YearToAvoid

2023 Ford Bronco Sport Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

50/100

#3 most-complained of 5 Bronco Sport years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2023 Ford Bronco Sport has a Complaint Index of 50, ranking third-worst of 5 model years, with 155 complaints, 14 recalls, and 1 do-not-drive recall. Its top problem area is the Fuel System at 37% of complaints. This gives it a Caution verdict relative to other Bronco Sport years.

Complaints
155
Recalls
14
incl. Do Not Drive
Crashes / fires
9 / 5
Injuries / deaths
9 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
5 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
24.5
23 city / 27 hwy

Top 2023 Ford Bronco Sport problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Fuel System57 (37%)
  2. Electrical System38 (25%)
  3. Engine37 (24%)
  4. Other19 (12%)
  5. Transmission & Powertrain19 (12%)
  6. Brakes10 (6%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers10 (6%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires9 (6%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras8 (5%)
  10. Seat Belts4 (3%)

What owners report

  • Owners report under-hood fires linked to cracked fuel injectors leaking fuel near the engine, in some cases within weeks of delivery.
  • Some drivers describe the four-wheel drive system engaging and disengaging on its own, accompanied by a clanking noise, a warning light, and smoke or fire near the front tires.
  • Several owners report brake failures, including ABS not activating during a turn and cars failing to stop in time despite hard braking.
  • One report describes a rubber brake pad detaching at low speed, causing the driver's foot to slip and the vehicle to crash.
  • Owners mention sudden unintended acceleration at low speed while parking, with no warning lights, after a prior fuel injector recall repair.
  • A reflective orange dash trim was reported to cause glare that blocks the driver's view during sunrise or sunset.
2023 Ford Bronco Sport complaints: complaints filed per month21Feb 2023Oct 2023Apr 2024Sep 2024Feb 2025Jul 2025Dec 2025May 2026
221 complaints filed with NHTSA from Feb 2023 to Sep 2026; peak Jun 2026 (21).

2023 Ford Bronco Sport recalls

14 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 26V340000May 27, 2026Suspension, Wheels & Tires4,653 vehiclesDo Not Drive

    Suspension:front:control arm:lower ball joint

    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.

    Risk: A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and repair the front lower control arm ball joints as necessary, free of charge.Owner notification letters were mailed September 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S36. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 29, 2026.

  2. NHTSA 25V685000Oct 10, 2025Other59,006 vehicles

    Equipment:electrical:engine block heater

    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.

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. 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.

  3. NHTSA 25V467000Jul 11, 2025Fuel System694,271 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:fuel injection system

    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.

    Remedy: Dealers will update the engine control software. In addition, dealers will replace the high-pressure fuel rail assembly and fuel injectors, 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.

See all 14 recalls for the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport →

2023 Ford Bronco Sport fuel economy and fuel cost

City
23 MPG
Highway
27 MPG
Combined
24.5 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,650
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2023 compared with other Bronco Sport years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020212022202320242025
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2021Avoid10069116 !24.5
2022Avoid7535715 !24.5
2023Caution5015514 !24.5
2024Caution251088 !24.5
2025Caution0387 !24

All Ford Bronco Sport years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport reliable?
NHTSA data gives the 2023 Bronco Sport a Complaint Index of 50 and a Caution verdict, ranking third-worst among the 5 model years with data. It has fewer complaints than the 2021 and 2022 model years but more than 2024 and 2025.
Does the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport have a do-not-drive recall?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 do-not-drive recall among the 14 total recalls issued for the 2023 Bronco Sport, related to suspension ball joint installation.
What is the top problem area for the 2023 Bronco Sport?
The Fuel System is the top problem area, accounting for 37% of the 155 complaints, with a median mileage at failure of 35,800 miles for that category.
How does the 2023 Bronco Sport compare to other years?
With a Complaint Index of 50, 2023 ranks better than 2021 (100, Avoid) and 2022 (75, Avoid), but worse than 2024 (25, Good) and 2025 (0, Best).

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.