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

[NorthCoast]

Well I just took the bait and told my dealer to switch me to a soft top ... wonder what real-world impact making the switch will actually have on me getting my Bronco sooner? ... my bet is - none whatsoever.

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[mandyhoth]

Anyone else find it annoying that they are prioritizing the ones already delivered, where they are most likely sitting in garages and not stranded on a lot by a dirt mountain? One would think they’d take care of the ones parked at map for a month over the ones that have already been delivered and being enjoyed by the costumers. Why not care of the purgatory builds and then send out replacements to those already delivered. After all at least they get to drive theirs

 

[Kos]

Honestly man you’re the one that sounds like everyone gets a participation trophy not us who just want the truck over a mostly cosmetic issue. Ford has been testing these things endlessly and you can’t convince me that all of the sudden they’re just noticing the hard tops suck? The test mules probably spent a year in the sun already and none of them had this problem? This is a joke of a launch for one of their biggest products that they are completely sh*****ng the bed on. And their consolation prize is some bronco swag? Gee thanks

No, in fact I'm about as far as you can be from a participation trophy person (my kids suck at sports and they know it). My point is there are a shitload of people on this forum who thinks this is all so damn easy and I know from first hand that its not.

The fact that they are shutting down production, taking the hit, and doing this right should be commended. There are plenty of car companies out there that would continue to ship crap and call it a day.

In regards to the test mules, those tops were not produced on production equipment. They were prototypes built on test equipment, by a guy who probably had a degree in materials science and had as long as it takes to build 10 perfect units. Not a production operator has to build several hundred each shift.

 

[Zero_chance]

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.



- A few hundred.

- Yes.



The design will look very much the same (and be the same color, to those of you asking). Main points to address in the update:

- Rolled /finished edges where there were formerly raw cuts.
- Thicker, more uniform outer layer of material.
- Improved injection process to fix forming issues in the clamshell.

Also, I've seen several people asking why they can't just get their truck now with a bad roof and replace it later. Two huge problems will prevent that from happening:
- Ford doesn't want any more "bad" units running around beyond the few hundred already out there.
- They want no part of shipping any more of these things than they already have to. Freight is going be enormous on them and there is a substantial risk of damage while shipping. I doubt they have a packaging and logistics plan for them but I can imagine it's going to be incredibly costly.


Note:

Lots of people are assuming this means a new supplier, but I don't have any confirmation of that. Update from @Nickp , the following is correct: 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.

Further info from @Nickp: My contact at Ford reached out, and basically summed it up that they need to make sure that these things are ready for the adventures that we are going to put them through. The current hardtop and the quality offered just don't reach that standard, so they are just putting the kibosh on any more going into circulation before they fix the root of the problem. As outlined above, the fewer hard tops they have to ship around the country the better. When the new tops are being built, they are going to FiFo the current sitting orders. Basically, the ones that were built first will be the first to get tops and get sent on out to their final destination. While the ones that are currently built are being sent on their way, the goal will be to get people with a hardtop Bronco in their possession already the new top, along with finishing up the first editions and already scheduled builds. It's not ideal, but this is "THE" solution that will be the only thing to fully fix things.

This is by far not nearly as bad as I was thinking.

 

[Mrpenn46]

Yes you are correct. Instead of shipping them and letting the dealer replace it at a later date the "bad batch" Broncos will have the tops replaced and then shipped.

Thanks for the clarification. This sucks, but I guess it gives me more time to make money.

 

[balynn1971]

All of your Broncos have VINs and are being assembled/have been assembled... there's no sense, or ability, to change your order.... why would you want to? You're going to get exactly what you ordered.

According to the documents shared, your Broncos will remain at Ford until they have the newly designed tops to put on them. Once they get those tops, you'll get your Bronco.

Congrats!

I talked to my dealer and he basically confirmed that a change is not likely for those with VIN and date (said he could try but didn't think it'd be possible with a VIN and scheduled date). He's been pretty good with guidance thus far and has talked me into keeping my original build vs. changing a couple of different times (me over-reacting and wanting to change everytime there was a delay). Whether I can change or not, I'm sticking with plan. I was going to change a few weeks prior to getting my VIN when I started hearing about delays on other constraints and he told me to hang in there and a few weeks later I got my VIN and date. Last night I was falling into trap of "I just want something new for the sake of buying something new" because I was so pissed. This is what I've wanted since Day 1 so I'm riding it out. The one theme of comments on here that I agree with is that this type of clear, concise communication should have been done a while back. In a business crisis like this it's easy to get blinded by the day to day management of it and next thing you know you have 1000 trucks sitting in a lot that you can't sell and 200K customers who are really angry. Someone should have been thinking strategically and said we have a big "storm" heading our way and we need to get ahead of this from a PR perspective NOW. That's where the ball was dropped IMO.

 

[Phil]

- They want no part of shipping any more of these things than they already have to. Freight is going be enormous on them and there is a substantial risk of damage while shipping. I doubt they have a packaging and logistics plan for them but I can imagine it's going to be incredibly costly.

this was the first thing that I thought of when i saw they were halting production gonna cost them a prety penny to send these things out and if they keep making broncos and sending them out that means the number of roofs they gotta send out keeps going up can't believe 2023 for acces mic top that is crazy I bet Websto dont make anything else for ford ever again

 

[AK SNO RIDER]

I couldn't read fast enough to keep up with the pages...

So sounds like Ford is claiming that in 2 months their new Hard Top manufacturer is going to start producing a replacement top?

Does anyone believe this is even possible? Seems like there's no way that Ford could start producing hardtop Broncos by December. That's only 4 months away.

Technically possible? I think so. We've known for many months a new design was coming. We already knew '22s would have a different roof. Ford has been planning the new roof for a while, they've just refused to keep us in the loop.

So is it possible? I'd like to think so. If it were any other company I might even be hopeful. But this is Ford, and the only thing you can count on from Ford is more delays. So possible? Maybe. Likely? Hell no.

 

[smrpilot]

 

[BadSquatch21]

You are sure about that, that's not how I read things?

I can "un" 99 my order whenever and it goes into the mix as a viable order. It states your reservation timestamp will remain with their order scheduling priority in 22MY. So when the 22MY options/colors opens up, I'll update my order and un 99 it. When 22MY goes into production it will be based off my timestamp. Not sure what you're reading or interpreting.

 

[Flicko's]

Has Ford considered making these roofs in Black instead of or in addition to the Carbonized Gray? At one of the local dealer events, the spoke person said they would be black. Just asking. I think the black is a better contrast.

 

[De Brus]

I wish Toyota would come out with a newly redesigned 4-runner. I would probably pass on the Bronco.

They are, the same year you'll probably get your bronco, too! Your wish can come true!

 

[ATLColonial]

Anyone else find it annoying that they are prioritizing the ones already delivered, where they are most likely sitting in garages and not stranded on a lot by a dirt mountain? One would think they’d take care of the ones parked at map for a month over the ones that have already been delivered and being enjoyed by the costumers. Why not care of the purgatory builds and then send out replacements to those already delivered. After all at least they get to drive theirs

This doesn't appear to be the case, either in the notice or based on @Nickp's comment on the first page of this thread. It says we'll get our updated timeline in September, as opposed to October, which implies those will be dealt with earlier. @Nickp also indicates that they're going to start up production/send out replacements to current owners while the others are being shipped.

 

[zebraquick]

I hate this all around for the MIC top folks. I wanted one originally was ok switching. You know have to wonder when the hell can they make reliable ones. EOY 22? 2023?

 

[MUDLVR]

I wish Toyota would come out with a newly redesigned 4-runner. I would probably pass on the Bronco.

I 100% am hoping the same thing, or a new FJ-style vehicle. Something similar to the Bronco in tech and fun. I had an FJ for 10 years and now own this 4Runner but I'm tired of their weak engines and low tech.

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