2023 Ford Bronco Problems & Owner Complaints

Visibility/Wiper 89

“My infotainment screen goes blank when I backup instead of displaying my backup camera. There is an active recall on this but there is no remedy and no estimated remedy date. Ford Motor Company is only prioritizing 2026 model years so they can sell brand new vehicles. They are not trying to fix previous model years. This poses a safety risk that can result in a crash and/or death. Cars are required by law to have a backup camera, so Ford is breaking the law by not fixing this issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11730034, 2026

“UNKNOWN Windshield wipers will change speeds without driver intervention. While in steady to heavy rain, wipers will slow to intermittent after a few minutes of being on. This is causing visibility issues and safety issues as a result. Very dangerous!”
NHTSA complaint #11728967, 2026

“Parked my car overnight, I had the car for 3 days , I came out in the morning and the windshield was shattered, it looked like it burst or exploded outward from inside the car , there was no foul play involved, I checked my cameras etc. I have no idea what caused this but this is a potential safety issue especially if the car was in motion or being driven…”
NHTSA complaint #11714082, 2026

Electrical System 22 2 crash

“Hello, I previously wrote about this problem under ID#116588898 however i feel as though it did not explain what happened correctly. As I was backing out of my garage, I stopped my vehicle putting it in park. After putting my vehicle in reverse and looking in my mirrors I didn't see anything behind me. (a blind spot) I was on an angle. My radio was on and as I proceeded in reverse, I hit a car that was in my driveway. There was no damage to my vehicle however there is about $3900 damage to the car behind me where the spare tire crushed the trunk lid and rear left qtr. At no time did I hear any…”
NHTSA complaint #11663551, 2025 · crash

“I took my Bronco into Michigan City Ford for recall 25V273 repair. Shortly after this the front camera stopped working. I took it back in and they are saying the camera module is M2DZ-19H405-D has gone bad. They are saying this module controls front and rear camera but is not part of the recall. On the internet, there are many examples of the front camera issue after the rear recall repair.”
NHTSA complaint #11717842, 2026

“soy based wire shielding second time that my ford bronco was in the shop for wire fault issues due to critters/animals eating the wires. Ford service agent said he has seen hundreds of vehicles come in with the same issue. This is not a ford problem it is an automotive industry problem. Please investigate”
NHTSA complaint #11717219, 2026

Power Train 20

“2023 Ford Bronco with 7 speed manual transmission. The transmission started grinding while shifting into 3rd gear and occasionally popping out of 3rd gear. This mostly occurred while upshifting and rarely while downshifting. All other gears are operating as normal. While the grinding problem would pop up occasionally around the 40,000 mile mark, it became chronic at 58,000 mile mark (24Jun2026)”
NHTSA complaint #11750266, 2026

“Automatic 10 speed transmission has unpredictable shifting from 1st through 3 gears, offten with long lags between shifts, losing power temporarily, especially from 1st to 2nd gear, and harsh shifting. Sometimes, the 1st - 2nd shift lag happens upon acceleration during merging or in an intersection and that loss of power is critical, requiring an adjustment in throttle position, and when 2nd gear catches, then there is too much power. It is unpredictable. The Bronco has about 35K miles now, but this has happening since day 1. Twice in dealer, twice the tech noted it, and twice the only so…”
NHTSA complaint #11719951, 2026

“Front differential mounts are cracking and breaking leading to insecure front differential and damage to adjacent suspension and power train components. This is a significant risk to both the driver/occupants and potentially other vehicles on the road. This problem is appearing with increasing frequency on the Ford Bronco forums to the point that Ford now has a TSB out relating to this known engineering failure. It require an extensive repair including rewelding the mounting brackets. There appears to be inadequate guidance to the repairing dealers, however, as there is a large degree of uncer…”
NHTSA complaint #11712487, 2026

Engine 19 1 fire

“My husband was sitting at a stop light when he noticed what appeared to be steam/smoke coming out from under the hood of the Bronco. Then smoke came into the vehicle through the air vents. When he looked up, flames were coming out from under the hood. He got out and the whole front of the car burst into flames and torched the car.”
NHTSA complaint #11735666, 2026 · fire

“Going 80 on the fwy. It stared shaking, engine light came on. Immediately go off the fwy as soon as I stopped it died and wouldn’t start.”
NHTSA complaint #11733715, 2026

“Check engine light stayed on, constant. Code run showed cylinder 4 misfire. Bronco still under warranty so took to dealership. Mechanic said coolant was inside cylinder so he requested recommended remedy from Ford and would probably be engine replacement.”
NHTSA complaint #11705547, 2025

Service Brakes 16

“TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE IN 2023 BRONCO. What happened is exactly what is described for current recall of the electronic brake booster for 2025 broncos. Mine is a 2023.”
NHTSA complaint #11747200, 2026

“A couple of times on as well as off pavement when traveling on a decline I depress the brake pedal and it only very softly applied the brakes. I have to press very hard to come to a stop. Much harder than normal. Once (off pavement) they did not work until the third time I pressed them. The pedal just went to the bottom. Normally the steep decline seems to be associated to the issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11729240, 2026

“I have a 2.7l V6 Bronco with an automatic transmission. There is a steep downhill road (22% grade) a couple blocks from my house that ends at a stop sign for a major cross street. I apply the brake pedal to slow down for the stop sign and the Bronco behaves normally and comes to a full stop, but then with no change in brake pedal pressure by me nor any pedal feedback, i notice the Bronco starts creeping forward a few feet, then abruptly stops again. When the Bronco starts creeping downhill and then abruptly stops again, there is no brake pedal feedback or movement, and the engine does not ch…”
NHTSA complaint #11681758, 2025

Unknown Or Other 15 3 crash 1 fire

“The vehicle was parked and not in operation when a fire occurred. There was no collision or impact. The fire originated in the vehicle and caused significant damage. Emergency services responded to extinguish the fire. The vehicle had been properly maintained and there were no aftermarket modifications. The cause of the fire is unknown at this”
NHTSA complaint #11705690, 2025 · fire

“While attempting to back up I was checking my backup camera and it showed that nothing was behind me, as I started to turn while backing up I felt a bump, there was a car right behind me, I couldn’t see it in my mirror and apparently the camera was frozen on my Bronco.”
NHTSA complaint #11668332, 2025 · crash

“Hello, I previously wrote about this problem under ID#116588898 however i feel as though it did not explain what happened correctly. As I was backing out of my garage, I stopped my vehicle putting it in park. After putting my vehicle in reverse and looking in my mirrors I didn't see anything behind me. (a blind spot) I was on an angle. My radio was on and as I proceeded in reverse, I hit a car that was in my driveway. There was no damage to my vehicle however there is about $3900 damage to the car behind me where the spare tire crushed the trunk lid and rear left qtr. At no time did I hear any…”
NHTSA complaint #11663551, 2025 · crash

Suspension 13

“-Complete steering and suspension failure occurred while driving on highway. Vehicle is currently sitting at Ford dealer. - The safety of all passengers was put at risk and nearly caused a fatal accident. -Dealer and another shop are saying it was lower control arm and bushing failure. They are unclear on path forward for repairs and it seems like something bigger is going on they do not want to disclose. They deny problem has been reproduced on this model, however a similar recall for this type of failure has occurred on other bronco models under recall number 26S36. That recall report ma…”
NHTSA complaint #11741783, 2026

“Front differential mounts are cracking and breaking leading to insecure front differential and damage to adjacent suspension and power train components. This is a significant risk to both the driver/occupants and potentially other vehicles on the road. This problem is appearing with increasing frequency on the Ford Bronco forums to the point that Ford now has a TSB out relating to this known engineering failure. It require an extensive repair including rewelding the mounting brackets. There appears to be inadequate guidance to the repairing dealers, however, as there is a large degree of uncer…”
NHTSA complaint #11712487, 2026

“I am reporting unresolved safety recalls and unreasonable delay in repair for my 2023 Ford Bronco (VIN: [XXX] ). This vehicle currently has two open safety recalls issued by Ford Motor Company     •    NHTSA Recall 25V721 (issued October 2025) – seat frame defect that may increase injury risk in a crash. There is currently no available remedy, and Ford has notified me that a repair is not expected until April 2027.     •    NHTSA Recall 26V124 (issued March 2026) – APIM defect that may overheat and cause the rearview camera to fail while reversing, increasing crash risk. In addition, this ve…”
NHTSA complaint #11730930, 2025

Structure 12

“The MIC hard top component on my Ford Bronco is cracking. I have gotten it replaced twice through Ford for the same issue, but now this is my 3rd top and the issue keeps coming back.”
NHTSA complaint #11751149, 2026

“Delamination of roof and cracking with leaks”
NHTSA complaint #11739172, 2026

“Chronic water leak from roofline obstructing vision and causing confusion while underway”
NHTSA complaint #11709525, 2026

Back Over Prevention 9 2 crash

“Hello, I previously wrote about this problem under ID#116588898 however i feel as though it did not explain what happened correctly. As I was backing out of my garage, I stopped my vehicle putting it in park. After putting my vehicle in reverse and looking in my mirrors I didn't see anything behind me. (a blind spot) I was on an angle. My radio was on and as I proceeded in reverse, I hit a car that was in my driveway. There was no damage to my vehicle however there is about $3900 damage to the car behind me where the spare tire crushed the trunk lid and rear left qtr. At no time did I hear any…”
NHTSA complaint #11663551, 2025 · crash

“Backing out of the garage then stopping for a minute and putting it in park then in drive afterwards I forgot there was a car behind me in my driveway. After looking in my side mirrors i saw nothing. I hit the vehicle behind me. With the radio on and playing music at no time did the radio lower in sound and the avoidance system sound off. If the avoidance system sounded off the music was louder. I hit the vehicle behind me. I guess i should have turned my head to check behind me but if the sounds were going off it might have helped me to avoid this. I really can't remember either if the camera…”
NHTSA complaint #11658898, 2025 · crash

“The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V124000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that on several occasions when the vehicle was in park(P) and running, the infotainment screen turned black after several seconds. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not diagnosed. The dealer stated that the failure might be possible with the recall repair and that the part was not yet available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11734240, 2026

Seat Belts 7

“After Avis Ford replaced my seatbelt on the driver’s side, my vehicle began to rattle from underneath the same area and in the front. The seatbelt side was serviced twice, and now the car feels unsafe. The dealership refused to re-inspect and told me to fix it out of pocket. I’m concerned this may be a structural or safety-related defect caused by improper repair.”
NHTSA complaint #11667594, 2025

“We have 3 Diono 3QXT car seats in our 2023 Bronco back seat. I noticed today that two of the car seat's vehicle seatbelts were unlatched. The middle car seat and the passenger-side car seat were loose because the securing seatbelt in the Bronco was unlatched. My concern is that one of the car seats activated the seat belt release button in the Bronco. I will monitor my car seats to see if the issue occurs again, but I thought it was important enough to report, in case there are any other similar complaints regarding either the Diono car seat or the Ford Bronco's rear seatbelts.”
NHTSA complaint #11664569, 2025

“There is an open recall from Ford for almost 2 months and they dont have the remedy to close the recall. I dont feel secure to drive the car and the manufacturer to fix the identified problem on priority basis.”
NHTSA complaint #11543146, 2023

Visibility 5 1 injury

“While driving on a highway at +70 mph, the rear window shattered inward, with such force that it sounded like a shotgun had discharged. I did not stop, because literally thought I may have been shot at. The window shattered with such force that the plastic molding around the rear speakers were sliced by the glass. Thank goodness no one was in the back seat, my wife and I were both covered in glass fragments, including small shards of glass. The Ford dealership stated the glass must have been faulty.”
NHTSA complaint #11535522, 2023 · 1 injury(ies)

“The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that during inclement weather, there was moisture leaking inside the vehicle through the rear windshield. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer on several occasions for the failure. The contact was informed that the rear gasket located by the rear windshield needs to be frequently cleaned and cleared to prevent failure. The dealer also stated that the windshield could not be replaced at the dealer. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mil…”
NHTSA complaint #11592227, 2023

“The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the windshield wipers stopped functioning. The contact disengaged and reengaged the windshield wipers; however, the failure persisted. An unknown dealer was contacted and informed the contact that they were unsure of the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 200. The contact stated the vehicle is equipped with protection features to prevent damage to the wiper motor. The c…”
NHTSA complaint #11514056, 2023

Steering 4

“-Complete steering and suspension failure occurred while driving on highway. Vehicle is currently sitting at Ford dealer. - The safety of all passengers was put at risk and nearly caused a fatal accident. -Dealer and another shop are saying it was lower control arm and bushing failure. They are unclear on path forward for repairs and it seems like something bigger is going on they do not want to disclose. They deny problem has been reproduced on this model, however a similar recall for this type of failure has occurred on other bronco models under recall number 26S36. That recall report ma…”
NHTSA complaint #11741783, 2026

“Steering would get stuck when turning, then let loose. Fortunately I didn’t lose control. Happens all the time now when driving. Had the car towed to dealer. They diagnosed failed steering shaft. This Bronco has approx 28,000 miles on it. Ford Motor Company refused to help me pay for the approx $1000 repair. Finally, the dealer worked with a contact at Ford for them to cover most of the cost. Ford wouldn’t consider issuing a recall, or expanding an existing recall for a similar steering problem, which didn’t include my VIN. No warning lights, messages, etc. I consider this a serious defect.”
NHTSA complaint #11729894, 2026

“I customer Ordered 2023 Bronco from Ford in 1/2023. It was delivered on [XXX]. I paid for vehicle in full. Upon getting in Bronco to drive home I noticed a Defective Steering Wheel with bumps all over it. They cut into my fingers. I notified Ford right then on [XXX]. I also noticed Defective knuckle punch on rear tail door of Bronco that holds Spare Tire, etc. I notified Ford. They have wasted a year lying to me by email and telephone messages telling me they are not responsible for these defects. I documented and photographed issues and had Crown Ford in Lynbrook, NY inspect vehicle and photo…”
NHTSA complaint #11579763, 2024

Exterior Lighting 3

“On November 30th, 2025 I drove southbound from Milwaukee to Chicago, leaving at approximately 5:30 a.m., on I-41. There was a winter storm warning in effect. Approximately every twenty miles I needed to stop and deice my headlights as light output had diminished to almost zero, resulting in extremely dangerous visibility. I have experienced similar problems in Manitoba and western Minnesota. In these areas, there is often more than fifteen miles before you can exit the highway or find a safe place to pull over. It is not possible to get this problem diagnosed by a dealer. However, it is a c…”
NHTSA complaint #11702389, 2025

“Right turn signal in front and rear went out”
NHTSA complaint #11635154, 2025

“LED headlights on new 21+Ford Bronco do not have enough heat to melt snow or ice that builds up on the headlights while traveling. There are thousands of posts online from different drivers confirming this issue with winter weather. The headlights become clogged with snow and visibility at night is reduced to an unsafe amount. The headlights will have to be cleared manually, resulting in additional unsafe situations, and get filled back up again in under 10 min. This has not been inspected by the manufacture for my vehicle - but should be recalled and replaced with heated headlamps of some…”
NHTSA complaint #11564895, 2024

Forward Collision Avoidance 3

“My vehicle has both cracked and leaking rear shocks as well as issues with the rearview camera and infotainment system. I have gone through two Ford Dealerships to remedy this issue and was told parts are on back order. I attempted to remedy this issue when I first received notification that parts were available in August 2025. When I drive, I can feel the suspension is not providing support and continued use will cause other issues with the vehicle that may not be covered under warranty or the recall. My vehicle will also trigger the collision avoidance feature when there is physical trigger.…”
NHTSA complaint #11707002, 2025

“The main issue is the airbag light, it is available for inspection. Warning indicator on Ford app states safe to drive without a passenger. Dealer repaired a couple parts got better for a while but continued. Was told they had a wiring harness ordered, but canceled and told to call Ford about a buyback, dealt with Ford, Better Business Bureau about lemon law, but still have not giving me a price for the buyback even though they agreed to buy it back. The vehicle had been in an accident [XXX], it was repaired at the Ford dealer And completed 6/7, was dropped off to have a new aftermarket bumper…”
NHTSA complaint #11605244, 2023

“Emergency brake failure. I have a very slight slope on my driveway. My car rolled halfway down my driveway. I assumed I did something wrong although I knew I had the car in gear with the E brake on. Two hours later I came back from an errand parked on my driveway was sitting in my car and my car started rolling backwards. The car was off in gear with the E brake on. I videotaped this happening every 20 seconds the car with balance, and roll back an inch or two. After 4 1/2 minutes, the car rolled the rest of the way down my driveway until it hit the street where it was flat. The car was in gea…”
NHTSA complaint #11513648, 2023

Fuel/Propulsion System 3 1 fire

“My husband was sitting at a stop light when he noticed what appeared to be steam/smoke coming out from under the hood of the Bronco. Then smoke came into the vehicle through the air vents. When he looked up, flames were coming out from under the hood. He got out and the whole front of the car burst into flames and torched the car.”
NHTSA complaint #11735666, 2026 · fire

“While driving the vehicle began to misfire and became unsafe to drive. It was towed to the local dealer where error codes confirmed that cylinder 4 had misfired. Ford was unable to duplicate the issue nor where they able to find any issues that would have caused the misfire after trouble shooting.”
NHTSA complaint #11576255, 2024

“The vehicle experienced recurring electrical system failures beginning in December 2023. The vehicle intermittently would not start and on several occasions lost power unexpectedly. The vehicle was taken multiple times to an authorized Ford dealership for diagnosis while still under the manufacturer warranty. The dealership repeatedly reported that no issue could be identified despite the recurring electrical malfunction. The vehicle battery was replaced more than once within three years, however the underlying electrical issue persisted. In August 2025 the dealership instructed that the ve…”
NHTSA complaint #11722270, 2023

Air Bags 2

“I turned on the car and the airbag light was on. I took to a Ford dealership they said this was not under warranty. The sensor to the airbag is not working and will not go off if I'm actually in an accident. The sensor needs to be properly installed as this was an issue with many Ford Broncos years 2021-2022.”
NHTSA complaint #11602612, 2024

“The main issue is the airbag light, it is available for inspection. Warning indicator on Ford app states safe to drive without a passenger. Dealer repaired a couple parts got better for a while but continued. Was told they had a wiring harness ordered, but canceled and told to call Ford about a buyback, dealt with Ford, Better Business Bureau about lemon law, but still have not giving me a price for the buyback even though they agreed to buy it back. The vehicle had been in an accident [XXX], it was repaired at the Ford dealer And completed 6/7, was dropped off to have a new aftermarket bumper…”
NHTSA complaint #11605244, 2023

Equipment 2

“Base plate wield on driver side failed allowing one side of the tow bar to disconnect from the tow vehicle and it is available for inspection. The tow vehicle was allowed to move into the adjacent lane and if there was a vehicle there it would have cause an accident luckily we had pulled into a campground. The wield broke on late Friday and the dealer has not contacted me yet.”
NHTSA complaint #11550057, 2023

“The screen on the radio freezes/glitches at random times. Navigation no longer updates despite still, providing audio prompts. Requires the vehicle to be parked and turned off to fix it each time. Creates major issue when navigating unfamiliar areas and suddenly needing to pull off the road.”
NHTSA complaint #11510322, 2023

Wheels 2 1 crash

“The vehicle was purchased new on 03/23/23.Yesterday, I began to notice a vibration at low speeds when not applying the brake or gas. Today (03/29), 6 days after purchase, as I’m taking it back to the dealership and while in heavy traffic on I-10, the entire rear drivers side wheel separates from the car. All six lug studs had been completely sheared. My concern is that the studs may not be sufficient for the larger 35” tires that come standard on the Wildtrak series of the Bronco. If they are proven to be sufficient then I’d like to figure out why this occurred as this situation could have en…”
NHTSA complaint #11514510, 2023 · crash

“We installed new tires and wheels on our vehicle and it immediately started having engine problems and the check engine light comes on. We took it to the dealer and after several days back and forth Ford told the deal that it's a known problem with the 2.3L version of the Ford Bronco however they had no fix and no timeline to fix the problem. This creates a safety hazard as the engine program can't be updated and could cause damage to the engine and cause it to fail. The dealer then stated that they could not return the vehicle to us with the new tires and wheels we purchased and we had to put…”
NHTSA complaint #11618945, 2024

Engine And Engine Cooling 1

“The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and flat towing an RV, the Flat-Tow mode inadvertently disengaged and the contact smelled a burning odor permeating the interior of the vehicle with the message "Stop vehicle immediately, excessive temperature detected" displayed. The transmission temperature warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that there was damage to the transmission and turbocharger due to the Flat-Tow mode not being engaged properly during towing. The contact was informed that th…”
NHTSA complaint #11676815, 2025

Firerelated 1 1 fire

“The contact owned a 2023 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that while her boyfriend was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal noise. The contact's boyfriend had pulled over. They discovered an unknown fluid leaking under the vehicle and a spark coming from the engine before the vehicle caught fire. There were no injuries were sustained. The firefighters arrived and extinguished the fire. Police and fire department reports were filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed totaled by the insurance company. Upon research, the contact related the failure to the fuel…”
NHTSA complaint #11737859, 2025 · fire

Fuel System 1 1 fire

“The contact owned a 2023 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that while her boyfriend was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal noise. The contact's boyfriend had pulled over. They discovered an unknown fluid leaking under the vehicle and a spark coming from the engine before the vehicle caught fire. There were no injuries were sustained. The firefighters arrived and extinguished the fire. Police and fire department reports were filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed totaled by the insurance company. Upon research, the contact related the failure to the fuel…”
NHTSA complaint #11737859, 2025 · fire

Lane Departure 1

“Camera and sensor on driver side does not indicate movement/stops working. This results in the Blindspot detection not working or any cross traffic alerts or object detection, which can lead to an accident. occurs intermittently and car does not issue a warning that the system is not working or down. Also causing an issue when backing up”
NHTSA complaint #11746140, 2026

Parking Brake 1

“The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the message "Parking Brake Fault - Service Now" message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed; however, the contact was informed that further diagnostic test was needed to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 33,990.”
NHTSA complaint #11678726, 2025

Seats 1

“I am reporting unresolved safety recalls and unreasonable delay in repair for my 2023 Ford Bronco (VIN: [XXX] ). This vehicle currently has two open safety recalls issued by Ford Motor Company     •    NHTSA Recall 25V721 (issued October 2025) – seat frame defect that may increase injury risk in a crash. There is currently no available remedy, and Ford has notified me that a repair is not expected until April 2027.     •    NHTSA Recall 26V124 (issued March 2026) – APIM defect that may overheat and cause the rearview camera to fail while reversing, increasing crash risk. In addition, this ve…”
NHTSA complaint #11730930, 2025

Tires 1

“The contact owns a contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco equipped with Continental Tires, Tire Line: ProContact, Tire Size: 225/65/R17, DOT Number: IP50GBV3K. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the contact heard a loud booming sound. The contact stated that after stopping and inspecting the vehicle, it was discovered that the rear driver’s side tire had experienced a blowout and the tire was flat. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 15,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11580054, 2024

Vehicle Speed Control 1

“When driving or breaking at slower speeds, the car feels as if the transmission is “slipping” and the car jerks forward. The same thing happens when braking the car.”
NHTSA complaint #11591983, 2024