MODEL
Ford Bronco Sport
NHTSA safety across every Ford Bronco Sport model year we cover.
Across the 5 model years of the Ford Bronco Sport we cover (2021 to 2026), the strongest crash-test showing is the 2026 at 81 on the NHTSA Safety Index, and the lowest is the 2023 at 71. 57 recalls have been issued across those years.
The Ford Bronco Sport is a compact SUV built on a car-based platform and aimed squarely at younger, adventure-minded buyers who want rugged styling and light off-road capability without committing to the body-on-frame full-size Bronco. Sold in the United States from model year 2021 onward, it competes in one of the most crowded segments in the market, where safety credentials matter as much as trail cred.
The Bronco Sport's safety picture is genuinely mixed, and shoppers deserve a straight read on that. On the crash-test side, the numbers are encouraging: the best-performing model year in our coverage window earned 5 out of 5 stars in both frontal and side crash tests, with a solid 4 out of 5 in rollover protection - a respectable showing for a taller, narrower compact SUV. The overall NHTSA Safety Index peaked at 76 out of 100, landing in the Average band. That is not a failing grade, but it is not a standout score either, and buyers cross-shopping against top-rated rivals should take note. Where the Bronco Sport raises real concern is in its recall and complaint record. Across the 2021 to 2024 model years we cover, Ford has issued 53 recalls - a high count for a model this young. More striking, four of those campaigns rose to the level of park-outside or do-not-drive directives, which indicates issues serious enough that federal regulators urged owners not to operate the vehicle. Owner complaints total 1,213, with 42 alleged crashes, 36 alleged fires, and 37 alleged injuries reported. These are unverified allegations, but the fire-related complaint volume in particular is worth watching closely before purchase. Bottom line: the Bronco Sport earns decent marks in the crash lab but carries a heavier recall and complaint burden than we would like to see. Verify all open recalls before buying any used example.
WHAT REVIEWERS SAYReviewers generally find the Bronco Sport an appealing, personality-driven compact SUV with genuine light off-road ability and a well-organized interior. Most praise its distinctive styling and standard driver-assistance features while acknowledging that its on-road refinement and fuel economy trail some competitors. The overall tone is positive but measured, with the vehicle seen as a lifestyle choice rather than a class benchmark.
- The Bronco Sport earned 5-star frontal and side crash-test ratings in its best-performing year, but its NHTSA Safety Index of 76 out of 100 places it only in the Average band - not best-in-class for safety.
- Ford issued 53 recalls across the 2021 to 2024 model years, an unusually high count for such a young nameplate. Four of those campaigns carried park-outside or do-not-drive warnings, signaling issues regulators considered serious enough to ground the vehicle.
- Owner complaints include 36 alleged fire incidents across the covered model years. These are unverified allegations, but the volume is elevated for a compact SUV and warrants close scrutiny of any specific vehicle's recall and complaint history before purchase.
- Before buying any used Bronco Sport, run the VIN through NHTSA's free recall database to confirm all open safety recalls - especially the park-outside campaigns - have been properly remedied by a Ford dealer.
Most-recalled year on record: 2021 Ford Bronco Sport with 16 recalls.