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 ↗2023 Ford Bronco visibility problems
moderate Owners of the 2023 Ford Bronco have filed 90 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
90
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$350
| Model year | visibility complaints |
|---|---|
| 2021 Bronco | 15 |
| 2022 Bronco | 72 |
| 2023 Bronco (this page) | 90 |
| 2024 Bronco | 3 |
1injury
What stands out
Of the 4 model years of Ford Bronco we track for visibility problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 90.
Visibility accounts for 42% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 10 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
Owners describe a persistent pattern across 2023 Ford Broncos (and some 2021–2022 models): windshield wipers set to continuous low or high speed revert to slow intermittent operation—pausing 3–30 seconds between swipes—after 30 seconds to 2 minutes of use, regardless of rain intensity. The shift happens without driver input and during active precipitation, causing sudden, near-complete windshield obscuring. Drivers must repeatedly toggle the wiper stalk between settings to maintain visibility, forcing distracted hand-off-wheel maneuvers at highway speeds (55–70+ mph) in heavy rain, sleet, or snow.
Ford's written justification—a "smart" motor with load-sensing and overheating protection—does not track owners' conditions: one owner noted freezing temperatures and zero debris, yet wipers still throttled. Dealers consistently report the behavior as "normal" or "by design," citing Ford Special Service Messages (SSM 51377, SSM 50692) that frame throttling as intentional motor protection, not a defect. A few owners note dealers acknowledged reproducing the malfunction but offered no fix.
One separate report describes complete wiper failure (non-responsive to stalk adjustments) at 60–70 mph in rain, requiring fuse swaps. Another cites rear windshield moisture intrusion with dealer guidance to clean the gasket frequently. One rear window spontaneously shattered inward at highway speed. These outlier events have far fewer mentions than the speed-reversion issue, which dominates the complaint set.
Same Ford Bronco visibility reports on nearby years: 2021 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Windshield wiper speed reversion
Wipers automatically downshift from continuous low or high speed to slow intermittent operation (pausing 3–30 seconds between wipes) after 30 seconds to 2 minutes of use, regardless of rain intensity or wiper control setting.
When: Occurs from day of delivery; reported across 2021–2023 model years; triggers during moderate to heavy rain, sleet, and snow at speeds 55–70+ mph.
Symptoms owners cite: Wiper speed drops without driver input; Shift to intermittent mode despite continuous setting selected; Near-complete windshield obscuring during active precipitation; Requires repeated stalk toggling to regain visibility; Lasts 30–120 seconds before each reset cycle; Pattern repeats throughout rain event
Repairs/costs cited: Some dealers have replaced wiper motors per forum reports; majority of owners report no available dealer fix. One owner notes dealership inability to determine root cause despite reproducing failure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford Special Service Messages SSM 51377 and SSM 50692 characterize behavior as intentional 'smart motor' overheating and load-sensing protection. Ford documentation states the motor restricts speed, reduces cleaning area, or stops if windshield is dry, obstructed (snow/ice), or motor is overheating. Dealers advise owners this is 'normal' or 'by design.' One owner cites Ford Customer Service directing her to owner's manual (page 100) and suggesting dealership shopping for resolution. No recall issued as of complaint filing dates. One mention of a 'customer satisfaction program' with December 2024 expiration.
Complete wiper motor failure
Front windshield wiper motor becomes unresponsive to stalk input; wipers remain stationary regardless of speed setting adjustment.
When: At low mileage (200 miles); other occurrence at 60 mph during rain; one reported at 25 miles; timeframe variable.
Symptoms owners cite: Wipers stop mid-wipe or fail to engage; Stalk adjustments produce no response; Loss of windshield visibility during rain; Front washer fluid also non-functional in one report; Rear wipers and rear washer fluid remain operable (in one case)
Repairs/costs cited: Fuse checking and swapping performed by owner (fuses appeared intact). Unknown dealer unable to diagnose. No on-site repair attempted; vehicle driven 6.5 hours home in rain with no working front wipers.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer referred owner to NHTSA hotline. No repair available or proposed.
Rear windshield moisture intrusion
Water leaks into vehicle interior through rear windshield gasket seal during inclement weather.
When: Reported at approximately 6,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Moisture inside cabin near rear windshield; Occurs during rain
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer indicated rear gasket requires frequent cleaning and clearing to prevent failure. Dealer noted that rear windshield replacement is unavailable at dealer.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified and provided case number. No repair was performed. Owner was not offered replacement or service.
Rear window spontaneous inward failure
Rear window spontaneously shattered inward with explosive force while driving on highway.
When: At highway speed (>70 mph); mileage not stated.
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loud detonation-like sound; Glass fragmented inward; Plastic molding around rear speakers cut by shards; Occupants exposed to glass fragments
Repairs/costs cited: No repair details provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford dealership attributed failure to faulty glass; no acknowledgment of manufacturing defect or replacement offered in narrative.
Synthesized from 90 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
The wipers on low mode stop working after about 30 seconds, requiring to turn off/on again or try the higher wiper speed. On a rainy day, when the wipers stopped there was near zero visibility. There were now warning lights when they stopped working. I see many other 2023 Ford Bronco report similar issues online; however I see no responses or issue acknowledgement from Ford. It is very scary…
While driving at multiple different speeds in the rain and snow, the wiper blades on the vehicle slow down on their own to an intermittent speed without driver input. This slowing of the wiper blades causes the driver to lose visibility while driving, creating a safety hazard on the road. This issue has occurred numerous times when the wiper blades are set to the highest speed. After about one…
My 2023 Ford Bronco has these "Advanced" wipers that automatically stop wiping when they think the windshield is dry or think the wiper motor may be damaged. When driving in heavy rain and you put the wipers on High (or even Low), they automatically switch to Intermittent after about 1 minute. They actually stop wiping at a high speed and pause between wipes for several seconds. In order to keep…
Received Truck end of Dec 2022, immediately noticed that when it rains, the wipers at a certain speed have a glitch that suddenly stops and starts at a lower speed. I have video recording and took it to dealer. Dealer told me that it is a feature so the motor does not overheat. It made no sense because I could activate the higher speed and no problem with that one. First time it happened, was…
Had visibility trouble with your 2023 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 2023 Ford Bronco?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 90 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 90 complaints filed, visibility issues most often appear around 4,100 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/2023/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.