Unintended Acceleration in 4L

[CR_IN_UT]

I had this happen. I was in 4L and in manual. It kept upshifting automatically instead of holding the gear and letting me go down the hill slowly. I kept forcing it back to first and then the screen started showing me 8th gear, 3rd gear, 6th gear, 2nd gear, etc. randomly. Obviously it wasn't going from 1st to 8th gear and back down 10 times in a minute but thats what the screen was showing. Totally glitched out on me. Finally stopped and just put it in 4H and rode the brakes down the hill.

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[SierraBronco]

I had this happen. I was in 4L and in manual. It kept upshifting automatically instead of holding the gear and letting me go down the hill slowly. I kept forcing it back to first and then the screen started showing me 8th gear, 3rd gear, 6th gear, 2nd gear, etc. randomly. Obviously it wasn't going from 1st to 8th gear and back down 10 times in a minute but thats what the screen was showing. Totally glitched out on me. Finally stopped and just put it in 4H and rode the brakes down the hill.

Geez. Had it happen to me for the first time in Sand Hollow. (All other times were with Mrs. Sierra Bronco) Just about turn start turning in to the tunnel to return to parking when it took off. Steered it up the hill on the other side to avoid running to the concrete walls. Not a fun time

 

[CR_IN_UT]

Geez. Had it happen to me for the first time in Sand Hollow. (All other times were with Mrs. Sierra Bronco) Just about turn start turning in to the tunnel to return to parking when it took off. Steered it up the hill on the other side to avoid running to the concrete walls. Not a fun time

crazy! what if you were coming down a hill and had to ditch it? This is so dangerous that I can't believe it hasn't been addressed. But who wants to bring it to a dealer so they can keep it for a month and say, "can't seem to repeat the problem.". I don't want to be the guinea pig but it should be addressed. It's not like it's a rattle or a squeak. It's dangerous and someone is going to get hurt for sure.

 

[SierraBronco]

crazy! what if you were coming down a hill and had to ditch it? This is so dangerous that I can't believe it hasn't been addressed. But who wants to bring it to a dealer so they can keep it for a month and say, "can't seem to repeat the problem.". I don't want to be the guinea pig but it should be addressed. It's not like it's a rattle or a squeak. It's dangerous and someone is going to get hurt for sure.

once we started using manual and first when in 4L the problem went away. In my case we weren’t crawling anymore and I can’t be sure if I was in manual or auto. My first guess would be auto based on circumstances. But it’s definitely an issue that Ford should at least make their customers aware of.

Haven’t heard of the gear indicator skipping around thing yet.

 

[CR_IN_UT]

There is a thread that gave a TSB for this. I will call dealer tomorrow and see what's up.
TSB -23-2352

Once it happens you never forget it! Scary stuff.

 

[Ike89]

I'll keep an eye on this thread. I have the same issue, it doesn't feel good when you have to slam your brakes and hold unexpectedly.

 

[The Beaz]

once we started using manual and first when in 4L the problem went away. In my case we weren’t crawling anymore and I can’t be sure if I was in manual or auto. My first guess would be auto based on circumstances. But it’s definitely an issue that Ford should at least make their customers aware of.

Haven’t heard of the gear indicator skipping around thing yet.

I've had it happen a few times, in manual 4L, always descending, mostly seems to occur on steeper slopes, 20 degrees or more. At first I thought is was my foot catching on the skinny pedal. But nope, started paying attention to foot placement, that wasn't the issue. Freaked the hell out of my brother riding shotgun!

 

[SierraBronco]

I've had it happen a few times, in manual 4L, always descending, mostly seems to occur on steeper slopes, 20 degrees or more. At first I thought is was my foot catching on the skinny pedal. But nope, started paying attention to foot placement, that wasn't the issue. Freaked the hell out of my brother riding shotgun!

One of the times it happened to us the Mrs was driving and I thought she was messing around. Going downhill. Next to a drop. And she’s afraid of heights. “Jesus! Guess she’s really taking that whole ‘face your fears’ thing seriously but holy shit maybe don’t do it while driving!” But…she definitely didn’t seem to be doing it on purpose. Happened a couple more times and noticed the pattern, but thought maybe it was accidental and started watching her feet. Nope! Not her feet. We got it figured out before the portals, but ho lawd let me tell you what-it already wants to drive through the brakes with that gear reduction. When it throttled up on me with the portals that effer did not care about the brakes. It was not a cool experience.

 

[CR_IN_UT]

These are all terrifying stories. I thought it was just me! And the first time I thought the same as Shad. I thought my foot accidentally hit the other pedal or maybe it got caught somehow. If it happens to you, its not something you will forget!

 

[userdude]

Happened to me once turning onto a frontage road, nearly ran into the kerb on the passenger side. Felt like the truck was having a panic attack.

 

[Ford Motor Company]

I'll keep an eye on this thread. I have the same issue, it doesn't feel good when you have to slam your brakes and hold unexpectedly.

Hi there Issac. This acceleration concern doesn’t sound like something we want you to experience with your Bronco. Should you need further assistance, please send us a direct message with your VIN and the name and location of your Ford dealer and I'd be happy to look into how I can assist you on my end. To send a direct message, just click on our username and select "Send Direct Message".

 

[CR_IN_UT]

Hey Isaac, Ford is concerned about your safety. The rest of us? Well...

Gotta Love That!

 

[LanceIto]

Yep, all the time. Just used to it by now. You can switch to manual mode to reduce it.

If I am in 4L I almost ALWAYS have it in manual mode to control gear selection. I also noticed in rock crawl mode it starts in 1 gear and in Baja and maybe Offroad Mode it starts in 2nd gear.

To note…to control speed and slapping the transfer case chain in 4L rock crawling I love to run single pedal trail assist without setting a speed. It feels like much less lurching and wear and tear on drive train.

 

[SierraBronco]

If I am in 4L I almost ALWAYS have it in manual mode to control gear selection. I also noticed in rock crawl mode it starts in 1 gear and in Baja and maybe Offroad Mode it starts in 2nd gear.

To note…to control speed and slapping the transfer case chain in 4L rock crawling I love to run single pedal trail assist without setting a speed. It feels like much less lurching and wear and tear on drive train.

That’s interesting. Our whildetrache starts in second with rock crawl mode

 

[Ike89]

Hey Isaac, Ford is concerned about your safety. The rest of us? Well...

Gotta Love That!

LOL
either way I'd rather not have my bronco in the dealership for months on end, just for them to say that couldn't replicate it or something.

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