Ford Bronco Sport ball joint problems

Filed Sep 21, 2026 · Steering, Suspension · CA

On Saturday, September 19, 2026, around 10:30 am, as I was backing out of my garage, wit the speed of 3 to 4 miles, when I back into the street, luckily, there were no other cars on the street, my house is closed to an intersaction and the oncoming cars had a red light on the other side, I lost control of my car and the car spinned around. Fortuntely, I was able to stop the car and get it out of the harm way. When I got out of my car, I notices a lot of metal balls and grease on the street. I then reasearhed on the web and found out this was caused due to a defect caused by ball joint seapration. I then reserched to find if there were any recalls from the manufacture regarding this issue and there was one dated in June of 2026, with a recall number from Ford (26S36) as well as one from the federal safety agency. The defect was that front lower control arm ball joint my not have been fully seated or sealed or secured into the wheel knuckel during factory assembly, which can cause the joint to separate and disconnect the streeling knukle from control arm This morning I contacted Ford, they informed that based on my VIN, my car was not included in that recall. I cannot understand their logic that how they can determine by the VIN that which car may have defective parts installed without visually inspecting the call. My research showed sometime the car manufacturers understimate the recall issues, for their own purposes. I found it unethical and irreaponsible respond from Ford. This could have catastrophic had this happened while I may have been driving on a busy street, and worse yet on a freeway at a higher speed.

Filed Sep 15, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · 124,000 miles · OH

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, exhaust fumes and a fuel odor entered the cabin, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The engine misfired, and the vehicle hesitated while driving. Upon inspecting under the hood, the contact discovered black soot in the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer for diagnosis, where the dealer determined that the piston solenoid, catalytic converter, and driver’s side lower control arm and bushing needed replacement. The contact stated that the PCM was previously replaced. The contact associated the failure with the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V340000 (Suspension); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 124,000.

Filed Sep 1, 2026 · Suspension · ME

Both front lower control arm ball joints on my 2025 Bronco Sport failed prematurely at approximately 13,000 miles. Upon removal, both ball studs showed heavy corrosion and clear evidence of water intrusion past the factory boot seals. One boot's upper metal retainer was visibly deformed, allowing water into the joint. This level of corrosion should not exist on a vehicle this new and indicates a defective component or seal, not normal wear. I have retained both failed parts and have photographs documenting the condition. This is the same component covered under Ford's active do-not-drive safety recall 26S36 (the federal safety agency campaign 26V‑340) for front lower control arm ball joint defects on 2021–2026 Bronco Sport vehicles. My VIN is not included in that campaign, but I experienced failure of the identical safety-critical component. I am reporting this so the federal safety agency is aware the defect may extend beyond the current recall population. When I brought the vehicle to my local Ford dealer and requested inspection under the new vehicle warranty, the service department refused to inspect the vehicle at all, citing a 1.5-inch aftermarket leveling kit. No inspection was performed and no determination was made that the modification caused or contributed to the failure. A leveling kit does not cause water intrusion past a factory boot seal. Because the dealer refused service on a safety-critical component, I replaced both ball joints at my own expense to keep the vehicle safe to drive. I have opened a case with Ford Customer Relationship Center (case CXH-09202228-R9R8V5). No crash or injury occurred, but ball joint separation causes loss of steering control, and I believe this failure mode warrants investigation of vehicles outside the current recall scope.

Filed Aug 7, 2026 · Steering, Suspension · MA · crash · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle pulled to the right with the tire pressure warning light illuminated. The driver was forced to steer the vehicle to the left to center the vehicle. The vehicle had been taken to two separate dealers where a total of four-wheel alignments were performed on the vehicle. However, after the repairs, the failure persisted. The contact then stated that after his wife had completed a right turn, there was an abnormal, popping sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The driver lost control of the vehicle and crashed into another parked vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy on impact. The driver sustained neck pain after the crash but did not seek medical attention. A Police report was not filed. Upon arriving at the scene, the contact became aware that the CV axle had snapped which dented the tie rod. Due to the failure, the front passenger tire had detached from the axle and was sticking out from the wheel well. The vehicle was towed to a body shop where the mechanic discovered that the front passenger’s side tire had extreme wear and the tread was almost bald. The dealer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was provided a case number. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

Filed Aug 5, 2026 · Airbags, Seat belts · SC · crash · 1 injury

TRANSACTION FRAUD & SYSTEM BYPASS:The vehicle was purchased from an authorized franchise dealer in January 2026. Following an investigation, it was discovered that the dealership's finance desk executed a "split-paperwork" scheme to override an automated delivery compliance hold. The dealership utilized my actual 2.0L Badlands VIN on banking documents, but electronically transmitted a completely different, lower-trim 1.5L engine VIN to my insurer (USAA) to issue a clean delivery binder. This intentional data manipulation was used to knowingly bypass active safety recall alerts.SUMMARY OF INCIDENT:In March 2026, while traveling on [XXX], the front suspension suffered an unexplained, catastrophic failure, resulting in an immediate, total loss of steering control. The vehicle veered off the roadway and impacted a concrete barrier at high velocity. The mechanics of this failure exactly mirror the structural anomalies detailed in federal the federal safety agency Recall 26V340000 (Ford Recall 26S36) regarding lower control arm ball joint separation.CRITICAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM FAILURE:During the high-velocity impact, the primary occupant safety restraint systems completely failed to perform. The driver’s side seatbelt failed to lock, and zero front or side airbags deployed. This total safety mechanism failure directly resulted in a severe Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and permanent new-onset seizures, confirmed via clinical EEG by the Veterans Affairs (VA) hospital and currently managed via Keppra 3x/day.FORENSIC EVIDENCE PRESERVATION:High-definition video evidence exists, captured 10 days prior to the crash, documenting the seatbelt retractor in a pre-existing state of mechanical failure (dangling/failing to recoil). The vehicle has undergone only minor exterior cosmetic repairs; the failed suspension components, broken seatbelt modules, and un-deployed airbag sensors remain fully intact and forensically preserved as physical evidence inside my garage for immediate federal safety ins INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATI

Filed Apr 23, 2026 · Steering, Suspension · NC

Clonninger Auto Body Shop 511 Jake Alexander Blvd S Salisbury NC 28147 The 2024 Bronco Sport owned by Megan Michaels was presented to our service department with a customer concern of a rattling noise coming from the rear of the vehicle, along with abnormal tire wear on the rear tires. Our Master Technician performed a road test and verified a clunking/rattling noise originating from the left rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was then lifted, and a comprehensive inspection of the rear suspension system was completed. During inspection, it was determined that the left rear lower control arm mounting point at the body has structurally failed. The mounting location where the control arm attaches to the body has separated from the vehicle’s floor structure, allowing the control arm to shift from its proper position into the body cavity where it should normally be securely supported. This condition has caused:  Excessive movement within the rear suspension system  The confirmed clunking/rattling noise  Abnormal rear tire wear due to improper alignment and instability Cause of Failure: The failure is the result of a structural separation of the lower control arm mounting point from the vehicle’s body. This is a failure of the vehicle’s structural floor assembly and is not related to a replaceable suspension component. Required Repair: Due to the extent of the structural damage, the vehicle will require replacement of the complete floor pan assembly in order to restore proper mounting integrity of the suspension system and ensure safe vehicle operation. If you have any questions or require additional documentation, please contact our service department directly.

Filed Sep 12, 2025 · Brakes, Steering · TX

There is a load moaning sound when backing the vehicle up or making a turn which significantly effects steering and stoping. Ford dealership said that tires were not rubbing body and tie rods were ok. This ford bronco sport only has 25K miles on it and never taken off road. Ford said to live with the sound until it bothered us? They said that it didn't need brakes but a new brake job could possibly fix problem? Independent repair shop said that it wasn't a brake issue but didn't know what the problem was. This load sound must be a defect for this vehicle because others on the web have expressed the same problem but ford has not put out a recall as of this date.

Filed Aug 8, 2025 · Brakes, Transmission · VA

2025 Bronco Do not drive your vehicle until your recall service is complete. Safety Recalls* Loose or missing upper ball joint fastener Recall incomplete Loose or missing upper ball joint fastener Recall incomplete Front upper control arm to knuckle ball joint loose or missing fastener Recall incomplete Inspect seat bolt presence and torque - recall is unable to be performed at this time. Please check the fsa landing page for more details. Recall incomplete Do not drive - front lower arm to frame attachment fastener inspection Recall incomplete Transmission main control valve body replacement Recall incomplete Rear door child safety lock inspection Recall incomplete Passenger airbag replacement Recall incomplete

Filed May 20, 2025 · Steering · 77,000 miles · KY

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco Sport. The contact stated while driving at various speeds over puddles, the vehicle shuddered and made an abnormal sound. The contact stated that while the dealer was servicing the vehicle, the dealer informed the contact that the power steering gear was detaching. The dealer determined that the steering rack and gear and the tie rods needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.

Filed Sep 29, 2024 · Engine, Suspension · OH

Currently at 30,000 miles. Water pump goes out every 10k miles, rear differential went out, front control arm and strut went out.