2021 FORD BRONCO SPORT Power Train Problems

I am experiencing pulsing and lunging while accelerating and cause loss of power and unsafe driving.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving at 25 MPH, the vehicle started jerking abnormally. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the failure was due to the torque converter. The contact was informed that the transmission fluid needed to be flushed and refilled. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and offered to cover 60 percent of the cost of the repair. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V019000 (Electrical System) and 25V467000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The contact stated that while stopped at a traffic light, there was an abnormal sound coming from underneath the passenger-side of the vehicle, and the vehicle stalled. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that approximately a minute later, the vehicle restarted independently. The contact stated that upon shifting to drive(D) and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact shifted to reverse(R), and the vehicle accelerated forward unintendedly. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact test-drove the vehicle in a parking lot, and the failure persisted. The contact stated that while the hand brake was off, the brakes failed to function and seized. The vehicle was towed to the residence, where the contact test-drove the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as...

The main symptom is chatter/shudder during low speed turning events. This is due to a faulty rear differential unit. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer. No lamps or other warnings present prior to the failure. The manufacturer has issued multiple TSBs, latest being TSB 25 2351.

For over a year now my car has been making a chatter/shudder noise during low speed turning. The car even shut off completely on me once while turning on a busy highway. There is a recall out (21S02) for my exact car, but built between 10/29/2020-12/11/2020. My build is not within the range however after getting it inspected, I have this exact issue with my axle having lubricant below the minimal fill level. I am worried that I will lose control of my car again and end up in a life-threatening accident.

The contact's son owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. While the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver heard an abnormal grinding sound coming from the rear differential. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failed vent tube and water intrusion. The contact was informed that the water intrusion damaged the clutch and gears. The contact was informed that the rear differential and vent tube needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was provided a discount on the cost of the part. In addition, the contact was informed that the failure was a known failure with the model vehicle; however, a recall had not been initiated. The failure mileage was approximately 81,421.

On or about 1/16/2025 I started to have issues battery would get display on the display screen it said to turn off ignition or draw Cato conserve battery and on the ford a] it said all or some options would be disabled to save battery and also the vehicle would shudder upon slow acceleration going forward straightforward I took it to the for inspection and they said it was OK. On 11/19 -2025

We experienced premature failure of the rear differential, which was told to us to be a "know defect" by our dealership service department. Ford has been made readily aware of this failure point and potential safety concern-- it is well-documented on the internet, including this NHTSA website, yet fails to issue the proper and appropriate recalls. Consumers are expected to foot the bill for this known manufacturing failure point, which is not only inappropriate, but also extremely dangerous. Failure of the rear differential carries a known potential risk of catastrophic failure-- an immediate recall should be issued for any models affected.

I am submitting this letter to report a potentially widespread safety defect in the 2021 Ford Bronco related to the rear differential assembly. Many owners, including myself, have experienced or are concerned about premature failure of the rear differential under normal driving conditions. This issue can lead to loss of vehicle control and represents a significant safety risk on public roads. Ford Motor Company appears aware of the recurring nature of this defect but has not, to date, issued a recall or extended coverage for affected vehicles. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this issue as a possible design or manufacturing defect that warrants a formal recall or technical action from Ford. Description of Issue: Premature rear differential failure / widespread owner reports Problem has been reported to Ford Motor Company as well as Sutton Ford Dealership. They did the inspection and diagnosed it. I took my vehicle to that...

Vehicle is experiencing issues with shuttering from the rear differential and a 4wd fault code with vehicle just out of warranty. Rear differential speed sensor has failed and possibly need entire rear differential unit relaxed I’m told. Also water pump on engine has failed prematurely with ford avoiding responsibility

On 7/22/2025 Luther Ford, When asked to drive the vehicle into the service area, the car would not go in to drive. It would not move at all. The service advisor stated we need to have the transmission taken out and taken apart to see what the issue is. He said that the transmission was needing to be replaced, and with the transmission, it is mostly because of an issue with the motor as well, but this cannot be diagnosed until the transmission issue is corrected. The vehicle is still at Luther Ford in Fargo waiting on repair. Ford offered limited financial assistance for this. With myself still owing $5758.38. There have been multiple times that I have requested the dealership drive the vehicle because of the vehicle shifting hard or cutting out when stepping on the gas. On 3/3/2023 20,991 miles I had taken the vehicle in to RM...

The car would "skip" while driving. If paused at a light/stop sign, I would hit the gas and the RPMs would increase, but the car would not drive, then it would jerk and go. When driving, my foot would be at a consistent pressure on the gas, but the car would slow down as if I lifted by foot. Then the car would jerk and increase in speed again. There were no warning lights or messages at any of those moments. Due to concerning safety, I was driving to the shop to have it evaluated when I broke down at a stop light. 5 minutes before breaking down, the first light came on with a message in the Ford app stating "powertrain malfunction". When at a light, the automatic break kicked on and would not let me drive. When evaluated at the local dealership they said "there are multiple DTCs...

car is shuddering below 35 mph. The RPM gauge is bouncing. Had the transmission fluid drained and filled. Took it to our local repair shop and there are metal shavings in the transmission fluid.

My wife's 2021 Ford Bronco Sport has had a complete transmission failure and the vehicle has less than 75,000 miles on it. We're told by Ford that the Powertrain warranty ends after 60,000 miles. This has been a disaster for us as we're paying a note on a vehicle that we cannot drive because it will cost $10-11K to repair. I've never owned a vehicle that has had so many problems in my life.

I was driving home from work one day on a Monday and my vehicle had a bunch of warning notifications pop up such as pre collision assist not available, blind spot assist not available, etc as well as a wrench icon popped up and stayed on stating to service 4wd. I stopped driving my vehicle until I could get it serviced. I then took my vehicle to ford to get it diagnosed on Friday of the same week ford stated they would be able to diagnose it for $150 then repair and labor costs would come after. Well they never looked at my vehicle Friday so they told me to bring it back the next Monday I brought it back they said they would diagnose it a few hours later I received a call stating they “think” it’s my AWD module located under the passenger seat but they would not...

At 70K automatic transmission stated to cause jerking motions while in lower speeds when starting to drive from lower speeds. Took car to dealership and i need a new transmission. I have read on Bronco Forum from other Bronco Sport BADLANDS edition, that their transmission has failed too at various mileage, ranging from 30K-66K. Of course this is dangerous if there is a complete failure of transmission. FORD's warranty on power train ends at 36K. The cost is $8700 to replace. transmissions don't die at 70K. according to car experts, transmissions should last 120K-200K. I can't believe there is a recall for some Bronco Sports and not ALL Bronco Sports.

!!!ALWAYS GET A SECOND OPINION WITH "TRANSMISSION ISSUES"!!! I will NEVER get a Ford again! I'm updating my previous issue #11688946 I received my 2021 Ford Bronco Sport in early 2023. I noticed a shutter when accelerating from a stop, I took it to the dealership and had the 3rd fuel injector recall completed (still waiting for a remedy to the most recent #25V467). The dealership stated my vehicle should run fine now. The shutter persisted and worsened and a new issue developed, my RPM's would slightly bounce while going at a steady speed. 09/19/2025 BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP I GO!Just for them to "diagnose" the issue I had to pay $165.00. AND they tried to charge me double stating it took them 2hrs. My BS was dropped on less than 2hrs of them calling me. DIAGNOSIS: torque converter. They recommended a flush and fill for $300-$400. 09/25/2025 I bought...

RDU (Rear Drive Unit) is beginning to I think fail and I have read on other forums with other people saying there’s failed and can be a safety risk. They are put at risk if the RDU fails while driving resulting in an accident. I haven’t gone to the dealership yet or let anyone else know. I thought doing a simple fluid change would do but it still persist. I’ve done research to understand what’s wrong. There was no warning lights but shuddering or grinding noise would occur and I believe it appeared a few hundred miles ago then go worse overall.

I own a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport that has had repeated premature failures of critical components. At ~52,000 miles the water pump failed and was replaced along with coolant and belts. Less than 21,000 miles later (at ~73,000 miles) the water pump has failed again, with coolant leakage and a burning coolant smell. Ford has issued TSB 23-2104 acknowledging coolant leaks at the water pump/hose connection, yet no recall or extended coverage has been offered. This is not the only issue. My alternator has also failed twice and required multiple replacements in under 4 years of ownership. Having two major components (water pump and alternator) fail repeatedly within such a short period clearly shows a systemic defect, not normal wear and tear. Safety risks: coolant leaks can drip or vaporize onto hot engine components, creating a fire hazard. Alternator failure risks sudden loss of power and stalling in traffic. Both...

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission failed to shift into the intended gear. The vehicle only operated in low gear. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,200.

The Vehicle was serviced as normal, everything came back in good shape. A few days later the transmission began to slip. The vehicle was taken back to the dealership where I was told that the Torque Converter was broken and the vehicle would require a full transmission replacement costing a total of $8K. The vehicle currently has 102,357 Miles on it.

Seeing that the 2021 Does Bronco Sport has had a total of 16 transmission complaints/issues I'll go ahead and add mine. My Bronco sport started shuttering during acceleration as well as the RPM needle slightly bouncing up and down. I brought my Ford into the Ford dealership for a diagnosis, I paid $165 for them to look at it and them later tell me that my torque converter is going out. They recommended a flush and fill to help with the longevity, stating that would be between $300-$400. That's when I asked how much it would cost for them to fix the torque converter they stated between $3,500-$4,000. Really something I did not want to hear especially knowing that we are on our 15th recall but this one has no solution. Still waiting on the answers for recall #25S76 and #25V467.

While driving with my [XXX] son in the vehicle, the vehicle suddenly shut down completely in the middle of the street at a red light. Nothing was functional and we were unable to move the vehicle out of the street. A tow truck came in 3 hours and towed the vehicle to the dealership. The dealership advised that it was the battery which they replaced. When merging lanes on the interstate with oncoming traffic, the gas accelerator would not accelerate to speed up. I had to step all the way down on it several times until the vehicle was finally able to accelerate. This has also occurred while at a red light and stop sign. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Grinding noise when turning. Determined noise was coming from rear drive unit due to failed clutches. Had to get rear drive unit assembly and vent line. There appears to be many broncos with this problem.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds and turning in either direction, there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. Additionally, while driving at various speeds, the vehicle shuddered and hesitated while accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the rear differential and transmission were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 75,000.

We brought the car to the dealership for oil change and recall fixes. After picking the vehicle up, the transmission failed the next day. The dealership nor Ford customer service have been any help and claim that they didn’t do anything that could have impacted the transmission. They are wanting us to pay $13k to replace the transmission

Car was put into drive and wouldn’t go. It would finally go but Everytime the engine changed gears it dropped to 0 rpm’s making it very dangerous to drive!!! Lots of lights came on and my app sent me two things wrong with it. After having it checked the codes said it was a valve body issue. Replacing the transmission is $4000, and I’m not the first with this problem a friend of mine had the same issue a couple weekend before me.Had two mechanics one of which was from the dealership tell me this was happening a lot! It’s very dangerous especially when you have kids in the car like I did and are having to stop at red lights and such. There were no issues or lights to show warning of this happening either.

shaking and vibration noise is coming from the rear passenger side of the vehicle. Rear drive unit and hose need to be replaced due to a build up of road debris in the rdu hose. Has happened with many bronco sports from 2021-2022

Car making terrible noise when backing up and turning left. Mechanic said its rear differential and its being recalled. Contacted Ford and my vehichle was manufactured 2 months after the recall issued. And saying they eont fix it. However it is thecexact same issue.

My car is only 4 years old and is now in need of a brand new transmission. The power train lights are on, the emissions lights stay on, it shuts off after getting gas and won’t restart. I’ve been to the Ford dealer to fix “recalls” and was told there was no fix for it yet and that the noises I was hearing and the problems I was having was all fine and that there should be no long term issues with my car. Now, a few months later my car is back at the dealership in need of a whole new transmission. I am so sick of the issues and constant battles with this car and being told it’s fine and to wait for a call for the update to be ready. I am now out of a vehicle and I haven’t even owned it a year yet.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving and making right turns at undisclosed low speeds, there was an abnormal growling sound coming from the rear end of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the rear drive unit had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired under an unknown Ford TSB. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 77,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving at 35-40 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering, shifted into gears unintendedly and failed to exceed 4 RPMs and 10 MPH. The messages "System Failure Mileage" and "Parking Not Available" were displayed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 136,000.

My car would not move or go into gear. I was told it was my transmission but the diagnostic said it’s my powertrain control module. The mechanic finally admitted he broke my transmission. My Bronco is still sitting at the service department of the dealership. I have not had my vehicle since June 6, 2025. All I get is still ordering parts! I need a vehicle this is my only source of transportation and now I’m borrowing daily from family members. I don’t understand why they didn’t look into the powertrain from the beginning.

I have 66,310 miles on my 2021 Ford Bronco Sport and recently found out that it needs a new transmission. Their quote for the transmission was $13,000… yes you read that right $13,000!!!! More importantly is the fact that the transmission crapped out at 66,310 miles… The dealership (Stamford Ford) told me there was NOTHING they could do as the warranty expired at 60K miles. After some research online it turns out that FORD BRONCO IS PLAGUED WITH TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND THEY REFUSE TO RECALL THEM. There are literally thousands of complaints from people with the same issue

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle started to lose motive power and was shaking abnormally. The contact depressed the accelerator pedal, and the RPM became elevated; however, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The contact stated there was no warning light illuminated. The contact was able to exit the high and parked in a parking lot. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and became aware that the wrench symbol was displayed. The contact shifted into reverse to exit the parking lot and "Low Power Mode” warning light flashed on the instrument panel. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to a dealer at speeds below 30 MPH. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched online and related the...

Since I have bought this used vehicle in September 2024, it has been shutting off completely with having to restart the engine. There was a recall for the battery in January 2025 that was finally approved to be replaced maybe in May or so. Battery was replaced but it keeps shutting off. I just took it in July 7 for the fuel pump to be replaced as they said that was the final cause. I drove it home the same day when it was finished and it has been shutting off still. It has shut off while I have been at the light, in reverse and as well as putting my vehicle into reverse by itself which could cause an accident. This situation has since be unresolved. I have taken it to the ford dealership with them many times with them saying there is nothing wrong with it.

I have a 2021 Bronco sport Big Bend with only 27,000 miles on it. it I started to notice a binding sensation and accompanying noise from the rear of the vehicle when making sharp low speed turns. I took it to the dealership and they thought it was a brake problem but nothing was found from this inspection and the noise persisted. Then I took it in and had the rear differential inspected and found that the axle retaining clip is broken or has fallen off and the axle is pounding on the retaining pin. The Tech told me that this is a very common problem with Bronco sport Big Bends and requires replacement of the entire differential and the axel shaft, this is a four thousand dollar repair on a lightly used vehicle with low miles. The dealer says there is a national back order on these parts as...

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle jerked abnormally. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a fractured and leaking CV boot. The contact was informed that the CV boot needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle had been at the dealer several times due to the persistent failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under recall or special programs. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

Vehicle: 2021 Ford Bronco VIN: [XXX] Mileage: Approximately 88,000 miles Complaint: I am reporting major safety and drivability concerns with my 2021 Ford Bronco, which is currently undrivable and in the shop at Ron DuPrat Ford in Dixon, California. Despite experiencing issues nearly identical to those covered under existing recalls, my vehicle’s VIN is not currently included. While driving on the freeway, the vehicle suddenly malfunctioned. Without warning, it dropped into first gear at high speed, causing a rapid and unexpected deceleration. This could have easily resulted in a serious accident or even death — not only for my family but for others on the road. This is a major safety issue. After pulling off the road, the vehicle would no longer go into reverse and became completely undrivable. I also received multiple dashboard alerts, including: “An electrical fault has occurred with the transmission fluid pressure sensor circuit and its...

Vehicle chutters especially turn low speed turns and after stopping and making turn. You can feel vibration in the steering wheel and can be jerky turning. I have read of multiple other reports of this happening to vehicles and there is a TSB (24-2185)out for the repair. Ford knows about it and should be liable for the fix.

Parked my car, came back to it and it would not engage in gear. Put it in reverse and it will not go. Put it on forward and it would go. After a little bit it would not engage even if I put the car in reverse or forward. Car did not give any indication of transmission issues at all. No weird sounds or rough gear. Flushed transmission fluid (black color) and got original ford trans fluid in it. It engages but it is rough and not driveable. Car did not give any indication of transmission problems at all before the issue. Transmission is bad.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the instrument panel malfunctioned, with the message "Pull Over and Restart the Engine" displayed. The battery was replaced, and failure was resolved. Additionally, the contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that later while driving at various speeds, the vehicle started jerking while changing gear. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle later experienced a failure while attempting to accelerate, with the check engine warning...

My vehicle has been jerking/hesitating upon acceleration and at times can barely move going up an incline at low speeds. This has been going on for over a year. Last year I was told by the Ford dealership that it was the RDU recall which did not make a difference, and they replaced the PTO which also did not resolve the issue. I took it back in for more diagnostics this week to the same Ford dealership and was told that the transmission was bad and required replacement - that the fluid was black with metal particles and the level was low although their regular oil changes reflect as recently as two weeks ago that the level and color of the transmission fluid was normal. No warning lamps or messages. I declined the replacement at this time as I feel that it is a manufacturer's defect. It is available for...

Within a few years of purchasing my Bronco Sport, I had a grinding noise when going in reverse. Took it to dealership and they said there was no fix for it. 2 years later, I had a grinding, chatter noise again in back area of car. Dealership said a TSB had been issued and a fluid replacement and vent hose replacement was performed. A year or so later, the same issue began- chatter, grinding noise. Unable to go in reverse. Transmission failure. $7000 dollars later, my car is still not driving well. It has been back to the mechanic and each time they do a software update but problem returns.

I have attached a letter that I mailed to Ford Consumer Affairs detailing the issues with this vehicle and asking them to repair the transmission. I received a response letter from them yesterday denying my claim. I am seeking advice on how I can proceed with Ford, if at all, to try to get them to fix this issue that was clearly caused by multiple recalls. I am not the only consumer reporting the exact same problem with this vehicle. Thank You, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Rear wheels seems to lock up if you turn a sharp turn right or left. Rear wheels seems to slide,causing safety concern. Dealer has not been contacted. Manufacturer has not been notified. No warnings or lights

My 2021 Bronco Sport Outerbanks running at 73,000 miles, transmission has given out per Rich Ford Service Dept. I have to spend $10k plus to get it fixed. My warranty ran out. I seen a lot of people having the same issue. Transmission will not go forward or backwards. There should be a recall.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was driving rough and failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The following day while driving to the local dealer, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission fluid pump had failed and there were metal shavings inside the transmission fluid. The contact was advised that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 122,402.

They sold me a car that wasn’t ready to be sold. They promised to fix it, but they didn’t. Child seat anchor latch ,cross traffic alerts rear,rollover stability control, front drive airbags antilock brakes front passenger airbags the trim electronic/control brake assist running light side impact airbags. Say current airbags, front passenger airbag front dryer airbags Ford collision warning, warning don’t worry, automatic emergency break for compound doesn’t work in base. It’s supposed to be a gold certified vehicle. they’re lying to me about my warranty in the packages that I bought. My caliper was supposed to be fixed because it was ready when I got it my chassis and Auntie breaker system my gateway to be reprogramming for inspection and maintenance the warranty for the rest. The budget powertrain the SOS post crash alert system. They never gave me copy my certified thing. I have a non-conformity part on...

This is a correction and expansion to complaint #11650564. My 2021 Ford Bronco Sport has now experienced complete transmission failure at approx. 86,000 miles, following earlier rear differential (RDU) failure at 60,600 miles. Both major drivetrain components failed well before expected lifespan under normal, mostly interstate driving. The vehicle has never been off-roaded. Transmission symptoms include shuddering, fluttering, failure to engage park, and severe gear engagement issues. Critically, the vehicle would power forward while placed in neutral — it was not rolling. The wheels received torque while in neutral, which should not happen. Reverse gear would also engage forward motion, and drive would fail to engage at all unless I toggled 4WD low. Park would not hold the vehicle, requiring the parking brake to prevent movement. One serious safety incident occurred when stop-start activated at a red light and the car failed to re-engage drive, leaving me stranded in live...