Is the 2021 Ford Bronco a bad year?
231 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Bronco years.
Keep it
Engine and transmission complaints for the 2021 Ford Bronco are in line with other Bronco years.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2021 Bronco owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 14,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 74 (32%) | 2k–40k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Fuel system | 30 (13%) | 15k–40k miles · ahead | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Suspension | 24 (10%) | 26k–52k miles · ahead | Ball joint replacement (one joint) $200–$500 · Control arm replacement (one arm) $200–$900 |
| Electrical system | 29 (13%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Backup camera | 23 (10%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 22 (10%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 17 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Lane assist | 11 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Transmission and drivetrain | 9 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 7 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 5 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 14,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 231 complaints: 6 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 6 report an injury · 13 say the car was towed.
45 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2021 Ford Bronco: 20
The engine compartment wiring harness may become damaged and short circuit. A short circuit in the engine compartment can create heat or spark, increasing the risk of a fire.
The 3-door and 5-door Molded-In-Color (MIC) hardtop roof panels may have been manufactured improperly, which can allow sections of the outer roof panel to separate and detach from the vehicle. A detached section of roof can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The transmission to transfer case joint may be misaligned due to an incorrectly performed previous repair, which could lead to wear of the transmission output shaft splines and transfer case input splines. Excessive wear of the transmission and transfer case splines may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
The Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) may overheat and shutdown, which can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended. A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The rearview camera image may still be displayed after a backing event has ended. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
The front seats may have a loose or dislodged seat frame height-adjust pivot bolt. A seat with a dislodged bolt may not properly restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in. An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
A software error may cause the rearview camera image to delay, freeze, or not display when the vehicle is in reverse. A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The rearview camera image may still be displayed after a backing event has ended. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
The rear shock absorbers may corrode and fail, resulting in detachment of the external reservoir. An external reservoir that detaches from a vehicle can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The engine intake valves may break while driving, which can result in engine failure and a loss of drive power. A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The rearview camera, or 360-degree view camera if equipped, may not display a rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The first-row seat belt latch plates may be difficult to access from their stowed position. Difficulty accessing the seat belt latches may result in occupants not wearing their seat belts, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The rearview camera image may still be displayed after a backing event has ended. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
The right or left side impact sensors may not be properly secured to the vehicle. An improperly secured side impact sensor may cause the air bags to unintentionally deploy, or not to deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The rearview camera image may still be displayed after a backing event has ended. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver, increasing the risk of a crash.
The passenger-side rear door may be opened from inside of the vehicle when the child safety lock is in the "ON" position. A malfunctioning child safety lock increases the risk of injury to a child occupant.
The cruise control radar module was misaligned during production. A misaligned radar module may prevent the vehicle from maintaining a safe distance from other vehicles when adaptive cruise control is active.
During passenger air bag deployment, an air bag vent could open prematurely and result in an improper deployment. Improper air bag deployment increases the risk of injury during a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 320
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2021 Ford Bronco. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may exhibit no 3rd gear engagement and/or a grinding noise going into 3rd and/or 4th gear
Some 2020-2026 Aviator/Explorer/F-150/Bronco/Ranger vehicles equipped with a 2.7L or 3.0L…
Some vehicles may require the removal and installation of the transfer case for various reasons
For 2020 2026 vehicles equipped with the 10R60 transmission, a new Transmission Clutch Circuit Leak Test has been introduced in the Ford Diagnosis and Repair…
NHTSA defect investigations: 4
Low-pressure fuel pump failure
Loss of Motive Power
Loss of motive power due to valve intake failure on Ford Bronco vehicles.
Loss of Motive Power
Neighbouring years
2022 Bronco: 389 complaints, keep it.
Every Ford Bronco year
2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Bronco years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2021 Ford Bronco a bad year?
231 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine and transmission complaints are in line with other Bronco years. At 14,000 miles the tool says: Keep it.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ford Bronco?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (74), fuel system (30), suspension (24), electrical system (29), backup camera (23).
How many recalls does the 2021 Ford Bronco have?
20 recall campaigns list this model year: Engine (NHTSA 26V-468), Body structure (NHTSA 26V-299), Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 26V-236), Backup camera (NHTSA 26V-124) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.