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 ↗2022 Ford Bronco visibility problems
moderate Owners of the 2022 Ford Bronco have filed 72 NHTSA complaints about the visibility at roughly $350 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See visibility across all vehicles →
Complaints
72
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
| Model year | visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2021 Bronco | 15 |
| 2022 Bronco (this page) | 72 |
| 2023 Bronco | 90 |
| 2024 Bronco | 3 |
1crash
1injury
What stands out
Owners have filed 72 visibility complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Visibility accounts for 21% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 12 categories tracked.
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
The 2022 Ford Bronco shows a consistent cluster of visibility defects across wiper, washer, windshield, and window systems. The dominant complaint—affecting the majority of these 72 reports—centers on the wiper motor behavior. Owners consistently report that windshield wipers shift from continuous high or low speed to slow intermittent mode within 30 seconds to 90 seconds of operation, regardless of rainfall intensity or wiper obstruction. Multiple owners state Ford dealers confirmed the issue but described it as "normal operation" or "smart wiper" protection against motor overheating per Technical Service Bulletin SSM 50692. However, the behavior persists on wet windshields with zero obstructions, forcing drivers to repeatedly cycle controls off and back on while driving in poor visibility—a documented safety hazard.
Secondary visibility issues include windshield washer fluid reservoir cracking and leaking (drains completely in hours, creating risk in snowy climates), LED headlights accumulating snow/ice with no heat generation (dealer-confirmed inherent design flaw), and windshield glass cracking from minor rock impacts or spontaneously in cold wet weather. Power window defects range from off-track mechanisms that fail to operate to severe vibration when partially open and one case of rear glass spontaneous separation. Washer fluid also fails to dispense at temperatures below 20°F. No warning lights accompany any of these failures, and owners report Ford has issued no recalls or extended warranty coverage for the wiper system or washer reservoir defects.
Same Ford Bronco visibility reports on nearby years: 2021 · 2023
Failure modes owners describe
Wiper system speed reduction to intermittent
Windshield wipers on continuous low or high speed automatically reduce speed and shift to slow intermittent mode after 30 seconds to 1.5 minutes of operation, regardless of rainfall intensity. Owners report this occurs repeatedly even after cycling the controls off and back on. Ford dealers and Technical Service Bulletin SSM 50692 characterize this as 'smart wiper' protection against motor overheating, but owners report it happens on wet windshields with no obstructions.
When: During rain/snow conditions; reproducible within 30 seconds to 90 seconds of continuous operation at any mileage (reports range from 900 miles to 49,000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Wipers slow down and shift to intermittent mode despite high rainfall; Progressive delay develops between wipes (3–4 seconds or longer); Driver must manually cycle wiper settings to reset speed; Repeated cycling needed during single rain event; Loss of visibility during heavy rain or snow; No warning lights or messages accompany the behavior
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports Ford stated they do not have a fix. One owner (complaint #23) had wiper motor replaced and issue was resolved.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford Technical Service Bulletin SSM 50692 issued; dealers informed owners the behavior is 'normal operation' and 'by design' to prevent motor overheating. Ford has not issued a recall or extended warranty coverage for this issue.
Windshield washer fluid reservoir failure
Windshield washer fluid reservoir cracks along seams and drains completely within hours, creating a major safety hazard in snowy climates where road salt accumulates on the windshield. A revised replacement reservoir is available from Ford but requires new hoses; no manufacturer recall documented.
When: Early in vehicle ownership; one owner reported failure by 33,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Fluid leaks onto ground; Complete loss of washer fluid shortly after topping off; Rear window washer also affected; Washer fluid low warning and light illuminates when reservoir drains
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement reservoir plus two hoses: $477.28 (without installation labor). Owner's local mechanic confirmed crack; independent Chevron mechanic inspected and confirmed defect.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Revised replacement reservoir and hoses available from Ford but not issued as a recall. Owner notes internet search suggests this is common for the vehicle.
Front windshield cracking from minor impacts
Windshield cracks rapidly from small rock impacts or develops cracks while parked in mild rain/20–40°F weather. Owners report three replacements in five months and believe windshield angle and glass composition increase vulnerability. One owner proposes gorilla glass upgrade similar to Jeep offerings.
When: From purchase through 39,000 miles; can occur with minimal impact force
Symptoms owners cite: Small rock impact causes crack to form and grow; Crack grows from 3 inches to nearly full windshield width within hours or overnight; Spontaneous cracking while parked in cold, wet weather; Multiple replacements required in short timeframe
Repairs/costs cited: Owners incur repeated windshield replacement costs. One owner replaced windshield three times in five months.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall or design change announced. Manufacturer referred one complainant to NHTSA Hotline instead of addressing defect.
LED headlight snow/ice accumulation
LED headlights become covered with snow or ice during winter weather, reducing or eliminating forward visibility. Ford dealer states LED headlights generate no heat and owners should expect this problem for the life of the vehicle, making safe driving difficult in snowstorms.
When: Winter weather conditions; recurring issue per dealer acknowledgment
Symptoms owners cite: Snow and wet heavy snow accumulates on LED headlights; Forward visibility severely reduced or eliminated; Driver forced to pull over every few miles to manually wipe headlights; Unsafe driving condition, especially with passengers
Repairs/costs cited: No repair offered. Ford dealer explained LED headlights do not generate heat as a known characteristic.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford dealer acknowledged the issue as inherent to LED headlight design and stated no remedy is available.
Windshield washer fluid not dispensing in cold temperatures
Windshield washer fluid fails to dispense when ambient temperature is 20°F or below, leaving only the wiper blade to smear dirt and reducing visibility severely. Wipers function normally, but without fluid spray the windshield becomes unusable in cold, sunny or dark conditions.
When: Temperatures 20°F or below; reproducible with cold weather
Symptoms owners cite: Washer fluid does not spray from nozzles in cold temperatures; Wipers smear windshield without fluid assistance; Extreme visibility reduction; Vehicle becomes undrivable in cold sunny or nighttime conditions
Power window malfunction and off-track condition
Front passenger side door window becomes off-track and fails to lower or raise properly. Some windows also vibrate severely when rolled halfway down, especially on rough roads. One case involved a rear quarter-panel window separating from the vehicle and falling to the ground when the door was closed.
When: Early in ownership; reports range from 9,000 to 39,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Window off-track and unable to lower when needed; Rattling or vibrating sound when window is partially open and driving over bumps; Window independently released and rolled down; Rear quarter-panel window separated and fell from vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: One rear quarter-panel window replaced by Safelite mobile technician. No repair completed on other cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; cases filed. No recall issued for cases where VIN was not under existing recall. Owners referred to NHTSA Hotline.
Rear glass spontaneous failure
Rear windshield of removable hardtop spontaneously explodes while vehicle is stationary with occupants inside, with no external pressure or impact. Owner reports Ford acknowledges removable hardtop plastic screw is defective and cracks over time; Ford refuses warranty coverage.
When: While parked; no collision or external cause
Symptoms owners cite: Glass explodes spontaneously over occupants; No apparent external pressure or impact; Removable hardtop plastic screws defective and crack over time
Repairs/costs cited: Not covered by Ford warranty despite manufacturer awareness of defective design.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford acknowledges rods hyper-extend and plastic screws are defective; refuses warranty coverage and denies liability.
Synthesized from 72 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
During moderate to heavy rain when the windshield wipers are on constant low speed or high speed they will operate normally for 60 to 90 seconds then go into an intermittent wiping mode. This cause very poor visibility increasing the chance for an accident. I have taken the vehicle to the dealership (Newberg Ford in Newberg Oregon) for warranty repair and was advised this is normal operation. The…
Unknown- t he wipers on the bronco do not stay at the correct speeds for severe rain or snow. If I have them on high they work for a bit and then start to slow down and make it hard to see so I have to turn them off and on again to keep the speed at a pace where I have visibility.
The wipers will slow down when operating at low, high, or intermittent. Ford claims these are "Smart Wipers" I believe there is an issue that requires a feature correction or re-flash of the related program to correct. I have to continually adjust the wiper control knob to re-set the wipers to the proper speed.
Wiper blades slow down or stop working when raining. Have to constantly adjust the wiper control. Only have 500 miles on the car
If windshield wipers are placed in normal or fast mode they start out fine, then get slower and slower until they stop completely. I needed to toggle between normal and fast just to keep them working. (I verified I’m NOT in interment mode).
When the windshield wipers are set to normal operation (not intermittent), the wipers would slow down and sometimes stop completely after a few wipes. There is no a automatic wiper mode. This is a safety defect on a new car. The wipers would stop during heavy rain. It does not matter if the vehicle is moving or not.
The windshield wiper will not stay on continuously. It malfunctions every time I have it on continuous low or high speed. I was driving in heavy rain with the windshield wiper on high continuous speed. After about 30 seconds it goes into intermittent mode, only cleaning the windshield every 3-4 seconds or so. It makes driving very difficult in the rain and dangerous as I cannot see the road.…
Had visibility trouble with your 2022 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 2022 Ford Bronco?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 72 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 72 complaints filed, visibility issues most often appear around 23,779 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/2022/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.