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Common problems · 2021–present

6th Gen Ford Bronco problems: 8 things to check

The problems owners and specialists flag most on the Ford Bronco (sixth generation), the repairs they end up doing and what those cost, plus the years and recalls to watch. Sourced, not scraped.

Read the full 6th Gen Ford Bronco guideYears to avoidBiggest tireSpecs & fluids

6th Gen Ford Bronco problems to check before you buy

  1. Run the VIN before anything elseThere are many open-recall possibilities. The big ones are the 2.7 intake valves (24V-635), the rear shock reservoirs (25V-025), 2021–22 molded-in-color roof panels (26V-299, remedy expected November 2026), engine-bay wiring (26V-468), fender flares (26V-403) and, on 2024–25 trucks, loose front control-arm and ball-joint fasteners (24V-770, 25V-260, 25V-308, 25V-310). Get a printout from NHTSA's VIN lookup.
  2. Look hard at the hardtopMolded-in-color tops were standard on 2021–23 trucks and most 2024s. Crazing or delamination means the top needs replacing: Ford's August 2021 program fitted 'MIC 2.0' tops, and some owners are on their third or fourth. Painted tops arrived for 2025. Check the headliner and seals for leaks and make sure every panel latches.
  3. 2.7 V6: ask about the engine testRecall 24V-635 covers 2021–22 2.7 and 3.0 Nano EcoBoost engines whose intake valves can break. Dealers run an engine cycle test and replace the engine if needed. Bronco Nation names V6s built from May 1 to October 31, 2021 as the bad batch. Get proof the test was done.
  4. Rear shocks on Badlands and SasquatchBilstein rear shocks on trucks built from September 23, 2020 to July 23, 2024 can corrode until the external reservoir detaches (25V-025). Look at the reservoirs and their mounts and confirm the replacement was done.
  5. Drive the manual through every gearOn 2021–23 seven-speed trucks, a scraping noise in neutral, first or second is the subject of a Ford service bulletin. Check for clean engagement of the crawler gear and reverse.
  6. Steering and tie rods on modified trucksOwners have reported tie rods failing during hard off-road use, usually on lifted trucks with bigger tires. Inspect the inner and outer tie rods for bends. The 2023 Wildtrak and 2022 Raptor had a steering-gear recall (23V-155) for internal damage that could lock the wheel.
  7. Was it flat-towed?2021–22 trucks had a neutral-tow problem: Ford issued a temporary fix in May 2022 and an over-the-air update by March 2023. Bronco Nation warns that flat-tow damage to the transmission can be hard to get covered under warranty, so ask how the truck traveled behind a motorhome.
  8. Is it a real Sasquatch?Factory Sasquatch trucks have 315/70R17 tires on 17x8.5, +30 mm wheels and 4.7 gears. A truck that only has aftermarket 35s may still have the original gearing and +55 mm wheels. Check the window sticker or the build data.

The repairs 6th Gen Ford Bronco owners end up doing

REPAIRSYMPTOMSDIFFICULTYTIMECOST
Rear shock reservoir corrosion (Bilstein, HOSS 2.0)Rusty or swollen reservoir bodies on the rear shocks, a reservoir hanging by its hose, oil on the shock body, or a bouncy rear end.2 / 5≈ 1–2 hours to replace a pairFree under recall 25V-025 on eligible trucks
Hardtop crazing, delamination and leaksSpider-web crazing or bubbling in the outer skin of a molded-in-color top, water dripping at panel joints, or a roof panel that won't latch flush.1 / 5 (inspection) · dealer replacement≈ 30 minutes to inspect and reseatCovered by Ford's program and recall on eligible tops; Bronco Nation cites out-of-warranty figures of $2,000 to $5,000+
Upgrade or replace tie rodsA bent tie rod after a hard hit on the trail, toe out of spec, the steering wheel off-center, or a tie rod that has failed outright on a lifted truck with big tires.3 / 5≈ 2–3 hours plus an alignmentParts plus an alignment
Fit 35s to a non-Sasquatch BroncoYou want 35s, but your truck has +55 mm wheels and stock height.3 / 5A weekend with a level kitWheels, tires and a level kit; regearing extra
Check the front suspension fasteners (2024–25)A clunk from the front end, or nothing at all: a missing or loose upper ball-joint nut or lower control-arm bolt may give no warning before the arm separates.2 / 5≈ 1 hourFree under recall where it applies
Re-secure loose fender flaresA flare that flaps, gaps or rattles at speed, or missing clips along its edge.1 / 5≈ 30 minutesFree under recall 26V-403 on 2022–26 trucks
Protect the engine-bay wiringChafed or melted insulation on the harness in the engine bay, intermittent electrical faults, or a burning smell.2 / 5≈ 1 hourFree under recall 26V-468

Each repair links to a step-by-step guide with tools, part numbers and where to buy the parts.

Years with known problems

YEARSFLAGWHAT TO KNOW
2021BewareProduction starts June 14, 2021 at Michigan Assembly. 2.3 (manual or auto) and 2.7 (auto) EcoBoost; Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Badlands, Wildtrak and First Edition; Sasquatch package. CarGurus says to steer clear of 2021–22: the year with the most recalls, including 2.7 intake valves (24V-635), molded-in-color roof panels and airbags.
2022BewareBronco Raptor (four-door, 3.0 twin-turbo V6, 37s) and the four-door-only Everglades edition arrive. Still inside the 2.7 valve recall, and 2021–22 molded-in-color roof panels are recalled in 2026; CarGurus says to avoid it.

Every 6th Gen Ford Bronco model year, with the best ones to buy →

6th Gen Ford Bronco recalls and service bulletins

Check any VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls ↗, or see the recall tracker.

Owner questions about 6th Gen Ford Bronco reliability

Which years should I buy or avoid?

Avoid 2021–22 unless the paperwork is perfect: CarGurus says to steer clear of both, and they carry the 2.7 intake-valve recall (24V-635) and the 2026 molded-in-color roof-panel recall. CarGurus calls 2023 the best year, with no investigations and fewer complaints, as long as its recalls are fixed. Later trucks get MIC 2.0 or painted tops, the HOSS 3.0 steering gear on 2024 Badlands and Sasquatch, and a full HOSS 3.0 option for 2025, but 2024–25 trucks have their own front-suspension fastener recalls, so check any year's VIN. Jalopnik, citing Bronco Nation, notes relatively little discussion of failures on the 2.3 four.

SOURCE · CARGURUS · NHTSA · JALOPNIK
Is it reliable?

So far Consumer Reports calls it average, according to Jalopnik, which counted about 20 recalls by September 2026. Most problems were in the 2021–22 trucks: hardtops, 2.7 valves, rear shocks, manual-transmission noise. Bronco Nation's view is that tie-rod failures are rarer than the internet suggests and usually involve lifts, big tires or hard driving.

SOURCE · JALOPNIK · BRONCO NATION
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Take the printable 6th Gen Ford Bronco inspection checklist: every check on this page plus the model-specific ones, on one sheet. Get the checklist →

Sourced from owners, specialists and factory documents; full sources are on the 6th Gen Ford Bronco guide. Verify torque figures and procedures against the factory service manual (disclaimer).

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