2021 Ford Bronco Front Air Bag Recall (21V770)
Ford Motor Company · 553 vehicles · Reported October 1, 2021
Ford Motor Company is recalling 553 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles. During passenger air bag deployment, an air bag vent could open prematurely and result in an improper deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." Improper air bag deployment increases the risk of injury during a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V770 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V770000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 21C23 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | October 1, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2021 Ford Bronco |
| Units affected | 553 |
| Component | Air Bags > Frontal |
| Safety risk | Improper air bag deployment increases the risk of injury during a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Ford Bronco in recall 21V770?
During passenger air bag deployment, an air bag vent could open prematurely and result in an improper deployment.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Bronco vehicles. During passenger air bag deployment, an air bag vent could open prematurely and result in an improper deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Bronco with recall 21V770?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Improper air bag deployment increases the risk of injury during a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Improper air bag deployment increases the risk of injury during a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Bronco shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the frontal, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V770?
Recall 21V770 covers 553 vehicles: 2021 Ford Bronco.
NHTSA lists 553 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Ford | Bronco |
What is the fix for the Bronco front air bag recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the passenger air bag, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the passenger air bag, free of charge. An interim owner notification letter was mailed on November 24, 2021. A second notice announcing the remedy is available was sent on July 8, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C23.
When was recall 21V770 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 21V770 to NHTSA on October 1, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| October 1, 2021 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V770000. |
| November 24, 2021 | Interim owner notification letter mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 60 months ago. If your Bronco was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Bronco is part of recall 21V770?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V770 is open on your Bronco, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 Bronco vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Bronco owners do about recall 21V770?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V770000 applies to your Bronco.
- Call a Ford dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Write down when symptoms involving the frontal happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Bronco owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 229 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 7 of them about the air bags.
Since recall 21V770 was reported on October 1, 2021, owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the air bags on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the air bags and were received on or after October 1, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related air bags issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 229 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 7 of them involve the air bags. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Ford Bronco: 229 complaints in total, 7 about the air bags
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Bronco. The contact stated while at a stop light, a Kia vehicle driving at approximately 45-50 MPH rear-ended his vehicle causing him to collide with in vehicle in front on the driver's-side. No air bags were deployed and the rear bumper was detached.
2021 Ford Bronco owner, HI, NHTSA complaint 11640940, filed February 5, 2025
I was going down a dirt road about 20 mph, hit a big pothole in the road and the driver steering wheel airbag went off suddenly, and the car shut off.
2021 Ford Bronco owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11654381, filed April 13, 2025
I have a 2021 ford bronco and the rear shock absorbers are both bad on my car it is dangerous to drive I have taken it to 2 different ford dealerships one in Morgantown wv and one in fairmont wv and was told there was nothing they could do about it.
2021 Ford Bronco owner, WV, NHTSA complaint 11676360, filed July 26, 2025
Can recall 21V770 make my Bronco a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Recall 21V770000 does not automatically make your Bronco a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
An air bag warning light that keeps coming back after a recall repair is worth documenting. Air bag defects are safety defects, and California law can require fewer repair attempts for them.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Bronco been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Bronco recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V770
Did the recall 21V770 fix work?
Since recall 21V770 was reported on October 1, 2021, owners have filed 7 complaints with NHTSA about the air bags on these vehicles. 0 of them (0%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 21V770000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Bronco is part of recall 21V770000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
What if my air bag light stays on after the recall repair?
Go back to the dealer. A warning light that returns means the system may not deploy correctly, and the visit is another repair attempt for a safety defect.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V770000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.