2024 Ford Bronco Sport: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 66 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the transmission, electrical, and fuel system. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2024- Owner complaints
- 66
- Recalls
- 7
- Crashes reported
- 5
- 1 injury
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2024 Ford Bronco Sport: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/3
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/2
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/4
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which Bronco Sport is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2024 Ford Bronco Sport. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 3-cyl | AWD | 26 mpg |
| 2.0L 4-cyl | 4WD | 23 mpg |
- The 2024 Ford Bronco Sport was sold in two versions. Confirm which one this is from the window sticker, the engine cover, or the VIN report before you compare prices.
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Bronco Sport that averages well under the EPA 23 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2024 Ford Bronco Sport, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Transmission143 crashes
Sudden loss of power at highway speed is the main complaint, usually with a wrench light and a powertrain malfunction or reduced power message. Some cars fail to go into gear, shift erratically after about 20 minutes of driving, or stay in reverse after the dial is turned to drive. Three reports involve crashes, including a rollaway during remote start, and one person was injured. Other owners describe rough idle, shaking and racing rpm. One report describes fire under the hood. Repairs range from software updates and knock sensors to a new transmission.
Electrical141 crash
A 12V battery that will not hold a charge is the most common problem. Cars go dead, need repeated jump starts or drop into battery saver mode, sometimes within weeks of purchase. Owners say dealers often recharge the battery rather than replace it. In two reports, rodents chewed wiring under the car, causing no-starts and warning lights. Other complaints include power loss when pulling away from a stop, overheating with smoke from under the hood, and a backup camera that missed a car in a crash. One report describes an undercarriage fire while driving.
Fuel system10No crashes
Fire under the hood is the most serious report here. Flames appear after parking, with no warning, on a car with less than 14k miles. Other complaints describe rough idle, misfires, stalling, hard starting and no-starts. Two owners are mainly frustrated by the long wait for a recall remedy. In another report, road debris on the highway punctured the fuel tank, and the owner questions whether the underbody protection is adequate.
Every report here is about an unfinished recall repair, not a breakdown on the road. Owners say they were notified of a fuel system campaign, but the repair part is not yet available and dealers cannot say when it will arrive. One owner notices an occasional fuel smell and got an engine software update as an interim fix. None of these owners report a failure. Their shared complaint is that the wait for the final fix has gone on far too long.
Engine5No crashes
Most complaints here are about a recall remedy that is still not available. Some owners say they are afraid to drive the car because of fire risk, and some want to return it or have Ford buy it back. One owner reports overheating and running hot. In another report, auto start/stop stops working after a recall reprogram, and the dealer finds a weak battery that the reprogram does not fix.
Body and structure3No crashes
Glass failure without impact is the main problem. One newly bought car's moonroof bursts upward with a loud boom and shatters, with no object strike or sudden temperature change. In another case, the passenger-side rear quarter glass cracks, and the owner blames the adhesive holding the glass. The third complaint includes no details beyond an attached document.
Wheels and tires3No crashes
Failures of the original Continental tires account for both detailed reports. In one, a rear tire's tread separates and blows out at about 70 mph on a car with 8,000 miles. In the other, all four tires show sidewall bulges on a car one week old, and the dealer offers only identical replacements. The third complaint gives no details beyond an attached document.
Wipers and visibility2No crashes
Glass breaks with no outside cause in both reports. One moonroof explodes upward at highway speed at about 2000 miles, scattering glass and scratching the roof, and Ford's warranty denied the claim. One windshield develops a long horizontal crack while parked, starting from the inside, at about 3,500 miles. The dealer blamed stress from sun exposure. Flying glass is a hazard to following traffic.
Steering2No crashes
An unresponsive wheel while auto stop has the engine shut off is the most serious report, and the driver nearly collides with an approaching emergency vehicle. The other report describes chattering or screeching from the right side when turning right or backing up slowly. The dealer traces that noise to the rear differential unit, and the repair keeps the car in the shop for one to two weeks.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Bronco Sport owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
I believe the transmission has an issue. The car was started and it quickly went into reverse and sped up trapping my wife between the door and a tree as she was exiting the vehicle to swap seats for me to drive. No known warnings were issued by the vehicle prior to the incident on 6/7/2025. The previous recall for the BCM & PCM was completed on 2/27/2025 by our local Ford dealer
Filed with NHTSA, June 2025
Powertrain malfunctions have occurred on 12/17/24, 4/11/25 and 10/5/25. Powertrain malfunction and yes. The car would not accelerate and someone could of ran into me, I could of been killed or badly injured and same for any other occupants in the either vehicle. Yes. Yes. The messages appeared on 12/17/24, 4/11/25 and 10/5/25.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2025
My backup camera one two separate occasions has not operated properly. First time it never showed a vehicle had come up behind me. Didn’t go off with any notice. I backed into a car. Second time a man with a cart walk behind as I was backing out no notice. There is a recall on review camera but not on my vin.
Filed with NHTSA, May 2025
Bought car June 27 and now being July 15 the car is completely dead and battery is dead. Charged the battery up works now. But battery will need to be replaced. Picture attached of battery after charging for 3 hours.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2024
How long do they have to complete repairs for this recall? This is an ongoing problem going back to Ford Escapes with the same problem going back to 2020. 6 years should be sufficient time for them to have come up for a solution for this recall.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2026
Nothing has happened but I want to file a complaint because it has been almost a year since this recall was issued and nothing has been done. Manufacturer Recall Number25S76 NHTSA Recall Number25V467
Filed with NHTSA, March 2026
Auto start / stop feature stopped working after recall 24S24. Took to dealership where battery was diagnosed at 57%. Had no indication battery was failing. Recall reprogram did not resolve issue.
Filed with NHTSA, March 2025
Recall 25V467 can result in vehicle fire and manufacturer does not have a remedy. This is a lease and I would like to return the vehicle back because it is a safety hazard.
Filed with NHTSA, September 2025
How the 2024 compares with other Bronco Sport years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2024 ranks fourth for owner complaints among 5 Bronco Sport years, well under the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Transmission1449
- Electrical1455
- Fuel system1030
- Engine525
- Body and structure30
- Wheels and tires31
Recalls to confirm (7)
Recall repairs are free at any Ford dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
25V685000EquipmentOct 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
25V467000Fuel systemJul 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco Sport and 2020-2022 Escape vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source, such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will update the engine control software. and replace the high pressure fuel rail assembly and the fuel injector ,free of charge. As an interim repair, dealers will update the engine control software, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed August 29, 2025. Second letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in July 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S76. This recall expands and replaces previous recall numbers 22V-859, 24V187, and 25V165. Vehicles previously remedied under 22V-859, 24V187, and 25V165 will need to have the new final remedy performed once it is available.
25V442000Backup cameraJun 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
25V158000TransmissionMar 2025
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.
Risk: An undetected low battery charge can result in a loss of electrical accessories such as hazard lights, or cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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. Ford's number for this recall is 25S26.
24V683000TransmissionSep 2024
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024 Bronco Sport vehicles. The body and power train control modules may fail to detect a change in the 12-volt battery state of charge.
Risk: An undetected low battery charge can result in a loss of electrical accessories such as hazard lights, or cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the body control module and powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S60. Vehicles in this recall that were previously recalled for the same issue under 24V-267 will need to have the new remedy performed.
24V594000Wipers and visibilityAug 2024
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Maverick, Ford Bronco Sport, and Mustang Mach-E vehicles. The front windshield wiper motor may become inoperative, causing the wipers to fail.
Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield wiper motor as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 6, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S51.
24V267000ElectricalApr 2024
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco Sport and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles. The body and power train control modules may fail to detect a change in the 12-volt battery state of charge.
Risk: An undetected low battery charge can result in a loss of electrical accessories such as hazard lights, or cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will recalibrate the body control module and power train control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 4, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S24.
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2024 owner complaints, side by side
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- 2024 Ford Bronco Sport66
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