No tools needed, just the buttons on the steering wheel. Resetting the oil life on a Ford Bronco takes under a minute once the oil is changed.
In This Guide
Step 1: Ignition On, Engine Off
Press the Start/Stop button once without touching the brake pedal. This turns the electronics and instrument cluster on without starting the engine, which is the state the menu system needs to be in for this reset.
Step 2: Open the Menu
Press the Menu button on the steering wheel to bring up the main menu on the instrument cluster display.
Step 3: Go to Settings, Then Oil Life
Use the arrow buttons on the steering wheel to scroll down to Settings and press OK. From the Settings menu, scroll down to Oil Life and press OK again. The current oil life percentage displays on the cluster.
Step 4: Hold OK to Reset
With the oil life percentage on screen, press and hold the OK button. The number resets to 100% while the button is held.
Step 5: Verify the Reset
Turn the ignition off, then start the engine normally. The cluster should show 100% oil life, confirming the reset went through. If it still shows the old number, repeat the steps from the beginning.
What Happens If You Skip This
The oil life monitor keeps counting down from wherever it was left, regardless of whether the oil was changed. Skipping the reset after an oil change means the dashboard eventually flags a service that's already been done, or worse, the percentage looks fine when the oil underneath is well past due. The monitor tracks what it's told, not what's physically in the engine.
FAQ
How do I reset the oil life on a Ford Bronco?
Turn the ignition on without starting the engine, press Menu on the steering wheel, scroll to Settings then Oil Life, and press and hold OK until it resets to 100%.
Does the engine need to be running to reset the oil life?
No. The ignition should be on but the engine off, which happens by pressing the Start/Stop button once without pressing the brake pedal.
How do I know the reset worked?
Turn the ignition off, then start the engine again. The instrument cluster should display 100% oil life if the reset was successful.
What happens if I forget to reset the oil life after a change?
The monitor keeps counting down from before the change instead of restarting, which can trigger a reminder too early or, if reset incorrectly, mask when the oil next needs changing.
Is this the same procedure on the Bronco Sport?
The menu structure is similar, but the full-size Bronco and Bronco Sport are separate vehicles, so confirming the exact steps for the specific model is worth doing if something doesn't match.
Need to know what oil goes in first? See our guide on what oil a Ford Bronco takes, and the full maintenance schedule for every interval.
About This Quick Read
This was put together by the team at Bronco Forge. We sell aftermarket parts exclusively for the Ford Bronco and reference documented owner procedures when writing about maintenance. Questions about fitment or anything Bronco-related? Reach out at contact@broncoforge.com or (909) 772-8050.
