Ford is recalling more than 229,000 Bronco Sport SUVs after discovering a defect in the digital instrument cluster that can intermittently wipe out critical driving information. Owners have reported sudden loss of the speedometer, warning lights, and gear indicators — a failure federal regulators warn can sharply increase crash risk because drivers momentarily lose access to basic, federally required data while the vehicle is in motion. The recall applies to specific 2022–2024 Bronco Sport models with the affected display hardware and software.

At the center of the recall is a glitch that can cause the all-digital cluster to go blank, freeze, or reboot, turning the dashboard into a momentary blackout and leaving the driver without essential information. NHTSA labeled the problem a safety defect because a dark or frozen display can prevent drivers from seeing speed, ABS warnings, engine alerts, and gear position — all of which must remain visible at all times under federal safety standards. It’s another example of how a single software error in a modern car can escalate into a large-scale safety campaign.

What Ford’s Bronco Sport Recall Actually Covers

According to Ford’s filing with NHTSA, the recall covers 229,000-plus 2022–2024 Bronco Sport SUVs equipped with the specific digital instrument cluster software that can shut off or lock up while driving. When the failure occurs, the display may flicker, turn completely black, or reboot without warning. Drivers may temporarily lose their view of the speedometer, turn-signal indicators, high-beam status, and warning lights — information federal law requires to be visible at all times. The defect has occurred during normal driving conditions, which is why Ford widened the recall to include more than 229,000 vehicles rather than a small subset.

Why a Dark Digital Cluster Is a Serious Safety Hazard

A digital instrument cluster isn’t just a convenience feature — it’s the primary channel through which a driver receives real-time information about vehicle status. When that interface goes dark, even briefly, a driver may be unaware of their speed, new warning messages, or whether key systems like stability control or ABS are active. Regulators explicitly linked the Bronco Sport’s blank-screen condition to increased crash risk, noting that the failure can occur without warning. The situation highlights the growing downside of digital consolidation: one glitch can knock out a half-dozen federally required indicators at once.

What Ford and Regulators Say Owners Should Do Next

Ford told regulators it will contact all affected Bronco Sport owners and instruct dealers to install an updated version of the cluster software. The fix will be provided free of charge and is designed to prevent the display from shutting off or rebooting while the vehicle is in motion. The recall will appear under a designated Ford campaign number that matches the official NHTSA filing, and owners will receive an official notice by mail.

Until the software update is performed, regulators advise Bronco Sport drivers to monitor the digital panel for flickering, frozen screens, or momentary blackouts. Owners should verify their contact information with Ford so the recall notice reaches them promptly and schedule service as soon as a dealer appointment becomes available.

Why Digital Dashboard Failures Keep Triggering Recalls

This recall is part of a broader trend in which digital instrument clusters and software-heavy dashboards have become a recurring weak point for automakers. As more safety-critical indicators are moved into a single electronic display, the consequences of a software bug grow significantly. A failure that once would have affected a single light bulb can now erase the entire interface at once. Regulators have made it clear that blank or malfunctioning digital clusters will be treated as serious safety hazards, not minor software annoyances, especially when they affect hundreds of thousands of vehicles across multiple model years.

What Bronco Sport Owners Should Do to Stay Safe

Bronco Sport owners should treat this recall as a safety priority. The defect involves losing access to required information — not optional features — and can occur without warning. Drivers should check their vehicle identification number in the NHTSA recall lookup tool, watch for the official notice from Ford, and schedule the free software update promptly. Until then, owners should remain alert for any unusual cluster behavior and allow extra margin on the road if the display appears unstable.

Modern SUVs, even rugged ones like the Bronco Sport, now rely heavily on complex digital systems. Staying current on recall notices is one of the simplest and most effective ways to manage the risks that come with increasingly software-dependent dashboards.

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*Created with AI assistance and editor review.