Research · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD · 3 NHTSA variants

2025 Ford Bronco SportRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 7 safety recalls and 41 owner complaints for the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport. Most complaints involve engine (7) and power train (7). The EPA rates it 23–27 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
23–27mpg
EPA · 3 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
7campaigns
Latest May 2026
Owner complaints
41
Top: engine
Fuel cost / yr
$2,200est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

7 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Suspension: lower ball joint

Park It: do not driveFree remedy

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Bronco Sport and 2022-2026 Maverick vehicles. The front lower control arm ball joints may have been incorrectly installed or incorrectly repaired at the vehicle assembly plant, allowing the control arm to disconnect from the front wheel knuckle.

SuspensionReported May 27, 2026NHTSA 26V340000

Air bags: front passenger

Free remedy

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Bronco Sport and Maverick vehicles. The Occupant Classification Sensor (OCS) unit may fail to correctly detect the presence of an adult or child in the front passenger seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Air bagsReported Mar 31, 2026NHTSA 26V201000

Engine and engine cooling: gas recirculation valve (egr valve)

Free remedy

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger, Lincoln Nautilus, Mustang, Maverick, Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Corsair, Bronco Sport, and Bronco vehicles. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.

Engine and engine coolingReported Mar 4, 2026NHTSA 26V122000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 12, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

41 complaints filed with NHTSA · Mar 2025 – Oct 2026
  1. Engine7
  2. Power train7
  3. Air bags5
  4. Forward collision avoidance4
  5. Structure3
  6. Engine and engine cooling3
  7. Electrical system3
  8. Suspension3
  9. Steering3

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Bronco Sport model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2021716
2022371
2023163
2024116
202541
20268
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
5
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 12, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Engine

7 reports
“On about 5 or 6 occasions over the course of one year, my brand new 2025 Ford Bronco Sport with the Big Bend trim with the VIN number in this report has completely lost engine power with severe engine hesitation with a highly rhythmic / even-patterned computer-controlled-like clicking and severe engine shaking (!!!) and a near stall while traveling from anywhere between 5 and 50 mph and the speed grinds down to a crawl, because it most often happens on an incline (maybe once on flat ground, and never downhill), and either way can be extremely dangerous! Fuel tank was full or half full on every occasion. Oil changed every 5k miles. Luckily at the higher speed, I was on a quiet hilly state highway road. I suspect it can happen at any speed though, which makes it even more dangerous! It is as if fuel stopped getting to the engine in these cases, or a computer failure in the fuel system, but I can be completely wrong about the cause. It is impossible to recreate on command obviously, being that it only happened 5 or 6 times over the course of one year, so neither myself or the dealer can recreate it on command. I complained about it to my local dealer that I bought…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 4, 2026Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11768790

Power train

7 reports
“Vehicle was taken to Bowen [XXX] ([XXX]) for a transmission rebuild under RO #XXX, following repeated transmission failures. Dealer performed a complete teardown and rebuild of the transmission (replacing clutch components, seals, gaskets, fluid, reprogramming solenoids), and the repair order states the vehicle was road tested after repair with no DTCs present and "operating as designed." Vehicle was picked up on XXX at 11:20 AM. Approximately 24 hours later, on XXX at approximately 3:49 PM, while the vehicle was stationary, the instrument cluster displayed a "Shift System Fault, Service Required" warning, and the vehicle would not shift into any gear other than Park. The vehicle had to be towed by Ford Roadside Assistance back to Bowen [XXX] (tow reference #XXX). This is part of a pattern of recurring transmission-related failures on this vehicle since purchase, resulting in the vehicle being out of service for a substantial period across multiple repair attempts. A shift system fault rendering the vehicle undriveable in park-only mode, occurring within 24 hours of a certified "repair complete" transmission rebuild, raises serious concerns about the…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 16, 2026Power trainODI 11764593

Air bags

5 reports3 crashes
“The contact owned a 2025 Ford Bronco Sport. While the contact’s brother-in-law was driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle, causing the vehicle to flip over and slide between 50 and 75 yards. During the crash, the Forward Collision Avoidance system failed to activate, and the front driver’s side air bags did not deploy. The driver was later taken to the hospital and treated for a concussion and arm and leg abrasions. A Police report was filed at the scene, and the vehicle was towed away and later deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 20,500.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 29, 2026Air bags, Forward collision avoidanceCrash reportedODI 11753571
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

3 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engines
1.5L 3-cyl turbo · 2.0L 4-cyl turbo
Transmissions
Automatic 8-spd · Automatic (S8)
Drive
Part-time 4-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 12, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Bronco Sport 4WD
Auto 8-spd, 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive
253027$2,200324
Bronco Sport Sasquatch 4WD
Auto 8-spd, 3 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel Drive
232624$2,500370
Bronco Sport 4WD
Auto (S8), 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · 4-Wheel Drive
212723$2,600387
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Nov 12, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Ford Bronco Sport Early Release SUV 4WD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
17.4%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Nov 12, 2026Vehicle 20298Vehicle 20299
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2025 Bronco Sport questions

How many recalls does the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport have?

7 safety recalls as of Nov 12, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2025 Ford Bronco Sport problems?

Owners filed 41 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine (7), power train (7), air bags (5). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport get?

The EPA rates the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport at 23–27 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).

How safe is the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2025 Ford Bronco Sport 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Nov 12, 2026