Ford will ship Broncos without chips controlling non-safety critical features

[Winger57]

Im sorry I see a lot of defects being created when the dealer techs try to install all these missing components! Ive been around a lot of thus just get it done out the door and we’ll tear it apart again later to finish it attitude. It never turns iut well! When you’ve got a group on the assembly line that does that job over and over you learn the tricks to get it together of course in the proper order. Whats the warranty going to look like on these almost complete deliveries?

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[biswamberpal]

Bad news gets released on Fridays, really bad news gets released on weekends. However, depending on your point of view, such as ICE Mountain, you may see this as good news.

Article link: Ford will ship and sell vehicles without chips controlling non-safety critical features

Ford executives told dealers the company would provide the missing parts for dealers to install within one year.​

​

Vehicles will be Drivable and Sellable​

Most recently, what appeared to be hundreds if not thousands of Broncos were piling up in Michigan. Ford said the backlog was chip-related.​

This information came of the National Auto Dealers Association Show in Las Vegas on Saturday, where Ford executives, including Andrew Frick, general manager for sales, distribution and trucks for Ford Blue spoke during a meeting of the company’s franchised dealers. The source of the information is Automotive News, one of the automotive industries leading news sources, not "my dealer said".

I've been advised that due to Automotive News being a pay-wall publication we are not allowed to repost their articles in its entirety so I've summarized the main points above. I discovered the article through this Google News link where it was not blocked.

Two other news websites have picked up the article now as well.

The Ford Broncos Piling Up at Ice Mountain Will Get to Customers, But There's a Catch

Report: Ford to sell cars without some non-safety related chips, install them later

this is a different world, tomorrow be prepared to hear from auto makers, we have shortages of wheels, so selling without wheels, those who opt for no wheels get higher priority vs those who opt for all 4 wheels, hold on, there is an offer for you......, take 2 wheels now and install remaining 2 later at 50% cost....

 

[IXxMcCoyxXl]

How about analog gauges and mechanical parking brakes? That’s gotta save some chips. A lot of this “safety stuff” is not needed either. It’s just there to dumb down the driving experience and appease insurance companies and bored bureaucrats.

you’re right.

 

[Trino351c]

Yes, I’ll take it. 607 days since reserving, 412 days since initial order, has been long enough. Fortunately my local ford dealer is great and will be more than capable of installing the parts. Send me my Bronco please.

 

[Bronco cat]

I could see this getting ugly as the selling dealer may not be same as the servicing dealer.
It's going to take coordination to get the parts to right dealers.
Dealers that didn't sell the vehicle may not want to do the service.

The dealer doesn’t have a choice to do the work or not. Unless they opted out of the program.

 

[Lifeliberty]

There are three types of people in this current situation:

1. Ship it. I want it right away and don’t care what it’s missing.
2. Don’t ship it because Ford can’t finish what it starts and if they can’t give me an unrealistic discount, it’s not worth it anymore.
3. And me. Not getting excited because I am certain mine is a safety module.

4. And Base orders, "Things starting to look good right about now..."

 

[gigidaho]

It’s a temporary inconvenience isn’t it, unless the $5000 you are speaking of doesn’t have anything to do with the chips.

I spend enough time following world news to understand all of this is considered relatively minor inconveniences. All you can do is shrug and be grateful that your problems aren’t worse problems.

However I also think it bizarre to read how many people believe there’s *no* issue here or not see that Ford may actually be doing a bad job.
—Ford stated that they hope to have the Ice Mountain vehicles out in three months time, and then we can be waiting another year for our chips to be installed. —
So I’m going to purchase a 21 model year vehicle that isn’t complete until 2023. How much depreciation happens in that amount of time? I’m going to pay for a brand new vehicle but I’ll never own a brand new vehicle.
I put down a fairly large deposit a year ago, have had no car this entire time while I’ve been strung along with delivery dates promising it’s coming in just a couple weeks for the last four months and to top it off I haven’t received a single email from the company since *November*.
So, minor inconveniences sure but don’t act as if there’s no issue here.

 

[JerryC]

The dealer doesn’t have a choice to do the work or not. Unless they opted out of the program.

They sure as heck can make you wait. They don't have to say "no" when they can tell you to leave the car and they will get to it when they can.

 

[Biz]

I think I still want it no matter what it's missing. Probably safer then sitting in a MAP parking lot.

 

[BigMeatsBronco]

Also, some manufacturers add two technologies to assist in hot restart (a) the engine is stopped at a point where the next piston to fire in order is set to fire first once the starter rotates the flywheel, or (b) the ECU is programmed to fire the piston(s) out of the normal firing order to assist in restarting the engine. Both technologies, along with hardened and strengthened starter and ring gears, extends the life of the starter system.

Yeah I've read all that and it sounds nice, but that doesn't stop the heat soak the turbochargers get when the engine is shut down...coolant stops moving and oil pressure and flow stops or drops.
(Wonder if that's why some othe F150s have had turbocharger issues?)
Then there's the engine crank berrings and rod berrings too.

No amount of defending this eco start stop feature will convince me its worth the extra crap necessary to run it, or the wear it creates.

And the lag is downright borderline dangerous!

 

[Chippewa-Pin]

I'm surprised it took Ford this long to make this decision. I have no problem taking delivery sooner rather than later and getting any missing modules added later. Along with everyone else, I'm curious to see what will be missing. I doubt it would change my opinion though.

While I agree this isn't optimal, I don't understand why Ford would 'owe' us anything though. Giving us points would be a nice gesture from a loyalty standpoint, but not necessary.

Any one of us can back out at any time prior to signing at delivery. No different than it was prior to this announcement.

 

[markpilip]

Obviously:

22-37 37th Street, Astoria, NY

Around Christmas time.

and then Feats of Strength!

 

[Nateandapril]

Yeah I've read all that and it sounds nice, but that doesn't stop the heat soak the turbochargers get when the engine is shut down...coolant stops moving and oil pressure and flow stops or drops.
(Wonder if that's why some othe F150s have had turbocharger issues?)
Then there's the engine crank berrings and rod berrings too.

No amount of defending this eco start stop feature will convince me its worth the extra crap necessary to run it, or the wear it creates.

And the lag is downright borderline dangerous!

I can agree that the lag can be dangerous. I found this when I test drive a 21 Wrangler 4 cylinder. The auto stop start thing was annoying and definitely makes it tougher to get off the red light in time before the light changes

 

[Jjt24]

I spend enough time following world news to understand all of this is considered relatively minor inconveniences. All you can do is shrug and be grateful that your problems aren’t worse problems.

However I also think it bizarre to read how many people believe there’s *no* issue here or not see that Ford may actually be doing a bad job.
—Ford stated that they hope to have the Ice Mountain vehicles out in three months time, and then we can be waiting another year for our chips to be installed. —
So I’m going to purchase a 21 model year vehicle that isn’t complete until 2023. How much depreciation happens in that amount of time? I’m going to pay for a brand new vehicle but I’ll never own a brand new vehicle.
I put down a fairly large deposit a year ago, have had no car this entire time while I’ve been strung along with delivery dates promising it’s coming in just a couple weeks for the last four months and to top it off I haven’t received a single email from the company since *November*.
So, minor inconveniences sure but don’t act as if there’s no issue here.

It's not just Ford doing this

 

[Dstepovi]

I spend enough time following world news to understand all of this is considered relatively minor inconveniences. All you can do is shrug and be grateful that your problems aren’t worse problems.

However I also think it bizarre to read how many people believe there’s *no* issue here or not see that Ford may actually be doing a bad job.
—Ford stated that they hope to have the Ice Mountain vehicles out in three months time, and then we can be waiting another year for our chips to be installed. —
So I’m going to purchase a 21 model year vehicle that isn’t complete until 2023. How much depreciation happens in that amount of time? I’m going to pay for a brand new vehicle but I’ll never own a brand new vehicle.
I put down a fairly large deposit a year ago, have had no car this entire time while I’ve been strung along with delivery dates promising it’s coming in just a couple weeks for the last four months and to top it off I haven’t received a single email from the company since *November*.
So, minor inconveniences sure but don’t act as if there’s no issue here.

I can only say in response - given the dedication I read and see from people here to this vehicle, this is a minor inconvenience imho - again given what so many have been through waiting for their Bronco, you included.

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