2021 Ford Bronco Sport Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 188 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport, 27% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 54,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “rear differential” (13% of reports).
- 188power train complaints
- 54,000median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $9,000typical repair cost reported by owners
- 26%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Rear differential: mentioned in 24 of 188 complaints (13%)
- Transmission failed: mentioned in 14 of 188 complaints (7%)
- Electrical power train: mentioned in 12 of 188 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport at $9,000, and half of them between $3,550 and $10,650.
Based on 7 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2024–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 51 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 188 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 1 a fire.
Ford Bronco Sport power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Bronco Sport | 1 | 13% | — |
| 2025 Bronco Sport | 7 | 18% | — |
| 2024 Bronco Sport | 22 | 20% | 18,500 |
| 2023 Bronco Sport | 20 | 13% | 25,000 |
| 2022 Bronco Sport | 70 | 19% | 38,000 |
| 2021 Bronco Sport | 188 | 27% | 54,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm); electrical system:body control module/bcm
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco Sport and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 24V-267. The body and power train control modules may fail to detect a change in the 12-volt battery state of charge.
Risk: An undetected low battery charge can result in a loss of electrical accessories such as hazard lights, or cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will recalibrate the body control module and power train control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 23, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S26.
Electrical system:body control module/bcm; power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Bronco Sport and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles. The body and power train control modules may fail to detect a change in the 12-volt battery state of charge.
Risk: An undetected low battery charge can result in a loss of electrical accessories such as hazard lights, or cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will recalibrate the body control module and power train control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 4, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S24.
Power train:driveline:driveshaft
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Edge, 2020 Lincoln Nautilus and Ford Escape and 2021 Lincoln Corsair and Ford Bronco Sport vehicles. An inadequate amount of lubricant in the rear drive unit may cause seizure of the rear drive axle.
Risk: If the rear drive unit seizes, there may be a loss of drive and/or a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will check the rear drive unit lubricant level. Axles found to have lubricant at the minimum level will be filled to the full level. Axles found to be below the minimum lubricant fill level will be replaced, free of charge. This recall began March 12, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S02.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I have a 2021 Bronco Sport 55,000 miles. I have taken my vehicle to the dealer for all maintenance, repairs and advice. My boyfriend mentioned my RPMs are bouncing and they should not. I scheduled at the dealer anticipating a sensor. I learned from the dealer my vehicle requires a new transmission…
Rear differential makes grinding noise. Repaired by Ford in 10/24 but grinding has returned.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the contact attempted to accelerate; however, the transmission failed to shift into a higher gear. The contact stated that the RPM was high and the vehicle was restarted to continue driving. The messages "Power…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2021 Ford Bronco Sports have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 188 owner complaints about power train for the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport (27% of the 708 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport power train?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 54,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport?
Owners report a typical cost of $9,000 (half paid between $3,550 and $10,650), from 7 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport?
The most frequent phrase is “rear differential”, in 24 of 188 complaints, followed by “transmission failed” (14).
Other 2021 Ford Bronco Sport problems
See all 2021 Ford Bronco Sport problems or power train problems across all Bronco Sport years.