Yay! Adding my MIC top failure to the list!

[CUZICAN]

Mine has this tag...not sure if they all have this.

I just had my middle section and back clamshell replaced under warranty. My original top had the same sticker, the new one has a different sticker with a different part # and no date.

Sponsored

 

[Imaginary Friend]

I'm sure you've heard the expression that you can't put lipstick on a pig?

I believe the more apt expression here is, "you can't polish a turd".

 

[Last Ride Bronco]

WEEBBBAAAASSSTTOOOO!

 

[DaveInSA]

I believe the more apt expression here is, "you can't polish a turd".

Mythbusters proved you could

 

[swamp2]

I believe the more apt expression here is, "you can't polish a turd".

Hmmm, pretty well equivalent in terms of trying to slow degradation of a top with paint/coating...

Also, definitely check out the Mytbusters episode on, "You can't polish a turd". Classic.

 

[Rydfree]

Question -- does this happen more on 4Dr or 2Dr models (or doesn't it make a difference)?

I haven't seen anything yet on my 2Dr... but each passing day has me worried.

Finally -- what did your dealer say (or did I miss that)?

The 2drs have longer rear side glass and seem to have more issues. I have a '23 2dr that had the cracks appear in each corner of the side windows at around 3k miles. At first they were only noticeable when the light was shining across at near 90 degree angle but kept getting worse until I warrantied at 18 months. The 2nd top had no cracks but looked like crap from deep waves and honeycombing. I'm on my 3rd top. This latest one is off a '24 model that the dealership took off a showroom Bronco just to get me going again. While my Bronco was waiting on the replacement I purchased a complete top off a '21 First Edition whos owner went with a soft top. The 1st Edition top actually looks better than anything I have seen otherwise. The 3 of us 2drs here at work all had cracking plus the 7 other 2drs that I looked at on dealer lots and Home Depot parking lots. I have never seen a 2dr out in the wild personally that did not have cracks or heavy honeycomb and/or waves. We will see how this one from the '24 does. I'll live with the honeycomb it has, as long as it doesn't develop cracks. I may bed line the 1st Edition top but it just appears to have a thicker top layer on it compared to how the rest have looked.

The minimum Ford should be offering IMO is the painted tops for the difference in

cost to those affected.

 

[Fatfireman]

The 2drs have longer rear side glass and seem to have more issues. I have a '23 2dr that had the cracks appear in each corner of the side windows at around 3k miles. At first they were only noticeable when the light was shining across at near 90 degree angle but kept getting worse until I warrantied at 18 months. The 2nd top had no cracks but looked like crap from deep waves and honeycombing. I'm on my 3rd top. This latest one is off a '24 model that the dealership took off a showroom Bronco just to get me going again. While my Bronco was waiting on the replacement I purchased a complete top off a '21 First Edition whos owner went with a soft top. The 1st Edition top actually looks better than anything I have seen otherwise. The 3 of us 2drs here at work all had cracking plus the 7 other 2drs that I looked at on dealer lots and Home Depot parking lots. I have never seen a 2dr out in the wild personally that did not have cracks or heavy honeycomb and/or waves. We will see how this one from the '24 does. I'll live with the honeycomb it has, as long as it doesn't develop cracks. I may bed line the 1st Edition top but it just appears to have a thicker top layer on it compared to how the rest have looked.

The minimum Ford should be offering IMO is the painted tops for the difference in

cost to those affected.

I have wondered about bed lining as well. I also couldn't agree more, Ford should offer a painted top and let people pay the difference I gladly would.

 

[BAUS67]

I will post some pics when I'm done here. (they are all on my phone and I'm on the PC at the moment)

Back story for those that might not know........

2023 2DR took delivery March 28. Bronco sits outside, year-round, and I live in PA. Just turned 10K. Always hand washed and left to dry. Never pressure washed. Never protected with anything. Never taken off. Just had the original top replaced. Only time will tell. It is just starting to warn up here. I got about a year to go under warranty.

Just as a reminder..... us 2DR guys only have one option, a hardtop, we cannot "opt out" of the hardtop like 4DR owners can.

@Rydfree said it all in his above post. I too have checked the other local dealers. It is a mess no matter how you look at it. 5 out of 8 2DR tops cracked or honeycomb. There are 4dr victims as well, but I got tired of looking at all of them. IMO the early ones were more "handmade" and seems that the surviving ones are holding up better. I believe we have the classic .......good quality, low volume vs poor quality, high volume scenario. I think when they push the volume out, the resin does not get applied thick enough to hold up. Once they start to cure, they shrink and begin to crack. Also seeing the "honeycomb" is a trait of the resin not being thick enough as well.

So the way I see it is if my top is not cracked by the time the warranty is up it will get Line-Xed. And for those asking the extended warranty does not cover the top. The top is only 3/36. I believe I've seen @Ducati1098 post this nugget of info before.

I sincerely hope I'm wrong on this one but.................. I see this whole top debacle going the way of the cam phaser issue, which by the way is not just a Bronco thing, even though there is a problem there, Ford will not do anything about it, just "kick the can". To them there is "no issue" with the tops because they "don't see the problem". Kind of like when the 2.7s were blowing up in the early days, for the longest time it was "not a big deal", but now Ford has a recall about it. I'll leave that discussion for another time/thread.


Before pics........

New top pics. Some "honeycomb/snakeskin" but I can live with it. It is hard to see. Like I said above, once the warranty is up, I will have the top Line-Xed.

It matches the original front section quite well.

 

[Owl]

Wow... I guess I better look over my 2Dr top. I only have ~ 10K miles on my Bronco, but its almost 3 years old (Oct. 22 build). Always garaged... but it gets hot here in NorCal.

Thanks for the info. I better get cracking (no pun intended).

 

[Seawalker]

My 22 2dr is currently in the shop having Back and Front panels replaced. I haven't seen or heard of any improvements to the MIC Top so we will see how the replacement goes.

"The minimum Ford should be offering IMO is the painted tops for the difference" This would be nice option!

 

[joeman]

Here's the update on my situation. Took it to the Ford dealer in my area (who I've had great experiences with service with previous Ford vehicles). I brought the TSB for MIC tops with me, which I recommend bringing in if you're having the same problems. Service tech said this is the first one he's seen...told him you'll see more eventually.

They gave the entire roof a once-over and will be replacing the center panel. While I was at the dealership, there were two others with MIC tops, one was on a 2024 Raptor in the showroom. That top was almost perfect...no waves, but very, very light honeycomb throughout.

As other have stated, it's the luck of the draw. Mine is a 2024, manufacturered in July 2024. Webasto has major manufcturing inconsistencies. A real shame as otherwise, my Bronco is perfect.

Anyway, this forum is fantastic and a great resource with a lot of knowledgeable people, so thanks to everyone who contributes!!!

I'll keep you posted with the replacement center section (will it be better, worse or same?!)

 

[CUZICAN]

Here's the update on my situation. Took it to the Ford dealer in my area (who I've had great experiences with service with previous Ford vehicles). I brought the TSB for MIC tops with me, which I recommend bringing in if you're having the same problems. Service tech said this is the first one he's seen...told him you'll see more eventually.

They gave the entire roof a once-over and will be replacing the center panel. While I was at the dealership, there were two others with MIC tops, one was on a 2024 Raptor in the showroom. That top was almost perfect...no waves, but very, very light honeycomb throughout.

As other have stated, it's the luck of the draw. Mine is a 2024, manufacturered in July 2024. Webasto has major manufcturing inconsistencies. A real shame as otherwise, my Bronco is perfect.

Anyway, this forum is fantastic and a great resource with a lot of knowledge people, so thanks to everyone who contributes!!!

I'll keep you posted with the replacement center section (will it be better, worse or same?!)

If you have the headliner, make sure they order it. My top was the first that my local dealership had seen also, unfortunately that meant they didn't know they had to order the headliner separately.

 

[joeman]

If you have the headliner, make sure they order it. My top was the first that my local dealership had seen also, unfortunately that meant they didn't know they had to order the headliner separately.

Thanks bud! Just called the dealer to let them know this!

 

[Dadsquatch]

The 2drs have longer rear side glass and seem to have more issues. I have a '23 2dr that had the cracks appear in each corner of the side windows at around 3k miles. At first they were only noticeable when the light was shining across at near 90 degree angle but kept getting worse until I warrantied at 18 months. The 2nd top had no cracks but looked like crap from deep waves and honeycombing. I'm on my 3rd top. This latest one is off a '24 model that the dealership took off a showroom Bronco just to get me going again. While my Bronco was waiting on the replacement I purchased a complete top off a '21 First Edition whos owner went with a soft top. The 1st Edition top actually looks better than anything I have seen otherwise. The 3 of us 2drs here at work all had cracking plus the 7 other 2drs that I looked at on dealer lots and Home Depot parking lots. I have never seen a 2dr out in the wild personally that did not have cracks or heavy honeycomb and/or waves. We will see how this one from the '24 does. I'll live with the honeycomb it has, as long as it doesn't develop cracks. I may bed line the 1st Edition top but it just appears to have a thicker top layer on it compared to how the rest have looked.

The minimum Ford should be offering IMO is the painted tops for the difference in

cost to those affected.

This! I would gladly pay the difference in cost from a MIC to a painted top out of my own pocket if it was offered to me. The money is worth being able to sleep at night.

 

[DragonWolf7]

Did a wash this AM, and as with every wash, I look carefully at the MIC top as there seems to be a lot of failures. Well, have a crack starting in the center panel, behind the driver. Here is the background for information:

• 2024 Outerbanks, purchased in August 2024 with less than 6000 miles.
• Very light off-roading (smooth dirt trails), garage kept, Phoenix, AZ.
• Always hand washed with mild soap, never put any solution, etc. on the MIC top...just wash and dry.

I suspect (contrary to the Ford fan boys on this site) that there are MORE failures than we know, not LESS. I know that forums "magnify" problems, but not every ford owner is on this site, nor will they post. Ford has had 4 years to work with Webasto to get this under control, and 4 years later....still problems.

I like my Bronco, a lot. I'll keep it while it's under factory B to B warranty, but then it's gone. Oh, and I know there are aftermarket har tops, but that ain't gonna happen. Paid $64K for it, and I'm not dropping another $4K on an aftermarket top. So I'll just keep watching it, bringing it in for warranty service, then "bye bye" after 3 years!

Asking for a theory! But did you go through car washes with your bronco MIC top, if so, Im talking the ones with the beaters that spin.
I have noticed hand washing my MIC top had helped it last pretty good and am curious if that maybe the reasoning for cracks like these? Any input from anyone with knowledge please leave a reply.

Sponsored