Ford Recalls Bronco SUVs for Hard Top Cracks

Ford Motor Company is recalling more than 16,000 Bronco sport utility vehicles, warning that their hard tops can crack.

Ford says the outer layer of the SUVs can detach while the vehicles are being driven, at least in extreme situations. The automaker recently filed a recall notice with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

“Detachment of a section of the hard top outer layer while driving can create a road hazard for other road users, increasing the risk of a crash,” Ford said.

The bulk of the recall covers 2021 Bronco SUVs, with the rest coming from the 2022 model year. The recalled vehicles, equipped with molded-in-color hard tops, were built between September 2020, and January 2022.

The automaker became aware of the problem through customer complaints, Ford told NHTSA. The company said it is aware of at least 25 warranty claims related to the problem, but has not received any reports of accidents or injuries.

The hard top is built in layers, including an outer skin of acrylic-type plastic that is bonded to a polyurethane substrate beneath it. A snafu by supplier Webasto Roof Systems resulted in weaker-than-expected bonds between the layers, according to Ford. The outer skin is at risk of delaminating and then cracking due to temperature swings.

Ford said Bronco drivers may notice progressive peeling of sections of the outer layer on recalled SUVs.

The company plans to notify owners of recalled SUVs by early November. It will ask those owners to bring their vehicles to dealers, who will inspect each hard top and replace any that show cracking or delamination. 

California Lemon Law Rights for Ford Bronco Drivers

This is the latest chapter in a sad story for Ford and anyone who drives its vehicles.

The company also recently announced that it is calling back some 5,000 Bronco SUVs, warning they could lose power and roll away. Ford said the vehicles had previously been recalled and may have had their transmissions misaligned during earlier repairs.

The moves followed a larger recall in July in which Ford called back some 600,000 Broncos because of fire risks. Ford said the SUVs’ engine wiring could short-circuit and spark, potentially starting fires.

Ford drivers in California must understand their rights under the state’s lemon law.

The lemon law generally requires Ford and other automakers to perform a wide range of repairs on vehicles while they are under warranty. It also requires companies to buy back (or replace, in some cases) cars they cannot or refuse to fix. That includes compensating the owner for the purchase price, financing fees, rental car costs, and other related expenses.

No specific number of repair requests or attempts must occur before the buyback or replacement requirement kicks in. An experienced California lemon law attorney can help you understand your rights and take action.

Talk With a California Lemon Law Attorney

If you have been stuck with a defective or malfunctioning vehicle, a California lemon law attorney at Bickel Sannipoli APC can help you fight back.  

Call us at (888) 800-1983 or contact us online to speak with a California lemon law attorney.