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2023 Ford Bronco

The Verdict

52 Proceed with Caution

The 2023 Ford Bronco has 210 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (136 complaints) and electrical (22 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 52/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Ford Bronco, consider the 2024 model year which has 67% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2024 has 67% fewer complaints

View the 2024 Ford Bronco dashboard →

52

Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution

About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

Recalls 3

Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.

24V142000 VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Bronco and Bronco Heritage vehicles. The rear quarter glass panels may have been improperly installed to the vehicle hard top, which can al...

Risk

Detached rear glass panels may create a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and reinstall the rear glass panels on Bronco vehicles. On Bronco Heritage vehicles, dealers will replace the rear left-hand removable quarter glass panel. Repairs will be pe...

Reported Apr 10, 2026

24V189000 LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LOCK

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Bronco 4-door vehicles. The left-side rear door may be opened from the inside of the vehicle when the child safety lock is in the "ON" posi...

Risk

A malfunctioning child safety lock that allows a rear door to be opened unintentionally can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect the child safety locks and replace the rear door latch, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 9, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer s...

Reported Aug 3, 2024

23V546000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:INTERNAL:PARK PAWL

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Bronco vehicles. The transmission park system may have been damaged during assembly, which can prevent the parking pawl from fully engaging and ...

Risk

A vehicle rollaway can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Dealers will replace the transmission, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this ...

Reported Mar 8, 2023

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
2021771529896
202216737318722
202313615222116
20243481575

By Category

Body
136
Electrical
22
Engine
21
Transmission
16
Brakes
15

By Severity

1
110
2
91
3
1
4
8

Worst Problems

Complaints

Brakes 1

TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE IN 2023 BRONCO. What happened is exactly what is described for current recall of the electronic brake booster for 2025 broncos. Mine is a 2023.

19d ago
Body 1

Camera and sensor on driver side does not indicate movement/stops working. This results in the Blindspot detection not working or any cross traffic alerts or object detection, which can lead to an accident. occurs intermittently and car does not issue a warning that the system is not working or down. Also causing an issue when backing up

24d ago
Body 2

-Complete steering and suspension failure occurred while driving on highway. Vehicle is currently sitting at Ford dealer. - The safety of all passengers was put at risk and nearly caused a fatal accident. -Dealer and another shop are saying it was lower control arm and bushing failure. They are unclear on path forward for repairs and it seems like something bigger is going on they do not want to disclose. They deny problem has been reproduced on this model, however a similar recall for this type of failure has occurred on other bronco models under recall number 26S36. That recall report matches what happened to my vehicle. -It has been inspected by Ford and Bronco Barn in Las Vegas. I will be getting a third opinion for a clear path forward since none has been supplied by ford or the third party company. -There were no warning lamps, check engine lights, or messages prior to failure. There was a slight misalignment of tires felt while driving just prior to losing full steering control.

1mo ago
Body 2

Delamination of roof and cracking with leaks

1mo ago
Engine 4

The contact owned a 2023 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that while her boyfriend was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal noise. The contact's boyfriend had pulled over. They discovered an unknown fluid leaking under the vehicle and a spark coming from the engine before the vehicle caught fire. There were no injuries were sustained. The firefighters arrived and extinguished the fire. Police and fire department reports were filed. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed totaled by the insurance company. Upon research, the contact related the failure to the fuel injector. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

2mo ago
Brakes 2

when engine is cold and I go down a hill to a stop sign and apply the brakes , the brakes begin to engage almost fully then release and the Bronco lurches forward 6-8" and then the brakes grab and slam the car to a stop. This only happens on an incline and when the engine is cold or has sat for awhile. THe brake pedal is fully depressed and when the bronco rolls forward, there is nothing to do to stop it since the pedal is already fully engaged. I have taken it to the dealer numerous times to diagnose, but since there is not a hill or incline near them, they are not able to reproduce the same issue. I have videos of this happening and it is a known problem that has been diagnosed in the Ford bronco online forums. The dealer suggested I call Ford Service to report the issue and I started a case complaint.There are no warning messages or codes that are present that the dealer can find to explain the problem. The car is not safe to rely on due to the brake system currently and the dealer nor Ford corporate will do anything but document my issue.

2mo ago
Engine 4

My husband was sitting at a stop light when he noticed what appeared to be steam/smoke coming out from under the hood of the Bronco. Then smoke came into the vehicle through the air vents. When he looked up, flames were coming out from under the hood. He got out and the whole front of the car burst into flames and torched the car.

2mo ago
Body 2

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V124000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that on several occasions when the vehicle was in park(P) and running, the infotainment screen turned black after several seconds. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, but was not diagnosed. The dealer stated that the failure might be possible with the recall repair and that the part was not yet available. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.

2mo ago
Engine 2

Going 80 on the fwy. It stared shaking, engine light came on. Immediately go off the fwy as soon as I stopped it died and wouldn’t start.

2mo ago
Electrical 1

I am reporting unresolved safety recalls and unreasonable delay in repair for my 2023 Ford Bronco (VIN: [XXX] ). This vehicle currently has two open safety recalls issued by Ford Motor Company     •    NHTSA Recall 25V721 (issued October 2025) – seat frame defect that may increase injury risk in a crash. There is currently no available remedy, and Ford has notified me that a repair is not expected until April 2027.     •    NHTSA Recall 26V124 (issued March 2026) – APIM defect that may overheat and cause the rearview camera to fail while reversing, increasing crash risk. In addition, this vehicle has had prior recalls (25V025 and 25V273) that remained unresolved for extended periods. One of these recalls had no available repair for approximately 10 months. These recalls affect critical safety systems including suspension, rear visibility, and seat safety. The delay for Recall 25V721 is expected to exceed 18 months, which I believe is an unreasonable delay for a safety recall repair. Ford has continued issuing new recalls while prior recalls were still unresolved, indicating a pattern of repeated safety defects and delayed remedies. Due to these active recalls, I have been unable to use my vehicle commercially. Rental platforms such as Turo prohibit listing vehicles with open safety recalls. This has resulted in financial losses exceeding 80,000. This situation forces consumers to choose between operating a vehicle with known safety defects or suffering significant financial loss due to lack of repair availability. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether Ford is complying with its obligation to provide timely safety recall remedies and whether delays of this length are reasonable. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

3mo ago
Body 2

My infotainment screen goes blank when I backup instead of displaying my backup camera. There is an active recall on this but there is no remedy and no estimated remedy date. Ford Motor Company is only prioritizing 2026 model years so they can sell brand new vehicles. They are not trying to fix previous model years. This poses a safety risk that can result in a crash and/or death. Cars are required by law to have a backup camera, so Ford is breaking the law by not fixing this issue.

3mo ago
Body 2

Steering would get stuck when turning, then let loose. Fortunately I didn’t lose control. Happens all the time now when driving. Had the car towed to dealer. They diagnosed failed steering shaft. This Bronco has approx 28,000 miles on it. Ford Motor Company refused to help me pay for the approx $1000 repair. Finally, the dealer worked with a contact at Ford for them to cover most of the cost. Ford wouldn’t consider issuing a recall, or expanding an existing recall for a similar steering problem, which didn’t include my VIN. No warning lights, messages, etc. I consider this a serious defect.

3mo ago
Brakes 1

A couple of times on as well as off pavement when traveling on a decline I depress the brake pedal and it only very softly applied the brakes. I have to press very hard to come to a stop. Much harder than normal. Once (off pavement) they did not work until the third time I pressed them. The pedal just went to the bottom. Normally the steep decline seems to be associated to the issue.

3mo ago
Body 1

UNKNOWN Windshield wipers will change speeds without driver intervention. While in steady to heavy rain, wipers will slow to intermittent after a few minutes of being on. This is causing visibility issues and safety issues as a result. Very dangerous!

3mo ago
Body 2

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that upon inspection the hard top roof, there were several cracks formed on the roof. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was acknowledged, and it was agreed that the hard top would be replaced under warranty. After the hard top was replaced, the contact inspected the new hard top and discovered several dents and uneven surfaces on the roof. The dealer was notified of the failure, and an agent advised the contact to bring the vehicle back to the dealer. The contact was informed that he could inspect the hardtops of the newer vehicles at the dealer lot and if he found a top that he liked, the dealer would swap the hardtop and replace the hardtop. After inspecting approximately 5 vehicles, each vehicle had issues with their hardtops. Upon investigation, the contact discovered General Service Bulletin: 23-7174, which was associated with the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.

3mo ago
Transmission 2

1. Component/system that failed/malfunctioned — Braking system (electronic parking brake and brake control modules) combined with electrical/communication defect preventing storage of diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). Vehicle available for inspection upon request. 2. How safety was put at risk — Repeated "Park Brake Fault – Service Now" and "Brake System Fault" warnings on dash while driving risk sudden loss of parking brake function, reduced braking, or unexpected behavior (e.g., transmission no-engagement beyond walking pace after cold start), impairing safe stopping/control and endangering driver and others. 3. Problem reproduced/confirmed by dealer — Yes — reproduced/confirmed multiple times by authorized Ford dealer (Town & Country Ford, Evansville, IN) across five visits (invoices attached): active brake faults visible on dash during service, yet "no codes found," "unable to verify," "NP no problem found." Examples: [XXX] (30,113 mi) brake fault while driving; [XXX]intermittent parking brake light, no codes; [XXX] transmission slip and brake fault, no codes. 4. Inspected by manufacturer, police, insurance, or others — Inspected only by dealer. Ford CX team contacted (CRM [XXX] , July 2025) but no further inspection/resolution. No police or insurance inspections. 5. Warning lamps/messages prior to failure and when first appeared — "Park Brake Error Message" and "Park Brake Fault" warnings first documented 25,722 miles (early visits after [XXX] purchase at 13 miles). No-DTC retention defect prevented earlier alerts/diagnosis. Symptoms escalated (transmission slip, cold no-start die-out, brake faults recurring). 6. Additional notes — Out of service 60 cumulative days; loaner restricted to local driving only when provided. Part of Indiana Lemon Law claim (BBB AUTO LINE Case [XXX]). Due to 10-file/10MB upload limit, core documents attached; additional photos, full invoices, loaner agreement, BBB correspondence available upon request. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

4mo ago
Engine 1

The vehicle experienced recurring electrical system failures beginning in December 2023. The vehicle intermittently would not start and on several occasions lost power unexpectedly. The vehicle was taken multiple times to an authorized Ford dealership for diagnosis while still under the manufacturer warranty. The dealership repeatedly reported that no issue could be identified despite the recurring electrical malfunction. The vehicle battery was replaced more than once within three years, however the underlying electrical issue persisted. In August 2025 the dealership instructed that the vehicle remain at the service center for extended diagnosis. The vehicle remained at the dealership for more than 40 consecutive days before being returned on October 8, 2025. Because the vehicle intermittently fails to start and has experienced electrical system malfunction, this creates a potential safety risk if the vehicle stalls or loses power while operating in traffic. Additionally, the vehicle currently has two outstanding manufacturer safety recalls that remain unresolved after nearly three years of ownership. This complaint is being submitted because the defect remains unresolved despite multiple repair attempts while the vehicle was under the manufacturer warranty.

4mo ago
Transmission 2

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco. The contact stated that while driving a motorhome at an undisclosed speed and towing the vehicle in tow mode, the transmission blew up. The contact pulled over to retrieve sunglasses from the vehicle and became aware that there was an odor of transmission fluid coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who confirmed there was no warranty coverage for the failure. The dealer stated that the failure was due to operator error. The vehicle was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 10,642.

4mo ago
Transmission 1

Automatic 10 speed transmission has unpredictable shifting from 1st through 3 gears, offten with long lags between shifts, losing power temporarily, especially from 1st to 2nd gear, and harsh shifting. Sometimes, the 1st - 2nd shift lag happens upon acceleration during merging or in an intersection and that loss of power is critical, requiring an adjustment in throttle position, and when 2nd gear catches, then there is too much power. It is unpredictable. The Bronco has about 35K miles now, but this has happening since day 1. Twice in dealer, twice the tech noted it, and twice the only solution was to clear the adaptive shift control memory. Does not fix the issue.

4mo ago
Electrical 1

I took my Bronco into Michigan City Ford for recall 25V273 repair. Shortly after this the front camera stopped working. I took it back in and they are saying the camera module is M2DZ-19H405-D has gone bad. They are saying this module controls front and rear camera but is not part of the recall. On the internet, there are many examples of the front camera issue after the rear recall repair.

5mo ago

210 total

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