This article supersedes 25-2551. Reason for update: to correct the descriptions for the liftgate glass weather seals. Some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above may exhibit paint wearing along on the top inner edge of the tailgate where the rear window weather strip contacts the tailgate. This may be due to the accumulation of dirt between the rear window seal and tailgate.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2021 Ford Bronco visibility problems
moderate Owners of the 2021 Ford Bronco have filed 15 NHTSA complaints about the visibility at roughly $350 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See visibility across all vehicles →
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
| Model year | visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2021 Bronco (this page) | 15 |
| 2022 Bronco | 72 |
| 2023 Bronco | 90 |
| 2024 Bronco | 3 |
What stands out
No new NHTSA visibility complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering visibility on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Some 2021-2023 Bronco vehicles may exhibit a condition where short drop windows, window bounce-back, and/or one-touch close does not operate properly. This may be due to loss of window initialization. Replacement or reprogramming of the DDM, PDM, and/or any other components may not resolve these conditions.The short drop windows feature may be restored by performing a reset procedure as described in the Digital Owner's Manual > Windows > Using Short Drop Windows > Resetting Short Drop Windows. If the customer is experiencing an inability to fully close the window due to repeated bounce-back events, the window bounce-back feature may be overridden by performing an override procedure as descri
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"25S49 Recall Remedy: -Infotainment software update to address frozen screens"
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Quality Improvements Include: - Bug Fixing and Feature improvements. - Resolves black screen issue caused when there is no SiriusXM disk space.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2021-2024 Bronco vehicles may exhibit a rattle from the front windows with the windows placed in the partially down position and driving over rough roads and/or bumps. This may be due to the interface between the window glass and the body mounted glass run. To correct this condition, replace the body mounted glass runs using the body mounted glass run kit (3 door: M2DZ-9821597-E, and 5 door: M2DZ-7821597-F) which contains updated seals for improved sealing performance. For claiming, use causal part 9821597/7821597 and labor operations 23943A and 23943A19 in Section 12 of the Service Labor Time Standards (SLTS) Manual.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report four distinct visibility failures on the 2021 Bronco.
Washer reservoir leaks: Reservoirs crack along seams and empty onto the ground and fender liner within hours of refilling. Dealers confirm this is a known defect but face 3–4 week backlogs for replacement parts. The reservoir sits between the exterior and interior quarter panels and cannot be accessed without removing the quarter panel. No low-fluid warning lamp alerts drivers.
Windshield cracking: Cracks develop spontaneously or after routine wiper replacement as early as 1,200 miles, starting at corners and spreading. Dealers cannot source replacement windshields; one owner received the wrong part from a third-party vendor.
Wiper motor slowing defect: The most common complaint—wipers operate normally for 45–80 seconds, then slow to an inadequate ~4-second cycle interval (~15 cycles per minute) regardless of rain intensity or speed setting. Toggling the switch temporarily restores normal speed for another 45–80 seconds before the cycle repeats. This occurs from day one of ownership, affects all speeds and weather conditions, and does not trigger warning lights. Owners note that the slow rate violates FMVSS 104 requirements (20 cycles per minute minimum). Dealers claim wipers are working as designed, despite video evidence of malfunction.
Wiper speed overall inadequate: Even when not slowing, high-speed settings deliver weak clearing performance—visibility becomes near zero in moderate rain. Performance lags other vehicles at comparable settings.
Same Ford Bronco visibility reports on nearby years: 2022 · 2023
Failure modes owners describe
Windshield washer reservoir failure and leaking
Washer fluid reservoir cracks along seams or develops leaks, causing fluid to drain onto fender liner and ground. Dealers confirm this is a known issue with extended backlogs for replacement parts.
When: Early ownership, unrelated to mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Washer fluid rapidly empties after refilling; Fluid pools on ground and fender liner; Reservoir inaccessible without removing quarter panel; No low-fluid warning lamp
Repairs/costs cited: Windshield washer reservoir replacement; dealers report 3-4 week backlogs for parts
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Known defect; some owners reported being out of warranty (9 days) with no recourse
Front windshield cracking
Windshield develops cracks spontaneously or after routine service (wiper replacement). Cracks propagate and spread. Dealers report inability to obtain replacement parts; wrong windshield delivered by third-party repair vendor.
When: As early as 1,200 miles; also reported at 7,337 and 9,000 miles; one incident during routine wiper replacement
Symptoms owners cite: Crack initiates at bottom corner and spreads to top; Crack occurs without known impact; Vehicle not drivable until replaced
Repairs/costs cited: Windshield replacement; dealer parts unavailable; Safelite delivered incorrect windshield on at least one occasion
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer contacted and case opened; no indication of recall or extended warranty
Wipers fail to maintain continuous operation—revert to slow intermittent after 45-80 seconds
Wipers operate at selected speed for 45-80 seconds, then slow to inadequate intermittent cycling regardless of rain intensity or speed setting. Requires manual reset (off/on) for brief temporary restoration. Affects all wiper speeds and conditions (rain, snow, sleet). Does not trigger warning lights.
When: Present from day 1 on some vehicles; occurs within minutes of any wiper use
Symptoms owners cite: Wipers slow to ~4-second intervals (~15 cycles/minute) after brief operation; Occurs on low and high continuous settings; Temporary fix by toggling wiper switch; issue recurs after 45-80 seconds; No dashboard warning lights; Inadequate visibility in moderate to heavy rain at all speeds
Codes mentioned: FMVSS 104 section S4.1.1.3 non-compliance (requires 20 cycles/minute minimum)
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented; dealers claim wipers are working as designed despite video evidence of malfunction
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer diagnostics show no fault; manufacturer referred owners to NHTSA Hotline; no TSB or recall mentioned
Wiper speed inadequate—slow even on high setting
Wipers operate at consistently slow speeds even when set to high, failing to clear visibility adequately in moderate to heavy rain. Speed does not match expected high-speed performance and is comparable to low-speed settings on other vehicles.
When: Ongoing across all driving conditions
Symptoms owners cite: High-speed setting delivers inadequate clearing rate; Visibility near zero during moderate rain; Speed comparable to low setting on other vehicles
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
This issue occurs anytime the wipers are used, including rain, snow, sleet, etc.. The issue has been present from day 1 of ownership and continues to this day. Wipers are turned on to any setting. After approximately 1 minute, the wiping will stop completely, then start wiping at approximately 4sec intervals (15 cycles per minute). This pace is almost always inadequate to provide unobstructed…
Had visibility trouble with your 2021 Ford Bronco?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the visibility problem on the 2021 Ford Bronco?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 15 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $350 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the visibility typically fail?
Based on the 15 complaints filed, visibility issues most often appear around 9,090 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $350 for visibility repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to visibility?
No active recalls currently cover visibility issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2021/Ford/Bronco.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.