Model research hub
Ford Bronco Sport
MotorTrend says what makes the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport special is the way it combines the original Escape's boxy styling with actual off-roading capabilities. CarsTrucksRoads says the Ford Bronco Sport shares its architecture with the Escape but receives distinct tuning for durability and off-road performance. Car and Driver says the Bronco Sport does have more off-road chops than most compact SUVs, particularly after some enhancements were added the year before.
Escape styling, off-road ability
MotorTrend (opens in a new tab) says what makes the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport special is the way it combines the original Escape's boxy styling with actual off-roading capabilities.
Shared architecture, distinct tuning
CarsTrucksRoads (opens in a new tab) says the Ford Bronco Sport shares its architecture with the Escape but receives distinct tuning for durability and off-road performance.
More off-road chops than most compact SUVs
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says the Bronco Sport does have more off-road chops than most compact SUVs, particularly after some enhancements were added the year before.
Questions buyers ask
What platform is the Ford Bronco Sport based on?
CarsTrucksRoads (opens in a new tab) says it shares its architecture with the Ford Escape.
Is the Bronco Sport more off-road capable than other compact SUVs?
Car and Driver (opens in a new tab) says yes, particularly after recent off-road enhancements.
Research map
Every major decision path.
The 2026 Ford Bronco Sport is built around 1.5L turbo three-cylinder or 2.0L turbo four-cylinder (Badlands), rated at 181 / 250 horsepower across its compact SUV body style.
Explore this topic →02Trims and equipmentThe 2026 U.S. lineup has 5 trims.
Explore this topic →03Towing and capabilityThe most the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport is published to tow is 2,200 lb.
Explore this topic →04Safety and ownershipNHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2026 Bronco Sport.
Explore this topic →Current model year
2026 Ford Bronco Sport
Every trim but Badlands shares the 181-horsepower turbo three-cylinder; Badlands is the only trim with the 250-horsepower turbo four-cylinder and the most off-road-capable AWD tune.
Read specifications, trims, answers and sourcesModel-year archive
2 indexed Ford Bronco Sport model years.
| Model year | Trims | Open record |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford Bronco Sport | 2026 record → | |
| 2025 Ford Bronco Sport | 2025 record → |
Background and safety record
What public sources say about the Ford Bronco Sport.
The Ford Bronco Sport is a compact crossover SUV sold by the Ford Motor Company and marketed under the Ford Bronco nameplate. It was released alongside the sixth generation Bronco body-on-frame SUV, featuring a similar retro and off-road styling in a smaller footprint. The vehicle is based on the front-wheel drive-based, unibody C2 platform, which is also used by the Ford Escape crossover and Maverick pickup.
- Safety
- The 2022 Bronco Sport was awarded the "Top Safety Pick +" by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
- Powertrain
- The Bronco Sport has two engine options. The base engine is a turbocharged 1.5-liter Ecoboost I3 engine producing 181 hp (184 PS; 135 kW) at 6,000 rpm, and 190 lb⋅ft of torque at 3,000 rpm.
Source: Ford Bronco Sport (Wikipedia); safety and recall figures from NHTSA.
Ford Bronco Sport at a glance
- Production
- October 2020 – present
- Model years
- 2021–present
- Assembly
- Mexico: Hermosillo, Sonora (Hermosillo Stamping and Assembly)
- Class
- Compact crossover SUV
- Body style
- 5-door SUV
- Layout
- Front-engine, all-wheel-drive
- Platform
- Ford C2
- Chassis
- Unibody
- Power output
- 181 hp (1.5), 245 hp (2.0)
- Transmission
- 8-speed 8F35 SelectShift automatic
- Wheelbase
- 105.1 in
- Length
- 172.7 in
- Width
- 74.3 in
- Height
- 0 in
- Curb weight
- 0 lb
- Related models
- Ford Maverick (2022), Ford Maverick, Ford Escape#fourth, Ford Escape (fourth generation), Ford Focus (fourth generation), Lincoln Corsair
- Designer
- Paul Wraith
NHTSA rated the 2024 Ford Bronco Sport overall 5 of 5 stars, front crash 5 of 5 stars, side crash 5 of 5 stars, rollover 4 of 5 stars.
Recent recalls (17 campaigns across the latest model years)
- August 2026, Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Mustang, and Ranger vehicles. The engine piston domes may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in piston dome failure and lead to a loss of drive power. Consequence: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
- August 2026, Structure:Body. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Maverick, F-150, and Bronco Sport vehicles. Certain vehicle joints may be improperly tightened. This can lead to detached parts, unsecured cargo, degraded crash protection, electrical system failure, or a loss of vehicle stability. Consequence: Improperly tightened vehicle joints may lead to a loss of vehicle control, electrical failure, or detached parts, increasing the risk of a crash or fire.
- May 2026, Suspension:Front:Control Arm:Lower Ball Joint. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 Bronco Sport and 2022-2026 Maverick vehicles. The front lower control arm ball joints may have been incorrectly installed or incorrectly repaired at the vehicle assembly plant, allowing the control arm to disconnect from the… Consequence: A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Owners filed 108 complaints with NHTSA for the 2024 Ford Bronco Sport, most often about electrical system (27), engine (24), power train (21).
Year by year
The Ford Bronco Sport across 6 model years.
| Model year | Combined MPG/MPGe | EPA annual fuel cost | EPA records | NHTSA recalls | NHTSA complaints | NHTSA overall rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Ford Bronco Sport | 23–27 | $2,400–$2,800 | 3 | 6 | 5 stars | |
| 2025 Ford Bronco Sport | 23–27 | $2,300–$2,700 | 3 | 7 | 5 stars | |
| 2024 Ford Bronco Sport | 23–26 | $2,400–$2,700 | 2 | 8 | 103 | 5 stars |
| 2023 Ford Bronco Sport | 23–26 | $2,400–$2,700 | 2 | 14 | 151 | 5 stars |
| 2022 Ford Bronco Sport | 23–26 | $2,400–$2,700 | 2 | 15 | 350 | 5 stars |
| 2021 Ford Bronco Sport | 23–26 | $2,400–$2,700 | 2 | 16 | 678 | 5 stars |
Year-to-year changes
What changed in the Ford Bronco Sport, one model year at a time.
| Step | EPA records | Combined MPG/MPGe, midpoint | Added | No longer listed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 to 2025 | 2 to 3 | 24.5 to 25.0 | Labels: Bronco Sport Sasquatch 4WD; Engines: 1.5L 3-cyl SIDI & PFI, 2L 4-cyl SIDI & PFI; Drives: 4-Wheel Drive | Engines: 1.5L 3-cyl SIDI, 2L 4-cyl SIDI; Drives: All-Wheel Drive |
Buying used
What the Ford Bronco Sport recalls and complaints are about.
| Model year | Campaigns | Systems recalled | Warnings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | electrical system (instrument cluster/panel); air bags (sensor); equipment (electrical); 3 more | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2025 | 7 | electrical system (instrument cluster/panel); electrical system; engine; 3 more | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2024 | 8 | electrical system (body control module/bcm); visibility (windshield wiper/washer); power train (automatic transmission); 4 more | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2023 | 14 | exterior lighting (lighting control module); fuel system, gasoline (fuel injection system); service brakes, hydraulic (antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip); 8 more | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2022 | 15 | fuel system, gasoline (delivery); service brakes, hydraulic (foundation components); engine and engine cooling; 8 more | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
| 2021 | 16 | power train (driveline); suspension (front); suspension (rear); 10 more | 1 stop-driving or park-outside |
Recalls that told owners to stop driving or park outside
- 2021, campaign 26V-340 (May 2026): suspension (front). A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 2022, campaign 26V-340 (May 2026): suspension (front). A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 2023, campaign 26V-340 (May 2026): suspension (front). A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 2024, campaign 26V-340 (May 2026): suspension (front). A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 2025, campaign 26V-340 (May 2026): suspension (front). A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- 2026, campaign 26V-340 (May 2026): suspension (front). A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
| System | Complaints | Share of all complaints | Worst model year |
|---|---|---|---|
| electrical system | 346 | 26% | 2021 (209) |
| power train | 286 | 22% | 2021 (181) |
| engine | 282 | 22% | 2021 (147) |
| service brakes | 193 | 15% | 2021 (126) |
| unknown or other | 186 | 14% | 2021 (96) |
| fuel system | 152 | 12% | 2021 (59) |
Trim by trim
Every 2026 Ford Bronco Sport trim side by side.
| Trim | Drive | Engine | Horsepower | Torque (lb-ft) | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Combined mpg | Base price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Bend | 4WD | 1.5-liter 3-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 180 | 200 | 3,458 | 2,200 | 27 | $33,840 |
| Heritage | 4WD | 1.5-liter 3-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 180 | 200 | 3,458 | 2,200 | 27 | $36,140 |
| Outer Banks | 4WD | 1.5-liter 3-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 180 | 200 | 3,458 | 2,200 | 27 | $38,940 |
| Badlands | 4WD | 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 250 | 280 | 3,809 | 2,700 | 24 | $42,260 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for the 2026 model year; base price is KBB's national base price where its list carries the trim by the same name. A dash means KBB lists no figure.
Specifications by year
Power, weight and towing for every Ford Bronco Sport model year.
| Model year | Trims | Engines | Horsepower | Curb weight (lb) | Max towing (lb) | Fuel tank (gal) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 1.5-liter 3-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 180–250 | 3,458–3,809 | 2,200–2,700 | 16 |
| 2025 | 5 | 1.5-liter 3-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 180–238 | 3,458–3,809 | 2,200–2,700 | 16 |
| 2024 | 5 | 1.5-liter 3-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 181–250 | 3,457–3,713 | 2,000–2,200 | 16 |
| 2023 | 6 | 1.5-liter 3-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 181–250 | 3,457–3,713 | 2,000–2,200 | 16 |
| 2022 | 4 | 1.5-liter 3-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 181–250 | 3,457–3,713 | 2,000–2,200 | 16 |
| 2021 | 5 | 1.5-liter 3-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) / 2.0-liter 4-cylinder (EcoBoost, Turbo) | 181–250 | 3,457–3,713 | 2,000–2,205 | 16 |
Source: Kelley Blue Book specifications for each model year. A range covers every trim KBB lists that year; a dash means KBB lists no figure.
Owning it
Oil, fluid and wheel-nut figures for the Ford Bronco Sport.
| Model year | Engine oil | Brake fluid | Wheel-nut torque | A/C refrigerant | Key-fob battery |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 5W-20 | – | – | – | – |
| 2023 | 0W-30 | – | – | – | – |
| 2021 | – | – | – | – | – |
Source: the manufacturer's owner's manual for each model year. A dash means that year's manual gave no single value for it, for instance one that lists two oil grades or two key types.
Model-year recall record
Ford Bronco Sport: which model years carry more or fewer federal safety recalls.
| Model year | Federal recalls on file | Complaints on file | Recalls most commonly affected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | not available | electrical system, airbags, equipment, suspension |
| 2025 | 7 | not available | electrical system, engine, engine cooling, airbags |
| 2024 | 8 | 103 | powertrain, electrical system, visibility/wipers, backup camera |
| 2023 | 14 | 151 | fuel system, electrical system, exterior lighting, brakes |
| 2022 | 15 | 350 | fuel system, electrical system, brakes, engine cooling |
| 2021 | 16 | 678 | fuel system, suspension, powertrain, electrical system |
| 2020 | not available | ||
| 2019 | not available | ||
| 2018 | not available | ||
| 2017 | not available | ||
| 2016 | not available | ||
| 2015 | not available |
Method: recall counts and their affected components come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Recalls API, queried by exact make, model and model year. Complaint counts come from the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: Complaints API, same query pattern. Data pulled 2026-09-04.
Known gap: the NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Ford Bronco Sport model years 2025, 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream, not returning a genuine zero. Those years are marked "not available" above instead of shown as clean; recall counts for those years are unaffected and come from the separate recalls API, which returned data for every year listed.
Check open recalls by VIN for one particular vehicle.
Q01Is there a best year to buy a Ford Bronco Sport?
Federal recall records don't single out a best Ford Bronco Sport model year: recall counts across the 6 published model years checked here stay within a normal range of this nameplate's own average (about 11.0 recalls per year), with no year standing out as notably higher or lower. Recall count is one input, not a purchase verdict. It says nothing about a specific vehicle's price, mileage, accident history or maintenance record.
Q02What are common recall-related problems on the Ford Bronco Sport by model year?
2026: electrical system, airbags, equipment, suspension. 2025: electrical system, engine, engine cooling, airbags. 2024: powertrain, electrical system, visibility/wipers, backup camera. 2023: fuel system, electrical system, exterior lighting, brakes. 2022: fuel system, electrical system, brakes, engine cooling. 2021: fuel system, suspension, powertrain, electrical system.
Q03Why do some Ford Bronco Sport model years show "not available" for complaints?
The NHTSA complaints API did not return data for Ford Bronco Sport model years 2025, 2026 when queried for this page: the request itself failed upstream instead of the count genuinely being zero. Recall counts for those years are unaffected; they come from a separate NHTSA endpoint that returned data for every year listed.
Diagnosing one of these symptoms? The recalled systems above map to this site’s own ownership desks: general, evidence-first guidance that applies regardless of whether the specific vehicle in front of you was ever part of a recall campaign: Engine and cooling, Brakes, tires and steering, Transmission and drivetrain, Climate and electrical, Buying, records and recalls.
Compared with
Models this Ford Bronco Sport is most often compared with.
Nearest Ford models
Other Ford models.
Frequent questions
Answers with their conditions intact.
Q01How many trims does the 2026 Bronco Sport come in?
The 2026 Ford Bronco Sport (compact SUV) comes in 5 trims: Big Bend, Heritage, Free Wheeling, Outer Banks, Badlands.
Q02What are the 2026 Bronco Sport trims?
The 2026 Ford Bronco Sport trims are Big Bend, Heritage, Free Wheeling, Outer Banks, Badlands, listed from the entry Big Bend up to the top Badlands.
Q03What engine or powertrain does the 2026 Bronco Sport use?
The 2026 Ford Bronco Sport is built around 1.5L turbo three-cylinder or 2.0L turbo four-cylinder (Badlands), rated at 181 / 250 horsepower across its compact SUV body style.
Q04How much horsepower does the 2026 Bronco Sport have?
The 2026 Ford Bronco Sport is rated at 181 / 250 horsepower (1.5L turbo three-cylinder or 2.0L turbo four-cylinder (Badlands)).
Q05Is AWD or 4WD available on the 2026 Bronco Sport?
The 2026 Ford Bronco Sport is offered with Standard AWD.