Last updated: 2026-10-10

Ford Bronco vs Toyota Highlander: Reliability Compared

Ford Bronco reliability comparison

Ford Bronco

52
MixedReliability score: 52 out of 100, rated Mixed
VS
More ReliableToyota Highlander reliability comparison

Toyota Highlander

73
GoodReliability score: 73 out of 100, rated Good

On reliability, the Toyota Highlander beats the Ford Bronco by a wide margin. Owners filed 29.4 complaints per 10,000 Broncos sold, versus 5.8. The Bronco also has more recalls and costs more to keep running.

How Do the Ford Bronco and Toyota Highlander Generations Compare?

A short track record defines the current Bronco. It sits in its sixth generation, which the data lists for 2021 through 2023, and a 2023 update added the Raptor trim. Earlier Broncos belong to generations from 1966 to 1996, so any 2021 or later model is part of the new design. For the Highlander, the fourth generation started in 2020 and runs through 2026. The 2018 and 2019 years belong to the third generation, which ended in 2019. A fifth generation is listed for 2027, so 2026 is the last year of the fourth-generation design.

Verdict

The Toyota Highlander is more reliable than the Ford Bronco, scoring 73/100 vs 52/100.

Reliability favors the Toyota Highlander by a large gap. Its standing is good, while the Bronco's is mixed. The deciding fact is how often owners complain: far more Bronco owners per vehicle sold report problems, and the Bronco carries about twice as many recalls, spread over fewer model years. The Highlander has real weak spots, including transmission failures and bumper covers that detach. Even so, its problems show up less often and cost less to fix. The Bronco's fire reports, battery failures and early water pump leaks make it the riskier used purchase.

Key Differences

  1. 1Toyota Highlander costs $295 less per year to repair
  2. 2Toyota Highlander has 60 fewer total recalls
  3. 3Toyota Highlander has 23.6 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

0Ford Bronco
—
5Toyota Highlander
Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencySafety Rating

Ford Bronco vs Toyota Highlander: Which Is More Reliable?

Ford Bronco vs Toyota Highlander at-a-glance reliability comparison
MetricFord BroncoToyota Highlander
Reliability Score52/10073/100
Years Tracked69
Total Recalls12666
Complaints per 10k Sold29.45.8
Annual Repair Cost$784/yr$489/yr
Repair Frequency0.4/yr0.3/yr
Safety RatingNHTSA overall
2026 NHTSA
2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins06

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

Fire and sudden loss of power mark the worst Bronco reports. Engine compartment fires appear under both electrical and engine complaints, and some vehicles lose the dash and lights at highway speed. Wipers that slow down on their own in rain and water pumps that leak repeatedly add to the list. The Highlander's biggest issue is a whining transmission that fails after the warranty ends. Its most serious pattern is different: front impacts where the air bags did not deploy, with 41 crash-linked complaints. The Bronco's list has no air bag category. Bumper covers that detach at speed also set the Highlander apart.

Ford Bronco vs Toyota Highlander common problem areas comparison
ComponentFord BroncoToyota Highlander
POWER TRAIN4.2Average1.5Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM5Average0.4Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES3Low0.5Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER2.3Low0.8Very Low
ENGINE2.6Low0.2Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER2.5Low—None
FUEL SYSTEM1.8Low0.1Very Low
SUSPENSION1.3Low—None
AIR BAGS0.4Very Low0.5Very Low
STEERING0.7Very Low0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE0.1Very Low0.5Very Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING0.3Very Low—None
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM—None0.3Very Low
VISIBILITY0.2Very Low—None
SEAT BELTS0.2Very Low—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION0.1Very Low—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING0.1Very Low—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL—None0.1Very Low
TIRES—None—None

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

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Ford Bronco or Toyota Highlander?

Repair costs run higher on the Bronco, at an estimated $784 a year against $489 for the Highlander. That is $295 more each year, or roughly $1,475 over five years. Bronco owners also make about 0.4 unscheduled shop visits a year, versus 0.3 for the Highlander. The data gives a 13% chance that a Highlander repair is major. It gives no matching figure for the Bronco, so that comparison cannot be made.

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

Ford Bronco vs Toyota Highlander year-by-year reliability scores
YearFord BroncoToyota HighlanderEdge
202659/1002R / 0C84/1000R / 0CToyota Highlander
202561/10016R / 30C76/1008R / 40CToyota Highlander
202458/10018R / 104C67/10016R / 198CToyota Highlander
202350/10027R / 295C73/10013R / 140CToyota Highlander
202243/10032R / 576C74/1007R / 186CToyota Highlander
202141/10031R / 798C70/1006R / 403CToyota Highlander

Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Ford Bronco scored 58/100 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 vs the Toyota Highlander?

Pick the Highlander if you want the lower-risk used SUV for daily driving and family hauling. Its complaint rate is far lower and its repair costs are lower. Target a 2025 or 2026 for the best standing, but know those years have had less time to collect complaints. Be careful with 2024 and 2021, the weakest years. On any Highlander, ask whether the front bumper cover recall repair is done, and listen for a transmission whine during a test drive. Pick the Bronco only if off-road style matters more to you than low risk, and you accept the odds. Skip 2021 and 2022, its weakest years. A 2025 or 2026 rates best, but that partly reflects less time on the road. Before buying, ask for proof of completed recall work, check the battery and electrical history, and look for water pump leaks. Add a warranty if you can, since transmission quotes of $10,000 to $13,000 appear in owner reports.

Ford Bronco vs Toyota Highlander: Common Questions

Is the Ford Bronco more reliable than the Toyota Highlander?
No. The Highlander is clearly more reliable, with a good standing against the Bronco's mixed one. Owners filed 5.8 complaints per 10,000 Highlanders sold, versus 29.4 for the Bronco. The Bronco also costs more to repair and has more recalls.
Which has more recalls, the Bronco or the Highlander?
The Bronco has more. Federal recall records show 126 across its six model years, while the Highlander has 66 across nine model years. The Bronco's recalls are packed into a much shorter span, which points to more frequent issues per model year.
Which costs less to repair, the Bronco or the Highlander?
The Highlander costs less. Independent repair-cost data puts it at about $489 a year, against $784 for the Bronco. Over five years that gap comes to roughly $1,475. The Highlander also needs fewer unscheduled shop visits, at 0.3 a year versus 0.4.
What is the biggest problem with the Toyota Highlander?
The power train leads, with 485 complaints. A high-pitched whine under acceleration grows louder until the transmission fails, usually just past 60,000 miles. Dealers quote $8,500 to $10,000 for the replacement, and some owners wait months for a backordered unit.
Do Ford Broncos have fire problems?
Some do. Owner complaints include engine compartment fires, one at 900 miles and one in a parked vehicle with no warning. Engine reports also cite smoke from under the hood, fuel odor and a cracked fuel injector recall. Fire reports are few next to total complaints, but they are the most serious ones.

Related Reliability Comparisons

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How we score the Ford Bronco 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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