Are Bronco Flat Tow Issues Resolved?

[dgorsett]

After the battery is a couple of years old, and the voltage drops below a certain level, the vehicle will turn off certain circuits to save on battery.

I sincerely believe that Ford fixed this a few months ago OTA in the background. Probably the default mode for the 4A transmission was 2H and was reverting back to default from neutral for towing during a low voltage “battery saver mode”.

Plausible.

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[Runyon]

I think that is what we are all trying to figure out. Hard to pay the price they want for these not knowing if they will reliably do what is advertised. Really don’t want a jeep and unfortunately there aren’t many choices these days.

sure wish they sold Suzuki Jimny's here. would buy two for what I paid for the bronco

 

[Runyon]

After the battery is a couple of years old, and the voltage drops below a certain level, the vehicle will turn off certain circuits to save on battery.

I sincerely believe that Ford fixed this a few months ago OTA in the background. Probably the default mode for the 4A transmission was 2H and was reverting back to default from neutral for towing during a low voltage “battery saver mode”.

Sorry but mine always had a charger and a remote monitor connected. My battery never got low. It always said it was still in Neutral tow leave it in neutral. Then when I took it out of tow mode and couldn't drive it forward ,to get the tow bar loose ,was the first sign.

 

[Runyon]

Sorry but mine always had a charger and a remote monitor connected. My battery never got low.

Plausible.

Mine always had a Towed vehicle charger connected. RVI. with a monitor in the RV. It never got low.

 

[Runyon]

Sorry but mine always had a charger and a remote monitor connected. My battery never got low. It always said it was still in Neutral tow leave it in neutral. Then when I couldn't drive it forward to get the tow bar loose was the first sign.Not to mention my battery was replaced by warrenty early on due to a mis diagnosed gateway board failure.

 

[BlarneyStoned]

After the battery is a couple of years old, and the voltage drops below a certain level, the vehicle will turn off certain circuits to save on battery.

Yeah I was thinking it is probably along those lines, something resets the ECM in charge and it just defaults back to 2H mode - Cause when I disconnect my battery and it's in 4A it goes back to 2H. I'm wondering if the people having issues went into tow mode and disconnected the battery if they'd have still had the issue or not.

 

[Runyon]

Yeah I was thinking it is probably along those lines, something resets the ECM in charge and it just defaults back to 2H mode - Cause when I disconnect my battery and it's in 4A it goes back to 2H. I'm wondering if the people having issues went into tow mode and disconnected the battery if they'd have still had the issue or not.

I disagree, mine was always towed with a battery charger. And it would still say it was in neutral after failing.

 

[BlarneyStoned]

I disagree, mine was always towed with a battery charger. And it would still say it was in neutral after failing.

Doesn't need to be a low battery, the CAN bus wakes up periodically and then goes back to sleep and if during one of those cycles something resets it back to it's default mode that might be triggering the issue - hence my idea of just disconnecting the battery after putting it in flat tow mode to prevent any mode changes at all.

 

[Runyon]

Hmm then running a suplimental brake system would be out of the question unless it has its own battery..

 

[jwest1987]

I would still be interested to know if anyone has heard of any 2024 model years with the auto transfer case having an issue. I agree that ford will never admit they were at fault and will therefore never announce a fix but if non have failed from 2024 that would be a good sign.

 

[tfrazier]

No problems with my 23 BL, 2.7, 4A. Multiple flat tow sequences without a hitch. When we first started towing I was always nervous because of all the negative posts. I am still very anal about following the procedures but a lot less freaked out than I used to be.

 

[Runyon]

No problems with my 23 BL, 2.7, 4A. Multiple flat tow sequences without a hitch. When we first started towing I was always nervous because of all the negative posts. I am still very anal about following the procedures but a lot less freaked out than I used to be.

Good to hear, I towed mine many many times without issues, bit then they started doing a lot of software changes. Maybe they have it figured out.

 

[Tilzbow]

2022 Badlands Sasquatch 2.7, 4A. I’ve flat towed the Bronco 76 different times for a total of 12,488 miles. Zero issues to date other than having to repeat the process to get it out of flat tow mode a few times over those 76 times.. That said my last trip started in early May 2024 ended in early August and it sure seemed like the Bronco went into and out of flat tow mode much more smoothly this year and I was thinking during that time there might have been a software update.

I will note I have a charge line from the motorhome to the Bronco and my auxiliary brake system doesn’t use the Bronco’s power to operate, rather it runs off the motorhome‘s air brakes.

 

[Runyon]

mine sometimes would have issues getting out of tow mode as well. good to hear..I too have a charger from the RV, i would though run the RVI from the battery in the bronco. everytime I took mine in they would say I had the latest and greatest software loaded. but then I would still have the brakes re activate.

 

[jwest1987]

I’m glad to hear some have had good luck pulling the ones with the automatic 4wd. I am probably going to buy one this fall and start setting it up for next camping season. I will be sure to have a charge line between rv and bronco. I appreciate everyone’s replies.

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