Are new Ford Bronco reliable?

It’s been more than 25 years since the old-school Bronco ceased production and you can still see many of them driving around. Granted, most of those are modified or restored examples in order to communicate a specific style, era, or even a way of thinking.

All of this leads to thinking that the old Bronco is reliable, which is indeed the case as Ford is known for making cars that do stand the test of time.

The new Bronco recently came into production, but the lineup has now been extended to include various trim levels, types, and engine choices which begs the question: Are new Ford Bronco reliable?

Are new Ford Bronco reliable?

Answering this question correctly requires us to do a deep dive into what the most reputable and transparent reliability sites and organizations say about the new Bronco. The data goes as follows:

• J.D. Power: 77 out of 100 (2022 model)
• Consumer Reports: 30 out 100 (2022 model)
• Edmunds: 4.1 stars out of 5 (2022 model)
• Cars.com: 4.5 stars out of 5 (2022 model)

As you can see, most reputable sites deem the Ford Bronco to be an average to above-average reliable car, except for Consumer Reports which believes your money is better spent elsewhere. All in all, we can easily conclude that a well-maintained Bronco should be able to last a long time without needing any major overhauls.

How To Make The New Ford Bronco More Reliable?

There are a few things you ought to be doing to make the most of your Ford Bronco and we are going to tell you what those are. The most important aspect of your Bronco maintenance schedule is the manufacturer's recommended service intervals.

Ford Bronco Essential Service Intervals

• Make Due Of Your 10,000-mile Service - When buying a new Bronco or acquiring a used one, pay close attention to the first primary service that needs to be done when the car reaches 10,000 miles. This is the bedrock service interval for the new Bronco and it includes a thorough inspection, oil filter replacements, a tire rotation, and a few other minor tweaks and adjustments.
• Make Due Of Your 20,000-mile Service - The 20,000-mile service is as important as the one mentioned above. At this stage, your Ford Bronco is going to get a cabin air filter replacement, a multi-point inspection, and brake system wear. Do keep in mind that this service interval is essential for all of your future maintenance.
• Make Due Of Your 30,000-mile Service - Continuing on the theme, the 30,000-mile service is also essential and it consists of replacing the engine air filter, cooling system inspections, and an inspection.
• Make Due Of Your 50,000-mile Service - At the 50,000-mile mark, experienced Ford technicians are going to inspect your brake pads and replace them if necessary. Furthermore, your transmission fluid is going to be inspected and flushed if necessary.
• Make Due Of Your 60,000-mile Service - The 60,000-mile service is a biggie and it includes checking your tires for wear (replacing them if the thread is less than 2/32 of an inch). The engine and cabin filters will be replaced, and the technician will inspect your heat shields, steering linkage, suspension joints, driveshaft, ball joints, and U-joints.
• Make Due Of Your 100,000-mile Service - If you managed to enjoy a trouble-free Bronco until now, congratulations! Even so, now it’s time to replace your spark plugs and do a thorough multi-point inspection. After reaching 100,000 miles, be sure to continue maintaining your Bronco as outlined in the previous intervals.

Where Should I Maintain My Ford Bronco?

To not void your warranty, it’s best to keep it all in-house and maintain your Bronco at a licensed Ford dealership. There are a vast number of specialists out there that may be more knowledgeable, but tread lightly as voiding your warranty could be an issue.

If your Bronco is out of warranty, you can continue maintaining it at a dealership or a licensed dealer/repair shop. Heavily-modified examples are likely to be out of warranty anyway, so always look for a place that has decent experience working on the Bronco, and one that is reputable enough for you not to worry.

If you know your way around cars, you can also maintain the Bronco yourself, but always be careful about your personal and equipment limitations as DIY maintenance can sometimes do more harm than good.