2022 Ford Bronco Sport Problems

I am reporting a safety concern involving the transmission in my 2022 Ford Bronco Sport equipped with the 1.5L engine and 8-speed automatic transmission (8F35). I purchased this vehicle new in May 2022 with approximately 6 miles on it. At approximately 83,000 miles, the vehicle displayed a “Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Power” warning through FordPass. The notification stated that a transmission clutch had not applied within the expected amount of time and warned that I may experience limited functionality, including unavailable gears. I took the vehicle to an authorized Ford dealership, All Star Ford Denham Springs, for diagnosis. On August 4, 2026, the dealership informed me in writing that the vehicle has an internal transmission failure and metal in the transmission fluid. The technician determined that the transmission requires complete replacement. I was subsequently quoted approximately $13,000 for the repair. I am concerned that an internal transmission failure of this nature could result in reduced propulsion, unavailable gears, abnormal shifting, or loss of vehicle mobility, particularly if the failure occurs while the vehicle is being driven. Thus being it did fail in the middle of a highway with the gas pedal no longer working. The car was then towed to the dealership and would not even go into neutral to remove the car from the trailer I am requesting that NHTSA review this failure and determine whether similar transmission/clutch failures are occurring in other 2022 Ford Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with the 8F35 transmission and whether this represents a broader safety defect. Ford has previously issued Customer Satisfaction Program 22B38 involving certain 2022 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with the 8F35 transmission. That program described a manufacturing issue involving a transmission clutch component and a potential long-term durability concern. I understand that my vehicle has not been confirmed to be included in that program

has been 1 year since recall was initiated for the fuel cap crack with no recourse. we do not feel safe waiting longer for this fix and would request compensation from ford to sell the car.

Oil pump solenoid has been replaced 3 times and the vehicle is under 100,000 miles. There is a low oil light illuminates on dash board in addition to acceleration lose and a white smoke coming from under the hood and the back end of the vehicle. The 6th or 7th time this happened the Bronco had to be towed. There were many more problems included in this tow, powertrain failure, engine misfire, loss of power, crackling, popping sound from under the hood.

Vehicle developed a hum when accelerating on July 5, 2026. Made an appointment with the dealership to have it diagnosed. They could not get me in until July 16, 2026. On July 15, 2026, the vehicle went into limp mode and had to be driven at an unsafe speed to the dealership to diagnose and repair the issue. There are 81,000 miles on the vehicle. The issue turned out to be a cracked catalytic converter. The catalytic converter had previous been replaced in August 2025 due to the same issue at 67,000 miles.

I am reporting a safety concern involving the transmission in my 2022 Ford Bronco Sport equipped with the 1.5L engine and 8-speed automatic transmission (8F35). I purchased this vehicle new in May 2022 with approximately 6 miles on it. At approximately 83,000 miles, the vehicle displayed a “Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Power” warning through FordPass. The notification stated that a transmission clutch had not applied within the expected amount of time and warned that I may experience limited functionality, including unavailable gears. I took the vehicle to an authorized Ford dealership, All Star Ford Denham Springs, for diagnosis. On August 4, 2026, the dealership informed me in writing that the vehicle has an internal transmission failure and metal in the transmission fluid. The technician determined that the transmission requires complete replacement. I was subsequently quoted approximately $13,000 for the repair. I am concerned that an internal transmission failure of this nature could result in reduced propulsion, unavailable gears, abnormal shifting, or loss of vehicle mobility, particularly if the failure occurs while the vehicle is being driven. Thus being it did fail in the middle of a highway with the gas pedal no longer working. The car was then towed to the dealership and would not even go into neutral to remove the car from the trailer I am requesting that NHTSA review this failure and determine whether similar transmission/clutch failures are occurring in other 2022 Ford Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with the 8F35 transmission and whether this represents a broader safety defect. Ford has previously issued Customer Satisfaction Program 22B38 involving certain 2022 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with the 8F35 transmission. That program described a manufacturing issue involving a transmission clutch component and a potential long-term durability concern. I understand that my vehicle has not been confirmed to be included in that program

I've had a Blindspot warning light alert, told by dealership this is an electrical issue, after a web search, I see this is a common and known issue for Ford, yet no recall has been issued. I also have another know, common powertrain issue with my rear differential. The vehicle makes noise when turning, unstable when driving. The vehicle is less than 5yrs old and under 60k miles. Both issues are safety issues and could cause an electrical fires or vehicle stalling. I am scheduled for a 2nd inspection on 7/31 and hopefully repair.

Oil pump solenoid has been replaced 3 times and the vehicle is under 100,000 miles. There is a low oil light illuminates on dash board in addition to acceleration lose and a white smoke coming from under the hood and the back end of the vehicle. The 6th or 7th time this happened the Bronco had to be towed. There were many more problems included in this tow, powertrain failure, engine misfire, loss of power, crackling, popping sound from under the hood.

I am reporting a safety concern involving the transmission in my 2022 Ford Bronco Sport equipped with the 1.5L engine and 8-speed automatic transmission (8F35). I purchased this vehicle new in May 2022 with approximately 6 miles on it. At approximately 83,000 miles, the vehicle displayed a “Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Power” warning through FordPass. The notification stated that a transmission clutch had not applied within the expected amount of time and warned that I may experience limited functionality, including unavailable gears. I took the vehicle to an authorized Ford dealership, All Star Ford Denham Springs, for diagnosis. On August 4, 2026, the dealership informed me in writing that the vehicle has an internal transmission failure and metal in the transmission fluid. The technician determined that the transmission requires complete replacement. I was subsequently quoted approximately $13,000 for the repair. I am concerned that an internal transmission failure of this nature could result in reduced propulsion, unavailable gears, abnormal shifting, or loss of vehicle mobility. Which it did in the middle of a airline hwy in baton rouge, La I am requesting that NHTSA review this failure and determine whether similar transmission/clutch failures are occurring in other 2022 Ford Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with the 8F35 transmission and whether this represents a broader safety defect. Ford has previously issued Customer Satisfaction Program 22B38 involving certain 2022 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with the 8F35 transmission. That program described a manufacturing issue involving a transmission clutch component and a potential long-term durability concern. I understand that my vehicle has not been confirmed to be included in that program, and I am not claiming that it caused my failure. I am providing this information because of the similarity to the clutch-related warning and subsequent internal transmission failure diagnosed in my vehicle.

Brakes moan when reversing at low speeds. Was told it was “normal.” Complete transmission failure—car sputtered and died at the stoplight. Then it would not shift into a gear other than park without dying.

I have brought the car in both to Marin Ford and Serramonte Ford for a transmission fluid leak. They have confirmed there is transmission fluid pooling under the hood but are either unable or unwilling to repair the source of the leak. Car is still under warranty - hoping they are not waiting for the warranty to expire and for my the car to start failing. The brakes also make a loud whining noise while driving in reverse on my 2022 Bronco Sport. The people at Serramonte Ford in Colma, CA tell me this is standard for Ford Broncos and Escape and there is not a fix. It sounds like a whale call and hard to believe the issue can't be resolved. I have read other complaints saying the saying the same thing and Ford charging $1k once out of warranty to replace pads, etc.

I've had a Blindspot warning light alert, told by dealership this is an electrical issue, after a web search, I see this is a common and known issue for Ford, yet no recall has been issued. I also have another know, common powertrain issue with my rear differential. The vehicle makes noise when turning, unstable when driving. The vehicle is less than 5yrs old and under 60k miles. Both issues are safety issues and could cause an electrical fires or vehicle stalling. I am scheduled for a 2nd inspection on 7/31 and hopefully repair.

The vehicle is only a 2022 and has a jerky acceleration during non-highway driving with RPMs fluctuating. The tire, cruise control and seatbelt indicator lights are illuminated with no resolvable issue (the dealer clears them out and they come back). There’s an audible muffler rattle that has been present for a long time that the dealer says is normal. When I fuel up the engine audible bogs down. On a recent road trip to New York the vehicle vapor locked at a gas station and had to be jumped. The vehicle has been nothing but recalls and issues

We have a video of the incident from our ring camera: [XXX] My daughter pulled our 2022 Bronco Sport out of our driveway onto [XXX] and then made a right turn onto [XXX] After completing the turn, my daughter said the car pulled to the right like the lane assist kicked in and locked and would not allow her to turn the wheel. My daughter does not remember if any warning lights or messages lit up on her dashboard because the whole thing happened within a few seconds. She crashed into our next door neighbors concrete and cinderblock mailbox at low speed and then the Bronco immediately flipped over. The vehicle is at a local tow yard and available for inspection. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact turned on the heated steering wheel feature, and 30 seconds later, the steering wheel cover began to catch on fire with a blue flame; the contact discovered smoke coming from the steering wheel cover. The contact disengaged the heated steering wheel feature, where the flame self-extinguished. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact discontinued the usage of the heated steering wheel feature in order to avoid a large fire. A fire department report was not filed. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer; however, a dealer was contacted and made aware of the failure and informed that the vehicle caught on fire to resolve the failure with the vehicle's insurance. The vehicle was not repaired, but the contact was advised to buy a new steering wheel. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

TRANSACTION FRAUD & SYSTEM BYPASS:The vehicle was purchased from an authorized franchise dealer in January 2026. Following an investigation, it was discovered that the dealership's finance desk executed a "split-paperwork" scheme to override an automated delivery compliance hold. The dealership utilized my actual 2.0L Badlands VIN on banking documents, but electronically transmitted a completely different, lower-trim 1.5L engine VIN to my insurer (USAA) to issue a clean delivery binder. This intentional data manipulation was used to knowingly bypass active safety recall alerts.SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:In March 2026, while traveling on Hands Mill Road, the front suspension suffered an unexplained, catastrophic failure, resulting in an immediate, total loss of steering control. The vehicle veered off the roadway and impacted a concrete barrier at high velocity. The mechanics of this failure exactly mirror the structural anomalies detailed in federal NHTSA Recall 26V340000 (Ford Recall 26S36) regarding lower control arm ball joint separation.CRITICAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE:During the high-velocity impact, the primary occupant safety restraint systems completely failed to perform. The driver’s side seatbelt failed to lock, and zero front or side airbags deployed. This total safety mechanism failure directly resulted in a severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and permanent new-onset seizures, confirmed via clinical EEG by the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital and currently managed via Keppra 3x/day.FORENSIC EVIDENCE PRESERVATION:High-definition video evidence exists, captured 10 days prior to the crash, documenting the seatbelt retractor in a pre-existing state of mechanical failure (dangling/failing to recoil). The vehicle has undergone only minor exterior cosmetic repairs; the failed suspension components, broken seatbelt modules, and un-deployed airbag sensors remain fully intact and forensically preserved as physical evidence inside my garage for immediate federal safety ins

I was driving to work in my 2022 Ford Bronco Sport when traffic ahead of me stopped suddenly. I was able to come to a complete stop. The vehicle behind me did not see the stopped traffic until the last second and rear-ended my vehicle at an estimated speed of approximately 50 mph. The impact was severe enough that my vehicle was pushed forward into the car in front of me, resulting in a multi-vehicle collision. Despite the severity of the impact, none of my airbags deployed. My vehicle sustained significant damage and was declared a total loss. I sustained serious injuries in this crash and continue to experience long-term, life-altering effects. Given the force of the collision and the extent of the damage, I am concerned about why the airbag system did not deploy and whether there may be a defect in the airbag or crash sensor system. I am submitting this complaint so the incident can be reviewed and investigated to determine whether this presents a broader safety issue.

I see steering recall on the internet but not under vin number for 2022 Ford Bronco Sport.

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated while his son was parked in the driveway, the rear passenger’s side window failed to roll up as intended. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the rear passenger’s side window motor was inoperable. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.

TRANSACTION FRAUD & SYSTEM BYPASS:The vehicle was purchased from an authorized franchise dealer in January 2026. Following an investigation, it was discovered that the dealership's finance desk executed a "split-paperwork" scheme to override an automated delivery compliance hold. The dealership utilized my actual 2.0L Badlands VIN on banking documents, but electronically transmitted a completely different, lower-trim 1.5L engine VIN to my insurer (USAA) to issue a clean delivery binder. This intentional data manipulation was used to knowingly bypass active safety recall alerts.SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:In March 2026, while traveling on Hands Mill Road, the front suspension suffered an unexplained, catastrophic failure, resulting in an immediate, total loss of steering control. The vehicle veered off the roadway and impacted a concrete barrier at high velocity. The mechanics of this failure exactly mirror the structural anomalies detailed in federal NHTSA Recall 26V340000 (Ford Recall 26S36) regarding lower control arm ball joint separation.CRITICAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE:During the high-velocity impact, the primary occupant safety restraint systems completely failed to perform. The driver’s side seatbelt failed to lock, and zero front or side airbags deployed. This total safety mechanism failure directly resulted in a severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and permanent new-onset seizures, confirmed via clinical EEG by the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital and currently managed via Keppra 3x/day.FORENSIC EVIDENCE PRESERVATION:High-definition video evidence exists, captured 10 days prior to the crash, documenting the seatbelt retractor in a pre-existing state of mechanical failure (dangling/failing to recoil). The vehicle has undergone only minor exterior cosmetic repairs; the failed suspension components, broken seatbelt modules, and un-deployed airbag sensors remain fully intact and forensically preserved as physical evidence inside my garage for immediate federal safety ins

Along with the current unable to be fixed PCM recall, the customer service satisfaction program regarding the drivers side buckle replacement and the replacement of high-pressure fuel injectors that I was told they will only replace if there is an issue because it is not considered a recall. I have had multiple other recalls that were done and several issues that weren't related to recalls. In the first year the bushings were replaced to ease the loud noise when backing up. At 36,0000 miles I had no heat. The water pump failed and was fixed under powertrain warranty. At 41000 miles (just over warranty) the AC stopped working. The condenser failed and was my responsibility to pay. Ford did work out a deal with me on that repair due to all of the other issues I had previously. Currently, my drivers side back seatbelt does not work, the car shudders when driving and recently my forward collision indicator goes off for no reason. I have not reached out to have these items checked yet as I have spent far to much time dealing with Ford. I bought this car to feel safe and confident on the road and I have never felt that. The lack of compassion from Ford for all the money wasted in missed work and repairs because they cannot produce a quality vehicle is abhorrent.

I am not quite familiar with the name of the lights on the bottom of my vehicle they sometimes come on and sometimes they do not. When I back up it sounds like my tires are rubbing against something and when I pull forward it sounds the same.

First the battery was drained and needed replaced. Then message on center navigation screen displays “System Off to Save Battery. Please turn ignition off or start engine” when entering the car before trying to start it. Then I was notified of a recall that needed to be done. The recall was for “the body control module bcm and powertrain control module pcm calibrations may be unable to detect a sudden change in the 12-VOLT battery state of charge during a drive cycle.” The safety risk of this recall was as follows: “If the bcm and pcm calibrations are unable to detect a sudden battery degradation during a drive, the vehicle may be unable to restart after an auto stopstart event or may experience a stall while coming to a stop at low speed. The vehicle may also lose 12-VOLT accessories, including hazard lights. A loss of motive power can increase the risk of a crash.” The Ford Service Center did a software update to resolve this recall. Then the car started displaying a message on the dashboard front screen “Charging System Service Soon” and the battery light would be on. I also got a notification from my Ford app saying “Charge System Fault” “Indicates that there is a 12V charging system fault”.The car was taken to the Ford Service Center immediately and they said it just needed reprogrammed. The issue seemed to be solved on the short 5 minute drive home. The next day the car displayed the same “System Off to Save Battery” message on the middle navigation screen and “ Charging System Service Soon” message on the front dashboard screen. While driving the entire front dashboard electrical system turned off right after flashing multiple messages “front camera & pre collision assist not available”, no headlights and power steering went out, This happens randomly but happens every single time the car is driven. It is no longer safe to drive at night with no lights and no way to see any displays. Ford has been contacted with no response and service center will not see it.

Fuel system 1. I don't know what failed because the dealership didn't do anything to repair it. It is available for inspection upon request 2. Intensely strong fuel odor at the front of the car, inside and out. Strong exhaust odor at the back of the car. It is not safe to operate a car if it smells like fuel. 3. Dealership had it for 3 weeks and said there is nothing wrong. Now they are ignoring me. I am taking it to an independent mechanic. 4. Ford said they inspected it but they didn;t because there's all kinds of issues with this car. 5. No warnings. Suspension 1. It literally howls when braking in reverse. Spring popping sound when turning corners. 2. When fuel odor or suspension is an issue, it is always a safety issue. 3. Dealership said it is normal. It is not. 4. See above. 5. No warnings Body 1. From fender flare was packed full of rocks and debris. The dealership said they won't do anything despite the little box with their check mark next to "trim". Worst dealership ever. 2. If rocks can get packed in there they can also come out, in any direction and any speed.

The firewall on the passenger side was not sealed correctly causing water to enter behind the glove box affecting the blower motor and causing water to enter the vehicle. Causing mold under the carpet. The leak was confirmed at the Ford dealership

TRANSACTION FRAUD & SYSTEM BYPASS:The vehicle was purchased from an authorized franchise dealer in January 2026. Following an investigation, it was discovered that the dealership's finance desk executed a "split-paperwork" scheme to override an automated delivery compliance hold. The dealership utilized my actual 2.0L Badlands VIN on banking documents, but electronically transmitted a completely different, lower-trim 1.5L engine VIN to my insurer (USAA) to issue a clean delivery binder. This intentional data manipulation was used to knowingly bypass active safety recall alerts.SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:In March 2026, while traveling on Hands Mill Road, the front suspension suffered an unexplained, catastrophic failure, resulting in an immediate, total loss of steering control. The vehicle veered off the roadway and impacted a concrete barrier at high velocity. The mechanics of this failure exactly mirror the structural anomalies detailed in federal NHTSA Recall 26V340000 (Ford Recall 26S36) regarding lower control arm ball joint separation.CRITICAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE:During the high-velocity impact, the primary occupant safety restraint systems completely failed to perform. The driver’s side seatbelt failed to lock, and zero front or side airbags deployed. This total safety mechanism failure directly resulted in a severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and permanent new-onset seizures, confirmed via clinical EEG by the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital and currently managed via Keppra 3x/day.FORENSIC EVIDENCE PRESERVATION:High-definition video evidence exists, captured 10 days prior to the crash, documenting the seatbelt retractor in a pre-existing state of mechanical failure (dangling/failing to recoil). The vehicle has undergone only minor exterior cosmetic repairs; the failed suspension components, broken seatbelt modules, and un-deployed airbag sensors remain fully intact and forensically preserved as physical evidence inside my garage for immediate federal safety ins

Fuel system 1. I don't know what failed because the dealership didn't do anything to repair it. It is available for inspection upon request 2. Intensely strong fuel odor at the front of the car, inside and out. Strong exhaust odor at the back of the car. It is not safe to operate a car if it smells like fuel. 3. Dealership had it for 3 weeks and said there is nothing wrong. Now they are ignoring me. I am taking it to an independent mechanic. 4. Ford said they inspected it but they didn;t because there's all kinds of issues with this car. 5. No warnings. Suspension 1. It literally howls when braking in reverse. Spring popping sound when turning corners. 2. When fuel odor or suspension is an issue, it is always a safety issue. 3. Dealership said it is normal. It is not. 4. See above. 5. No warnings Body 1. From fender flare was packed full of rocks and debris. The dealership said they won't do anything despite the little box with their check mark next to "trim". Worst dealership ever. 2. If rocks can get packed in there they can also come out, in any direction and any speed.

On [XXX] I began my drive from Miami, FL to SF, CA for my next travel nurse assignment. Three hours into my drive, I stop for gas and return to the highway. I remember accelerating to catch up to traffic and moving into the left lane. Then I remember abruptly seeing brake lights ahead, braking hard, and the collision warning system going off. I was braking for several seconds and it became clear to me that I was going to crash into the vehicle in front of me. Immediately upon impact, my Bronco Sport caught fire. I felt the heat. I smelled the fire and fumes. I saw people running towards me, yelling for me to get out of my burning car. The airbag went off and I sustained minor injury to my right hand. At that point, my priority was to locate my cat inside my perfectly packed vehicle with all of my most important possessions. I grabbed my cat, my phone, and my purse and escaped as flames overtook my SUV. The Nissan Rouge in front of me sustained some rear bumper damage but overall relatively minor exterior damages. I am in awe that what should have been a minor collision turned into escaping a burning car with my cat and watching my everything burn away. I struggle with PTSD from the accident. The Bronco was well-maintained. I had the recall repaired, along with oil change and tire rotation in November, prior to driving from Southern California to my home in Miami in early December. The vehicle was deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The insurance company did not choose to pursue any investigation on why this happened. I’ve tried to find answers and have not been successful. The Ford dealership where I purchased the Bronco has been less than helpful and even normalized that this happens sometimes. Four months later and I’m still waiting to get refunded for all the extra extended warranties that I bought for a vehicle that I planned on having for a long time. No one seems concerned that my car caught fire instantly. This should not have happened. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATI

The contact owns a 2022 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH with the traction control activated, the vehicle experienced abnormally loud sounds coming from the rear of vehicle. The contact previously owned a Ford Bronco Sport and traded the vehicle because the vehicle was experiencing the same safety failure. The contact stated after disengaging the traction control the noises stopped. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 9.

I was driving the car and had been noticing an aroma, that I couldn't identify all morning. I happened to look over to the passenger side of the car and smoke was coming from the front of the seat. It was just about to catch fire. The seat heater was on and I turned it off. I poured water from a water bottle on the burned spot, that is about the size of your hand, and it sizzled until it cooled down. I contacted my dealer and sent them a photo. They had never heard of this occurring on any vehicle with heated seats ever happening before.

Passenger knee airbag did not deploy Drivers Steering column came off at base which is why there was no airbag deployed. Front driver and passenger sun visors came completely off and exposed wires and metal rods.

All tires are completely worn at 37,000 miles causing my braking stop time to increase and traction reduction when roads are wet and slippery. Also the tires are now making a rubbing sound when turning and was told it may be due to the way the tire tread has worn. Continental 225 / 65 R17

Rear brakes moan when reversing at low speed. Has done this since day one. Also the transmission shifts are hard and hangs in sport mode and won’t shift. It hangs at almost 5k rpms and when I let off the gas no shift till 2300 rpms. Took it in and they looked at the transmission fluid said it was darker than usual for the mileage (14,000) and recommended a fluid flush that’s not covered by warranty. They changed fluid and I ask why it was doing this they said “ well that’s why we changed the fluid” which tells me nothing! Now the engine compartment rattle in gear and the transmission temperature after driving only 5 miles is hot enough to fry an egg on so my guess is it runs too hot and is burning or oxidation why else would it be black?