The Ford Bronco is a body-on-frame off-road SUV offered in two-door and four-door versions, with removable roof sections and doors. It returned to the U.S. market for the 2021 model year after a gap of 25 years. The Bronco is built in Michigan and shares its frame design with the Ford Ranger pickup. It is a separate vehicle from the smaller, car-based Bronco Sport. This page lines up every Ford Bronco model year from 2021 to 2024 on one scale, so you can see which years drew unusual numbers of owner reports and which stayed quiet.
Ford Bronco by model year
Complaints per 100,000 sold. Red: more than twice the model average. Green: the fewest, among years at least three years old.
| Year | Per 100k sold | Complaints | Recalls | Top system | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 657 | 230 | 20 | Engine | Most complaints |
| 2022 | 330 | 386 | 23 | Visibility, lights and locks | |
| 2023 | 218 | 230 | 18 | Visibility, lights and locks | Fewest |
| 2024 | 75 | 82 | 16 | Electrical |
Why these years stand out
2021: most complaints. The 2021 Ford Bronco scored 657 complaints per 100,000 sold, 2.6 times the model average. Of its 230 complaints, 83 involve the engine or transmission, and the parts named most often are engine (69), electrical system (27) and fuel/propulsion system (23). NHTSA lists 20 recalls for this model year and 4 defect investigations.
2023: fewest complaints. The 2023 drew 230 complaints, or 218 per 100,000 sold. These years have been on the road at least three years, which gives owners time to report problems, so a low count means something.
What Ford Bronco owners report most
Visibility, lights and locks complaints lead for the Ford Bronco, at 23% of all complaints for 2021-2024. Engine and transmission reports together make up 25%. One complaint can name more than one system, so the bars can add up to more than the total.
When problems are reported: mileage
147 Ford Bronco complaints list the odometer reading at the time of the problem. 87% were reported before 50,000 miles and 1% after 100,000. Most reports come early in ownership, which points to problems that show up while the vehicle is still fairly new.
Ford Bronco compared with other midsize suvs
In 1 of 4 model years the Ford Bronco drew fewer complaints per 100,000 sold than the average midsize suv we track for the same year. For 2024, the Ford Bronco scored 75 against a class average of 140. The class average only uses models with clean, published sales figures.
Ford Bronco generations
- 2021-2024Sixth generation
2.3L turbo four; 2.7L twin-turbo V6; 3.0L twin-turbo V6 (Raptor, 2022-2024) · 7-speed manual (2.3L only); 10-speed automatic
Every version uses four-wheel drive, and the manual transmission includes an extra-low crawler gear.
The high-performance Bronco Raptor with wider bodywork and a 3.0L V6 joined the lineup for 2022. Two-door models use a shorter wheelbase and seat four, while four-door models seat five. The manual transmission is offered only with the 2.3L four-cylinder engine.
Ford Bronco fuel economy
The 2026 Ford Bronco is rated at 15 to 20 MPG combined by the EPA, depending on the version. Every year and engine will be on its own MPG page.
Questions
What is the best year for the Ford Bronco?
By complaints filed with NHTSA per 100,000 sold, 2023 had the fewest among model years at least three years old. 2023 scored 218, against a model average of 253.
What years of the Ford Bronco have the most complaints?
2021. The 2021 scored 657 per 100,000 sold, with 83 engine or transmission complaints. A complaint is a report from an owner and does not prove a defect.
At what mileage do Ford Bronco owners report problems?
Across 147 complaints that list the odometer reading, 87% were filed before 50,000 miles and 1% after 100,000 miles. These are miles at the time of the reported problem, not how long the vehicle lasts.
How many recalls does the Ford Bronco have?
NHTSA lists 77 recall campaigns across model years 2021-2024 (a campaign that covers several years counts once per year). Check a specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaint counts are reports filed by owners with NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify them, and a complaint does not prove a defect. Scores are our calculation, explained on the Method page. Not affiliated with any automaker.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (complaints, recalls, investigations), data through October 2026; U.S. sales from manufacturer reports, compiled by motorwick; fuel economy: U.S. EPA estimates.