Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (engine, cooling system, oil leaks, timing chain, exhaust).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2021 Ford Bronco owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V635000 (Engine and Engine Cooling) and 25V025000 (Suspension); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that there was hydraulic fluid leaking from the vehicle near the rear struts. While driving approximately 35-45 MPH, one fluid reservoir on the driver's side rear strut detached from the vehicle. The contact continued to drive to an independent mechanic. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed that both rear struts were defective and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, and the contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty. …
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that water was entering the vehicle through the roof. While the vehicle was parked, the vehicle started rolling down the hill. The contact stated that the brake pedal was continuously pumping while being depressed. The contact stated that the brake lights were illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle occasionally failed to start. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who replaced the battery. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where the battery was replaced. The vehicle was returned to the contact with rust and mold throughout the vehicle. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, who opened a case and discussed a buyback. The failure mileage was approximately 14,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and the accelerator pedal became inoperable. The contact pulled over to the side of the roadway. The contact was not able to restart the vehicle. There were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to a faulty fuel pump inside the fuel tank and a faulty fuel module. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and determined that the vehicle was not under recall. The contact was advised to call the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 16,900.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 MPH he heard a ticking sound coming from the engine and then a grinding sound before the vehicle stalled. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that after coming to a complete stop there were several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer. The dealer had not yet diagnosed or repaired the vehicle. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was 2,812.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, she depressed the accelerator pedal however, the engine failed to engage, and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the contacts residence. No warning lights was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer was notified, and the contact was scheduled and appointment for the following month. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made clicking sounds and then lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with engine failure. The dealer informed the contact that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 923.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that while at a stop sign, the vehicle experienced a catastrophic engine failure. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired after several weeks. The manufacturer was notified of the failure however, no further assistance was provided. The approximate failure mileage was 2,322.
Very rough idle, rpm's bounce and do not stay smooth at all. Have 10,000 miles, has run rough since purchase. Getting worse as we accumulate miles. Will be taking to dealer very soon. Not throwing a code or light yet, but obviously something is wrong.
About 1 hour into our trip the vehicle started to shutter while at highway speed, no warning lamps or notices were indicated when the shutter started and I assumed it was a road vibration. We came to a stop sign about 2-3 miles after the shutter was noticed and the vehicle stalled at the intersection and would not restart. At that point the check engine light, in dash notifications and Fordpass app notices indicated a serious mechanical malfunction. The vehicle needed to be put in neutral and pushed to the side of the road by me and my son to clear the intersection. Ford roadside assistance was contacted and a tow truck was dispatched to take the vehicle to the closest dealership. We sat at the side of the road for 2 hours waiting on the ford dispatched tow truck. The vehicle was towed to Ford of Clermonth. …
Four hours into a drive today, going down a fairly steep hill @ ~30mph into a 4 point intersection my Bronco lost all power, brakes and steering. I mean it had nothing. We barely made it thru the intersection because the cars coming directly at us slammed brakes. I had no control and went off the road into someone's yard, barely missing their fence. It was the scariest thing we've ever encountered. My son in the back screaming STOP at the top of his lungs is burned in my brain. What makes all of this worse is that Ford just had it in the shop for 3 days because the week before when they had my Bronco in the shop for yearly inspection/oil change and under their care it had the first symptoms of this issue. I received an app notice of a battery failure AND at their request because of this new issue they wanted my car for a "longer look" the following week. …
Related recalls
Engine
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Bronco and Bronco Raptor vehicles. The engine compartment wiring harness may become damaged and short circuit.
Remedy: Dealers will install sheathing over the wiring, free of charge. This is a Phased campaign. Phase 1 will include 2026 Bronco Raptor notified owners on 7/31/2026.
Engine and engine cooling › Engine › Hard parts internal/mechanical
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco, F-150, Edge, Explorer, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with either a 2.7L or 3.0L Nano EcoBoost engine. The engine intake valves may break while driving, which can result in engine failure and a loss of drive power.
Remedy: Dealers will perform an engine cycle test and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA investigations
Loss of motive power due to valve intake failure on Ford Bronco vehicles.
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition dated March 16, 2022, requesting an investigation regarding allegations of defective intake valves in model year (MY) 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles equipped with the 2.7L Eco-boost ("Nano") engines. The petitioner alleged these vehicles are experiencing loss of motive power at any highway speeds with no-restart as a result of catastrophic engine failures.
Loss of Motive Power
On July 22, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) granted a Defect Petition (DP22001) and opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE22007) to investigate allegations of loss of motive power in model year (MY) 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles equipped with 2.7L EcoBoost engines. Complainants were reporting sudden engine failure while driving resulting in a loss of motive power, often without the ability to restart.
Loss of Motive Power
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received three petitions on March 17, March 18, and March 29, 2022, which requested a defect investigation into an alleged defect of the valves on model year (MY) 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles equipped with the 2.7L Eco-boost engines.
Engine complaints in other Bronco years
Frequently asked questions
How common are engine problems on the 2021 Ford Bronco?
NHTSA has 74 complaints about the engine & cooling of the 2021 Ford Bronco, 32% of the model year's 230 complaints. The component named most often is exhaust system (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2021 Ford Bronco engine problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 26V-468 (engine, Jul 20, 2026); NHTSA recall 24V-635 (hard parts internal/mechanical, Aug 23, 2024). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2021 Ford Bronco engine problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 10,000 miles, and 88% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to engine & cooling 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.