Ford Bronco VIN Number Check

Decode a Ford Bronco VIN free with NHTSA vPIC. See its generation and the NHTSA recalls for that model year, then read what owners have reported.

VIN prefix1FM

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Ford Bronco

About the Ford Bronco

Ford has sold the Bronco in the US since the 1990 model year, and there have been three generations. Gen 4 first (1990–1991), then Gen 5 (1992–1996), and the U725 took over for 2021–2026. Across those years NHTSA lists 59 vehicle recall campaigns and 1,438 owner complaints. Complaints pile up on the U725. Its 2022 and 2021 model years alone account for 607 of them, with owners bringing up visibility most often and engine and cooling after that. EPA rates the Gen 4 at 12–18 mpg combined, while the U725 gets 15–21 mpg. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years1990–2026

GenerationsGen 4 · Gen 5 · U725

NHTSA recall campaigns59

Owner complaints1,438 at NHTSA

Ford Bronco photographed at a US vehicle auction — Auction lot photo, for illustration

Generations

Ford Bronco generations

Three generations since the 1990 model year. The U725 (2021–2026) has both the most owner complaints and the most recall campaigns (50).

3 / 3

U725

2021–20266th generation

Photo: SsmIntrigue, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

19901995200020052010201520202025

2021–2026· Generation 3 of 3

U725 · 6th generation

PlatformFord T6

EPA combined mpg15–21

NHTSA recalls50

Engines (EPA)

2.3 L 4-cyl (turbo) · 2021–2026
2.7 L 6-cyl (turbo) · 2021–2026
3.0 L 6-cyl (turbo) · 2022–2026

Drive & transmission (EPA)

AWD/4WD
automatic (2021–2026), manual (2021–2026)

Known issues to check

Visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) (182)Engine and cooling (156)Electrical system (124)6 high-risk recall campaigns

Mentions in 968 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · U7251FMEE5DP?NL······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2022 Ford Bronco Base, Big Bend, Black Diamond, Outer Banks, Badlands, Wildtrak, Everglades, built in Wayne, Michigan

Check a Bronco VIN

Sources: Wikipedia · EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which Bronco model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 59 campaigns on file for Bronco model years 1990–2026, and the 2022 shows up in more of them than any other year (23), ahead of the 2021 (20). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

Pick a row

What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Ford Bronco owners report

Owner summaries + NHTSA data

Between them, the 2022 and 2021 hold 607 of the 1,438 complaints, or 42%. Tap any bar or generation.

1,438NHTSA complaints, 1990–2026

58mention a crash

103mention a fire

44injuries reported

Owner complaints by model yearU725: 968 complaints · most for the 2022 (378)

Top complaint areas · U725

Mentions in 968 complaints, 2021–2026.

Visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors)182

Engine and cooling156

Electrical system124

Fuel system90

Brakes89

Powertrain (transmission, driveline)82

Crashes 28Fires 13Injuries 17

2021–2026 (U725)

NHTSA data summary

The 2022 is the outlier. On its own it has 378 of the U725’s 968 complaints (39%), more than any other Bronco model year. By area, nothing stands out. Visibility leads with 182, with engine and cooling (156) and the electrical system (124) close behind. Of all Bronco complaints, 67% are for the U725.

What Bronco owners report across recent generations

Owner summary

2021–present (6th generation)

The 2022 draws the most complaints. NHTSA owners of the 2021 describe engine failure, sometimes tied to broken valves, along with fuel pump trouble and stalling, while 2022 owners often mention windshield wiper failures. CarComplaints lists rodents chewing wiring and a transmission damaged during flat towing for 2021 and 2022. Recalls cover intake valves on 2021–2022 models with the 2.7 liter engine that may break, rear camera images on 2021–2022 models and rear shock absorbers on 2021–2024 models that may corrode and detach. [1] [2] [3] [4]

What to check before buying

Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup, including the intake valve recall on 2.7 liter engines and the rear shock absorber recall.
Ask whether the truck was flat towed and whether any engine work was done.
On the drive, test the wipers and rear camera, and look under the hood for chewed wiring.

Sources (4) and method

Sources:

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner summary updated September 25, 2026.

Owner opinions · Reddit

What Ford Bronco owners say on Reddit

Summarized from public threads

SummaryPros & consThreads

Most Bronco owners say they would buy it again, and the reasons are about fun: top-off driving, real trail ability and a personality few SUVs match. Mechanical complaints in these threads are fairly limited, with many owners reporting little beyond recall visits, though a few mention leaks or water pump work under warranty. The recurring gripes are about daily comfort: wind and tire noise at highway speed, thirsty fuel use, hard interior plastics, glitchy wireless CarPlay and a windshield that chips easily.

Pros

Very fun to drive, especially with the roof and doors off
Strong off-road ability straight from the factory
Many owners report few mechanical problems beyond recalls

Cons

Loud cabin at highway speeds, worse on bigger tires
Poor fuel economy
Cheap-feeling interior plastics and buggy phone connectivity
Upright windshield prone to chips and cracks

Would You Buy Your Bronco Again? Considering purchasing one.. r/bronco · 2024-12-02
Those that have owned a Bronco for over a year, how is it holding up? r/bronco · 2024-12-08
How Has Reliability Been With Your Bronco? r/bronco · 2024-05-28
Give me your honest opinion on your broncos r/bronco · 2025-10-20

Opinions of individual owners, summarized in our own words. Not verified data; check recalls and complaints above.

Owner complaints · by model year

Bronco complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Every Bronco version is counted together. Tap a year to see its top systems.

1,438complaints, 1990–2026

58mention a crash

103mention a fire

44injuries reported

6complaints report a death

Most complaints: 2022 (378), 2021 (229), 2023 (226)

2022 · 378 complaints

Crashes 6 · fires 2 · injuries 4

Visibility/wiper65

Engine52

Service brakes42

Unknown or other41

Power train40

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

Bronco CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 99 Bronco versions for model years 1990–2026. The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 424 g/mi (2021). Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

Gen 41990–1991

12–18 mpg · CO₂ 494–741 g/mi

Gen 51992–1996

12–14 mpg · CO₂ 635–741 g/mi

U7252021–2026

15–21 mpg · CO₂ 424–577 g/mi

Model year2025

20combined MPG

453CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)

$3,350EPA yearly fuel cost

5/10Smog rating

1 = worst · 10 = cleanest

4/10Greenhouse gas rating

California LEV-III ULEV50 · Federal Tier 3 Bin 50Emission standard

Cleanest gas version of 2025: Outer Banks 4WD · Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 2.7 L, Turbo — 20 MPG · 453 g/mi

Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year

Gas

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Greenhouse-gas ratings start with the 2013 model year. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

Bronco vs Jeep Wrangler vs Toyota 4Runner

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 2021–2026. NHTSA lists 50 recall campaigns for the Bronco, against 33 for the Jeep Wrangler and 8 for the Toyota 4Runner. Pick a range to compare.

Ford BroncoU725

Model years 2021–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns: 50
NHTSA owner complaints: 968
EPA combined mpg: 15–21
Engines (EPA): 4-cyl 2.3 L · 6-cyl 2.7, 3.0 L
Also listed: turbo
Drive (EPA): AWD/4WD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors) 182
Engine and cooling 156
Electrical system 124

Jeep Wrangler

Model years 2021–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns: 33
NHTSA owner complaints: 2,749
EPA combined mpg: 14–25
Engines (EPA): 4-cyl 2.0 L · 6-cyl 3.0, 3.6 L · 8-cyl 6.4 L
Also listed: turbo, diesel, mild hybrid, plug-in hybrid
Drive (EPA): AWD/4WD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Electrical system 1,282
Engine and cooling 987
Fuel system 486

Toyota 4Runner

Model years 2021–2026

NHTSA recall campaigns: 8
NHTSA owner complaints: 183
EPA combined mpg: 17–23
Engines (EPA): 4-cyl 2.4 L · 6-cyl 4.0 L
Also listed: turbo, hybrid
Drive (EPA): AWD/4WD, RWD

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Brakes 39
Steering 24
Suspension 19

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Ford Bronco VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on a Bronco

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

Blue Ford Bronco (sixth generation) 4-door SUV, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

Bronco's VIN sits at the base of the driver's side windshield, readable from outside. Because the Bronco uses a body-on-frame design similar to the Wrangler, the frame rail near the front differential carries a secondary stamp. Bronco Sport shares the dashboard location but adds a B-pillar label. The U725 generation starts with the 2021 model year; the VIN’s 10th character (M for 2021) shows which side of that line a car falls on.

Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge

The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.

FAQ

Common Ford Bronco VIN questions

Which Ford Bronco model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2022 leads with 378, ahead of the 2021 (229) and 2023 (226). Those first two alone make up 42% of the 1,438 Bronco complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Ford Bronco had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 59 vehicle campaigns for model years 1990–2026, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns. By generation, U725 leads with 50. Then come the Gen 5 (7) and Gen 4 (2), and a campaign can span two generations.

Which Ford Bronco recalls are high risk?

NHTSA’s record names a fire risk in 96V-071, 07V-336, 05V-388, 25V-685, 26V-468 and 25V-597. Do-not-drive advisories came with 23V-283, 25V-308 and 25V-260. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

Which Bronco generation am I looking at?

By US model year, the Gen 4 is 1990–1991 and the Gen 5 1992–1996. U725 spans 2021–2026. Read the year off the VIN’s 10th character (M is 2021).

What fuel economy does the Ford Bronco get?

It varies. EPA rates the 2021–2026 U725 at 15–21 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive, up from 12–18 mpg for the 1990–1991 Gen 4 (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Ford Bronco compare with the Jeep Wrangler and Toyota 4Runner on recalls?

For 2021–2026 models the Bronco has 50 NHTSA recall campaigns. The Jeep Wrangler has 33, the Toyota 4Runner 8. Complaints run 968, 2,749 and 183 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

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Ford Bronco VIN Number Check

About the Ford Bronco

Ford Bronco generations