Model year 2026 · Small Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD

2026 Ford Bronco: recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings

EPA rates the 2026 Ford Bronco at 15–20 mpg combined across 9 versions. NHTSA lists 9 safety recalls and 11 owner complaints for this model year.

Safety recalls

9

EPA combined mpg

15–20

NHTSA overall rating

—

Recall file dated Oct 27, 2026 · EPA file dated Sep 29, 2026 · updated Oct 27, 2026, 7:34 AM EDT

Check your own car: enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls for that exact vehicle, and contact a Ford dealer to schedule the repair — safety recall repairs are free. The list below covers the whole model year, so not every recall applies to every car.

2026 Ford Bronco recalls

NHTSA's recall file lists 9 safety recalls for the 2026 Ford Bronco, newest first.

Air bags: Side/window: Curtain

NHTSA 26V580000 Reported Sep 9, 2026
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 26S64)
Units affected
2,711 (estimate)
Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Bronco vehicles. The mounting bracket on the right-hand-side side curtain air bag may have a metal burr that can tear the air bag during deployment.
Risk
A torn air bag may fail to properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will increase the space between the bracket and air bag to remove the contact condition, free of charge. Owner notification letters were October 16, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S64. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 10, 2026.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Engine and engine cooling: Engine: Hard parts internal/mechanical

NHTSA 26V548000 Reported Aug 25, 2026
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 26S61)
Units affected
10,001 (estimate)
Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Mustang, and Ranger vehicles. The engine piston domes may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in piston dome failure and lead to a loss of drive power.
Risk
An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the engine pistons and replace the engine long block, if necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 3, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S61. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on August 28, 2026.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Engine and 1 more component

NHTSA 26V468000 Reported Jul 20, 2026
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 26S55)
Components
Engine; Electrical system: Wiring: Front underhood
Units affected
565,691 (estimate)
Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Bronco and Bronco Raptor vehicles. The engine compartment wiring harness may become damaged and short circuit.
Risk
A short circuit in the engine compartment can create heat or spark, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will install sheathing over the wiring, free of charge. This is a Phased campaign. Phase 1 will include 2026 Bronco Raptor notified owners on 7/31/2026. Phase 2 will include 2021-2025 Bronco Raptor vehicle will notify owners on or about 8/14/2026. Phase 3 will include 2021-2026 Bronco will notify owners on or about 9/1/2026. Owner notification letters were mailed August 5, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S55. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 23, 2026.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Structure: Body

NHTSA 26V403000 Reported Jun 24, 2026
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 26S47)
Units affected
36,046 (estimate)
Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2026 Bronco vehicles. The fender flares may not be properly secured and detach from the vehicle.
Risk
A detached fender flare can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the fender flares as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 1, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S47. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning August 7, 2026.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Engine and engine cooling: Engine: Hard parts internal/mechanical

NHTSA 26V343000 Reported May 27, 2026
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 26S35)
Units affected
1,536 (estimate)
Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Explorer, Ranger, and Bronco vehicles. The engine may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Risk
A sudden loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the engine long block, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S35. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 28, 2026.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Equipment: Other: Labels

NHTSA 26V335000 Reported May 26, 2026
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 26C24)
Units affected
268 (estimate)
Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Ranger and Bronco vehicles. The vehicle specifications listed on the tire placard and safety certification labels may be incorrect, including the VIN, capacity weight, seating capacity, front and rear gross axle weight rating (GAWR), tire and rim dimensions, and recommended cold tire pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims" and 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
Risk
The incorrect tire size, tire pressures, and GAWR listed on the labels can allow the vehicle to be overloaded or have improperly inflated tires, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and if necessary, replace the certification and TREAD labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 3, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C24. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 28, 2026.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Seats: Critical fasteners

NHTSA 26V268000 Reported Apr 28, 2026
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 26S30)
Units affected
179,698 (estimate)
Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Ranger and Bronco vehicles. The front seats may have a loose or dislodged seat frame height-adjust pivot bolt.
Risk
A seat with a dislodged bolt may not properly restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the pivot links and bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford’s number for this recall is 26S30. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 30, 2026.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Back over prevention: Software

NHTSA 26V124000 Reported Mar 3, 2026
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 26S09)
Units affected
849,310 (estimate)
Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Ford Bronco and 2021-2024 Ford Edge vehicles. The Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM) may overheat and shutdown, which can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying as intended.
Risk
A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
The APIM software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 13, 2026. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S09. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 5, 2026.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Electrical system: Instrument cluster/panel

NHTSA 25V788000 Reported Nov 14, 2025
Filed by
Ford Motor Company (manufacturer recall no. 25SC3)
Units affected
229,609 (estimate)
Problem
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Bronco and Bronco Sport vehicles. The Instrument Panel Cluster (IPC) may fail at startup.
Risk
An instrument panel display that does not show critical information, such as warning lights or vehicle speed, increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
The instrument panel cluster software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SC3.

Full recall record on nhtsa.gov

Recall summaries are written by NHTSA from manufacturers' defect reports. Dates are when NHTSA received the report.

2026 Ford Bronco fuel economy by version

EPA city/highway/combined estimates for each engine, transmission and drive combination. Annual fuel cost is EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year (55% city, 45% highway) at EPA's current fuel-price assumptions; your cost will vary.

2026 Ford Bronco EPA fuel economy
VersionEngineTransmissionDriveFuelCity/Hwy/CombFuel cost/yrCO2 g/mi
Bronco 4WD2.3L 4-cyl turboAutomatic 10-speedPart-time 4-Wheel DriveRegular18/22/20 mpg$3,350453
Bronco 4WD2.3L 4-cyl turboManual 7-spdPart-time 4-Wheel DriveRegular18/21/19 mpg$3,550452
Bronco 4WD2.7L 6-cyl turboAutomatic 10-speedPart-time 4-Wheel DriveRegular17/17/17 mpg$3,950525
Bronco Badlands 4WD2.3L 4-cyl turboAutomatic 10-speedPart-time 4-Wheel DriveRegular17/19/18 mpg$3,700507
Bronco Badlands 4WD2.3L 4-cyl turboManual 7-spdPart-time 4-Wheel DriveRegular17/18/17 mpg$3,950504
Bronco Outer Banks 4WD2.7L 6-cyl turboAutomatic 10-speedPart-time 4-Wheel DriveRegular19/21/20 mpg$3,350454
Bronco Raptor 4WD3.0L 6-cyl turboAutomatic 10-speedPart-time 4-Wheel DriveRegular15/16/15 mpg$4,450577
Bronco Sasquatch 4WD2.3L 4-cyl turboAutomatic 10-speedPart-time 4-Wheel DriveRegular17/19/18 mpg$3,700494
Bronco Sasquatch 4WD2.3L 4-cyl turboManual 7-spdPart-time 4-Wheel DriveRegular17/19/18 mpg$3,700489

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (U.S. DOE and EPA), file dated Sep 29, 2026. Each version links to its FuelEconomy.gov record.

EPA estimates come from standardized lab tests so cars can be compared fairly; real-world mileage depends on speed, weather, load, tires and driving style.

2026 Ford Bronco crash-test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the tested versions. More stars mean a lower chance of serious injury in that type of crash. Rollover risk is NHTSA's estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

2026 Ford Bronco NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Tested vehicleOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover riskForward collision warning
2026 FORD BRONCO 2DR SUV N/A 4WDNot rated4 starsNot rated3 stars25.6%No
2026 FORD BRONCO 4DR SUV N/A 4WDNot rated4 starsNot rated3 stars25.6%No

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program), checked Oct 26, 2026.

Star ratings compare vehicles of similar size and weight; a frontal rating for a large pickup is not directly comparable with one for a small car.

2026 Ford Bronco owner complaints

Owners have filed 11 complaints with NHTSA about the 2026 Ford Bronco, most recently on Oct 20, 2026. 1 mention a crash, 0 a fire, 0 injured people and 0 deaths. These are unverified reports; a complaint is not proof of a defect.

Most-cited components in 2026 Ford Bronco complaints
Component named in complaintsMentions
Structure: Body3
Electrical system2
Power train2
Engine1
Seat belts1
Seats1
Steering1
Unknown or other1
Visibility1

Source: NHTSA consumer complaint files (complaints received since January 1, 2015). One complaint can name several components.

Had a safety problem with your vehicle? You can report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem.

Other Ford Bronco model years

Ford Bronco by model year
YearCombinedRecallsComplaintsOverall rating
2025 Bronco15–20 mpg1956—
2024 Bronco15–20 mpg1682—
2023 Bronco15–20 mpg18230—
2022 Bronco15–20 mpg23384—
2021 Bronco17–21 mpg20230—

All Ford Bronco years compared · Decode a VIN

Other 2026 Ford models

Sources

  • Recalls: NHTSA recall flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010), dated Oct 27, 2026, plus a live check of api.nhtsa.gov in your browser.
  • Complaints: NHTSA consumer complaint flat files (COMPLAINTS_RECEIVED), counts only — we do not republish complaint text.
  • Crash tests: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings API.
  • Fuel economy: FuelEconomy.gov vehicles file (U.S. DOE and EPA), dated Sep 29, 2026.
  • NHTSA, EPA and DOE do not endorse OpenVIN. Vehicle names identify vehicles only; OpenVIN is not affiliated with Ford.