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TL;DR
- The current Bronco arrived for the 2021 model year as a two-door and a four-door; Ford's own history pages end the original run with the fifth generation of 1992–1996.
- Every Bronco is 4x4. Base, Big Bend and Outer Banks come with a part-time two-speed transfer case; Badlands, Heritage Edition, Stroppe Edition and Raptor get the Advanced 4x4 case with an automatic on-demand mode.
- Front and rear electronic lockers are standard on Badlands, Heritage Edition, Stroppe Edition and Raptor, and come with the Sasquatch Package on other trims.
- Factory tires run from 30 inches (Base) to 37 inches (Raptor); ground clearance runs from 8.3 to 13.1 inches.
- The July 2026 engine-bay wiring recall (NHTSA 26V468) is real: 565,691 Broncos from 2021–2026, fire risk from a harness that can short.
At a Glance
| If your Bronco is a… | What its 4WD does | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|
| Base, Big Bend or Outer Banks | Part-time 4x4 with low range; open differentials unless it has the Sasquatch Package | Dirt roads, snow and moderate trails |
| Badlands | Auto 4x4 mode, front and rear lockers, 33-inch tires | Rocky trails and serious off-road use |
| Heritage Edition or Stroppe Edition | Auto 4x4 mode, both lockers, 35-inch tires | Trail use with factory big tires |
| Raptor | Auto 4x4 mode, both lockers, 37-inch tires, 418 hp | High-speed desert running and hard crawling |
Generations and Model Years
Ford's Bronco history pages split the original SUV into five generations: 1966–1977, 1978–1979, 1980–1986, 1987–1991 and 1992–1996, the last described by Ford as the final generation "for years to come." IIHS records the current Bronco as introduced for the 2021 model year, and its crash ratings for this body run from 2021 through 2026. It is built at Michigan Assembly Plant in Wayne, Michigan, on a fully boxed steel frame with a five-link solid rear axle and independent front suspension.
The 2026 lineup has seven trims: Base, Big Bend, Outer Banks, Badlands, Heritage Edition, Stroppe Edition and Raptor. For 2026 only Base and Badlands are offered as two-doors; the other five are four-door only.
4WD System by Trim (2026)
Ford's 2026 specifications list two transfer cases. The standard one is a two-speed, part-time, electronic shift-on-the-fly unit with planetary gears and a 2.72:1 low range. The optional Advanced 4x4 case adds automatic on-demand engagement through an electromechanical clutch and a deeper 3.06:1 low range. With the 10-speed automatic, those work out to crawl ratios of 57.19:1 and 67.80:1; with the seven-speed manual, 79.92:1 and 94.75:1. Both cases can be flat-towed behind a motorhome, following the owner's manual procedure.
| Trim | Transfer case | Lockers (front/rear) | Front sway-bar disconnect | Factory tire |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base | Part-time; Advanced 4x4 with Sasquatch | Open/open; both lock with Sasquatch | — | 30-inch all-season (35-inch with Sasquatch) |
| Big Bend | Part-time; Advanced 4x4 with Black Diamond or Sasquatch | Rear locker with Black Diamond; both with Sasquatch | — | 32-inch all-terrain |
| Outer Banks | Part-time; Advanced 4x4 with Sasquatch | Both lock with Sasquatch | — | 32-inch on 18-inch wheels |
| Badlands | Advanced 4x4 | Both, standard | Included in Sasquatch Package | 33-inch all-terrain (35-inch with Sasquatch) |
| Heritage Edition | Advanced 4x4 | Both, standard | — | 35-inch rugged-terrain |
| Stroppe Edition | Advanced 4x4 | Both, standard | Standard | 35-inch rugged-terrain |
| Raptor | Advanced 4x4 | Both, standard | Standard | 37-inch all-terrain |
The lockers are Dana Spicer Performa-Trak electronic units in a Dana M210 independent front axle and a Dana 44 M220 solid rear axle; the Raptor uses a Dana 44 front and a heavy-duty Dana 50 rear. Terrain Management with G.O.A.T. Modes gives Base, Big Bend, Outer Banks and Heritage Edition models Normal, Eco, Sport, Slippery and Sand; Badlands, Stroppe Edition and Raptor add Off-Road, Rock Crawl and Baja.
The sway-bar disconnect frees the front stabilizer bar so each front wheel can droop farther over uneven ground. Ford's how-to says it works in 4H or 4L, disconnects automatically below 20 mph in Rock Crawl mode, and reconnects once the Bronco passes 20 mph. Ford rates a Badlands two-door at a Ramp Travel Index of 560 with the bar connected and 700 disconnected; the four-door goes from 500 to 620. Ford's support page lists the disconnect as standard on First Edition and Badlands models of earlier years, so confirm a used Bronco's equipment on its build sheet.
Engines, Clearance, Towing and Payload
| Engine (2026) | Output | Transmission | Max towing | Where you find it |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3L EcoBoost I-4 | 300 hp, 325 lb-ft | 7-speed manual or 10-speed automatic | 3,500 lb | Standard on Base through Heritage Edition |
| 2.7L EcoBoost V6 | 330 hp, 415 lb-ft | 10-speed automatic | 3,500 lb | Standard on Stroppe; optional on Outer Banks, Badlands, Heritage |
| 3.0L EcoBoost V6 | 418 hp, 440 lb-ft | 10-speed automatic | 4,500 lb | Raptor only |
Ford rates horsepower and torque on premium fuel. The manual is a Getrag seven-speed whose extra low first gear serves as a crawler gear, offered only with the 2.3L. Maximum payload in Ford's 2026 weight tables runs from 1,067 lb (Badlands two-door, automatic) to 1,417 lb (Base four-door, manual); the Raptor is rated at 1,155 lb.
Ground clearance and fording depth follow tire size: 8.3 inches on a two-door Base with 30-inch tires, 9.4 inches on 32s, 10.5 inches on a Badlands with 33s, 11.5–11.6 inches with 35s and 13.1 inches on the Raptor's 37s. Ford's maximum water-fording figure is 31.5 inches for most trims, 33.5 inches with the Sasquatch Package and 37.0 inches for the Raptor.
Two-Door vs Four-Door: What Changes for Fitment
The two body styles share the frame design, axles and drivetrains but differ in the dimensions that decide whether a part fits:
| Spec (2026) | Two-door | Four-door |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 100.4 in | 116.1 in |
| Fuel tank | 16.9 gal | 20.8 gal |
| Tops offered | Removable hard top | Removable hard top or soft top |
| Doors (weight) | Two front doors, 62 lb each | Front 55 lb, rear 44 lb |
| Cargo behind 2nd row | 20.6 cu ft | 35.6 cu ft (hard top) |
| Breakover angle (Base, 30-in tires) | 21.3° | 19.6° |
Roof racks, tops, top liners, door bags and rear cargo accessories are specific to the door count. Track width also varies by trim: 65.0 inches on Base, Big Bend, Outer Banks and Badlands, 66.9 inches on Heritage and Stroppe editions and about 73 inches on the Raptor, which changes fender-flare and wheel-offset fitment. Ford rates the hard-top roof at 110 lb while driving and 450 lb parked, but lists the four-door static rating as unavailable on trucks with the 315/70R17 (35-inch) tire.
Recall History (NHTSA)
As of September 2026, NHTSA's recall database returns 50 vehicle recall campaigns that include a 2021–2026 Bronco; many also cover other Ford models. The largest Bronco-specific campaigns:
| NHTSA campaign | Filed | Model years | Problem | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26V468 | Jul 2026 | 2021–2026, incl. Raptor | Engine-compartment wiring harness can be damaged and short, creating heat or spark and a fire risk; dealers add protective sheathing | 565,691 |
| 23V358 | May 2023 | 2021–2023 four-door | First-row seat-belt latch plates hard to reach from their stowed position | 175,550 |
| 25V721 | Oct 2025 | 2021–2023 | Front seat height-adjust pivot bolt can loosen or come out | 163,256 |
| 25V025 | Jan 2025 | 2021–2024 | Rear shocks can corrode until the external reservoir detaches | 149,449 |
| 25V273 | May 2025 | 2022–2023 | 360-degree camera may not show a rear image in reverse | 128,889 |
| 23V155 | Mar 2023 | 2022 Raptor, 2023 Wildtrak | Steering gear damage can lock the wheel; owners told not to drive until repaired | 343 |
Two shared campaigns are also large: 26V124 (849,310 vehicles across 2021–2026 Bronco and 2021–2024 Edge) for an infotainment module that can overheat and drop the rear camera image, and 26V268 (179,698 across 2024–2026 Bronco and Ranger) for the same seat pivot-bolt defect as 25V721. The 26V468 remedy is phased: Ford's filing schedules Raptor owners first and the rest of the Bronco population after them. Enter a VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether a specific Bronco has an open campaign; the tool below lists campaigns by year.
Bronco Owner Pages
- Problems & Maintenance
- Mod Priorities
- Best Lift Kits
- Best Roof Racks
- Best Front Bumpers
- Best Leveling Kits
- How Many Miles Will It Last?
- 5-Year Maintenance Cost
- Ford accessory fitment hub
Check for Open Recalls
Look up open NHTSA recall campaigns for this model by year. This calls NHTSA's free, public recall API directly from your browser — nothing is sent to us.
Choose a year and select “Check Recalls”.
Data from NHTSA's public recall API — this lookup is not the official record and 4x4 & Overlanding is not affiliated with NHTSA. Always confirm current recall status at nhtsa.gov/recalls using your vehicle's VIN before assuming a vehicle has no open recalls.
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Sources
- Ford — 2026 Bronco Technical Specifications — Trims, engines and outputs, transmissions, transfer cases and low-range and crawl ratios, Dana axles and lockers, G.O.A.T. modes, tire sizes by trim, ground clearance, fording depth, RTI, 2-door vs 4-door dimensions, roof load, payload and towing ratings.
- Ford — 2026 Bronco Order Guide — Which trims get Advanced 4x4, front and rear locking axles and the front stabilizer bar disconnect as standard or in the Sasquatch and Black Diamond packages; 2-door/4-door availability by trim.
- Ford — Bronco: How to Disconnect the Front Stabilizer Bar — Disconnect works in 4H/4L, disconnects automatically below 20 mph in Rock Crawl, reconnects above 20 mph; standard on First Edition and Badlands in earlier model years.
- Ford — Bronco History: Generation 1 (1966–1977) — Original Bronco generation dates (1966–1977, 1978–1979, 1980–1986, 1987–1991).
- Ford — Bronco History: Generation 5 (1992–1996) — Fifth generation, 1992–1996, described as the final generation for years to come.
- IIHS — 2021 Ford Bronco 4-door SUV ratings — The Bronco was introduced for the 2021 model year; ratings apply to 2021–2026 models.
- NHTSA — Recall 26V468 — July 2026 engine-compartment wiring harness recall: 2021–2026 Bronco and Bronco Raptor, fire risk, 565,691 units, phased remedy adding sheathing.
- NHTSA — Recall 23V358 — 2021–2023 Bronco four-door seat-belt latch plate access, 175,550 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 25V721 — 2021–2023 Bronco front seat height-adjust pivot bolt, 163,256 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 25V025 — 2021–2024 Bronco rear shock corrosion and reservoir detachment, 149,449 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 25V273 — 2022–2023 Bronco 360-degree camera rear image, 128,889 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 23V155 — 2022 Bronco Raptor and 2023 Wildtrak steering gear, do-not-drive advisory, 343 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 26V124 — 2021–2026 Bronco and 2021–2024 Edge infotainment module overheating and rear camera loss, 849,310 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 26V268 — 2024–2026 Bronco and Ranger front seat pivot bolt, 179,698 units.
- NHTSA — Datasets and APIs (Recalls API) — Recall campaign counts by model year and each campaign's reported number of potentially affected units, retrieved September 28, 2026.
- NHTSA — Recalls lookup by VIN — VIN lookup for open recall campaigns on a specific vehicle.