2021 Ford Bronco Engine Problems
Owners have filed 69 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2021 Ford Bronco, 30% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 6,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “dropped valve” (9% of reports).
- 69engine complaints
- 6,000median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- 41%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.
- Dropped valve: mentioned in 6 of 69 complaints (9%)
- Catastrophic engine: mentioned in 6 of 69 complaints (9%)
- Tow truck: mentioned in 6 of 69 complaints (9%)
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 7 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 69 complaints, 1 mention a crash.
Ford Bronco engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Bronco | 1 | 11% | — |
| 2025 Bronco | 9 | 17% | 500 |
| 2024 Bronco | 6 | 8% | 9,929 |
| 2023 Bronco | 19 | 8% | 6,550 |
| 2022 Bronco | 52 | 14% | 36,500 |
| 2021 Bronco | 69 | 30% | 6,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Engine; electrical system:wiring:front underhood
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.
Fix: 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.
Equipment:electrical:engine block heater
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco, F-150, Edge, Explorer, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with either a 2.7L or 3.0L Nano EcoBoost engine. The engine intake valves may break while driving, which can result in engine failure and a loss of drive power.
Risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will perform an engine cycle test and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S55.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The engine block may develop a coolant leak which could cause a short circuit while the engine block heater system is plugged in - increasing the risk of an underhood fire
Fuel pump.has low pressure therefore making vehicle stop running completely. Has happened twice , once while driving on highway. This is extremly dangerous to have your vehicle just come to complete dead stop in middle.of road. FORD has no remedy to fix and now i am without a car I am paying for…
A Safety Recall was issued on the vehicle with no remedy. The recall was in reference to the Engine Intake Valves and stated; "The engine intake valves may crack and break, which could result in loss of motive power and increase the risk of a crash". It also stated, " Prior to losing motive power…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2021 Ford Broncos have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 69 owner complaints about engine for the 2021 Ford Bronco (30% of the 230 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 engine?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 6,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2021 Ford Bronco?
The most frequent phrase is “dropped valve”, in 6 of 69 complaints, followed by “catastrophic engine” (6).
See all 2021 Ford Bronco problems or engine problems across all Bronco years.