I’m a Ford Bronco Sport Owner, and I’m On My Way to My Fifth Water Pump - How Owners Are Struggling With a Long-Running Engine Defect On One of Ford’s Most Popular Models

The Ford Bronco Sport is a very popular small SUV with incredible capabilities. It has been one of Ford’s biggest new model success stories of the past decade, winning over new customers - like myself - and bringing in conquest customers by the thousands. My own Ford Bronco Sport Badlands is the first Ford in my family. However, this smash-hit of a vehicle’s reputation has been marred by an ongoing problem that Ford just can’t seem to resolve. Frequent water pump failures. 

Related Story: Will These Five Issues Tarnish the Ford Bronco Sport’s Reputation?

Ford Bronco Sport Water Pump Failures - Is It Just One of the Two Engines?
Ford sells dramatically more Bronco Sports with its base 1.-5-liter, three-cylinder, turbocharged engine. There are numerous trims with that small engine. There is an optional larger engine, a 2.0-liter four-cylinder EcoBoost engine. It is primarily found in the top-trim Badlands. However, it also appeared in two other trims, including the First Edition. 

Torque News polled owners in a popular Facebook group to see if the water pump failures in the Ford Bronco Sport were limited to one engine or the other. Subjectively, it seems like more owners report the failure in the base, 1.5-liter engine. Our polling showed that this seems to be supported by some data. However, with fewer Badlands trims being sold, it is hard to know if the difference is simply being reflected by the greater volume of the 1.5. We do have reports from a couple of Badlands (2.0) owners that they also had a failure. 

Related Topic: I Own a Ford Bronco Sport Badlands and Just Tested a Bronco Sport With the Base 1.5-liter Cylinder Engine - You May Find My Opinions On the Base Engine to Be Rude

How Bad Is the Water Pump Failure In the Ford Bronco Sport?
We turned to three of Facebook's largest Ford Bronco Sport groups and clubs to see how many owners reported not just one failure of their water pump, but multiple failures. This means that Ford had a chance to fix the problem, did so, and then it happened more than once. Multiple failures are an indication that the problem has not been resolved by modifying the water pump design and assigning a replacement part intended to end the issue.

JK has reported five water pumps and is thus our “champion.” However, JK has a lot of company. Here are comments posted by owners who suffered multiple failures:

• MG - Just got the Bronco Sport back about four weeks ago now after being at the dealer for its third water pump replacement.
• BA - Dropped my 2021 Big Bend off at the dealership today for its fourth water pump.
• SM - 2021 Bronco Sport Big Bend 50k miles. Third water pump.
• ES - 20,000km for first water pump and crank seal. Second water pump at 36,000kms and a major oil leak (unknown cause yet) at 43,200kms.
• AM - 22 BSBB Original Owner. Replaced the water pump on 4/24 at 26k miles. Replacing again 11/24 at 34k miles.
• ES - My 22 BS is in the shop again for its second water pump now.
• RG - It looks like I’ll be getting my second replacement water pump. I have to keep adding coolant.
• JS - Well, my water pump went to water pump heaven or wherever they go, for the second time. I got 63K on the first one but not even 40k on this one.
• PW - Just had my second water pump go. First was about 10,000 miles ago. 22’ outer banks with almost 38,000 miles.
• CC - Had the water pump replaced last month. Now, the engine coolant is overheating again. I love this car, but if they can’t get this fixed, I’m gonna have to move on.

How Long Do Ford Bronco Sport Water Pumps Last?
As you can see, many owners report the longevity of their Ford Bronco Sport water pumps. Many last a long time. However, some fail extremely early in the life of the vehicle. Here are some examples:

1. AA - 2023 Outer Banks. Water pump replacement is leaking at just 5K miles.
2. SSB - Well today was my turn!  My 2023 BS Big Bend with 16,000 miles needed a new water pump!
3. GL - First water pump. Only 17,000 miles. 1.5-liter engine. Ridiculous.

What Symptoms Are Associated with Ford Bronco Sport Water Pump Failures?
Before a Ford Bronco Sport engine water pump fails, there are sometimes symptoms. If you ever see greenish-yellow fluid under your vehicle, that is likely coolant, and it may be leaking from the water pump housing seal. You should have the vehicle inspected quickly by your local dealer. 

There is a coolant reservoir under the hood in the engine bay. It is shown in the image above. Look for the maximum and minimum markings on the side, and ensure the fluid is above min. This level will rise and fall depending on the engine temperature. If the coolant tank is empty, or below the Min marking, have your vehicle inspected quickly. 

Some owners reported that they saw coolant in the engine bay outside of the coolant tank on surfaces and other parts. That is a bad sign. Have the vehicle inspected. 

In the gauge area of your Ford Bronco Sport, there is a temperature indicator. If it rises abnormally (Mine is usually at three or four bars) it is a bad sign. If you get a check engine light or an overheating warning, stop your car and have it towed. Never drive an overheated engine as it can destroy it

What Associated Problems Do Water Pump Failures Cause
Multiple owners have reported that they had mechanical failures caused by the failure of their Ford Bronco Sport water pump. One owner reported the starter failed. Another owner reported that the overheating resulted in the need for a new engine. 

Are Ford Bronco Sport Water Pump Failures Covered Under Warranty?
Yes, most failures are covered under the warranty. If you have a failure, and end up paying the dealer out of pocket, save your paperwork. We suspect there will be a reimbursement program in the future. 

How Can I Protect Myself From Ford Bronco Sport Water Pump Failures? 
Ford Protect is an option. It is an extended warranty (technically a service contract) you can buy from Ford. This will protect you beyond the 5-year 60K powertrain warranty. 

As you can see, the water pumps in the Ford Bronco Sport often fail and sometimes fail very early in the vehicle’s lifespan. To make matters worse, the replacement water pumps also fail. In multiple cases, owners have reported needing not one, not two, but more than two replacements. 
 - Have you had a Ford Bronco Sport water pump failure? 
 - Tell us about it in the comments below. What do you think of this problem?

Image of Ford Bronco Sport by John Goreham. Image of Facebook poll by John Goreham courtesy of Facebook.

John Goreham is a credentialed New England Motor Press Association member and expert vehicle tester. John completed an engineering program with a focus on electric vehicles, followed by two decades of work in high-tech, biopharma, and the automotive supply chain before becoming a news contributor. He is a member of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE int). In addition to his eleven years of work at Torque News, John has published thousands of articles and reviews at American news outlets. He is known for offering unfiltered opinions on vehicle topics. You can connect with John on Linkedin and follow his work on his personal X channel or on our X channel. Please note that stories carrying John's by-line are never AI-generated, but he does employ grammar and punctuation software when proofreading and he also uses image generation tools.