2021 Ford Bronco Sport · symptom sheet
Battery dies or the car will not start
- 107owner reports
- 43,000median miles
- $500median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 16, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
210 of the 696 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 107 of those describe dead battery.
Narrower sheets: Car won't start (26 reports)
Tick what matches of 107 reports
Dead battery on other Bronco Sport years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2023, 2024.
What this problem usually is
These owners walk out to a car that's dead. Some find it drained after sitting only a day or two, some need a jump start every week, and some have had the battery replaced more than once without the problem going away. A good number describe the dealer testing the battery, calling it fine, and sending them home.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (99 reports), the alternator (10 reports), the module (10 reports) and the starter (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
3 recalls on the electrical system cover the 2021 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
The 12-volt battery may experience degradation and suddenly fail.
The body and power train control modules may fail to detect a change in the 12-volt battery state of charge.
All 16 recalls on the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the Bronco Sport
Loss of motive power. Closed oct 10, 2025, led to recall 25V-019.
Loss of motive power. Closed aug 19, 2024, led to recall 24V-267.
What owners paid
24 of the 107 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $201 to $900.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 32,468 and 55,000 miles, from the 46 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 5 service bulletins or notices for the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Some 2020-2023 Ford and Lincoln SYNC3 equipped vehicles may experience an inaccurate notification in the FordPass®/LincolnWay® app indicating Vehicle Has Entered Deep Sleep Mode.
Some 2017-2022 Ford/Lincoln customers may experience a notification in the FordPass®/LincolnWay® app indicating Vehicle Has Entered Deep Sleep Mode.
Some 2017-2022 Ford and Lincoln vehicle owners may experience a condition of missing authorization, command and control, battery charging details or phone-as-a-key setup buttons/selections in their FordPass or LincolnWay App.
Some 2016-2021 Ford or Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 or SYNC 4 may exhibit a blank screen or other various SYNC symptoms only when the vehicle is in transport mode.
1 more on the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport page.
What owners wrote
“The battery that came with the vehicle lasted less than 2 years. It was replaced after one day the car just wouldnât hold any charge. I have the pep boys receipt and record to prove the battery would no longer hold any charge.”
Filed Jan 7, 2025
“When I came to a stop (stop sign) the vehicle's complete electrical system shut down, all went black. I couldn't turn on hazard lights or anything. (seems related to the recall notice). I waited to see if any change occurred, attempted restart, but nothing was operable. I connected a jump start battery and successfully restarted the car... all seemed ok afterward. This seems life endangering as a potential hazard.”
Filed Sep 8, 2024
“Bronco was sitting at a red light and lost all power with no warning. All electrical went down including hazard lights. The bronco would not start back and to to be towed.”
Filed May 9, 2024
“The car completely died with no warning and no electrical systems available at a stop sign. I had to waive traffic around since emergency flashers didn't work. Tried to jump with a jumping station, and a truck with an older battery which didn't work. Only minor clicking and electrical systems turned on. Had to use a car with a brand new battery in order to get car started to drive home <1mi.”
Filed Apr 7, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 107 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 127 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 126 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 66 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 40 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 37 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 35 reports
- Driveshaft, axle or transfer case problems 35 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 26 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 25 reports