Soft top misery

[FatsWaller]

Maybe a technician here can enlighten me, I know I've heard people say the soft top is complex and difficult to work on but is this rocket science? Also how unacceptable is this service?

Timeline of Events

• Beginning of 2024: Purchased a second-hand Bronco with 15k miles, well-maintained.
• Soft Top Issues Identified shortly after :
  • Leaks, doesn't lock or fold properly.
  • Bad weatherstripping.
  • Fraying and rear window pins snapping off.
• Small-Town Ford Dealer Experience:
  • Took the Bronco to a local dealer.
  • Got jerked around for over 6 months while they "figured out" if they could replace the top.
  • No resolution; moved on to a larger town dealer.
• Big-Town Ford Dealer Experience:
  • Dealer agreed to replace the top but insisted on completing all TSBs first before they culd do anything.
  • Took the vehicle in twice for photos and preliminary TSB work.
  • On the third visit, the soft top was replaced, but the job wasn't finished due to additional parts needing to be ordered.
• After picking up the car I notice:
  • Rear Windows: All three severely scratched, likely from mishandling during service.
  • Rear Roll Bars: Scratched extensively on both sides.
  • Interior Condition: Tools and metal/plastic shavings left inside the car. Shoe prints on the seats, etc (cleaned/vacuumed before the photos)
  • Wire clamps and wire: Wires left exposed and loose, pry marks everywhere.
  • New Soft Top:
    • Poor installation with looseness in the front.
    • Water pooling on the top.
    • Excessive flapping when driving.

I drove back home for the holidays otherwise id just drive to the dealer now but in the meantime I'm extremely frustrated. Is this just standard nowadays? Am I being unreasonable to expect a professional installation without further damage to the car? It seems everywhere I go this soft top thing is either unheard of or they act like it would be easier to just build a new car.

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[DEC]

Yeah, that’s not an acceptable repair. Looks like amateur hour and I would be pissed.

 

[MaximuNashville]

I would be beyond pissed. Messing up the top would be bad enough, but scratching the vehicle like that is mind blowing. I would be losing my mind honestly.

 

[DefNotBuddyLee]

Woah...that is indeed a bad job. There is so much to say about every pic.
They should definitely fix, but that means more shop downtime with no Bronco. Uggg.
I would venture that alot of the paint scratches are due to 1 person trying to do the work of 2 people when maneuvering the soft top frame.

 

[JediMcMuffin]

That looks horrible. My 2021 soft top never looked that bad. I've since moved on to a TOR hardtop, worth every damn penny.

 

[FatsWaller]

I’m pretty mad. I already sent an email to my service advisor and I think I need to just send an email to Ford corporate because I’m just over this game. I think what really pisses me off is the technician damn well knew he damaged things and said nothing as if I wouldn’t notice. That and he clearly has no clue how to install this thing. It’s already wring in so many more places than what I took photos of.

 

[PetePerkins]

Why I always try to avoid dealerships. Purchased my softtop used as well. It did not fit well after installing so I learned how to adjust it at all of the 8 adjustment points...fits like a glove now. Built a hoist in my garage to swap between hard and soft tops. Because it's my vehicle, I'm always careful not to scratch the roll bars and decks. Sorry for the useless post.

 

[FatsWaller]

Why I always try to avoid dealerships. Purchased my softtop used as well. It did not fit well after installing so I learned how to adjust it at all of the 8 adjustment points...fits like a glove now. Built a hoist in my garage to swap between hard and soft tops. Because it's my vehicle, I'm always careful not to scratch the roll bars and decks. Sorry for the useless post.

If it wasn’t a warranty repair I’d never had done it. Trust me I’m regretting it now. I am very careful as well and always made sure not to put the top down aggressively. I guess I just thought they would treat a customers vehicle a little better than like trash.

 

[popo_patty]

Wow, day one for someone at the dealership? That’s just pure bad

 

[Area51BS]

That’s sad. I’d be pissed.

 

[Vandy]

I wouldn't say this is necessarily the soft top. My soft top has been perfect. I put it up and down all the time without rubbing, scratching, sagging, or breaking. The nice thing is you can completely remove the soft top and repair it or replace it. I already have a brand new second one in my garage because someone took it off their new bronco. So when mine gets ripped I'll just swap them. Lots of options..

 

[FatsWaller]

I wouldn't say this is necessarily the soft top. My soft top has been perfect. I put it up and down all the time without rubbing, scratching, sagging, or breaking. The nice thing is you can completely remove the soft top and repair it or replace it. I already have a brand new second one in my garage because someone took it off their new bronco. So when mine gets ripped I'll just swap them. Lots of options..

I wish it were that simple. Seems they have done everything to not have to replace the frame, yet that is what had half the issues (not locking, leaking from improper sealing, lever release not engaging/disengaging, etc) so they so far have attempted to just replace the soft top (horribly) and in the process screwed up my windows and paint.

 

[Sgt Badlands]

When I had my hardtop placed the body shop manager at Ford said they had never replaced one. They did not glue the headliner very well. Some of these guys don’t have much experience.

 

[Bugkillah]

Same here with hard top. Had it replaced, scratched glass and roll bars. Fix one thing, break another.

 

[BroncoA512021]

Maybe a technician here can enlighten me, I know I've heard people say the soft top is complex and difficult to work on but is this rocket science? Also how unacceptable is this service?

Timeline of Events

• Beginning of 2024: Purchased a second-hand Bronco with 15k miles, well-maintained.
• Soft Top Issues Identified shortly after :
  • Leaks, doesn't lock or fold properly.
  • Bad weatherstripping.
  • Fraying and rear window pins snapping off.
• Small-Town Ford Dealer Experience:
  • Took the Bronco to a local dealer.
  • Got jerked around for over 6 months while they "figured out" if they could replace the top.
  • No resolution; moved on to a larger town dealer.
• Big-Town Ford Dealer Experience:
  • Dealer agreed to replace the top but insisted on completing all TSBs first before they culd do anything.
  • Took the vehicle in twice for photos and preliminary TSB work.
  • On the third visit, the soft top was replaced, but the job wasn't finished due to additional parts needing to be ordered.
• After picking up the car I notice:
  • Rear Windows: All three severely scratched, likely from mishandling during service.
  • Rear Roll Bars: Scratched extensively on both sides.
  • Interior Condition: Tools and metal/plastic shavings left inside the car. Shoe prints on the seats, etc (cleaned/vacuumed before the photos)
  • Wire clamps and wire: Wires left exposed and loose, pry marks everywhere.
  • New Soft Top:
    • Poor installation with looseness in the front.
    • Water pooling on the top.
    • Excessive flapping when driving.

I drove back home for the holidays otherwise id just drive to the dealer now but in the meantime I'm extremely frustrated. Is this just standard nowadays? Am I being unreasonable to expect a professional installation without further damage to the car? It seems everywhere I go this soft top thing is either unheard of or they act like it would be easier to just build a new car.

Water pools on all soft tops to some extent. Everything else dealer screwed up

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