📣 Ford announces MIC hardtop solution (program 21B49): unscheduled orders will get MY2022, delivered & built Broncos will have tops replaced

[JimL]

So, in a quick glance between work meetings, things I don’t see include:
1. “We are discontinuing the relationship with Webasto immediately and bringing roof-production in-house (or to another supplier).”
2. “We are ditching this design for a new one.”
3. Any mention of physical issues with the roof, like the separation/delamination seen in many buyers’ pictures. They are referring solely to “appearance” issues.
I feel like they are badly missing the mark here.

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[martyb]

Do we know if this new design has been tested? Any chance we could end up in exactly the same position in 2 months?

2 recent Engineering grads and an intern are furiously running FEA right now.

That is apparently the extent of Ford engineering capability.

 

[WuNgUn]

I wonder what the thicker outer layer will do to the gross vehicle weight ratings and center of gravity? There were already limitations on the roof rack for Sasquatch 4 doors. Will this affect the 2022 roof rack re-design?

Fuck all... Ford already HAD an new design in mind as MY22 Squatched 4 doors with V6's would be available with factory installed roof rails... Remember?
We better get more than 110Lbs dynamic rating too!

 

[Slater]

I hope they take this opportunity to reassess the headliner as well. It's an insult to halfassed efforts everywhere.

Any idea if an existing unscheduled order with MIC that would be shifted to MY22 in late December can change their dealership in this timeframe?

 

[Carolina Jim]

the "bad batch" crew of 2,200+ builds stuck at MAP

You misspoke; they are not stuck at MAP - but quarantined in a sand and gravel pit...for likely 4 months. If I wanted a sandblasted vehicle, I'd buy used in Saudi Arabia

Really? This is Ford's idea of a 'customer satisfaction program'?

 

[PatientlyWaiting]

The Irony. I thought about switching to Granger or Stephens to get the $1000 off invoice instead of local dealers who were offering no deals. I stuck with local because I didn’t want a MY22 Wildtrak. Now I’m getting a MY22 with no discount. What a total cluster.

 

[P52Ranch]

So the new redesigned top is still being manufactured by Webasto? I thought I read somehwere that they were working on getting a new hard top supplier up and running?

That is a new hardtop supplier for the Modular hardtop (available 2023) not the MIC hardtop.

Now will Ford dump Webasto at the end of this shitshow? Who knows. Sounds like this problem is more to do with Ford's design and less to do with Webasto's manufacturing ineptness.

 

[BillieB]

Updated by Administrator with full FAQ and Customer Satisfaction Program info.

Full Order Holder FAQ:

Awareness Communication - Upcoming Customer Satisfaction Program 21B49
(Certain 2021 Model Year Bronco Equipped with a Hard Top Roof Roof Panel Delamination)

Some extra info from @PREMiERdrum



All new tooling and an altered design. It became quite clear that even when manufactured exactly to spec that the design was flawed.

The timeline here is optimistic, but the right move nonetheless.


No. MIC hardtop production for unscheduled First Edition builds will resume late this year with the updated hardtop design. I wouldn't expect this until probably November, as the new tooling still needs to be completed, installed, and tested before production of the new hard tops can begin. Once that happens, they have committed to building new MIC hardtops for all units that have already been delivered, then the "bad batch" Broncos trapped at MAP, THEN for production of new units.



Hey, you have every right to be a dick. This has been a mess.

The design issue is the unfinished edges. Initially, these were to be treated and sealed but it was never successful. The "coating" applied at the plant lasted for about a week, if that. The other issues plaguing the MIC top - thickness of outer ply, uniformity of material thickness, and forming issues within the clamshell - were perhaps made more challenging by the tooling but not necessarily impossible. This new design and tooling should aid in ALL these factors.

As for the 8/2 "full speed" production, that was the plan. Heels were firmly dug in on the engineering of the top and all fingers were pointed towards Plymouth. There was hope that the "best" of the roof units being delivered to MAP could at least be used to complete FE and stranded builds, but as more and more units were evaluated, it became clear that it was a bigger liability to release more of these out into the wild than to just scrap the thing and start over.

Like I said last night, this move HURTS... especially the "bad batch" crew of 2,200+ builds stuck at MAP, but it's absolutely the best way to address it at this juncture. A LOT of these headaches could have been alleviated by pulling the plug when the first issues became apparent, but that's not where we are.

Note:

Lots of people are assuming this means a new supplier, but I don't have any confirmation of that. From what I can tell, this new tooling for the MIC hardtops is being designed and paid for by Ford and will be installed at the Plymouth plant for Webasto to produce.

The MOD tops coming in 23 are from a new supplier that has yet to be publicly identified.

I'm in limbo between bullet point 2 & 3. My scheduled production is this week. Crying in 2door hardtop....

 

[RockSkipper]

Jeep...and probably Besttop...right now...

 

[timhood]

Yes, I definitely wanted a 2021. Based on what I ordered and my early Day 1 reservation, I originally figured I'd probably get it in mid-August. As these issues have affected production, I started to worry that I would end up with the last 2021 rolling out. So, oddly, this news gives me relief.

• It explains the problem
• It explains the solution
• It tells me in no uncertain terms that I'm getting a 2022

Congratulations to those who are getting a MIC top '21. Take care of them, as these will be the "only 1 of 27 like it" claims when they hit the auction block in 30+ years.

 

[phocion]

For those without a VIN, MY22 should have been expected even before this news. But this news means more delays.

I would not be optimistic at all about many of these MY22 being first half of 2022 deliveries. Maybe the early (first 72 hours) reservations.

Bottom line is, don't think being MY22 means being January 2022. Be prepared to wait.

 

[Thekev87]

This will probably get lost in the mess...but I have a VIN and a 4 door MIC base that is/was scheduled for Aug 30 week build...anyone know if there will be anyway I can switch to a soft top to avoid another two-three month wait my car situation currently is not ideal or am I just f'ed because of the VIN alreadybeing issued?

 

[FourHorses]

Well I sold my daily in May... I reserved a Maverick yesterday in preparation. I guess I'll buy/order it and drive it until my Bronco is made. Looking to be late next year or 23 at this point. I guess 40 mpg is a decent consolation prize.

oh, in addition...

 

[ramblinwreck]

The critical info missing here is the price of the accessory hardtop. It's insane that such a thing won't be available until 2023 (!!!), but it's difficult to decide whether to switch to a soft top now without knowing how much $$$ that accessory hardtop will cost down the road. Major fail.

Accessory hardtops will be $3k-$5k delivered.

 

[scottfwalter]

I am thinking about changing to a soft top. Do we know what the price of a new mic top once it becomes available? Will Ford price it over the cost of the current option at $695?

Even if it's the same price the freight cost will probably be high.

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