First new Ford...Probably the last Ford

[Imaginary Friend]

You had a Volkswagen but are complaining about the build quality of your Bronco? Not to say the Broncos are perfect but unless you traded them in while still under warranty VWs are notoriously not great vehicles.

I'll pile on with yet another disagreement to this post. Had two Tiguans over a 15 year span, 2010 and 2017, and they were among the best vehicles we've owned from new. Neither was ever in the shop once outside normal maintenance, and build quality of both was excellent.

Traded off the '17 this week for a '25 Escape ST 2.0 for the wife's new wheels. I hope it wasn't a mistake.

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[11811]

my top having a large gap on one side I can see daylight from inside.

You never mentioned that in our conversation. That would certainly leak and I would be interested in seeing pictures of that.

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/mic-top-misalignment-of-top-to-sides.110583/

 

[RoLyMa27]

I think some buyers expected it to be like any other SUV or truck. Big surprise, it’s not

EXACTLY why I bought one!

 

[Quicklime]

I picked up my 2dr 2024 Big Bend a couple months ago. I thought I saw enough YouTube videos and browsed the forums. I wish I would have read more of these forums in hindsight and relied far less on the YouTube excitement videos. The last ford I had was a 91 probe in high school back around 2001. Since then I have owned Honda, Jeep, Toyota, Subaru, and a couple VWs. Overall they all had some minor quirks or annoyances but nothing prepared me for this Bronco. The last 3 cars I owned were brand new. A Crosstrek, GTI and Tiguan. All looked so nice from the dealership. They ran well and just about everything looked like it hadn't been touched or used yet.

This is just not the case for the bronco, but I'll start with the good.

It is very fun to drive. I even enjoy the engine noise. The steering is perfect. The design of the dash and infotainment is perfect. The overall look and design of the vehicle is fantastic. I love that it has a t-top element that is simple to take down and store. Driving without it is a dream and scratches a bit of that open air itch I've had since selling my motorcycle. The marine grade seats and their design are just right. The seat heaters too! They get to therapeutic levels of hot. And it has a built in subwoofer. Again so many things designed so well!

Another thing I knew going in was that the speakers suck. And they do. But I accepted that going in. I switched them all out with kickers and made some tweaks to the eq, etc and it's actually decent now...As long as you keep it under 40ish mph. You're basically on an airplane going over 70 noise wise.

Now for my issues with this thing.
I hate the quality and construction of just about everything.
It feels like every day I spot something that just isn't quite right to varying degrees or feels cheap. Everyone has mentioned the plastic inside that is highly prone to scratches. I knew that going in and got some custom made canvas liners for the back plastic, but what I wasn't prepared for was the following..

This is the big one and it has driven me crazy since I noticed it. The top was manufactured in a way that the drivers side sticks out further (isn't flush with the rest of the body)and on the passenger side it is flush and looks correct. It's like they do zero alignment or measurement checks to these things when they leave the factory. I've seen body gap inconsistencies all over but nothing like this. So far no cracks but it does have some of the wavy sheen look I have seen in others. Very light honeycombing pattern as well.

Then I noticed the Drivers side door doesn't close without extra force needed and it just doesn't feel quite right. There's only two doors...and this can't be done right?? The glass annoyingly vibrates when it does latch. (Passenger side operates perfectly)

Then I noticed (and might be related to the above) the hard rubber corner in the front part of of the drivers door (that also channels the glass) has already wore through the rubber weather strip on the receiving side of the door jamb exposing aluminum underneath. My guess is the mold used to make it isn't as accurate in shape as the one used on the passenger side. it has to bend in a weird fashion to close completely. I have seen at least one person post pictures of the same wear shortly after purchase.

There is obviously tons of rubber gaskets and trim in a vehicle like this. Why do they all feel like they will fall apart in a year!? I've seen many vehicles from other manufactures that the rubber weatherstripping and gaskets feel strong and durable. This just doesn't give me a lot of confidence.

Back to the MIC top, im terrified to even clean it, due to people going through 2..3..4?? different replacement tops. I should be able to use detailing products built for plastic trim or sealed paint. Just tell me which it is Ford...or better yet, recommend a product!

Why is there so much surface rust on the underside of a new vehicle? I would expect this much after driving a few midwest winters but im in WA and this thing is 2 months old.

Why am I noticing bolts that look like they were installed with the wrong socket or sloppy use of the socket. The bolts that attach the spare mount are painted but look like crap due to sloppy install. I know they are hidden for the most part, but thats no excuse.

Speaking of paint, there are random little paint chips I spot all over. Mainly near edges. Some I cant even make sense of how it happened.

I also notice areas where I cant tell if a gasket is slightly out of place or not because most things all look a little off or unrefined.

Again, all of the plastic across the vehicle feels incredibly cheap and squeaks or bends with very little pressure. Numerous times im second guessing if all the clips were installed right from the factory. "why does this piece move like this, but the other side does not" is a frequent question. It's like the vehicle has a good and evil side. pretty much everything on the passenger side aligns and looks right but the driver has all sorts of issues with fit and alignment.

I understand this isn't an Audi or Lexus, and maybe im just not used to Ford or what those owners expect quality wise, but I guess im just tired of finding these build quality easter eggs daily with my brand new vehicle. I know the argument its designed to be dirty and get scratches etc but I should be the one that makes that happen. It shouldn't be built like crap because its "going to get dirty and busted up eventually anyway".

I want to emphasize, I do in general love the vehicle from a driving and design standpoint. I dont want this to sound like I hate everything about it. I just dont understand how so many QC details are let through.

I've had four Fords in a row. The only warranty work needed on ANY of them, was on the Bronco(Tech came to my house and reflashed the wiper motor and was done in less than ten minutes).

 

[Nc211]

My 2022 has a couple of imperfections- if I look real close. But overall it's been pretty good and I love it for what it is.

As far as VW goes I got a bad one- bought a 2023 GTI Autobahn brand new- 6 speed manual. 5th gear had a notch- sometimes would not go in- drove me nuts. And such poor gas mileage. I got barely 30 MPG driving it with a light foot. If I got on it even a little bit that gas gauge would go down so fast. I had to gas it up 2X a week. I get 22 MPG in my Bronco Sas, go figure. 30 MPG for my daily to drive 80 miles a day was not going to cut it- so 6 months and out with the GTI. 3 years with the Bronco and love it. I don't daily it though- burns too much gas.

No argument from me on your 2023 GTI experience. They lost me with this current MK8 version. VW is heading back those dark days of the late 90’s unfortunately in many regards, and became clear to me that they’re trying to push buyer into the more expensive cousins at Audi. But in all honesty, I think a lot of the German brands are in a quality control funk right now. Certainly none of them compare to the 20teens versions. I’m guessing too much invested in battery infrastructure at the expense of core aspects of the ICE versions. Our 2020 GLS, while has been pretty good to us, has seen some pretty horrible quality issues. Seats that ripped apart, door controls that fell into the door panel multiple times, factory debris in the hvac blower motor, squeaks and rattles (the headliner is basically held up by the plastic pieces of the pillars all around, that sort of stuff.

No car is perfect, even Toyota is having quality control issues with certain engine designs.

When I went car shopping in 2023, given how expensive cars had become, I decided that whatever I picked needed to do something unique that would hold my attention for many years. Don’t care about 0-60, and leather is leather. Spending $70k on another Mercedes sedan didn’t appeal to me (or my ego anymore) when the Uber driver’s Camry was just as comfortable, quiet and smooth. A sedan is a sedan. The MK8 GTI was out. Have a family so a two door was out. Too many SUV’s that all look the same to me now. Couldn’t fit a 4-door truck in my garage. Decided I wanted a family convertible. Led me to the Jeep. But $70k on a Wrangler 4xe was ridiculous. Then I found the Bronco and all has been right with my garage world ever since. I may not daily drive it forever, but because of the unique attributes that it offers, I’ll have it for a very very long time.

Nothing compares to hopping in it with the softtop in safari mode, and just puttering down the road with my Chris Stapleton or Travelling Willbury’s or Steve Miller on the radio like that. Not even a Porsche makes me that relaxed and happy.

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

Nothing compares to hopping in it with the softtop in safari mode, and just puttering down the road with my Chris Stapleton or Travelling Willbury’s or Steve Miller on the radio like that. Not even a Porsche makes me that relaxed and happy.

This.

I’m going to put on some Steve Miller and Zen out this morning.

 

[Sherminiator]

I’ve owned nothing but Fords for almost 30 years now and the interior plastics argument is just played out. I’ve even had someone tell me that plastics used in EU Fords where better, but a trip to the UK and riding in Ford products from there of the same era where almost identical to what we had here.

The plastic in the rear does scratch but using heat on it takes care of that and I don’t see it every day, so to me it doesn’t really matter.

 

[JT58Bronc]

No argument from me on your 2023 GTI experience. They lost me with this current MK8 version. VW is heading back those dark days of the late 90’s unfortunately in many regards, and became clear to me that they’re trying to push buyer into the more expensive cousins at Audi. But in all honesty, I think a lot of the German brands are in a quality control funk right now. Certainly none of them compare to the 20teens versions. I’m guessing too much invested in battery infrastructure at the expense of core aspects of the ICE versions. Our 2020 GLS, while has been pretty good to us, has seen some pretty horrible quality issues. Seats that ripped apart, door controls that fell into the door panel multiple times, factory debris in the hvac blower motor, squeaks and rattles (the headliner is basically held up by the plastic pieces of the pillars all around, that sort of stuff.

No car is perfect, even Toyota is having quality control issues with certain engine designs.

When I went car shopping in 2023, given how expensive cars had become, I decided that whatever I picked needed to do something unique that would hold my attention for many years. Don’t care about 0-60, and leather is leather. Spending $70k on another Mercedes sedan didn’t appeal to me (or my ego anymore) when the Uber driver’s Camry was just as comfortable, quiet and smooth. A sedan is a sedan. The MK8 GTI was out. Have a family so a two door was out. Too many SUV’s that all look the same to me now. Couldn’t fit a 4-door truck in my garage. Decided I wanted a family convertible. Led me to the Jeep. But $70k on a Wrangler 4xe was ridiculous. Then I found the Bronco and all has been right with my garage world ever since. I may not daily drive it forever, but because of the unique attributes that it offers, I’ll have it for a very very long time.

Nothing compares to hopping in it with the softtop in safari mode, and just puttering down the road with my Chris Stapleton or Travelling Willbury’s or Steve Miller on the radio like that. Not even a Porsche makes me that relaxed and happy.

Awesome! I agree that the new cars of today are...meh....most of them anyway- especially the SUV's- you said they all look the same is so true. At least the Bronco looks so different. I turn my head every time I see one. I loved VW's back the day. I loved my 83 GTI- one of my favorite cars of all time. But 90 HP was a lot back then. And trucks with 150-170 HP was a lot. Today that is nothing you are holding up traffic LOL. But they were simplistic and easy to work on. I'm scared of the Bronco- accessing the spark plugs on the 2.7- looks like a multiple day job. I love my 87 Chevy Squarebody truck- it's good driver and I take it to car shows. It's so darn easy to work on- everything is nuts and bolts. And ya the trucks are so big today one won't fit in my garage either. The Bronco fits great and my wife has a 2013 Silverado short bed regular cab pick up that fits. I really need a 4 door truck that will tow but it's very, very hard to part with the Bronco and I don't know if I can......ever.

 

[Sgt Badlands]

Sounds like this is what you want. Going to cost more than a Bronco.

https://www.landroverusa.com/defender/defender-90/index.html

 

[HalfmuleFarmer]

Sounds like this is what you want. Going to cost more than a Bronco.

https://www.landroverusa.com/defender/defender-90/index.html

I’m saving for one of these. I got about $150K still to go!

https://www.drivehimalaya.com/pages/series-88

 

[Red Sox 4Life]

Well, I think the issue is that, in the past, no one really expected Ford quality to equal Lexus. But you accepted that because buying a Ford was a lot cheaper than buying a Lexus. That isn't the case anymore. Order a loaded up Badlands and you're into Lexus GX550 territory. And the quality differences are off the charts.

Nice forum "Moniker"!!

 

[rgraphic]

You never mentioned that in our conversation. That would certainly leak and I would be interested in seeing pictures of that.

https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/mic-top-misalignment-of-top-to-sides.110583/

There's a semi sticky pad of material you can see that isn't stuck up there anymore in the photo. I have since put some pressure on it to try to "re-seal" it, but it doesn't seem like it will stay long term with heat and moisture. I'm not sure if that material is on all the tops or if ford put it there because they knew about that gap. Surprisingly no water has come in yet.

 

[Snacktime]

Do people not do research before buying a vehicle? You can save thousands by reading.

 

[huey]

You had a Volkswagen but are complaining about the build quality of your Bronco? Not to say the Broncos are perfect but unless you traded them in while still under warranty VWs are notoriously not great vehicles.

Maybe you have bad luck with V-dubs. We have had great luck. Owned 4 and all have been fantastic. Still have 2, 1 with 110k, one with 150k.

EDIT: - love seeing all the GTI love on here. I'm considering selling my MK6, but that car is soo much fun to drive

To the OP - what surface rust are you seeing on the bottom that is an issue?

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