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Executive Vehicle Verdict

The 2021 Ford Bronco is associated with 225 official NHTSA owner defect complaints and 20 safety recall campaigns in the federal safety database.

The most frequently reported component area is Engine, accounting for 51 reports (23% of total complaints). EPA testing covers 12 certified vehicle configurations spanning 1.5l 3-cyl, 2l 4-cyl, 2.3l 4-cyl, and 2.7l 6-cyl configurations. Gasoline and hybrid variants deliver 17 to 26 MPG combined. Detailed NHTSA crash-test ratings are not available in the current AutoUtility dataset for this model year.

Official Federal Record Profile
  • • NHTSA Owner Complaints: 225 consumer reports filed
  • • Safety Recall Campaigns: 20 official campaigns
  • • Primary Defect Domain: Engine (51 / 23%)
  • • Field Incident Signals: 6 crash / 3 fire / 6 injury reports
  • • NCAP Crash Safety: Not rated by NHTSA
  • • EPA Certified Range: 17–26 MPG across 12 powertrain trims
Directly compiled from official NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI), NHTSA NCAP, and EPA FuelEconomy.gov databases.

What is the fuel economy and range of the 2021 Ford Bronco?

Official EPA laboratory test ratings, electric driving range, and annual energy cost estimates by certified vehicle variant

Variant Engine Drivetrain Transmission City Highway Combined EV Range Est. Annual Fuel Cost
Bronco Sport 4WD 1.5L 3-Cyl All-Wheel Drive Automatic 8-spd 25 MPG 28 MPG 26 MPG — $2,350 / yr
Bronco Sport 4WD 2L 4-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S8) 21 MPG 26 MPG 23 MPG — $2,650 / yr
Bronco 4WD 2.3L 4-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 20 MPG 22 MPG 21 MPG — $2,950 / yr
Bronco 4WD 2.3L 4-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Manual 7-spd 20 MPG 22 MPG 21 MPG — $2,950 / yr
Bronco 4WD 2.7L 6-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 18 MPG 20 MPG 19 MPG — $3,250 / yr
Bronco Sasquatch 4WD 2.3L 4-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 18 MPG 18 MPG 18 MPG — $3,400 / yr
Bronco Black Diamond 4WD 2.3L 4-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Manual 7-spd 17 MPG 19 MPG 18 MPG — $3,400 / yr
Bronco Black Diamond 4WD 2.3L 4-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 18 MPG 18 MPG 18 MPG — $3,400 / yr
Bronco Badlands 4WD 2.7L 6-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 17 MPG 18 MPG 17 MPG — $3,600 / yr
Bronco Badlands 4WD 2.3L 4-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Manual 7-spd 16 MPG 18 MPG 17 MPG — $3,600 / yr
Bronco Badlands 4WD 2.3L 4-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 18 MPG 17 MPG 17 MPG — $3,600 / yr
Bronco Sasquatch 4WD 2.7L 6-Cyl Part-time 4-Wheel Drive Automatic (S10) 17 MPG 17 MPG 17 MPG — $3,600 / yr
Data Boundary Note: EPA specifications are shown by certified vehicle configuration. NHTSA complaints and recall totals are recorded at the model-year level across all configurations.

What are the crash test safety ratings for the 2021 Ford Bronco?

Official 5-Star Safety Ratings evaluated by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

Tested Drivetrain / Cab Variant Overall Rating Frontal Crash Side Crash Rollover Rating Rollover Risk
4DR SUV 4WD 25.6%
2DR SUV 4WD 25.6%
Active Driver Assistance Systems (NHTSA Recorded): Forward Collision Warning (FCW) is documented as Optional and Lane Departure Warning (LDW) is documented as No in official NHTSA records for tested 2021 Ford Bronco models.
View complete 2021 Ford Bronco crash test & safety breakdown →

What defect complaints are reported for the 2021 Ford Bronco?

Summary of 225 verified consumer defect submissions filed with the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Total Complaints
225
Crash Reports
6
Fire Reports
3
Complaints w/ Injury
6
Total Injuries
7

Top Reported Problem Categories

Ranked by total consumer complaint submissions recorded by NHTSA

Engine 51 complaints (1 crash)
Suspension 19 complaints
Visibility & Wipers 12 complaints
Fuel & Propulsion System 10 complaints
Service Brakes 10 complaints

Data Attribution & Context: Complaints are self-reported by vehicle owners to NHTSA and represent unverified consumer submissions. Complaint volume does not equal a statistically controlled failure rate and is not adjusted for total vehicles sold or cumulative mileage driven.

View all 2021 Ford Bronco problems & component breakdown (56 categories) →

Are there open safety recalls on the 2021 Ford Bronco?

Manufacturer safety recall campaigns monitored and recorded by NHTSA

NHTSA Campaign #26V468000 Active Recall
Affected Component: ENGINE

Defect Summary: 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.

Free Manufacturer 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. Phase 2 will include 2021-2025 Bronco Raptor vehicle will notify owners on or about 8/14/2026. Phase 3 will include 2021-2026 Bronco will notify owners on or about 9/1/2026. Owner notification letters were mailed August 5, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S55. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 23, 2026.
NHTSA Campaign #26V299000 Active Recall
Affected Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

Defect Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco vehicles. The 3-door and 5-door Molded-In-Color (MIC) hardtop roof panels may have been manufactured improperly, which can allow sections of the outer roof panel to separate and detach from the vehicle.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the hard top as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed May 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in November 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S32. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 12, 2026.
NHTSA Campaign #26V236000 Active Recall
Affected Component: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Defect Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2025 Bronco vehicles. The transmission to transfer case joint may be misaligned due to an incorrectly performed previous repair, which could lead to wear of the transmission output shaft splines and transfer case input splines.

Free Manufacturer Remedy: Dealers will inspect the transmission to transfer case joint and replace the transmission and transfer case as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 9, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S26. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 15, 2026.
View all 2021 Ford Bronco recalls & campaign history (20 campaigns) →
Search Intelligence

Quick Answers: Key Questions Drivers Ask About the 2021 Ford Bronco

Direct, deterministic answers synthesized from verified United States government databases for the 2021 Ford Bronco

How many safety recalls does the 2021 Ford Bronco have?

The 2021 Ford Bronco is associated with 20 official NHTSA safety recall campaigns in AutoUtility's current federal records.

If your individual vehicle is affected by an open safety recall, NHTSA advises owners to contact an authorized franchised dealership for the recall remedy at no charge. Because recall campaigns apply to specific production runs and equipment batches, vehicle owners should verify their 17-digit VIN at NHTSA.gov.

View all 20 recall campaigns & remedy details →
Source: NHTSA Safety Recalls Database (49 U.S.C. 30118)

What are the most common problems reported for the 2021 Ford Bronco?

NHTSA records list 225 consumer defect complaints for the 2021 Ford Bronco. The most frequently referenced vehicle system is Engine, appearing in 51 filings (23% of submissions).

Consumer complaints represent unverified owner submissions filed under federal reporting guidelines and describe reported component behavior rather than audited failure rates.

Explore full 2021 Ford Bronco defect complaint breakdown →
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI)

Is there an official NHTSA crash safety rating for the 2021 Ford Bronco?

An official NHTSA 5-Star NCAP crash test rating is not available for the 2021 Ford Bronco in AutoUtility's current federal dataset.

NHTSA publishes crash safety evaluations for a selected sample of passenger vehicles each model year. Consult NHTSA.gov for active safety equipment records and vehicle safety bulletins.

Check active safety equipment and ratings overview →
Source: NHTSA NCAP Registry

What fuel economy (MPG) does the 2021 Ford Bronco get?

Official EPA laboratory estimates for the 2021 Ford Bronco range from 17 to 26 MPG combined (55% city / 45% highway weighted) depending on engine, transmission, and drivetrain configuration.

Using AutoUtility's standardized operating cost model (15,000 miles/year, $3.50/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity), annual energy expenditures range across certified configurations based on official EPA laboratory test baselines.

Compare MPG ratings across all certified trims →
Source: EPA FuelEconomy.gov Certified Database
Official US Government Data Provenance

The specifications, safety ratings, defect reports, and recall campaigns published on this page are retrieved directly from official United States Government agency databases:

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI): Consumer complaints and defect reports.
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP): Frontal, side, and rollover 5-Star crash safety test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / FuelEconomy.gov: Standardized multi-cycle dynamometer fuel economy, MPGe, and electric driving range ratings.

Local Production Store Compiled: August 2026 • Deterministic Audited Dataset • Zero Dynamic External API Runtime Latency.