Ford Bronco Safety Lags

Safety Concerns for Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport

The latest crash test results from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) are in, and they might not sit too well with the folks at Ford. While many vehicles earned the prestigious 2025 Top Safety Pick+ award, the Ford Bronco and Bronco Sport missed the mark. It’s important to mention that these SUVs are by no means unsafe but didn’t meet the institute’s highest criteria. Let’s break down where these two popular vehicles fell short in the safety department.

Safety Pick+ Criteria

To snag a Top Safety Pick+ award, vehicles must meet several tough standards. The IIHS requires good ratings in these crash tests:

• Small overlap front and updated side tests
• Pedestrian front crash prevention test with at least an Acceptable rating
• Headlight ratings of Acceptable or Good across all trims
• Updated moderate overlap front test must score Good for the Safety Pick+ distinction

The IIHS has beefed up its testing over the years, which means a model holding a previous award might not snag it now due to stricter criteria.

Exploring the Bronco

The Bronco has that rugged, safe vibe due to its sturdy build and robust appearance. However, that didn’t translate to a top-tier safety rating. It scored Marginal on the moderate overlap, pedestrian front crash prevention, and headlight tests. The concern mainly stemmed from the moderate overlap test where potential chest injuries were noted for rear passengers. Despite these setbacks, it managed Good ratings in small overlap front, updated side tests, and seat belt reminders.

What’s interesting here is that it performed better than its main rival, the Jeep Wrangler, in older tests. Plus, its vehicle-to-vehicle crash prevention system scored Acceptable, showcasing some positives.

Bronco Sport Details

The Bronco Sport showed some improvements over its larger sibling, especially with its Good rating for headlights, thanks to the LED projector headlights. In pedestrian crash prevention, it notched a Good score, standing out where the Bronco didn’t.

However, the Bronco Sport also fell short in the updated moderate overlap front test, earning a Marginal rating. The rear dummy showed concerning results, with the seatbelt positioning increasing internal injury risks alongside other injury indicators.

Opinions on Safety

Interestingly, smaller vehicles like the Toyota Prius and Hyundai Elantra outperformed these SUVs in safety tests. For example, the Prius stacked up Good scores across the board except for headlights, proving that size isn’t everything when it comes to safety.

Nonetheless, real-world scenarios are unpredictable, and both the Bronco and Bronco Sport come with an array of safety features to potentially manage crashes effectively. There’s room for Ford to step it up in the safety game, considering how competitive the market is getting in this regard.