2021 Ford Bronco Sport · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 40owner reports
- 75,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
183 of the 696 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 40 of those describe transmission shudder.
Tick what matches of 40 reports
Transmission shudder on other Bronco Sport years
No other Bronco Sport model year has enough reports of transmission shudder for a sheet of its own. See every Bronco Sport year.
What this problem usually is
This is the biggest drivetrain group on the site: a transmission that shudders, slips, hesitates or bangs into gear. It's the everyday version of transmission trouble, where the car still drives but doesn't drive right, and it has three narrower sheets of its own for jerking, hesitation and slipping.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the torque converter (5 reports) and the transmission (4 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2021 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The body and power train control modules may fail to detect a change in the 12-volt battery state of charge.
An inadequate amount of lubricant in the rear drive unit may cause seizure of the rear drive axle.
All 16 recalls on the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 24,700 and 91,000 miles, from the 18 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 of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit all of the following conditions: Shudder chatter condition, most noticeable at low speeds turning No relevant diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) present This may be due to internal rear ...
Some 2020-2026 Corsair/Escape, 2021-2026 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2026 Maverick vehicles equipped with an 8F35 transmission may exhibit a shudder condition, most noticeable at speeds below 60 mph (100 km/h), with no relevant diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) ...
Some 2019-2023 Edge/Nautilus, 2020-2023 Escape/Corsair, 2021-2023 Bronco Sport, 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles equipped with all wheel drive (AWD) may exhibit chatter/shudder during low speed turning events.
Some 2018-2022 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with the 8F35 transmission built on or before 16-Mar-2022 may exhibit transmission slip during acceleration from a stop when hot. This may be due damaged internal case half pump seals (7N265).
1 more on the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport page.
What owners wrote
“The rearend is making a shuddering on tight turns . Vehicle only has 24,700 miles on it. Unknown if oil is low in differential oil or if vent hose is plugged. May be contaminated oil in differential.”
Filed Jun 16, 2026 · 24,700 miles
“THIS PROBLEM CAUSES MY VEHICLE TO SPUTTER AND JERK WHEN TRAVELING. I brought it to the dealership and they said to bring it back when the recall was submitted. This is ridiculous. So many recalls on this vehicle”
Filed Jun 14, 2026
“The main symptom is chatter/shudder during low speed turning events. This is due to a faulty rear differential unit. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer. No lamps or other warnings present prior to the failure. The manufacturer has issued multiple TSBs, latest being TSB 25 2351.”
Filed Dec 10, 2025
“car is shuddering below 35 mph. The RPM gauge is bouncing. Had the transmission fluid drained and filled. Took it to our local repair shop and there are metal shavings in the transmission fluid.”
Filed Oct 22, 2025
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 40 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
- Battery dies or the car will not start 107 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 66 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