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

[Thomman]

My first Ford vehicle, and I'm effing disappointed at this huuuge dumpster fire!

Regardless, it is what it is, and I think FMC's plan is likely the best as long as they replace the roofs in the order that I think they have outlined - those already delivered, those in purgatory, those in production, those scheduled, and finally the remaining FEs.

While I feel for you guys who are in purgatory and I know you want to get out of there by either confessing your sins (i.e., take the shitty hard top now and have FMC replace it later) or atoning for your sins (i.e., switch the shitty top for a soft top now and buy a good hard top later), I'm pretty sure it won't happen coz' FMC would not want a bunch of shitty tops running around (bad image) plus they'd have to pay huge costs to ship the good tops later to you guys.

I'm a 1st 24-hour 4DR BL reservation, and have not heard a peep yet from FMC. Now I'd be really pissed if I see a bunch of stock units for sale at the dealer with the "new and improved" hard top before I see mine. And given the shitshow with FMC so far, I wouldn't be surprised if that happens .....

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[Foordbrawnco]

I spoke with my dealer today and they basically told me "nope sorry you are out of luck". Since I am "scheduled" they can't make any changes. Which is f*ing ridiculous @Ford Motor Company because we all know that date won't stick. Much like the 6 previous dates I was given.

Nope, we will be pushed back to December if not MY22. Day 1 reservation for me and literally the only constraint to my build is the MIC top. I ordered a badlands 2.3l manual, non sas, high package. No tow or brush guard. @Ford Motor Company is literally screwing over first day reservations by not letting them switch to the soft top.

 

[Djaws9]

Damn i knew i had a long wait ahead. I reserved 4/21, 2 weeks too late for the price protection. I had high hopes of maybe next summer. Aint no way thats happening..... anyon e got info on when i can reserve a raptor R?

 

[SurfsUp85]

Normally, once a VIN is issued it's too late for changes. This isn't a normal situation, so hard to tell this early if Ford will make changes. I believe many will be pushed to 22, some may get the option to switch tops if it can otherwise be built. Time is running for 21 model year. By the time Ford/Webasto have new tops starting to arrive, order banks will be open for 22's.

Yah it's so confusing. Hoping the next couple weeks are more clear.

 

[Giddy Up]

I got an email from Ford tonight! Yep, Ford is trying to get me "pumped up" about their new Ford Maverick. Ford does an awesome job introducing new vehicles... They just aren't very good at actually building new vehicles. I'm thinking of writing Santa my letter tonight asking for my new Bronco - the traditional way isn't working out so well...

 

[Rayder]

I spoke with my dealer today and they basically told me "nope sorry you are out of luck". Since I am "scheduled" they can't make any changes. Which is f*ing ridiculous @Ford Motor Company because we all know that date won't stick. Much like the 6 previous dates I was given.

It's because you have a VIN with an associated monroney. Once the VIN has been created and registered and a Monroney created with that VIN it must be built that way. There is no changing it. Doing otherwise would be a violation Automobile Information Disclosure Act of 1958.

 

[TheHitmanHenson]

Interesting the date on the awareness communication letter says July 21. I wonder if that is because this letter applies only to Broncos that were shipped. Does that mean Ford stopped shipping any hard top Broncos made after 7/21? My build date was 7/22. Missed it by that much (if I'm right). I'm just speculating...

 

[Richw23]

Welp, there it is. Not even an email to address us, just throw it up on the site. Well done once again @Ford Motor Company .

So true, i feel like i actually get way more info from bronco6g than i have the people i gave money to. Seems odd that the people who have zero stake in whether or not i get my bronco ever give me way more than Ford. Thank you Bronco6g.com for your guidance on this. My boss isnt on the site and i bet he has no idea about todays events.

 

[Contact]

My dealer emailed me to ask if I received an email from Ford about this. I did not. Did anyone here get one?

 

[SVTLightning]

In other news what’s the best alternative to the bronco?

Driving what you currently have until the Bronco shows up. That’s it, that’s all!

 

[ALVA DUDE]

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.



No - the entire roof assembly is being replaced. This is being described this way as they won't ship the "replacement kits" to the dealers with the glass in place. It will need to be installed in the new cap by the dealer.


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.

Ford,
You suck! Lies and lies and lies. All of the incentivized costs are not for free folks. It all works out in their favor. Total Sh&* show.
Kick rocks!!!
Disapppointed!

 

[ColoradoGuy]

In other news what’s the best alternative to the bronco?

Being in the #BadBatchBronco club with @Ford Motor Company thinking lot rot is a manageable solution for 2,000-3,000 Broncos that were reserved over a year ago... yes, I'm thinking about alternatives now.

 

[TheHitmanHenson]

Interesting the date on the awareness communication letter says July 21. I wonder if that is because this letter applies only to Broncos that were shipped. Does that mean Ford stopped shipping any hard top Broncos made after 7/21? My build date was 7/22. Missed it by that much (if I'm right). I'm just speculating...

I too was built on 7/22. I'm thinking we're good but we should have shipped by now. Maybe they held everything until the final call was made.

 

[Bronc-O]

So true, i feel like i actually get way more info from bronco6g than i have the people i gave money to. Seems odd that the people who have zero stake in whether or not i get my bronco ever give me way more than Ford. Thank you Bronco6g.com for your guidance on this. My boss isnt on the site and i bet he has no idea about todays events.

That's probably because nobody here will be held accountable for info they spread be it reliable or just speculation. A company like Ford has to answer to many for everything they say and do.

 

[BOLD Renegade93]

So real talk, I'm not going through the 20 some pages I missed btw...what kind of condition are the purgatory Broncos going to be in when they finally ship? Is the fall intern team going to go out there and crank them all to keep their batteries charged? What kind of weather conditions will they endure over these few months that need correcting before they can ship?

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