2023 FORD BRONCO Safety Overview

Component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER

"After making a right hand turn, when the steering wheel recenters for some unknown reason it is turning on the left turn signal. I had noticed it in the past and thought I was wrong, but it continuing to do it."

Component: LANE DEPARTURE

"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"

Component: POWER TRAIN

"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)"

Component: LANE DEPARTURE

"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"

Component: SERVICE BRAKES

"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."

Component: SERVICE BRAKES

"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."

Component: STEERING,SUSPENSION

"-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 matches what happened to my vehicle. -It has been inspected by Ford and Bronco Barn in Las Vegas. I will be getting a third opinion for a clear path forward since none has been supplied by ford or the third party company. -There were no warning lamps, check engine lights, or messages prior to failure. There was a slight misalignment of tires felt while driving just prior to losing full steering control."

Component: STEERING,SUSPENSION

"-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 matches what happened to my vehicle. -It has been inspected by Ford and Bronco Barn in Las Vegas. I will be getting a third opinion for a clear path forward since none has been supplied by ford or the third party company. -There were no warning lamps, check engine lights, or messages prior to failure. There was a slight misalignment of tires felt while driving just prior to losing full steering control."

Component: ENGINE

"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."

Component: ENGINE

"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."

Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION

"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."

Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION

"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."

Component: ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

"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."

Component: ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

"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."

Component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER

"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."

Component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER

"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."

Component: SERVICE BRAKES

"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."

Component: SERVICE BRAKES

"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."

Component: STEERING

"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."

Component: STEERING

"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."

Component: STRUCTURE

"Delamination of roof and cracking with leaks"

Component: STRUCTURE

"Delamination of roof and cracking with leaks"

Component: VISIBILITY/WIPER

"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!"

Component: VISIBILITY/WIPER

"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!"

Component: STRUCTURE

"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."

Component: POWER TRAIN

"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 solution was to clear the adaptive shift control memory. Does not fix the issue."

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

"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"

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

"Hood latch sensor alarms hood ajar when hood is actually closed and secure. This issues inhibits the use of remotely starting, or unlocking vehicle. This appears to be a possible recall with the make and year of my vehicle but has never been listed as recall."

Component: VISIBILITY/WIPER

"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…"

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

"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."

Component: STRUCTURE,VISIBILITY/WIPER

"Chronic water leak from roofline obstructing vision and causing confusion while underway"

Component: SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN

"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 uncertainty as to how to approach executing the weld repair, according to my dealer, Corwin Ford, in Spokane, Washington."

Component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER

"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"

Component: ENGINE

"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."

Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING

"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 common complaint among Bronco (and Jeep) owners. The combination of an upright grill and the low heat output of LED lighting quickly render headlights useless in snowy or icing conditions. No warnings appear; light output simply quickly drops to almost nothing."

Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION

"The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V273000 (Back Over Prevention), and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair. The dealer replaced the rearview camera, but the rearview camera software update could not be completed. The dealer replaced the rearview camera a second time; however, the issue persisted. The dealer informed the contact that the software update might have failed due to the aftermarket 2-inch lift that was performed on the vehicle. The contact was advised that a fee would be charged for the lift removal and was informed that the lift removal might not correct the issue. The contact stated that the aftermarket 2-inch lift was a replication of the Sasquatch, 2-3" Lift package that the manufacturer offered. The recall repair was not completed. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue, but no assistance was provided. The contact had not experienced a failure."

Component: STRUCTURE

"The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that upon inspection the hard top roof, there were several cracks formed on the roof. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was acknowledged, and it was agreed that the hard top would be replaced under warranty. After the hard top was replaced, the contact inspected the new hard top and discovered several dents and uneven surfaces on the roof. The dealer was notified of the failure, and an agent advised the contact to bring the vehicle back to the dealer. The contact was informed that he could inspect the hardtops of the newer vehicles at the dealer lot and if he found a top that he liked, the dealer would swap the hardtop and replace the hardtop. After inspecting approximately 5 vehicles, each vehicle had issues with their hardtops. Upon investigation, the contact discovered General Service Bulletin: 23-7174, which was associated with the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000."

Component: STRUCTURE

"The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that upon inspection the hard top roof, there were several cracks formed on the roof. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was acknowledged, and it was agreed that the hard top would be replaced under warranty. After the hard top was replaced, the contact inspected the new hard top and discovered several dents and uneven surfaces on the roof. The dealer was notified of the failure, and an agent advised the contact to bring the vehicle back to the dealer. The contact was informed that he could inspect the hardtops of the newer vehicles at the dealer lot and if he found a top that he liked, the dealer would swap the hardtop and replace the hardtop. After inspecting approximately 5 vehicles, each vehicle had issues with their hardtops. Upon investigation, the contact discovered General Service Bulletin: 23-7174, which was associated with the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000."

Component: SERVICE BRAKES

"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 change RPM. The only sound I hear is something that sounds like service brakes releasing pressure then suddenly reapplying full pressure. I compensate by stopping early, so I don’t drift into the intersection, or a vehicle in front of me, or pedestrian. It can startle any pedestrian that starts to cross in front of my “stopped” Bronco and it suddenly starts creeping down on them. I have noticed this for months but have not taken it to a dealer for resolution yet. The problem appears to not happen after I have been driving for a few minutes. Because this is a problem that occurs on hills in the first few minutes of driving, it likely will be hard to demonstrate to a dealership for diagnosis because there are no hills near my local Ford dealership. The incident occurrence date entered below ([XXX]) is just today’s date - this problem has been present for many months, if not since new. Other uses have reported this same issue in online forums: [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)"

Component: SERVICE BRAKES

"There are reports of Ford Broncos rolling forward under braking, after a full stop. This occurs most often on a hill. To be clear, the brakes are already fully depressed, the vehicle is stopped, and THEN the vehicle suddenly rolls forward while the brakes are depressed, endangering pedestrians and others. This is NOT caused by driver error. Here are some vehicle owner complaints about this issue: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)"

Component: STRUCTURE

"The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that after opening the driver's side door and then closing the door, the passenger's side hard top fractured into several pieces. The dealer was contacted and informed of the failure. The dealer confirmed that the repair would not be covered for free. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The manufacturer confirmed that the repair would not be covered. The manufacturer opened a case regarding the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 11,000."

Component: PARKING BRAKE

"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."

Component: ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN

"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 the transmission and turbo charger needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 22-7086. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The contact was later informed that the manufacturer concluded that the disengagement of Flat-Tow mode was the result of user error. The manufacturer declined to cover the cost of the repair. The contact contested the manufacturer’s findings as inconceivable, stating that the Flat-Tow mode was still engaged after arriving at his destination. The failure mileage was 50,200."

Component: STRUCTURE

"rear tailgate on the bronco gives off a very loud rattling noise when driving"

Component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER

"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."

Component: SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE

"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. This has caused my brakes to lock up in traffic."

Component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER

"I am sending a complaint as I purchased this vehicle brand new from the dealer in June. They have not been able to give me my vehicle because Ford has not come up with a fix on these two recalls. My complaint is how long does Ford have to make this right? They keep extending the recall dates out from a month or so to now 4th quarter. I am paid for a vehicle that I can't use because of Ford's Delay. I am hoping you all as a government agency will give back some feedback and push Ford to fix the issue a bit more timely."

Component: SEAT BELTS

"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."

Component: UNKNOWN OR OTHER

"My vehicle was sitting in a small parking lot at work and the back liftgate glass blew out onto the pavement. It was 95 degrees outside. The liftgate arms and all the shattered glass were on the outside of my vehicle. I called the dealership and was told nothing they could do and they didn't even ask to look at it. I paid out of pocket to replace the glass. Then on January 24th when it was -25 degrees I remote started my vehicle and it ran for about 10 minutes, I went outside to leave for work, got in started my vehicle and looked in the rearview mirror and noticed the leads for the rear defrost were hanging down. I got out of my vehicle to find shattered glass all over my driveway and the liftgate glass arms outside of my vehicle. I called Ford and I called the Ford dealership. No help. Just told they've never heard of this happening. Well, I told them the1st time it happened and this is the second time. Brought to the dealership and no answers. Asked if they reported this and the last incident to ford as it's my understanding they are to notify corporate. Nothing. I asked them to see if there was a short in the rear defrost or any other reason why this is happening. I got a to bad so sad, if ya want it fixed it will be $1700. There are no warnings that this will happen."

Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,FIRERELATED

"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 injector. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000."