport engine problems
176 of the 699 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 32 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database3 of the 176 reports a crash · 12 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2022: 15 · 2023: 31 · 2024: 49 · 2025: 44 · 2026: 37
Half of the 53 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 31,000 and 80,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
699 complaints in all about the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport, 37 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford Bronco Sport engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Per Master Tech Bo at CamelBack Ford in Phoenix, AZ - He stated he had a 2021 Bronco Sport in his shop for 3 months with the same issue mine has had now 3 times and mine has been "Repaired" twice. He could not find out why the vehicle was stalling/losing power while in motion.
The car started chugging check engine light came on car studdered before actually turning over
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated while driving 20-30 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed but the vehicle failed to respond as needed. The transmission warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where an oil change was completed.
Catastrophic engine failure 16 AUG 2022. Ford Bronco Sport with the 2.7 engine, some 2,800 miles, towed to repair facility Austin TX, can be inspected there, notify for details. Safety of all at risk, car in "deep sleep" with no warning, fortunately not yet on interstate highway from residential/small business area.
Within seconds of parking and turning off my vehicle I heard a loud pop and saw gray smoke billowing out from under the hood of my 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. Within 10 minutes the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames and destroyed two other vehicles and did additional property damage.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 22V191000 HighMar 25, 2022 · 345,451 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape and 2021-2022 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. The engine oil separator housing may crack and develop an oil leak.
32 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0299 P0243 P02AB P0420 P0456 P0496 P25B3 P25B4
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport
Source: the same files- electrical problems 214 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 187 complaints
- brake problems 128 complaints
- fuel system problems 122 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 176 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (25% of everything owners filed about it), and 32 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the engine on the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 22V191000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 52,000 miles; half of them between 31,000 and 80,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.