2021 Ford Bronco Sport Problems

On 9/15/26, while actively driving with my child, the monitor screen suddenly turned black and an error message of "Vehicle Network Communication Error", a few seconds later my dashboard turned black, no display messages, speed limit, or manual gauges were working and that too went blank; blinkers did not work when trying to use them. Luckily I was a short distance from where I was traveling to and when we arrived I turned off my car to see if i restart it, it would reset my car. It did not work. My car did not turn on, did not crank- the light on my start button just flashed rapidly. It was not until after my husband later arrived he disconnected the negative battery terminal and let it stay disconnected for 20-30 minutes and it then restarted. Case #CXH-09342591-W5K1G2 was filed with Ford Customer Relations, but they said further information regarding the case would likely not be provided to me as an update.

The vehicle's entire powertrain and transmission system failed completely. The vehicle will not turn on, will not start, and the electronic rotary gear shifter is physically locked out, refusing to shift into Park or Neutral. The transmission assembly component is currently available for physical inspection upon request. The sudden loss of powertrain and electrical control module communication caused an immediate loss of motive power, stalling the vehicle and leaving it completely stranded and un-drivable. The physical lockout of the shifter mechanism prevents rolling or shifting the asset safely, creating an immediate rollaway or crash hazard if stranded on an active roadway. The car was also jerking vilolently in the middle of an intersection almost causing an accident where we would’ve been rear ended. Yes. The failure was formally diagnosed and confirmed by an authorized dealership, Jim Taylor Ford in [XXX], under Repair Order (RO) #XXX. The component has been physically inspected and diagnosed by the certified technicians at Jim Taylor Ford dealership, who confirmed a total internal failure. They have ordered an entire replacement transmission assembly under Ford Part Number LX6Z-7000-F and Fluid XT-12-QULV. Symptoms and warning signs began showing around XXX, starting with minor shift jerking then eventually turning into violent jerking within a few days. The vehicle suffered from electrical system degradation and complete module power loss, which directly aligns with the known failure symptoms of Ford's active Powertrain Control Module (PCM) and battery safety recalls (such as Campaign 24S24). Ford Corporate was contacted but is refusing to cover this catastrophic mechanical destruction under the safety recall mandate due to the vehicle's mileage (118,365 miles), despite the physical damage being explicitly caused by the unaddressed manufacturer safety defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The vehicle's entire powertrain and transmission system failed completely. The vehicle will not turn on, will not start, and the electronic rotary gear shifter is physically locked out, refusing to shift into Park or Neutral. The transmission assembly component is currently available for physical inspection upon request. The sudden loss of powertrain and electrical control module communication caused an immediate loss of motive power, stalling the vehicle and leaving it completely stranded and un-drivable. The physical lockout of the shifter mechanism prevents rolling or shifting the asset safely, creating an immediate rollaway or crash hazard if stranded on an active roadway. The car was also jerking vilolently in the middle of an intersection almost causing an accident where we would’ve been rear ended. Yes. The failure was formally diagnosed and confirmed by an authorized dealership, Jim Taylor Ford in [XXX], under Repair Order (RO) #XXX. The component has been physically inspected and diagnosed by the certified technicians at Jim Taylor Ford dealership, who confirmed a total internal failure. They have ordered an entire replacement transmission assembly under Ford Part Number LX6Z-7000-F and Fluid XT-12-QULV. Symptoms and warning signs began showing around XXX, starting with minor shift jerking then eventually turning into violent jerking within a few days. The vehicle suffered from electrical system degradation and complete module power loss, which directly aligns with the known failure symptoms of Ford's active Powertrain Control Module (PCM) and battery safety recalls (such as Campaign 24S24). Ford Corporate was contacted but is refusing to cover this catastrophic mechanical destruction under the safety recall mandate due to the vehicle's mileage (118,365 miles), despite the physical damage being explicitly caused by the unaddressed manufacturer safety defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, there was an abnormal gasoline odor inside the vehicle and the vehicle sputtered. The ABS, traction control, engine, seat belt, battery, and other unknown warning lights illuminated, and the messages, "System off to Save Battery - Please turn off to Start Engine", "Charging System Service Now", "Pre-Collision Assist not Available", "Front Camera Temporarily Unavailable", "Service Vehicle Soon", and "Check Brake System" were displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery needed to be replaced and the body control module software needed to be updated. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred five months later. The vehicle was taken to another dealer but was not yet diagnosed. The contact stated that fault codes for the battery and alternator were retrieved. The failure mileage was 110,000.

On 9/15/26, while actively driving with my child, the monitor screen suddenly turned black and an error message of "Vehicle Network Communication Error", a few seconds later my dashboard turned black, no display messages, speed limit, or manual gauges were working and that too went blank; blinkers did not work when trying to use them. Luckily I was a short distance from where I was traveling to and when we arrived I turned off my car to see if i restart it, it would reset my car. It did not work. My car did not turn on, did not crank- the light on my start button just flashed rapidly. It was not until after my husband later arrived he disconnected the negative battery terminal and let it stay disconnected for 20-30 minutes and it then restarted. Case #CXH-09342591-W5K1G2 was filed with Ford Customer Relations, but they said further information regarding the case would likely not be provided to me as an update.

The vehicle's entire powertrain and transmission system failed completely. The vehicle will not turn on, will not start, and the electronic rotary gear shifter is physically locked out, refusing to shift into Park or Neutral. The transmission assembly component is currently available for physical inspection upon request. The sudden loss of powertrain and electrical control module communication caused an immediate loss of motive power, stalling the vehicle and leaving it completely stranded and un-drivable. The physical lockout of the shifter mechanism prevents rolling or shifting the asset safely, creating an immediate rollaway or crash hazard if stranded on an active roadway. The car was also jerking vilolently in the middle of an intersection almost causing an accident where we would’ve been rear ended. Yes. The failure was formally diagnosed and confirmed by an authorized dealership, Jim Taylor Ford in [XXX], under Repair Order (RO) #XXX. The component has been physically inspected and diagnosed by the certified technicians at Jim Taylor Ford dealership, who confirmed a total internal failure. They have ordered an entire replacement transmission assembly under Ford Part Number LX6Z-7000-F and Fluid XT-12-QULV. Symptoms and warning signs began showing around XXX, starting with minor shift jerking then eventually turning into violent jerking within a few days. The vehicle suffered from electrical system degradation and complete module power loss, which directly aligns with the known failure symptoms of Ford's active Powertrain Control Module (PCM) and battery safety recalls (such as Campaign 24S24). Ford Corporate was contacted but is refusing to cover this catastrophic mechanical destruction under the safety recall mandate due to the vehicle's mileage (118,365 miles), despite the physical damage being explicitly caused by the unaddressed manufacturer safety defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, there was an abnormal gasoline odor inside the vehicle and the vehicle sputtered. The ABS, traction control, engine, seat belt, battery, and other unknown warning lights illuminated, and the messages, "System off to Save Battery - Please turn off to Start Engine", "Charging System Service Now", "Pre-Collision Assist not Available", "Front Camera Temporarily Unavailable", "Service Vehicle Soon", and "Check Brake System" were displayed. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the battery needed to be replaced and the body control module software needed to be updated. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred five months later. The vehicle was taken to another dealer but was not yet diagnosed. The contact stated that fault codes for the battery and alternator were retrieved. The failure mileage was 110,000.

Pre-Collision System warning activated unexpectedly. The vehicle then accelerated by itself unexpectedly and the accelerator/throttle was engaged by itself. Breaks were then hard to push and vertically impossible to slow down. At the time, there was no vehicle or obstruction immediately around the vehicle other than a possible box, or small obstruction in the road. Yes the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Due to the unexpected activation of the pre-collision system followed by unexpected acceleration by itself, caused the vehicle to move unexpectedly and resulted in a collision with another vehicle, creating a safety risk to the occupants of both vehicles. No. The problem has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. No. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or any other party. The police did come to the accident and a police report was filed. Yes. The vehicle's Pre-Collision System warning activated unexpectedly immediately prior to the incident. There were no other known warning lamps or messages before the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated by itself and collided with another vehicle.

On 9/15/26, while actively driving with my child, the monitor screen suddenly turned black and an error message of "Vehicle Network Communication Error", a few seconds later my dashboard turned black, no display messages, speed limit, or manual gauges were working and that too went blank; blinkers did not work when trying to use them. Luckily I was a short distance from where I was traveling to and when we arrived I turned off my car to see if i restart it, it would reset my car. It did not work. My car did not turn on, did not crank- the light on my start button just flashed rapidly. It was not until after my husband later arrived he disconnected the negative battery terminal and let it stay disconnected for 20-30 minutes and it then restarted. Case #CXH-09342591-W5K1G2 was filed with Ford Customer Relations, but they said further information regarding the case would likely not be provided to me as an update.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, exhaust fumes and a fuel odor entered the cabin, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The engine misfired, and the vehicle hesitated while driving. Upon inspecting under the hood, the contact discovered black soot in the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer for diagnosis, where the dealer determined that the piston solenoid, catalytic converter, and driver’s side lower control arm and bushing needed replacement. The contact stated that the PCM was previously replaced. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V340000 (Suspension); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 124,000.

Pre-Collision System warning activated unexpectedly. The vehicle then accelerated by itself unexpectedly and the accelerator/throttle was engaged by itself. Breaks were then hard to push and vertically impossible to slow down. At the time, there was no vehicle or obstruction immediately around the vehicle other than a possible box, or small obstruction in the road. Yes the vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Due to the unexpected activation of the pre-collision system followed by unexpected acceleration by itself, caused the vehicle to move unexpectedly and resulted in a collision with another vehicle, creating a safety risk to the occupants of both vehicles. No. The problem has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. No. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or any other party. The police did come to the accident and a police report was filed. Yes. The vehicle's Pre-Collision System warning activated unexpectedly immediately prior to the incident. There were no other known warning lamps or messages before the vehicle unexpectedly accelerated by itself and collided with another vehicle.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that the daughter had reported that while in a parking lot, the brakes unintendedly engaged, and then the vehicle suddenly accelerated. The driver immediately applied the brakes to stop the vehicle. The contact was able to duplicate the failure while attempting to park the vehicle. The messages "Power Train Malfunction" and "Reduced Power" were displayed, the power train warning light illuminated, and the parking brake warning light flashed continuously. The vehicle was being towed to the dealer. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 108,236.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions, cold condensation dripped onto the right leg and the floorboard smelled like rotting fish. The contact added that the condensation line should have leaked outside of the vehicle, not inside the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,450.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that after driving for two hours, the vehicle was parked, and the sunroof exploded without impact. There was an abnormally loud sound heard before the sunroof exploded. There were no reported injuries. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact attempted to contact the manufacturer, but there were no related options for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

On Saturday, September 19, 2026, around 10:30 am, as I was backing out of my garage, wit the speed of 3 to 4 miles, when I back into the street, luckily, there were no other cars on the street, my house is closed to an intersaction and the oncoming cars had a red light on the other side, I lost control of my car and the car spinned around. Fortuntely, I was able to stop the car and get it out of the harm way. When I got out of my car, I notices a lot of metal balls and grease on the street. I then reasearhed on the web and found out this was caused due to a defect caused by ball joint seapration. I then reserched to find if there were any recalls from the manufacture regarding this issue and there was one dated in June of 2026, with a recall number from Ford (26S36) as well as one from NHTSA. The defect was that front lower control arm ball joint my not have been fully seated or sealed or secured into the wheel knuckel during factory assembly, which can cause the joint to separate and disconnect the streeling knukle from control arm This morning I contacted Ford, they informed that based on my VIN, my car was not included in that recall. I cannot understand their logic that how they can determine by the VIN that which car may have defective parts installed without visually inspecting the call. My research showed sometime the car manufacturers understimate the recall issues, for their own purposes. I found it unethical and irreaponsible respond from Ford. This could have catastrophic had this happened while I may have been driving on a busy street, and worse yet on a freeway at a higher speed.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, exhaust fumes and a fuel odor entered the cabin, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The engine misfired, and the vehicle hesitated while driving. Upon inspecting under the hood, the contact discovered black soot in the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer for diagnosis, where the dealer determined that the piston solenoid, catalytic converter, and driver’s side lower control arm and bushing needed replacement. The contact stated that the PCM was previously replaced. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V340000 (Suspension); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 124,000.

On Saturday, September 19, 2026, around 10:30 am, as I was backing out of my garage, wit the speed of 3 to 4 miles, when I back into the street, luckily, there were no other cars on the street, my house is closed to an intersaction and the oncoming cars had a red light on the other side, I lost control of my car and the car spinned around. Fortuntely, I was able to stop the car and get it out of the harm way. When I got out of my car, I notices a lot of metal balls and grease on the street. I then reasearhed on the web and found out this was caused due to a defect caused by ball joint seapration. I then reserched to find if there were any recalls from the manufacture regarding this issue and there was one dated in June of 2026, with a recall number from Ford (26S36) as well as one from NHTSA. The defect was that front lower control arm ball joint my not have been fully seated or sealed or secured into the wheel knuckel during factory assembly, which can cause the joint to separate and disconnect the streeling knukle from control arm This morning I contacted Ford, they informed that based on my VIN, my car was not included in that recall. I cannot understand their logic that how they can determine by the VIN that which car may have defective parts installed without visually inspecting the call. My research showed sometime the car manufacturers understimate the recall issues, for their own purposes. I found it unethical and irreaponsible respond from Ford. This could have catastrophic had this happened while I may have been driving on a busy street, and worse yet on a freeway at a higher speed.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the message "Faulty Battery and Charging System" flashed on the screen, and the vehicle failed to immediately start. The contact stated that while driving later, several messages, including the messages "Faulty Power Steering" and "Faulty ABS" were displayed, and the vehicle suddenly stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V267000 (Electrical System, Power Train), which the contact related the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 56,000.

Vehicle would not start on two occasions, both times the vehicle was jumped and started. On the third occasion the car would not start, the electrical panel flashed all the warning lights and the dashboard continually flashed on and off. It was towed to the Ford Dealership in Oxford, MS in December 2024. The dealership looked over the car, no other issues and advised that this was likely a recall and recommended a battery replacement which I did. I paid $202.65 for the repairs and in February I received a notice for 12 Volt battery recall but no instructions were provided to seek reimbursement nor was there any recall fix given (time was Q2 2025). The instrumental panel upon attempting to the start the vehicle would light up but the engine would not turn over, all warning lights would come on. Yes the vehicle is available for inspection.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The contact stated that the infotainment screen was erratic before the failure. The contact stated that the hazard lights were inoperable. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the water pump needed to be replaced. The mechanic informed the contact that the failure was due to a design flaw. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.

Rear Belt Monitor Fault continues to be an issue. We received this warning light and supposedly had this repaired in October of 2024. The dealership replaced the rear seat belt buckle and reset the codes. This worked for a while but now is happening again. Additionally, we are receiving an airbag warning related to the rear belt monitor. When driving even short distances the warning light appears on screen maybe 5 or 6 times. If a seat belt is disconnected there is no audible warning alert or light to let the driver know that it is not in use. I believe this may be a faulty restraint control module rather than an actual seat belt issue. This is definitely a safety issue regarding restraints and airbags. I've heard of this issue in several Bronco sports, and Mavericks.

The contact owned a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30-40 MPH and pulling out from a side street, the contact did not notice an oncoming vehicle, which crashed into the front driver's side of the vehicle, near the axle. The air bags failed to deploy. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact's vehicle contacted 911, and the emergency services arrived at the scene. The contact was transported to the hospital, where the contact was informed that she had sustained a butterfly twisted fracture of the humerus and radial nerve damage on the right hand. The contact underwent surgery. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. The insurance company informed the contact that the vehicle would be totaled. A police report was filed. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and making turns or coming to a stop, the rear end of the vehicle made an abnormal loud screeching and scratching sound. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the rear end of the vehicle had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 97,500.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the windshield washer fluid was leaking out of the front camera. The windshield fluid warning light was illuminated. The failure occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the dealer informed the contact that a cause for the failure was not found. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. The VIN was not available.

Rear Belt Monitor Fault continues to be an issue. We received this warning light and supposedly had this repaired in October of 2024. The dealership replaced the rear seat belt buckle and reset the codes. This worked for a while but now is happening again. Additionally, we are receiving an airbag warning related to the rear belt monitor. When driving even short distances the warning light appears on screen maybe 5 or 6 times. If a seat belt is disconnected there is no audible warning alert or light to let the driver know that it is not in use. I believe this may be a faulty restraint control module rather than an actual seat belt issue. This is definitely a safety issue regarding restraints and airbags. I've heard of this issue in several Bronco sports, and Mavericks.

Low engine oil pressure sensor flashes & can’t accelerate past 40mph

The contact owned a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. Before starting the vehicle, the contact noticed an unknown fluid leaking near the front driver's side tire and detected a fuel odor inside the vehicle. While driving at an undisclosed speed, another driver alerted the contact that the rear tire was on fire. Unknown messages and warning lights appeared two minutes before the vehicle caught on fire. The contact pulled over and exited the vehicle before the vehicle was fully engulfed in flames and then got into the other driver's vehicle. The Fire Department responded to the scene and extinguished the fire. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to tow yard and was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The contact stated that the engine had previously been replaced in 2025 due to smoke under the hood. Two weeks prior to the fire, the dealer performed an oil change, and oil was leaking from the vehicle afterwards. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer two days later and was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 128,000.

The car seat was involved in an accident from the side where the child was sitting and inspector came out and stated child seat must be replaced for child safety.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the vehicle started jerking abnormally. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the failure was due to the torque converter. The contact was informed that the transmission fluid needed to be flushed and refilled. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and offered to cover 60 percent of the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, there was a loud scraping sound coming from the engine compartment, and the vehicle jerked abnormally. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the failure was associated with the torque converter. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 91,000.

My passenger seat heater caught on fire, it was very scary but I was able to put it out with sugar after I pulled over and figured out where the smell was coming from. I took it to my dealer for an inspection but I feel as though they were just trying to cover their side of everything and said “the seat heater did not cause the fire unfortunately”. I am currently in contact with ford and my insurance company. My insurance so far just says they need to investigate more but also that my claim is closed so I’m honestly just at a loss and confused about that and will be reaching out to them again soon. There was no warning at all and I’m glad I caught it when I did because I had glasses cleaner in my passenger side door that is very flammable.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the hood of the vehicle was slightly shuddering. The contact stated that the failure occurred increasingly while driving 50 MPH and at higher speeds. The dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled for diagnostic tests. The vehicle was diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 41,000. The VIN was unavailable.

At 21,000 miles on Bronco I purchased as new, I received an alert on the dash for low pressure on all 4 tires. I stopped the car and all 4 have bulges in the same place. I called Continental and they set up a file #4143053155 and told me to take it to the dealer for inspection. I took it back to Van Horn In Lomira WI for that inspection on 12/9/22. They took pictures and sent them to Continental who tells me that this is normal for tires to have bulges in the side. I am very concerned if the tires are actually safe to drive on. The tires are Continental Pro Contract tx P225/R65/17.