2026 Ford Bronco Sport Safety Rating
Small SUVs Β· Current IIHS listing Β· IIHS source checked 2026-10-22
The 2026 Ford Bronco Sport scores 71.6/100, ranking #23 of 32 current small SUVs and #115 of 136 vehicles overall with complete IIHS records. It does not hold a current IIHS award.
Results below Good: Moderate overlap front (updated test) rated Marginal, Side (updated test) rated Acceptable. Rear-passenger restraints in the updated moderate-overlap test: Marginal; rear-passenger head protection: Good.
Which build and equipment does this score describe?
Latest applicable build; standard AEB and lowest current-trim headlight rating. Headlights use the lowest rating among applicable current trims; this is a conservative equipment baseline, not a claim that every trim has identical results. Confirm the production date and equipment of the car you are buying.
Headlights: baseline Good
- Good β Trim level(s): All trims
Pedestrian crash prevention: baseline Good
- Good β standard Pre-Collision Assist. Rating applies to all 2025-26 models
Vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention 2.0: baseline Acceptable
- Acceptable β standard Pre-Collision Assist. Rating applies to all 2025-26 models
Optional-system results are shown separately. Combining the best rating from different packages does not establish that one purchasable configuration earns them all. Check IIHS equipment details.
IIHS crash-test results
Detailed results by test (52 entries)
IIHS publishes these under the test they belong to, so the same label can appear more than once. Rear restraints and kinematics, rear head protection, structure and safety cage, and front restraints are the four that count toward the score (25%).
Small overlap front
Rating applies to 2021-26 models
Small overlap front
Rating applies to 2021-26 models
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Rating applies to 2025-26 models
Side: updated test
Rating applies to 2024-26 models
Whiplash prevention
Rating applies to 2025-26 models
Headlights
Β· Trim level(s): All trims
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle 2.0
Rating applies to all 2025-26 models Β· standard Pre-Collision Assist
Front crash prevention: pedestrian
Rating applies to all 2025-26 models Β· standard Pre-Collision Assist
Child seat anchors
Rating applies to 2021-26 models
Opens on iihs.org in a new tab
How the score is built
See our full scoring methodology and rules β
NHTSA 5-star rating
2026 FORD BRONCO SPORT SUV N/A 4WD
NHTSA stars are shown for reference and carry no weight in the score. NHTSA source. Why the two programs disagree β
IIHS crash-test videos
These videos are embedded on IIHSβs ratings page for this model. The tested vehicle may be an earlier model year or a related version whose results IIHS applies to this vehicle. Check the test description and source for the exact coverage.
Load a player to watch on this page, or use the YouTube link. Video footage helps explain the test; the published injury measurements and ratings are the basis for comparison.
Moderate overlap front: updated test
Tested vehicle: 2025 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend 4-door 4wd
Rating applies to 2025-26 models
Side: updated test
Tested vehicle: 2024 Ford Bronco Sport Big Bend 4-door 4wd
Rating applies to 2024-26 models
Real-world context
| Measure | Result | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Class driver death rate | 42 per million registered vehicle-years | Small SUVs as a class, adjusted for driver age and sex (Farmer, 2023); all vehicles average 38. Class context only. |
Compared with other small SUVs
Closest-scoring current small SUVs with complete IIHS records, plus the class leader. See every small SUVs ranked β
| Vehicle | Class rank | IIHS award | Rear restraints | Starts at | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Subaru Forester | #1 of 32 | TSP+ | $29,995 | 94.3 | |
| 2026 Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid | #22 of 32 | β | β | 72.6 | |
| 2026 Ford Bronco Sport (this page) | #23 of 32 | β | $31,845 | 71.6 | |
| 2026 Buick Envista | #24 of 32 | β | $26,495 | 71.2 | |
| 2026 Kia EV6 | #25 of 32 | β | $37,900 | 70.6 |
Our analysis
The 2026 Ford Bronco Sport belongs to the Small SUVs class. This class has a driver death rate near the national average of 38 deaths per million registered vehicle-years. The class figure is adjusted for driver age and sex, which removes a large part of the selection effect in raw death rates. It is still a class average, not a measurement of this model.
The Ford Bronco Sport has no IIHS Top Safety Pick award in the 2026 award cycle. That can mean a result below the award threshold in one test, or tests IIHS has not completed. Absence of an award is not evidence that the vehicle is unsafe.
Across the 5 IIHS rating categories reported, the Ford Bronco Sport earned 2 Good ratings. Results below Good deserve attention, especially the updated frontal and side tests that IIHS toughened in 2022 and 2023. Our updated crash test analysis explains what changed.
This analysis is produced independently; we have no affiliation with Ford or any manufacturer. Read the full methodology or learn more about us.
Safety recalls for the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must fix free of charge. It is separate from the crash-test record above: a vehicle can rate Good across every test and still be recalled.
Do not drive
NHTSA says to stop driving this vehicle until that repair is done. Check the VIN before driving it.
6 recall campaigns on record, covering engine and engine cooling, structure, suspension, equipment, air bags, electrical system.
-
Engine and engine cooling: engine, hard parts internal/mechanical
Risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine pistons and replace the engine long block, if necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed September 3, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in December 2026.
-
Structure: body
Risk: 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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the vehicle joints or repair and replace the joint retention mechanisms as necessary, free of charge. Owner notifications letters are expected to be mailed September 21, 2026.
-
Suspension: front, control arm, lower ball joint Do not drive
Risk: A detached control arm can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and repair the front lower control arm ball joints as necessary, free of charge.
-
Equipment: electrical, engine block heater
Risk: An overheated engine block heater can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, and inspect and replace the electrical cord if necessary, free of charge. Owners will also have an alternative option to replace the engine block heater element with a threaded plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord.
-
Air bags: sensor, occupant classification, front passenger
Risk: Failure to correctly detect a passenger may result in the air bag not deploying as intended, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger seat occupant classification sensor, free of charge.
-
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel
Risk: An instrument panel display that does not show critical information, such as warning lights or vehicle speed, increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The instrument panel cluster software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-10-21. A recall applies to a range of build dates, not necessarily every car of this model year, so confirm against your own VIN. Recalls do not affect the safety score on this page.
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Questions about the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport
Is the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport a safe car?
The 2026 Ford Bronco Sport scores 71.6/100 in our published formula and ranks #23 of 32 current small SUVs with complete IIHS records. It does not hold a current IIHS award.
What is the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport IIHS rating?
IIHS reports: small overlap front = Good; moderate overlap front: updated test = Marginal; side: updated test = Acceptable; headlights = Good; latch ease of use = Acceptable.
Is the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport an IIHS Top Safety Pick?
No. The 2026 Ford Bronco Sport does not hold an IIHS Top Safety Pick award for the 2026 model year, which can reflect a result below Good in a qualifying test or tests that IIHS has not yet completed.
What is the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport NHTSA rating?
NHTSA gives the 2026 FORD BRONCO SPORT SUV N/A 4WD an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars (frontal 5, side 5, rollover 4). NHTSA stars are shown for reference and are not part of our score.
How does the 2026 Ford Bronco Sport compare with other small SUVs?
The class leader is the 2026 Subaru Forester at 94.3/100. The comparison table on this page lists the closest-scoring current small SUVs with complete records.
Continue comparing
Shopping for a family? Compare three-row vehicles and rear-seat evidence. Buying used? See real driver death rates by model.