MODEL
Ford Bronco Sport Safety
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 79 on the NHTSA Safety Index, and the lowest is the 2023 at 71. 59 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 presents a genuinely mixed safety picture. The 2021 to 2024 model years show encouraging crash-test results but a concerning record of recalls and owner complaints. In federal crash testing, the Bronco Sport earned 5 out of 5 stars in both frontal and side crash tests. Rollover protection received a solid 4 out of 5 stars, a respectable showing for a compact SUV. The NHTSA Safety Index for the model peaked at 76 out of 100, placing it in the Average band. This is not a failing grade, but it is not a standout score. The model's recall and complaint record raises significant concerns. Across the 2021 to 2024 model years, Ford has issued 53 recalls. Four of these campaigns were severe enough to warrant park-outside or do-not-drive directives from federal regulators. Owner complaints total 1,213, including 42 alleged crashes, 36 alleged fires, and 37 alleged injuries. While these are unverified allegations, the volume of fire-related complaints warrants close attention. The Bronco Sport achieves decent crash-test marks, but carries a heavier recall and complaint burden than is ideal. 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.