The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport is a brand new SUV, so it should be reliable, right? Well, some experts recommend skipping a new model until potential issues have been worked out. But the Ford Bronco Sport isn’t technically brand new. It borrows a lot from the Ford Escape. 

Ford Bronco problems may come from the Ford Escape 

The 2021 Ford Bronco Sport has five recalls, and the 2022 model has two. The 2021 Ford Escape has three recalls, and the 2022 model only has one. So while sharing a majority of the same parts, the Bronco Sport has faced more trouble. 

For the 2021 Bronco Sport, the recalls involve detaching glass panels, engine stalling, loose or missing suspension bolts, an incorrect lower control arm, rear-drive unit seizing. 

The 2022 recalls involve the same potential engine stalling issue and faulty brakes. The Ford Escape has the same brake issue and engine stalling risk. 

How much do the Bronco Sport and Escape have in common? 

What if we told you that the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport could be considered a boxy-shaped 2021 Ford Escape? Both of these SUVs share a lot of parts, including the same strut-and-multilink setup. 

However, the all-wheel drive system in the Bronco Sport is a little more advanced. The struts can be tuned for off-roading, and the monotube rear shocks can be enhanced to provide more wheel travel. 

Because the Bronco Sport is more geared for off-roading, it can only tow up to 2,200 lbs. The Ford Escape can tow up to 3,500 lbs. 

The Ford Escape and Bronco Sport share the same base engine. It’s a 1.5-liter three-cylinder engine with 181 hp and 190 lb-ft of torque. Both SUVs offer a more powerful 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine with 250 hp and 27 lb-ft of torque as well. 

However, the Ford Escape offers a hybrid model and a plug-in hybrid variant. It’s unclear if the Ford Bronco Sport will be gaining these powertrain options. 

Back in the day, the Ford Escape had a boxy, upright shape to attract more people to the off-roading segment. Then it got curvier and adapted to becoming more of a comfortable daily driver. 

What issues do the Bronco Sport and Escape share? 

According to Consumer Reports, the 2020 Ford Escape has a reliability rating of one out of five, which is below average. But the 2021 Ford Bronco Sport and Ford Escape both have a reliability rating of five out of five, indicating that common issues may have been improved. 

The Bronco Sport and Escape both have reports of problems with the in-car electronics. This refers to the engine management, ignition, telematics, and more. Both faced issues with the engine stalling, so this checks out.

Both SUVs also have reports of power equipment issues too. The power equipment refers to cruise control, USB ports, alarms, heated or ventilated seats, warning lights, and more. 

Because the Ford Bronco Sport has only been around since 2021, there isn’t has much owner feedback. IIf you want to learn more about its performance and reliability, it may be beneficial to look at previous Ford Escape models.