2021 Bronco Base DIED WHILE DRIVING today

[Mario3241]

Four hours into a drive today, going down a fairly steep hill @ ~30mph into a 4 point intersection my Bronco lost all power, brakes and steering. I mean it had nothing.

We barely made it thru the intersection because the cars coming directly at us slammed brakes. I had no control and went off the road into someone’s yard, barely missing their fence. It was the scariest thing we’ve ever encountered. My son in the back screaming STOP at the top of his lungs is burned in my brain.

What makes all of this worse is that Ford just had it in the shop for 3 days because the week before when they had my Bronco in the shop for yearly inspection/oil change and under their care it had the first symptoms of this issue. I received an app notice of a battery failure AND at their request because of this new issue they wanted my car for a “longer look” the following week. Today was first time driving it since they handed it back to me (I use the valet service that picks up and drops it back to me).

Ford could come back and say they will give us a new car and there’s no way I can ever convince my wife to get back in this car. She was absolutely freaked out as the cars coming towards us would have drilled her door.

It took Ford 4 hours to come 17 miles to tow us (probably a contractor) to the local Ford dealer that was closed by the time it arrived. We had to Uber to Enterprise and then drive the rental home four hours.

I guess tomorrow I’ll call Ford to see what is going on and then how they don’t care as I have 16,000 miles and I’m screwed.
I really loved how it looked (I really spruced her up) and the drive. Too bad I’d rather have my wife so the Bronco will have to go and I’ll have to eat the los

The real dilemma I have is I wouldn’t want anyone to drive this particular car and have the same issue. One second later or a few miles slower and we would have been hit in a massive crash.

I’m so sorry to read this. That happened to me with my 08 Chrysler 300 and they weren’t able to diagnose it. I couldn’t get out of that car quick enough trading it for anything not from Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep. I was terrified of that car after that.

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[C6ZZGT]

They said “ I think” right after “ I’m not sure”. My question was posed because owning a vehicle and putting 16K miles on it and the size motor isn’t “ known” is bizarre to me.

I know you don`t sell auto parts, The general population is probably close too 90% --don`t have a clue what they drive--brand,model,engine size or any number of things a parts guy might ask them to get the proper part. I would have higher hopes for a specialty vehicle with a dedicated forum.

 

[murphtron]

I would have been grabbing for the emergency brake handle on the lower left. Oh wait it's not there anymore, it's an e-brake or something that I probably couldn't find in a panic.
edit: So I went out and looked for it and found it. It is on the left side but was hidden by the steering wheel from my view. But then now I'm thinking if the electronics are out does it still work? Geesh, bring back a handle that you can pull on to mechanically tighten a cable going to the rear brakes like the old days.

Every day I drive my Bronco this is the one detail that really fucking pisses me off. That stupid e-brake that takes a few seconds to set. And the fact it’s an ebrake. And in a really shitty place to reach. Especially as I’ve had at least one error message related to it. But it left no code trace.

 

[VoltageDrop]

Just wait until this happens on the side of a mountain to someone 🫣

It already has but I don't recall if it was here or on the book of faces. Guy rolled backwards down a steep rocky hill after stalling and smashed up his tailgate and such. Claims NO brakes. This is not good.

Every day I drive my Bronco this is the one detail that really fucking pisses me off. That stupid e-brake that takes a few seconds to set. And the fact it’s an ebrake. And in a really shitty place to reach. Especially as I’ve had at least one error message related to it. But it left no code trace.

With all the unnecessary shit offered for the B6G, you would think a fairly useful thing like a mechanical e-brake kit would've surfaced by now. Time to hop on the creeper and see what it would take.

 

[Lcubed]

sounds like a lo-jack device got activated while you were driving. check for third party black boxes

 

[FleshTuxedo]

It already has but I don't recall if it was here or on the book of faces. Guy rolled backwards down a steep rocky hill after stalling and smashed up his tailgate and such. Claims NO brakes. This is not good.


With all the unnecessary shit offered for the B6G, you would think a fairly useful thing like a mechanical e-brake kit would've surfaced by now. Time to hop on the creeper and see what it would take.

That was posted on here.

 

[Brsox]

I would have been grabbing for the emergency brake handle on the lower left. Oh wait it's not there anymore, it's an e-brake or something that I probably couldn't find in a panic.
edit: So I went out and looked for it and found it. It is on the left side but was hidden by the steering wheel from my view. But then now I'm thinking if the electronics are out does it still work? Geesh, bring back a handle that you can pull on to mechanically tighten a cable going to the rear brakes like the old days.

Right? I hate electronic emergency brakes! To me, it defeats the whole purpose of the brake. My 2023 4Runner still has an "old fashioned" cable actuated foot pedal emergency brake. If need be, I can modulate the emergency brake for the amount of braking I need. Even if the electronic e brake worked in that situation, it would lock the rear wheels instantly. That can't be good.

 

[buck_6G]

Hi Mike! I can look into your Bronco's brake concern on my end. To get started, could you please send a private message over with the name/location of your local Ford dealer and your Bronco's VIN?

Uh, this sounds like a lot more than a concern with the brakes. The car almost killed this man's family when the steering, brakes, and motor all stopped working simultaneously.

 

[da_jokker]

Thinking about all the times in the last year that my family and I have been on windy mountain roads...the idea if this scares the crap out of me.

I've had no issues at all so far with 15k miles...but everything is good till it ain't.

 

[2023bronco]

@Mabett here's a money maker for you -- figure out a way to add a mechanical parking brake.

Maybe you can put it where the useless console grab handle is located.

 

[userdude]

I mean, the Flintstones had this figured out many, many, many years ago. SMH!

Of course, just kidding. I had an 82 F-250 years ago that had a bad master cylinder and it would lose braking randomly; almost took out a brick mailbox and ran a couple stop signs. Overpasses made me sweat cuz it was tall (4" lift on big tires), it was very top heavy, oh and the windshield wipers didn't work well (this was in Houston), gas gauge didn't work, etc... Overall very scary when you don't think you can stop. I could pull the parking brake, though, even though I didn't think of that then (I was 17). On the plus side I was very heavy with cattle killer homemade steal bumpers, so I woulda just plowed anything I hit. Ask me how I know (hat tip 83 Caddy).

 

[Sandbergo]

I would imagine this has to do with the power in the vehicle being lost and having a cascading effect on the vehicles systems. I don’t know for sure but that would be quite stupid of Ford to tie everything into the electrical system because of cases like this. Glad you and yours are okay. I have about 31k miles on my ‘21 and have been fortunate to not have issues, God willing I and everyone else will remain issueless. Will be following to see what they uncover. I do think they should have a non electric e-brake as well.

 

[Imaginary Friend]

They had mechanical emergency brakes and you could get them with manual R&P steering

They did. However, I think you missed my point.

 

[zuke]

My CJ-7 has power steering and brakes (both powered by the engine). When the engine dies, the CJ still has driver steering and braking control, but you do have to put some muscle into it. I'm surprised if the Bronco has complete lack of control when the power is out, that wouldn't be good.

It doesn't lose Brakes and Steering, Just like your old CJ, it just loses all power assist.

The Brakes and Steering are both VERY stiff without assist, but they still work.

People just don't have to deal with these situations nearly as often as they used too. Many folks under 35 have probably never experienced it, so don't know how to react when it happens, and just assume they have no brakes or steering.

Modern vehicles don't have steering locks in them anymore like your old CJ did, So there is literally NO WAY to completely lose steering short of a mechanical failure in the steering column or rack.

Most all vehicles being sold today are like this. Not sure how to educate folks on it short of them experiencing it...

 

[uncledoodoo]

I just can't wrap my head around the idea that you couldn't use the brakes at all. I understand some people never stopped a car with manual brakes (no assist), but is this a real thing with modern cars? I might have just found the real reason I need to skip my HE order and go with the over-priced (yet manual e-brake) Ineos Grenadier that I had all but wrote off. If this is real, someone needs to sue.

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