Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2023 Ford Bronco Sport owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport.The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the four-wheel drive engaged and disengaged independently. The contact stated she heard a loud clanking noise coming from the front tires as the four-wheel drive warning light illuminated. The contact was able to pull the vehicle over and noticed smoke and a small fire coming from the front of the hood. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with some water from her water bottle. The fire department or local police department was not contacted. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence and the following day to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V267000 (Electrical System, Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. …
The contact's wife owns a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was jumpstarted with Roadside Assistance. Additionally, the contact stated that the Auto Stop/Start feature was intermittently inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the Auto Stop/Start feature was malfunctioning due to low battery. The dealer recharged the battery; however, the failure recurred while driving the same day. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V267000 (Electrical System, Power Train) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 1,800.
On May 15, 2006 I was turning slowly into a parking space perhaps 3 to 5 miles an hour. My vehicle suddenly surged forwarded and accelerated on its own. I hit a wall. No warning lights appeared. No crash warning or any beeping of any sort. My car had a recall for the fuel injector. In October 2025 Ford sent out someone to adjust the software at my home. I do not believe a tube was ever inserted. Witnesses reported I was going slow and the car accelerated. I eat at the location almost every day so they watch for my car and whether there were 1 or 2 people. So it is not just a random witness. I do not know what parts are involved other than to say there was an un commanded acceleration and engine surge.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the contact was informed that the cold cranking amp battery installed during the vehicle assembly was incorrect and informed the contact that the battery needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V158000 (POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 43,000.
I was driving on the highway and my car started making a lot of noise. I got a notice "The Engine system has detected a fault." Then another notification saying 4 wheel drive was disabled and then my car stopped running, leaving me stranded in the middle of the highway. My car would start, but it would not go into any gear. When I tried putting it in gear, I got a notification that said "Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Speed Your Malfunction warning is on because your vehicle's transmission cannot be shifted or moved out of park." I had to wait in the middle of the highway for approximately 30-45 minutes for a tow truck to come, and the whole time, there were cars traveling 80 mph swerving to miss me. I was sincerely afraid for my life.
The transmission has very rough shifts particularly at low speeds between 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear. It feels like the clutch sometimes does not fully engage, and the vehicle over-revs before finally getting into gear. This causes hesitation and poses a safety danger in particular when making turns like left turns in the city from a stop. I am concerned that even with sufficient space, the vehicle will hesitate to accelerate and I could get into an accident. I have not observed any warning lamps or other messages and the vehicle has not yet been inspected. The issue looks very similar or the same as that in NHTSA ID Number: 10231021. I have noticed this behavior since the first date of ownership for this vehicle which I bought new.
I purchased the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport brand new, since then there have been at least 3-4 recalls on it. The catalytic converter had to be replaced and now the transmission needs to be replaced. This vehicle, Ford Bronco Sport, has had issues that i feel Ford has been negligent in addressing through recalls. The vehicle has been in a Ford garage for 3+ months waiting on repairs to the transmission. Research has shown that there are lawsuits about these transmissions that Ford is not addressing. They sold me a lemon and refuse to make it right. The most recent recall being the fuel injector. Multiple recalls, faulty transmission, faulty catalytic converter, whats next? Something needs to be done about this.
2023 Bronco Sport had its serpentine belt replaced in February of 2026 because it was loose causing my engine to overheat. I had to have it towed because I was sitting on the side of the road. Then in April of 2026 the Bronco started making horrible loud clanging sounds and jerking when it was put in gear. Towed again to the shop. Now I am told this 3 year old car needs a new transmission. Doing research i have found that several Bronco owners have the same problem. Why does Ford not have a recall for this!! My mechanic was looking for a rebuilt one and can't find one because the demand for them is higher than what the supply is. This should tell you something!!
Transmission jerking or not shifting into gear and intermittent park in reverse shifting inoperable. Also, my car has been in the shop.Under warranty repair for most of the last four months. , we are still required to make payments on a vehicle.And cannot even transfer insurance from that vehicle to another temporarily.Because of the sales contract. The service manager recently told me that our eight speed ecoboost transmission is a one of thousands of transmissions that were assembled without vital parts. And that ford has no workaround or plan in place to correct The problem
The fuel injectors are failing, the vehicle smells of gasoline fumes in the cabin if the vehicle and we are now getting check engine lights due to emissions which I contribute to the failing fuel injectors which have been under recall for quite some time now and Ford does not seem to want to fix this issue. They can only tell us they do not have a fix yet at this time. My understanding this is a very dangerous issue as the vehicle can catch on fire due to this malfunction. I have young children who all ride in this vehicle.
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission › Control module (TCM/PCM/tecm)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco Sport and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 24V-267. The body and power train control modules may fail to detect a change in the 12-volt battery state of charge.
Remedy: Dealers will recalibrate the body control module and power train control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 23, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Transmission complaints in other Bronco Sport years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport, 13% of the model year's 160 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2023 Ford Bronco Sport transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 25V-158 (control module (tcm/pcm/tecm), Mar 14, 2025). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2023 Ford Bronco Sport transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 25,000 miles, and 33% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.