FordBronco Sport2023Overview/ford/bronco-sport/2023/base/

2023 Ford Bronco Sport

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2023 Bronco Sport.

The 2023 Ford Bronco Sport is presented with an engine oil capacity of 6.6 qt and a recommended viscosity of 5W‑20 or 0W‑20. Owner‑reported data show a total of 143 complaints for this model year, with the fuel system (gasoline) being the most frequent issue area and 14 recalls recorded. Within the 2021‑2026 complaint history, the 2023 figure lies between the peak of 664 complaints in 2021 and the low of just 2 complaints projected for 2026, suggesting an improving reliability trend.

Model year2025202420232021

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity6.6 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-20 / 0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque100.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI Enhanced Flooded Battery: 48 · 700 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI Enhanced Flooded Battery: 48 · 700 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size225/65R17 102HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim7 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length172.8 in
Overall width74.4 in
Overall height71.3 in
Wheelbase105.1 in
Curb weight3457 lb
Track (front / rear)63.4 / 63 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Bronco Sport of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

7.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.30 sec — 2023 Limited Heritage
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2023Limited Heritage 2.0L Turbo I-47.30 sec15.80 sec250 hpAWD
2021Badlands 2.0L Turbo I-45.90 sec14.50 sec245 hpAWD
2021Badlands 2.0L Turbo I-46.50 sec15.30 sec245 hpAWD
2021Outer Banks 1.5L Turbo I-38.20 sec16.30 sec181 hpAWD
2021Outer Banks 1.5L Turbo I-38.50 sec16.40 sec181 hpAWD
2021Outer Banks 1.5L Turbo I-38.60 sec16.40 sec181 hpAWD
2021Outer Banks 1.5L Turbo I-39.20 sec16.80 sec181 hpAWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 6.6 qt of 5W-20 / 0W-20 engine oil, DOT 4 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 100.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-3.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.45 qt
Brake FluidDOT 4
Brake FluidDOT 4
Differential Gear Oil Capacity0.80 qt
Engine Coolant Capacity7.7 qt
Engine Coolant Capacity8.6 qt
Engine OilSAE 5W · SAE 0W

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)8.0 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)5.0 ft-lbs
Cylinder Head InstructionsUse new bolts. Install new cylinder head.
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)35.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)18.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)35.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Differential Fill Plug21.0 ft-lbs
Differential drain Plug21.0 ft-lbs
Lug Nuts100.0 ft-lbs
Transfer Case Drain PlugUse a new gasket. 30.0 ft-lbs
Rear Wheel HubUse new wheel hub nuts. 98.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-3
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug TypeSP-550-X
Spark Plug Gap0.031" in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerMotorcraft
Spark Plug TypeSP-594

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity1.21 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil TypeYN-35
Oil Capacity4.1 oz
RefrigerantR1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity1.21 lbs
Oil GroupPAG

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier Torque21.0
Minimum Pad Thickness0.079" in
Solid Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: 0.984; Rear: 0.354
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: 0.002; Rear: 0.003

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Transfer Case Fill Plug — tightening sequence 1 stages
111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 360°11 ft. lbs
Transfer Case Fill Plug — tightening sequence 1 stages
111.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 360°11 ft. lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.7 ft. lbs., Step 2: 7.4 ft. lbs., Step 3: 7.4 ft. lbs., Step 4: 30°3.7 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
17.4 ft. lbs., Step 2: 13.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 18.0, Step 4: 90°7.4 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 30.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 90°15 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1103.0 ft.lbs., Step 2: Loosen 90°, Step 3: 74.0 ft. lbs., Step 4: 90°, Step 5: 15°103 ft.lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
174.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 90°74 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.7 ft. lbs., Step 2: 7.4 ft. lbs., Step 3: 30.0 ft. lbs.; Bolts: Step 1: Loosen 45°, Step 2: 33 ft. lbs., Step 3: Repeat Steps 1 & 2 completely 7 times, Step 4: 90°, Step 5: 90°3.7 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
15.0 ft.lbs., Step 2: 11.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 41.0 ft. lbs., Step 4: 90°, Step 5: 90°5 ft.lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
17.4 ft. lbs., Step 2: 13.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 18.0, Step 4: 90°7.4 ft. lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
137.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 59.0 ft. lbs., Step 3: 83.037 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
17.4 ft. lbs., Step 2: 7.47.4 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 100,000 mi; coolant at 200,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 200,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 10,000 miExhaust System Heat Shield (inspect)
Every 12,500 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Brake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect)
Every 20,000 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Drive Belt (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 200,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2023 Ford Bronco Sport recorded 143 complaints, 14 recalls, 3 investigations and 106 technical service bulletins, situating it between the 2022 figures of 330 complaints, 15 recalls and 146 TSBs and the 2024 figures of 89 complaints, 8 recalls and 81 TSBs. Fuel‑system issues accounted for 23 of the 2023 complaints, followed by engine problems (10) and fuel/propulsion system issues (9), with 8 crash‑related and 5 fire‑related complaints also logged. Across the generation, complaints have declined from 664 in 2021 to 143 in 2023, while recalls have fallen from 16 to 14 over the same period. The 2023 model therefore reflects an intermediate point in a downward trajectory that continues into 2024 and 2026, where complaints and recalls reach 89 and 8, and 2 and 4 respectively. Consequently, the 2023 year is a reasonable used‑vehicle option provided that any outstanding recalls have been completed.

14
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
106
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
143
Owner complaints
8 involved a crash · 5 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 143 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Fuel System, Gasoline23
Engine10
Fuel/Propulsion System9
Electrical System9
Power Train8
Engine,Fuel/Propulsion System6
Electrical System,Unknown Or Other5
Service Brakes5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 14 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

22V686000Exterior Lighting:Lighting Control ModuleReported 14/09/2022

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Bronco Sport and 2022 F-150 vehicles. The parking lights may flicker when the headlights are activated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the… Remedy: Dealers will replace the LED Driver module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332…

22V859000Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection SystemReported 18/11/2022

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape and 2021-2023 Bronco Sport vehicles equipped with 1.5L engines. A fuel injector may crack and leak fuel inside the engine compartment. Remedy: Dealers will update the engine control software to include fuel injector leak detection and install a drain tube, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 106 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
SSM 549392026-06-16Power TrainSome 2020-2026 Corsair/Escape, 2021-2026 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2026 Maverick vehicles…
SSM 548572026-05-21Fuel/Propulsion System2020-2026 Explorer/Escape/Corsair, 2021-2026 Bronco Sport/Bronco, 2022-2026 Maverick…
TSB 26-22052026-05-18Unknown Or OtherThis bulletin supersedes 25-2346. Reason for update: add Bronco Sport and Escape vehicles…
25B512026-05-08EngineCertain 2021-2024 Model Year Bronco, 2021-2024 Model Year Bronco Sport, 2020-2022 Model…
SSM 547972026-05-04Power TrainSome 2020-2026 Corsair/Escape, 2021-2026 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2026 Maverick vehicles…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Bronco Sport. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2023 Bronco Sport take?

6.6 qt of Motorcraft SAE 5W-20 Motor Oil XO-5W20-Q1SP, XO-5W20-Q1FS. Tmperature below -22°F may use Motorcraft SAE 0W-20 XO-0W20-QFS., per the factory manual.

Does the 2023 Bronco Sport have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 14 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.