How to remote start Ford Bronco Sport with key fob or mobile device

Ford Bronco Sport supports remote start feature that allows you to remotely start the engine of your vehicle for the purpose of cooling or preheating the interior before the passengers gets to it.

Ford Bronco Sport – (photo by Ford)

The remote start feature on Ford Bronco Sport has many benefits. You can start your vehicle in advance when the weather is too hot or cold outside. The system turns on the air conditioning or heating, making inside cabin temperature more tolerable when you get to your vehicle.


Before you start your Bronco Sport remotely, ensure that the vehicle is parked in a well ventilated area. Starting your vehicle in an enclosed space, like a garage, introduces risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Enable remote start in Bronco Sport

Remote start feature must be enabled in the infotainment system settings of your Ford Bronco Sport before you can use it.

  1. Press Settings on the touchscreen.
  2. Press Vehicle Settings.
  3. Press Remote Start Setup.
  4. Switch Activate Remote Start on.

Remote start procedure for Bronco Sport

You can remotely start your Ford Bronco Sport easily by following these simple steps:

  1. Press the lock button on the key fob of your Bronco Sport.
  2. Within three seconds, press the remote start button twice on the key fob.
  3. The turn signal lights flash twice and then the engine starts.
  4. Once started remotely, the engine will run for a maximum of 15 minutes and then shut off.

The parking lamps turn on when the engine is running. The horn sounds if the system fails to start. All other vehicle systems remain off when you have remotely started the engine. The vehicle remains secured when you have remotely started the engine. A valid key must be inside your vehicle to switch the ignition on and drive your vehicle.

Note: You can also use the FordPass app to start the engine.

Remotely stop Bronco Sport’s engine

You can remotely stop the engine of your Bronco Sport by pressing the remote start button once on the key fob. This only works if the engine is running after a remote start.


Note: You can also use the FordPass app to stop the engine.

Extend engine running time

After you have remote started your Ford Bronco Sport, press the lock button on the key fob and then press the remote start button two times with the vehicle still running to extend the run time for another remote start period. If you have the duration set to 15 minutes, the duration extends by another 15 minutes. For example, if the vehicle has run from the first remote start for five minutes, the vehicle continues to run now for a total of 30 minutes. You can extend the remote start up to a maximum of 30 minutes on Bronco Sport.

Remote start system not working on Ford Bronco Sport

If the engine on your Bronco Sport does not start when you perform the remote starting procedure, it can be due to a number of reasons:

  • Your vehicle is low on fuel.
  • The hood on your Bronco Sport is not fully closed.
  • One or more of the vehicle doors are open, make sure they are securely closed.
  • The transmission is not in park mode (P).
  • The 12v battery voltage has gone too low.
  • The service engine light is turned on in the instrument cluster.
  • Your Ford Bronco Sport may not have the remote start feature. Get your vehicle checked by an authorized dealer to confirm if it is equipped with a remote start system.

Remote start remote control indicators

An LED on the remote control of your Bronco Sport provides status feedback of remote start or stop commands.

  • Solid green: Remote start successful.
  • Solid red: Remote stop successful.
  • Blinking red: Request failed or status not received.
  • Blinking green: Status incomplete.

Remote start settings

Switching Climate Control Auto Mode On and Off

  1. Press Settings on the touchscreen.
  2. Select Vehicle.
  3. Press Remote Start Setup.
  4. Press Climate Control.
  5. Switch Auto on or off.

If you switch the auto mode on, the system attempts to heat or cool the interior of Bronco Sport to 72°F (22°C). When you switch the ignition on, the climate control system returns to the last used settings.

Switching Climate Control Last Settings On and Off

  1. Press Settings on the touchscreen.
  2. Press Vehicle Settings.
  3. Press Remote Start Setup.
  4. Press Climate Control.
  5. Switch Last settings on or off.

If you switch the last settings on, the system remembers the last used settings.

Switching the Heated Seats and Steering Wheel Settings On and Off (If Equipped)

  1. Press Settings on the touchscreen.
  2. Press Vehicle Settings.
  3. Press Remote Start Setup.
  4. Press Seats and Steering Wheel.
  5. Switch Auto on or off.

If you switch the heated seats and steering wheel settings on, the heated seats and steering wheel turns on during cold weather.

Setting the Remote Start Duration

  1. Press Settings on the touchscreen.
  2. Press Vehicle Settings.
  3. Press Remote Start Setup.
  4. Press Duration.
  5. Choose 5 Minutes, 10 Minutes or 15 Minutes.

Note: Wait a few seconds before remotely starting the vehicle after the vehicle stops running.


Engine idling law

There are laws against car idling with no passenger or driver inside in many states to protect the environment. It does not mean its completely illegal to use remote start, some states have time limit on how long you can keep the engine running. So check with your local state laws before using the remote start feature on your Ford Bronco Sport.

Video Demonstration

Watch this video to see how to remotely start Ford Bronco Sport.

Video: remote start settings

Watch this video to see how to remotely start Ford vehicles and adjust its settings.

Remote start Ford Bronco Sport with a mobile device

You can remotely start your Ford Bronco Sport with your Apple or Android mobile device by following these simple steps:

  1. Download FordPass app from Google Play or App Store on your mobile device.
  2. Open the app and accept any terms and conditions that may appear.
  3. Login to your Ford Owner account or create one by pressing the Create Account button.
  4. Add and activate your Ford Bronco Sport in the FordPass app.
  5. Start your vehicle and confirm the prompt to complete the pairing process.
  6. Now press and hold the Start Engine button on the home screen of FordPass app.
  7. The turn signal lights flash twice and the engine starts.
  8. Once started remotely, the engine will run for up to 15 minutes, depending on setting, and then shut off.

Video: Setting up FordPass app

Watch this video to see how to set up FordPass app.
Author: Nabeel K
Email: nabeel@wheelsjoint.com



4 thoughts on “How to remote start Ford Bronco Sport with key fob or mobile device

  1. Mick Reply

    My Ford Bronc Sport 2022 Big Bend does Not have remote start feature on the key fob, but I can remote start from my Iphone FordPass App. I find it strange Ford does not offer remote start from the fob (Big Bend), but allows remote start from FordPass.

    • Zach Reply

      How did you get past the “vehicle activation” part? When I hit activate vehicle from the app and go to my car, I don’t see any prompts on the screen. Looked in settings and the remote start option is set to on, so I know it has the feature. I feel ya about the key though. I only got one as well.

    • Tami J Miller Reply

      Thanks for this, I was wondering the same thing. I try not to use data on my Android phone, but have to if I’m somewhere that I don’t have wifi! Dumb move on Fords part!!

  2. Daniel Koutis Reply

    So from what I gather from the gentleman in the video the badlands is supposed to have auto start on your remote apparently Ford dealers are fucking their customers and giving them cheaper remotes Way to go Ford keep fucking people after we build you out.