Last updated: 2026-10-10

Ford Bronco Sport vs Toyota Highlander: Reliability Compared

Ford Bronco Sport reliability comparison

Ford Bronco Sport

67
GoodReliability score: 67 out of 100, rated Good
VS
More ReliableToyota Highlander reliability comparison

Toyota Highlander

73
GoodReliability score: 73 out of 100, rated Good

The Toyota Highlander beats the Ford Bronco-Sport on reliability, with far fewer owner complaints per vehicle sold. Both earn a good standing. Highlander owners filed 5.8 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 17.3 for the Bronco-Sport, though the Highlander carries the heavier crash-linked air bag record.

How Do the Ford Bronco Sport and Toyota Highlander Generations Compare?

A 2026 model is the last of the fourth-generation Highlander, the XU70, which covers US model years 2020 through 2026. The fifth generation, the XU80, arrives with the 2027 model year. The 2018 and 2019 cars belong to the older third generation, which ran 2014 to 2019 and received a refresh for 2017. The Bronco-Sport has had a single generation so far, the CX430, listed from 2021 to 2023. Ford made model year updates in 2022 and 2023, so shoppers comparing years within that run are looking at the same basic design.

Verdict

The Toyota Highlander is more reliable than the Ford Bronco Sport, scoring 73/100 vs 67/100.

The clear edge goes to the Toyota Highlander. Owners filed about a third as many complaints per vehicle sold, and its worst failure, a transmission that gives out after the warranty, is one problem rather than a spread of them. The Bronco-Sport also stands in good territory, but its complaints scatter across stalling, harsh shifting, fuel smell and brake faults. The Highlander's real blemish is air bag non-deployment in front crashes, which keeps its lead from being total.

Key Differences

  1. 1Toyota Highlander has 11.5 fewer complaints per 10k sold
  2. 2Ford Bronco Sport has 9 fewer total recalls
  3. 3Toyota Highlander scores 6 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

1Ford Bronco Sport
—
2Toyota Highlander
Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateSafety Rating

Ford Bronco Sport vs Toyota Highlander: Which Is More Reliable?

Ford Bronco Sport vs Toyota Highlander at-a-glance reliability comparison
MetricFord Bronco SportToyota Highlander
Reliability Score67/10073/100
Years Tracked69
Total Recalls5766
Complaints per 10k Sold17.35.8
Safety RatingNHTSA overall
2026 NHTSA
2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins15

What Are the Common Problems With the Ford Bronco Sport and Toyota Highlander?

Different failures define each one. Highlander owners describe a rising whine under acceleration that ends in transmission replacement, a forward surge while slowing at 20 to 25 mph, and a front bumper cover that detaches at highway speed. Its air bag complaints include front impacts with no deployment, and that area has 41 crash-linked reports. Bronco-Sport owners report stalling, lost acceleration, harsh first-to-third shifts, and gasoline fumes in the cabin. Many fuel complaints come from owners waiting on recall parts. Its top five areas include no air bag or structure cluster with crash links.

Ford Bronco Sport vs Toyota Highlander common problem areas comparison
ComponentFord Bronco SportToyota Highlander
POWER TRAIN3.3Average1.5Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3.6Average0.4Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES2.1Low0.5Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM1.7Low0.1Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER0.8Very Low0.8Very Low
ENGINE1.3Low0.2Very Low
AIR BAGS0.2Very Low0.5Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM0.3Very Low0.3Very Low
STRUCTURE—None0.5Very Low
STEERING0.2Very Low0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY0.3Very Low—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING0.3Very Low—None
SUSPENSION0.3Very Low—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL0.1Very Low0.1Very Low
TIRES0.1Very Low—None
SEAT BELTS0.1Very Low—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER0.1Very Low—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION—None—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING—None—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

How Does Ford Bronco Sport vs Toyota Highlander Reliability Compare by Year?

Ford Bronco Sport vs Toyota Highlander year-by-year reliability scores
YearFord Bronco SportToyota HighlanderEdge
202677/1002R / 0C84/1000R / 0CToyota Highlander
202573/1006R / 14C76/1008R / 40CToyota Highlander
202472/1007R / 66C67/10016R / 198CFord Bronco Sport
202367/10013R / 114C73/10013R / 140CToyota Highlander
202259/10014R / 303C74/1007R / 186CToyota Highlander
202154/10015R / 622C70/1006R / 403CToyota Highlander

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Ford Bronco Sport scored 72/100 and the 2022 Toyota Highlander scored 74/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Ford Bronco Sport vs the Toyota Highlander?

Choose the Highlander if you want the lower complaint rate and the cheaper, steadier ownership picture: about $489 a year in repairs and 0.3 unscheduled shop visits. Aim for 2025 or 2026, but remember those years have had less time to collect complaints. Avoid 2024 and 2021, the weakest years. Before buying, check the transmission history on anything near 60,000 miles and confirm the bumper cover recall work on recall 23V720000 was completed. Choose the Bronco-Sport only if you prefer its package and can accept more risk of stalling, battery warnings and harsh low-speed shifting. Skip 2021 and 2022, its weakest years, and treat 2025 and 2026 as promising but young. Ask the seller for proof that every recall repair is done, since owners describe waiting on fuel, brake and injector parts. If a front-impact air bag record worries you, the Bronco-Sport's complaint list does not show that pattern.

Ford Bronco Sport vs Toyota Highlander: Common Questions

Is the Toyota Highlander more reliable than the Ford Bronco-Sport?
Yes, by a clear margin. Owners filed 5.8 complaints per 10,000 Highlanders sold versus 17.3 for the Bronco-Sport. Both hold a good standing. The Highlander's main risk is a transmission failure past warranty, while Bronco-Sport owners report stalling, harsh shifting and fuel smell.
Which has more recalls, the Highlander or the Bronco-Sport?
The Highlander has more in total, with 66 across nine model years, against 57 across six for the Bronco-Sport. The Highlander has simply been sold for three more model years in this data. What matters is whether the repair was done and parts were available.
Which costs less to repair?
Only the Highlander has repair-cost data here, so a direct dollar comparison is not possible. It averages about $489 a year, 0.3 unscheduled shop visits, and a 13% chance that a repair is major. Ask a shop for quotes on any Bronco-Sport you consider.
What is the biggest Highlander problem to watch for?
The transmission. Owners describe a high-pitched whine under acceleration that grows until the unit fails. Reports cluster just past the 60,000-mile warranty, and dealers quoted $8,500 to $10,000 for replacement. Some owners then waited months for a backordered transmission.
Is the gas smell in the Bronco-Sport a real problem?
Owners do report it. A strong gasoline smell comes through the vents, sometimes enough to cause nausea, and two filings describe fires. Most fuel complaints, though, come from owners waiting on a recall repair with no parts available. Check that the recall work is complete before buying.

Related Reliability Comparisons

Decided between Ford Bronco Sport and Toyota Highlander? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Ford Bronco Sport and Toyota Highlander

Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.

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