Used car safety, rank #22 of 188
Ford Bronco 4WD Safety Rating (2021-23)
Real IIHS driver death rates for the 2021-23 Ford Bronco 4WD, a midsize SUV, compared with its class and with the current model.
Honorable MentionIIHS 2026 edition · 2021–2024 crashes. Results apply only to the model years and drivetrain shown. Read the new release and its limits · Browse the older edition. Prices and reliability from older model years have not been carried forward.
The 2021-23 Ford Bronco 4WD has an IIHS driver death rate of 10 per million registered vehicle years against a midsize SUVs average of 24, which is 58% below the class average. That places it #22 of 188 used vehicles with a safety score of 83.5/100, earning our Honorable Mention designation.
What the Ford Bronco death rate means
At 10 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, the Ford Bronco 4WD beats the midsize SUVs average of 24 by 58%. The 95% confidence interval is 1 to 19, so even the pessimistic end of the range is no worse than the class average.
The other-driver death rate of 59 measures the opposite risk: how many drivers of other vehicles died in crashes with a Ford Bronco. Its 95% confidence interval is 33–86. It is higher than the Ford Bronco's own driver death rate, the usual pattern for this class. Remember that death rates describe vehicles and their drivers together: IIHS adjusts for driver age and gender, but not for where or how carefully people drive. Our score weights this model's own rate at 70% and its class at 30%; see how we rank used cars.
Compared with similar used SUVs
The safest midsize SUVs in the IIHS study, by our score, with the Ford Bronco 4WD highlighted. It ranks 6 of the 9 shown; the class leader is the Volkswagen Atlas 2WD at a death rate of 5.
| Vehicle | Years | Death rate | Score | Reliability | Used price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen Atlas 2WD | 2020-23 | 5 (0 to 16) | 89.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Highlander 4WD | 2020-23 | 7 (1 to 13) | 87.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Volkswagen Atlas 4WD | 2020-23 | 7 (0 to 16) | 87.2 | n/a | n/a |
| Kia Telluride 2WD | 2020-23 | 8 (0 to 22) | 84.6 | n/a | n/a |
| Chevrolet Traverse 4WD | 2022-23 | 10 (0 to 23) | 83.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Ford Bronco 4WD (this page) | 2021-23 | 10 (1 to 19) | 83.5 | n/a | n/a |
| Toyota Highlander hybrid 4WD | 2020-23 | 11 (1 to 20) | 82.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Jeep Grand Cherokee L 4WD | 2022-23 | 11 (0 to 25) | 82.0 | n/a | n/a |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E electric 4WD | 2021-23 | 11 (0 to 26) | 82.0 | n/a | n/a |
Class average for midsize SUVs: 24 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years.
The new Ford Bronco
Death rates lag the market by several years. For the current Ford Bronco we score IIHS crash tests instead; here is how the latest model years rate on our new-car scale.
| Model year | Model | IIHS award | New-car score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Ford Bronco | No award | 72.8 |
| 2026 | Ford Bronco Sport | No award | 71.6 |
New-car scores use a different scale (crash tests, not death rates) and are not directly comparable with the 83.5 used-car score above.
Safety recalls for the Ford Bronco 4WD
A recall is a defect the manufacturer must repair free of charge, however old the car and whoever owns it now. On a used car this matters more than on a new one: the work is only done if a previous owner took it in.
Do not drive
NHTSA says to stop driving this vehicle until that repair is done. Check the VIN before driving it. On a car this age the repair may still be outstanding.
18 recall campaigns on the 2023 model year, covering engine, structure, power train, back over prevention, seats, equipment, fuel system, gasoline, suspension, latches/locks/linkages, visibility, seat belts, wheels, steering.
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Engine
Risk: A short circuit in the engine compartment can create heat or spark, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will install sheathing over the wiring, free of charge. This is a Phased campaign. Phase 1 will include 2026 Bronco Raptor notified owners on 7/31/2026. Phase 2 will include 2021-2025 Bronco Raptor vehicle will notify owners on or about 8/14/2026. Phase 3 will include 2021-2026 Bronco will notify owners on or about 9/1/2026.
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Structure: body
Risk: A detached fender flare can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair, or replace the fender flares as necessary, free of charge.
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Power train: automatic transmission
Risk: Excessive wear of the transmission and transfer case splines may result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the transmission to transfer case joint and replace the transmission and transfer case as necessary, free of charge.
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Back over prevention: software
Risk: A rearview camera that fails to display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The APIM software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge.
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Seats: critical fasteners
Risk: A seat with a dislodged bolt may not properly restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the pivot links and bolts as necessary, free of charge.
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Equipment: electrical, engine block heater
Risk: An electrical short circuit 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, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026.
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Fuel system, gasoline: delivery, fuel pump
Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump on super duty vehicles and update the powertrain control module (PCM) software on all other affected vehicles, free of charge.
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Back over prevention: sensing system, camera
Risk: Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge.
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Back over prevention: software
Risk: A frozen or missing rearview camera image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air update, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on June 26, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase.
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Suspension: rear, shock absorber
Risk: An external reservoir that detaches from a vehicle can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the rear shock absorbers, as necessary free of charge.
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Latches/locks/linkages: doors, lock
Risk: A malfunctioning child safety lock that allows a rear door to be opened unintentionally can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the child safety locks and replace the rear door latch, as necessary, free of charge.
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Visibility: glass, side/rear
Risk: Detached rear glass panels may create a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and reinstall the rear glass panels on Bronco vehicles. On Bronco Heritage vehicles, dealers will replace the rear left-hand removable quarter glass panel. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Bronco
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Power train: automatic transmission, internal, park pawl
Risk: A vehicle rollaway can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the transmission, free of charge.
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Equipment: other, labels
Risk: An overloaded vehicle increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will mail a new TREAD label to install over the existing label, free of charge. Owners will also have the option to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to have the new label installed, free of charge.
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Seat belts: critical fasteners
Risk: Difficulty accessing the seat belt latches may result in occupants not wearing their seat belts, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will add a sliding clip latch stop to the driver and front passenger seat belts, free of charge. Interim
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Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs Do not drive
Risk: Loose lug nuts may result in wheel detachment while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, retighten the lug nuts, free of charge.
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Steering
Risk: A steering wheel that locks-up can result in a complete loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the remedy is performed. Dealers will replace the steering gear, free of charge.
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Power train: automatic transmission
Risk: The inability to secure the vehicle in the park position can result in a rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transmissions, free of charge.
Recall campaigns from the NHTSA recalls database, retrieved 2026-09-16. A campaign covers a range of build dates, not every car of the model year, and IIHS reports this nameplate across several years while these results are for 2023. Confirm against the VIN. Recalls do not affect the death rate on this page.
Ford Bronco 4WD: Common Questions
Is the Ford Bronco 4WD a safe car?
Yes, by the measure that matters most. IIHS recorded a driver death rate of 10 per million registered vehicle years for the 2021-23 Ford Bronco 4WD, 58% below the class average (24 for midsize SUVs). That earns a used-car safety score of 83.5 out of 100 and rank #22 of 188 used vehicles, with a Honorable Mention designation.
What is the Ford Bronco 4WD driver death rate?
10 driver deaths per million registered vehicle years, with a 95% confidence interval of 1 to 19. Drivers of other vehicles that collided with a Ford Bronco died at a rate of 59 per million. Source: IIHS driver death rates by make and model, covering 2021-23 models.
How does the Ford Bronco 4WD compare with other midsize SUVs?
The midsize SUVs class averages 24 driver deaths per million; the Ford Bronco 4WD sits at 10. Among the 9 midsize SUVs compared above it ranks 6 by safety score; the top of that group is the Volkswagen Atlas 2WD with a death rate of 5.