Ford Recalls 174,000 Broncos Over Loose Front Seats, Its 17th Since 2021 Rebirth
The 6th generation Bronco arrived in 2021 with the kind of hype Ford hadn’t seen in years. Buyers wanted something boxy, capable, and unapologetically old school. What they got on delivery was a serious off-roader that could hang with Jeep all day. What they’re getting now is a growing stack of recalls that keeps getting thicker, most recently with an issue involving loose front seats.
NHTSA Campaign Number 25V721000: Loose front seats
Regulators said the front seat height-adjust pivot bolt can loosen or even fall out on certain 2021 through 2023 Broncos.
If that bolt walks away, the seat may not hold a driver in a crash.
Ford reported that 163,256 vehicles are involved in the U.S. Another 11,000-ish are in Canada.
The company will install new pivot links and bolts at dealerships once the final kits are ready.
Interim letters went out November 6, 2025, and VINs became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 28. Ford’s internal reference is 25SB5.
Anyone with questions is directed to customer service at 1-866-436-7332, and yes, that’s the number printed right in the filing.
This marks the 17th recall for the reborn Bronco
Here’s the full 2022 recall list by component problem, from most recent and back:
Loose driver seat pivot bolt.
Engine block heater short circuit fire risk.
Low pressure fuel pump failure and stalling.
Rear camera image loss.
Second rear camera image loss variant.
Rear camera staying on after reversing.
Rear shock absorber reservoir detaching.
Engine intake valve failures.
Incorrect load carrying capacity label.
Hard-to-reach seat belt latches.
Rear camera staying on after reversing, software fix.
Steering wheel lockup while driving.
Loose transmission bolt causing rollaway.
Improperly secured side impact sensors.
Rear camera staying on after reversing, software fix.
Inadequate windshield bonding.
Child safety lock malfunction.
Just 2 legacy recalls sit in the Bronco family tree from the 1996 model
One isn’t a biggie, missing amber side reflex reflectors. The other, though, is more serious: a defective speed-control deactivation switch.
None of this erases what the modern Bronco does well
It still crawls with confidence, soaks up rough ground, and brings back a style enthusiasts waited 25 years to see again. But recalls shape ownership, especially when they stack this high.
The real test moving forward is whether Ford can lock down these lingering problems and let the Bronco’s strengths take the lead. For many owners, by the way, they already have. Most highly regard them for “fun factor,” but many remain iffy on long-term reliability. Time will tell.
