UGH! MIC Top cracking

[BAUS67]

Lol I never said there wasn’t an issue. Clearly some tops do have problems.

Someone asked earlier why dealers don’t seem to know what they’re doing when replacing tops or aren’t familiar with it…. Well maybe that’s because realistically there aren’t that many being replaced or it’s not as wide spread as people make it out to be.

The few polls I’ve seen posted on here about MIC top issues (A place where everyone and their mother will come on here to show their problems, yet nobody will ever post that they have a MIC top that’s perfectly fine) seem to support the idea that many people don’t have a problem. Just my observation, nobody needs to like it or agree with it

And sure, you can say it’s because people aren’t looking close enough or whatever, but I think enough people on here have taken a very close look at their top after seeing multiple other people having issues.

I know you, said you only saw 2, are not seeing an issue. I was just making the point that although you have only seen two at your dealer I can go to three dealers in my area and find a dozens. The dealers around here are just too stupid to realize that they are defective. To me THAT is an issue, it's been 4 freaking years to get it straightened out. Guess maybe your dealer is just lucky 'cause around here it looks like it is the same ole situation. For the record I do see people post, mainly on FB, that they have had no issues and no cracks, so they are out there, as you said people just don't post much about the good ones. This whole thing reminds me of when the 2.7 dropping valves and people here were playing it down as "no big deal" but as it turned out it was a big enough deal that Ford finally had to do something about it.

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[Dude1967]

Well, I've seen people on here go check their top after reading the posts and then they find cracks. I'm one of those people. The number of people who read the MIC posts on this site is miniscule compared to the total number of Bronco owners, so who knows whether it's even a representative sample size.

I'm not looking to argue with anybody about a problem Ford/Webasto created. My only point is, there's anecdotal evidence that the problem is pretty widespread just based on the reports on this form. When you've got people replacing their top 5 times, something is going on. How widespread, not a single person on this forum knows. The only way to get that is through legal discovery.

I have been down that road twice. Once a 2022 then same issues on a 2024.

 

[contented]

You guys have me about paranoid. I’m literally checking mine every other day now. I bought the MIC top when Ford offered me one in June of 2024. The tech ruined my convertible top taking it off, but dealer made it right. Seven months and 15k miles later, nary a problem. Not a crack, no waffling visible no matter the angle of the light, just nothing. Either I have unicorn or I better start knocking on wood. I get the frustration though and wish everyone the best in getting them fixed.

 

[2023bronco]

At one point Ford recalled and replaced every single MIC top. There has never been any explanation by Ford or Webasto how they improved the top.

 

[NC_Pinz]

You guys have me about paranoid. I’m literally checking mine every other day now. I bought the MIC top when Ford offered me one in June of 2024. The tech ruined my convertible top taking it off, but dealer made it right. Seven months and 15k miles later, nary a problem. Not a crack, no waffling visible no matter the angle of the light, just nothing. Either I have unicorn or I better start knocking on wood. I get the frustration though and wish everyone the best in getting them fixed.

You aren't the only one. Yes the design sucks but there are folks who haven't had any signs of cracking. I'm one as well and yes I actually check mine and do know what I am looking for.

The pessimist in me says that all the good tops are just on borrowed time and will eventually fail. Maybe, but only time will tell. There are tops out there that don't have cracking or the snakeskin pattern. My guess is that those got enough of the resin on either side of the core material. The process probably has a lack or inconsistent control of core material placement or something like that leading to less resin on one side or the other. Less resin = less strength and you get cracking. Just a theory and I am not a hard top or plastics person but I am a mechanical engineer who does design.

I just hope that we have some type of reasonable hard top replacement down the road. The Armadillo top looks pretty sharp; I just hope that they can make the sustainable business case for producing the tops. I'd be good with a mod top from Ford if they prove to be better made and available at a reasonable cost.

 

[BAUS67]

................................

The pessimist in me says that all the good tops are just on borrowed time and will eventually fail. Maybe, but only time will tell. There are tops out there that don't have cracking or the snakeskin pattern. My guess is that those got enough of the resin on either side of the core material. The process probably has a lack or inconsistent control of core material placement or something like that leading to less resin on one side or the other. Less resin = less strength and you get cracking. Just a theory and I am not a hard top or plastics person but I am a mechanical engineer who does design.

..............................

I had mentioned this in another MIC top thread. I believe this is exactly what is happening to the cracking tops. I am also not an expert, but it makes the most sense. Judging by Ducati's response his dealer has been lucky on getting ones that are made correctly. As I've stated before I have seen good ones around here, but I have also seen my fair share of some real shitted up ones, more than 2 that is for sure, and not old ones either, these are 24 model year.

 

[HeliPilot]

My 2 door never had any cracking in the 30k miles I drove it. The Raptor I replaced it with had cracks in the top brand new on the lot. I had them get a replacement rolling while I signed the purchase paperwork. It got installed last week. It’s hit or miss.

 

[GroovyGeek]

I can see a class action lawsuit on this topic from 10 miles away if Ford does not do something voluntarily. The frequency with which this occurs points to a design marginality. Surely if their engines were blowing up at that frequency Ford would be in full crisis mode.

I am betting that in practice this issue is likely not particularly difficult to deal with DYI. A bit of clear caulk and mineral spirits cleanup should take care of it for a few years. My top is getting replaced in a few weeks for this very problem, if it comes up after warranty again I may take Ford to small claims court, or I may just caulk it up and call it a day.

 

[J-Lugster]

I can see a class action lawsuit on this topic from 10 miles away if Ford does not do something voluntarily. The frequency with which this occurs points to a design marginality. Surely if their engines were blowing up at that frequency Ford would be in full crisis mode.

I am betting that in practice this issue is likely not particularly difficult to deal with DYI. A bit of clear caulk and mineral spirits cleanup should take care of it for a few years. My top is getting replaced in a few weeks for this very problem, if it comes up after warranty again I may take Ford to small claims court, or I may just caulk it up and call it a day.

The problem with just sucking it up and DIY'ing a fix or going aftermarket is it will give Ford an excuse and more incentive just to never resolve the problem or find an alternative.

 

[RustysBronco]

Welcome to the club.

 

[DaddyLoafn]

I just dropped my Bronco off for transmission issues and a cracked top and while I was waiting to get picked up, I got nosey and started looking at all the broncos they had sitting on the lot and of all the non-painted hardtops they had, all but 2 had cracks in the top right around the side windows. These are all brand new to.

 

[2023bronco]

I just dropped my Bronco off for transmission issues and a cracked top and while I was waiting to get picked up, I got nosey and started looking at all the broncos they had sitting on the lot and of all the non-painted hardtops they had, all but 2 had cracks in the top right around the side windows. These are all brand new to.

I'm shocked, I tell you. /S

 

[PetePerkins]

I just dropped my Bronco off for transmission issues and a cracked top and while I was waiting to get picked up, I got nosey and started looking at all the broncos they had sitting on the lot and of all the non-painted hardtops they had, all but 2 had cracks in the top right around the side windows. These are all brand new to.

What was the outcome?

 

[DaddyLoafn]

What was the outcome?

I dropped it off an hour and a half ago

 

[DaddyLoafn]

What was the outcome?

They just called me and said they ordered a new top and it’s comming from Detroit so it’ll take a week or so. And all my synchros need to be replaced.

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