2023 Ford Bronco Sport Antilock Brake Control Module Recall (23V021)
Ford Motor Company · 801 vehicles · Reported January 23, 2023
Ford Motor Company is recalling 801 2023 Ford Bronco Sport vehicles. Valves inside the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) module may have been damaged during manufacturing, causing an internal ABS module leak. A leak inside the ABS module can cause an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel or unexpected movement during an Auto Hold event, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 23V021 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 23V021000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 23S01 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | January 23, 2023 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2023 Ford Bronco Sport |
| Units affected | 801 |
| Component | Service Brakes, Hydraulic > Antilock / Traction Control / Electronic Limited Slip > Control Unit / Module |
| Safety risk | A leak inside the ABS module can cause an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel or unexpected movement during an Auto Hold event, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport in recall 23V021?
Valves inside the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) module may have been damaged during manufacturing, causing an internal ABS module leak.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Bronco Sport vehicles. Valves inside the Anti-lock Brake System (ABS) module may have been damaged during manufacturing, causing an internal ABS module leak.
Is it safe to drive a 2023 Bronco Sport with recall 23V021?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A leak inside the ABS module can cause an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel or unexpected movement during an Auto Hold event, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A leak inside the ABS module can cause an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel or unexpected movement during an Auto Hold event, increasing the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Bronco Sport shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the control unit and module, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 23V021?
Recall 23V021 covers 801 vehicles: 2023 Ford Bronco Sport.
NHTSA lists 801 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Ford | Bronco Sport |
What is the fix for the Bronco Sport antilock brake control module recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the ABS Module, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the ABS Module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 2, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S01.
When was recall 23V021 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 23V021 to NHTSA on January 23, 2023.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| January 23, 2023 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 23V021000. |
| May 2, 2023 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 44 months ago. If your Bronco Sport was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Bronco Sport is part of recall 23V021?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 23V021 is open on your Bronco Sport, it will be listed there.
Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 23V021000 is open on your Bronco Sport, it will be listed there, along with Ford recall number 23S01. You can also ask any Ford dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.
What should Bronco Sport owners do about recall 23V021?
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 23V021000 applies to your Bronco Sport.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Ford dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the control unit and module 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 recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Bronco Sport owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 158 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 10 of them about the brakes.
Since recall 23V021 was reported on January 23, 2023, owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes 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 brakes and were received on or after January 23, 2023, 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 brakes issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 158 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 10 of them involve the brakes. 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.
- 2023 Ford Bronco Sport: 158 complaints in total, 10 about the brakes
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
TSB 23-2308 Moan Noise In The Rear Brakes when vehicle Is Driven In Reverse (R) In Cold Weather And/Or High Humidity (From Ford). Vehicle also has a grinding noise when driving and turning. Brake rotor and pads.
2023 Ford Bronco Sport owner, NE, NHTSA complaint 11650160, filed March 24, 2025
The car in front of the car ahead of me slammed on their breaks so I slammed on mine. The car directly in front of me hit their breaks last but my car never stopped until it hit the car.
2023 Ford Bronco Sport owner, CA, NHTSA complaint 11678401, filed August 5, 2025
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Bronco. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V021000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue.
2023 Ford Bronco Sport owner, MO, NHTSA complaint 11526859, filed June 13, 2023
Can recall 23V021 make my Bronco Sport 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 23V021000 does not automatically make your Bronco Sport 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))?
Brake defects are safety defects. California's lemon law presumption can apply after two repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, when the manufacturer has been notified directly.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2023 Ford Bronco Sport has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
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 Sport been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Bronco Sport recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 23V021
Did the recall 23V021 fix work?
Since recall 23V021 was reported on January 23, 2023, owners have filed 10 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes 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 23V021000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Bronco Sport is part of recall 23V021000?
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.
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.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
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 23V021000 (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.