2021 Ford Bronco · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 43owner reports
- 3,000median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Aug 13, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
126 of the 229 complaints on this car are about the engine. 43 of those describe stalling, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2021 Bronco.
Tick what matches of 43 reports
Stalling on other Bronco 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.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the fuel pump (8 reports) and the engine (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
5 recalls on the engine cover the 2021 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The engine compartment wiring harness may become damaged and short circuit.
The transmission to transfer case joint may be misaligned due to an incorrectly performed previous repair, which could lead to wear of the transmission output shaft splines and transfer case input splines.
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving.
The engine intake valves may break while driving, which can result in engine failure and a loss of drive power.
All 20 recalls on the 2021 Ford Bronco, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Bronco
Low-pressure fuel pump failure. Closed sep 19, 2025, led to recall 25V-455.
Loss of motive power. Closed oct 31, 2024, led to recall 24V-635.
Loss of motive power due to valve intake failure on ford bronco vehicles.. Closed oct 2, 2023.
Loss of motive power. Closed jul 28, 2022.
Engine compartment fires. Closed aug 2, 2006, led to recall 05V-388.
Idle air spd ctrl vlv malf. Closed aug 31, 1994.
Idle air spd ctrl vlv malf. Closed jul 30, 1993.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 2,744 and 6,000 miles, from the 8 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2021 Ford Bronco 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 2021 Bronco vehicles built on or before 14-Sep-2021 may experience a loss of power when driving with various illuminated warning indicators displayed in the instrument panel cluster (IPC).
Some 2019-2021 Ranger vehicles built on or before 09-Aug-2021 and 2021 Bronco vehicles may experience a loss of power when driving in freezing temperatures with an illuminated malfunction indication lamp (MIL) and/or powertrain malfunction indicator (wrench) ...
What owners wrote
“I have reported this prior (complaint number 11481579). Another total catastrophic shut down of the vehicle occurred while my son was driving causing a near miss fatal rear ending on a busy road. The vehicle loses all power and electrical for no reason while being driven. Only after 5-10 min can the vehicle be restarted. I am reporting this story to new agency so I recommend the NHTSA take issue seriously.”
Filed Oct 22, 2022
“my car went from 50 mph to nothing. lost power. coasted to the side of the road barely avoiding traffic. dark road, sheriff had to sit behind car so I was not rear ended in pitch dark had to be towed to the dealer. one week later dealer uncertain. likely complete engine failure maybe fuel valve less than one year old. 11,000 miles”
Filed Sep 22, 2022 · 11,000 miles
“While pulling up to a yield sign the vehicle lost all power and shut off causing it roll past the yield sign and come to a stop in traffic blocking the roadway. The vehicle was towed to the Ford dealership and after being diagnosed it had a broken valve that caused catastrophic failure to the engines head and caused the head of the engine to be replaced”
Filed Jun 7, 2022
“at 2,000 miles the engine dropped a valve. Vehicle has already received a new engine. Vehicle shut off running down the interstate. safety was had to coast to shoulder and wait on tow truck.”
Filed May 3, 2022 · 2,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 43 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 failure, knocking or rod bearing 34 reports