Sports and off-road · model years 2021 to 2023
Jeep Wrangler vs Ford Bronco: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Wrangler looks better on 3 and the Bronco on 2, with 2 too close to call.
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2021 to 2023 | Wrangler | Bronco |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 2.6% | 2.2% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 2.6% | 1.0% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 1.2% | 1.4% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 20,000 | 19,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 7.0 | 10.0 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 0 | 1 |
| NHTSA investigations | 4 | 4 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Wrangler owners complain about most is electrical; for the Bronco it is windshield and wipers. Complaints citing electrical make up 39% of all Wrangler complaints, against 11% on the Bronco. The Bronco leans the other way on windshield and wipers: 20% of its complaints, against 1.6% for the Wrangler.
Jeep WranglerFord Bronco
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Wrangler is stalling (17% of its complaints). On the Bronco it is wiper failure (18% of its complaints), against 0.0% on the Wrangler.
| Problem | Wrangler | Bronco |
|---|---|---|
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 17% 288most in 2021 · 18k mi | 11% 90most in 2021 · 6k mi |
| Suspension noise, struts or alignment | 16% 276most in 2021 · 20k mi | 7.7% 64most in 2022 · 36k mi |
| Windshield wipers stop working | 0 | 18% 152most in 2023 |
| Battery dies or the car will not start | 16% 266most in 2021 · 30k mi | 0.8% 7 |
| Steering wheel shakes or the "death wobble" | 17% 280most in 2021 · 18k mi | 0 |
| Windshield cracks or distorts | 1.2% 20 | 13% 104most in 2023 · 7k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 5.3% 90most in 2021 · 24k mi | 8.2% 68most in 2022 · 33k mi |
| Hybrid or EV system warning, loss of power | 13% 224most in 2021 · 23k mi | 0 |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Problems show up at about the same mileage on both. Half the Wrangler complaints that give a mileage come before 20,000 miles, and half the Bronco complaints before 19,000. 87% of Wrangler reports and 88% of Bronco reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Jeep WranglerFord Bronco
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 379 for the Wrangler and 187 for the Bronco.
Worst and best years
The 2024 Wrangler draws 2.8 times the complaints of a typical Wrangler year for its age. The 2022 Bronco draws 1.6 times the complaints of a typical Bronco year for its age.
Jeep WranglerFord Bronco
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Bronco draws more recalls: 10.0 campaigns per model year against 7.0 for the Wrangler. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Jeep Wrangler
21 recall campaigns and 4 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: electrical (5), transmission and drivetrain (4) and backup camera (2).
- 22V-865 (engine) covers 3 model years
- 23V-116 (transmission and drivetrain) covers 3 model years
Investigations
- PE24024: Underhood fires (closed, led to a recall)
- RQ24012: Loss of motive power (open)
- EA23001: High pressure fuel pump failure (open, led to a recall)
Ford Bronco
30 recall campaigns and 4 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: backup camera (8), transmission and drivetrain (3) and airbags (2).
- Do not drive 23V-283 (wheels), model years 2023
- 23V-358 (seat belts) covers 3 model years
- 25V-025 (suspension) covers 3 model years
Investigations
- PE24019: Low-pressure fuel pump failure (closed, led to a recall)
- EA23002: Loss of motive power (closed, led to a recall)
- PE22007: Loss of motive power due to valve intake failure on ford bronco vehicles. (closed)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Wrangler complaints report a crash: 2.6%, against 2.2% for the Bronco. Fire reports: 44 for the Wrangler and 8 for the Bronco.
Jeep WranglerFord Bronco
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Jeep Wrangler or the Ford Bronco more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Wrangler looks better on 3 and the Bronco on 2, with 2 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Wrangler has 1,694 complaints and the Bronco 830 for model years 2021 to 2023, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Wrangler or the Bronco?
The Wrangler has 21 recall campaigns and the Bronco 30 across model years 2021 to 2023. The Bronco draws more recalls: 10.0 campaigns per model year against 7.0 for the Wrangler.
What are the most common problems on the Wrangler and the Bronco?
The most reported problem on the Wrangler is stalling (17% of its complaints). On the Bronco it is wiper failure (18% of its complaints), against 0.0% on the Wrangler.
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