2021 Ford Bronco
The 2021 Ford Bronco is sold in the U.S. as a gas compact SUV with 10 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Bronco 4WD, is EPA-rated at 21 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 20 recall campaigns for this model year, 2 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 225 complaints, most often about the engine.
Specs & fuel economy
Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bronco 4WD | Gas | 4WD (part-time) | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 20 | 22 | 21 | $2,950 |
| Bronco 4WD | Gas | 4WD (part-time) | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 20 | 22 | 21 | $2,950 |
| Bronco 4WD | Gas | 4WD (part-time) | 2.7L 6-cyl turbo | 18 | 20 | 19 | $3,300 |
| Bronco Black Diamond 4WD | Gas | 4WD (part-time) | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 17 | 19 | 18 | $3,450 |
| Bronco Black Diamond 4WD | Gas | 4WD (part-time) | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 18 | 18 | 18 | $3,450 |
| Bronco Sasquatch 4WD | Gas | 4WD (part-time) | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 18 | 18 | 18 | $3,450 |
| Bronco Badlands 4WD | Gas | 4WD (part-time) | 2.7L 6-cyl turbo | 17 | 18 | 17 | $3,650 |
| Bronco Badlands 4WD | Gas | 4WD (part-time) | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 16 | 18 | 17 | $3,650 |
| Bronco Badlands 4WD | Gas | 4WD (part-time) | 2.3L 4-cyl turbo | 18 | 17 | 17 | $3,650 |
| Bronco Sasquatch 4WD | Gas | 4WD (part-time) | 2.7L 6-cyl turbo | 17 | 17 | 17 | $3,650 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 43995, 43996, 43997, 44003, 44004, 44002, 43998, 43999, 44000, 44001.
Factory warranty running out?
The 2021 Ford Bronco is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.
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Recalls (20)
Source: NHTSA recall databaseStructure
26S32Power Train
26S26Back Over Prevention
26S09Back Over Prevention
25C72Seats
25SB5Equipment
25SA4Fuel System, Gasoline
25S75Back Over Prevention
25C14Back Over Prevention
25S49Suspension
25S01Engine And Engine Cooling
24S55Back Over Prevention
23S48Seat Belts
23C16Back Over Prevention
23C05Air Bags
22S77Back Over Prevention
22C27Latches/Locks/Linkages
22S44Forward Collision Avoidance
21S52Air Bags
21C23NHTSA defect investigations
Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump — Low-pressure fuel pump failure closed
On July 29, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE24019 to investigate complaints of low-pressure fuel pump failures in MY 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles. Some consumers reported that the failure occurred without warning while driving, resulting in a complete loss of motive power with no ability to restart the engine. Ford determined that several other vehicle models contain low-pressure fuel pumps substantially similar to the 2021 Ford Bronco, including the 2022-2023 Ford Bronco, 2018-2023 Ford F-150, 2022-2023 Ford Expedition, 2019-2023 Lincoln Navigator, 2020-2023 Ford F-250-F-550, 2024 Ford Super Duty Chassis Cab, 2024-2025 Ford Ranger, 2020-2023 Ford Explorer, 2020-2023 Li
Opened Jul 29, 2024 · closed Sep 19, 2025 · action PE24019
Engine — Loss of Motive Power closed
On July 22, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) granted a Defect Petition (DP22001) and opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE22007) to investigate allegations of loss of motive power in model year (MY) 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles equipped with 2.7L EcoBoost engines. Complainants were reporting sudden engine failure while driving resulting in a loss of motive power, often without the ability to restart. During PE22007, the cause of engine failure and loss of motive power in the subject vehicles was determined to be intake valve fracture, and the full scope of vehicles affected by the subject defect was identified as all MY 2021-2022 Ford and Lincoln models equipped with either the 2.7
Opened Sep 29, 2023 · closed Oct 31, 2024 · action EA23002
Engine — Loss of motive power due to valve intake failure on Ford Bronco vehicles. closed
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition dated March 16, 2022, requesting an investigation regarding allegations of defective intake valves in model year (MY) 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles equipped with the 2.7L Eco-boost (“Nano�) engines. The petitioner alleged these vehicles are experiencing loss of motive power at any highway speeds with no-restart as a result of catastrophic engine failures. To date ODI is aware of 42 submitted Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ’s) alleging a loss of motive power. On July 22, 2022, ODI opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE22-007) to investigate allegations of stalling/loss of motive power on the subject vehicles. Upon receiving
Opened Jul 22, 2022 · closed Oct 2, 2023 · action PE22007
Engine — Loss of Motive Power closed
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received three petitions on March 17, March 18, and March 29, 2022, which requested a defect investigation into an alleged defect of the valves on model year (MY) 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles equipped with the 2.7L Eco-boost engines. The petitioners alleged that MY 2021 Ford Broncos vehicles are experiencing loss of motive power at highway speeds with no-restart due to catastrophic engine failures.On May 27, 2022, ODI opened this Defect Petition to evaluate whether to grant or deny the petition.ODI has identified 26 Vehicle Owners Questionnaires (VOQs) that relate to the alleged defect in the subject vehicles. Based on ODI's review of the applicable mat
Opened May 27, 2022 · closed Jul 28, 2022 · action DP22001
Owner complaints
Source: NHTSA complaint database6 involved a crash · 3 a fire · 7 injuries · 0 deaths reported
Filed per year: 2021: 7 · 2022: 77 · 2023: 27 · 2024: 22 · 2025: 60 · 2026: 32
Most-cited components
What owners describe
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
Source: NHTSA NCAP| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2DR 4WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★☆☆ | 26% |
| SUV 4WD | not rated | not rated | not rated | ★★★☆☆ | 26% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program. Standard driver-assist: automatic emergency braking.
Other Bronco model years
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.