FordBronco2021Overview/ford/bronco/2021/base/

2021 Ford Bronco

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2021 Bronco.

Body SUV

The 2021 Ford Bronco returns as an SUV carrying 217 owner complaints and 19 recalls, with engine issues leading the complaint categories. Across a model history spanning 1990 to 2024, the 2021 total sits well below the 345 complaints recorded for the 2022 peak but far above the single complaint logged for 1997, placing this model year in the upper-middle tier of reported problems. That positioning suggests the Bronco's latest generation introduced notable reliability concerns — particularly around the powertrain — that prospective buyers should weigh against the model's overall complaint trajectory.

Model year202520242023202119961995199419931992

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 94R · 800 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 94R · 800 CCAOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length173.6 in
Overall width79.5 in
Overall height78.7 in
Wheelbase100.4 in
Curb weight4288 lb
Track (front / rear)66.9 / 66.9 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)54/46

Performance & power Independent road tests

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

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

6.2–8.3 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 6.20 sec — 2021 Wildtrak 4-door
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2021Wildtrak 4-door 2.7L Twin-Turbo V66.20 sec15.00 sec330 hp4x4
2021First Edition 2-door (Sasquatch) 2.7L Twin-Turbo V66.30 sec15.00 sec330 hp4x4
2021Outer Banks 4-door 2.3L Turbo I-46.50 sec15.10 sec300 hp4x4
2021Outer Banks 4-door 2.7L Twin-Turbo V66.60 sec15.20 sec300 hp4x4
2021Black Diamond 2-door (Advanced) 2.3L Turbo I-47.00 sec15.50 sec300 hp4x4
2021Badlands 2-door (Advanced) 2.3L Turbo I-47.70 sec15.80 sec300 hp4x4
2021Black Diamond 2-door (Advanced) 2.3L Turbo I-47.90 sec15.80 sec300 hp4x4
2021Black Diamond 2-door (Advanced) 2.3L Turbo I-48.00 sec16.10 sec300 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

Engine torques

Cylinder Head InstructionsOnly use new bolts.
Cylinder Head InstructionsOnly use new bolts.
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts39.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Group Number94R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance800 cca

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
15.2 ft. lbs., Step 2: 11.1 ft. lbs., Step 3: 41.0 ft. lbs., Step 4: 90°, Step 5: 90°5.2 ft. lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
13.7 ft. lbs., Step 2: 7.43.7 ft. lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1Use new studs8.5 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 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake Linings (inspect) · Brake Rotor (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Drive Axle Assembly (inspect) · Driveshaft (inspect)
Every 20,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 30,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace)
At 100,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)
Every 100,000 miSpark Plugs (replace)
At 150,000 miDrive Axle Assembly (drain & refill) · Drive Belt (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill) · 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 2021 Ford Bronco recorded 217 complaints, 19 recalls, and 310 Technical Service Bulletins. Within the current generation, 2021 serves as the baseline, with complaint and recall volumes peaking in 2022 at 345 complaints and 22 recalls before trending downward through 2024. Top complaint areas for the 2021 model include the engine (51) and suspension (19), though the data does not specify the root causes for these issues. The record for this year also includes 4 investigations, 6 crash complaints, and 3 fire complaints. Because 2021 exhibits fewer complaints and recalls than the 2022 model, it is a relatively better year to buy than the subsequent peak-issue year.

19
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
310
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
4
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
217
Owner complaints
6 involved a crash · 3 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 217 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Engine51
Suspension19
Unknown Or Other14
Visibility/Wiper12
Structure10
Fuel/Propulsion System9
Electrical System9
Service Brakes8

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 19 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

21V982000Forward Collision Avoidance: Sensing System: RadarReported 16/12/2021

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Ranger and Bronco vehicles. The cruise control radar module was misaligned during production. Remedy: Dealers will adjust the angle of the cruise control radar module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service…

21V770000Air Bags:FrontalReported 01/10/2021

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Bronco vehicles. During passenger air bag deployment, an air bag vent could open prematurely and result in an improper deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to… Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger air bag, free of charge. An interim owner notification letter was mailed on November 24, 2021. A second notice announcing the remedy is…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 310 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
TSB 26-22982026-06-26StructureThis article supersedes 25-2551. Reason for update: to correct the descriptions for the…
TSB 26-22972026-06-24Electrical SystemSome of the vehicles listed in the model statement above equipped with SYNC4 may…
SSM 549612026-06-23Electrical SystemSome 2021-2023 Bronco vehicles may exhibit a condition where short drop windows, window…
TSB 26-22912026-06-19Power TrainThis bulletin supersedes 26-2006. Reason for update: update the Parts list to correct the…
SYNC-26.2.8.3 Bronco2026-06-17Electrical SystemQuality improvements include: -Privacy robustness updates -Resolves various user…

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. 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

Does the 2021 Bronco have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 19 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.