2023 Badlands dangerous unintended acceleration while in four-wheel-drive low

[Charles Miller]

Maybe it’s shifting out of low into high without indicating it due to excessive speed beyond parameters of low?

could be true on some of the down hills, however if I didn’t hit the brake it would have keep accelerating without my foot on the gas.

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[0ne]

could be true on some of the down hills, however if I didn’t hit the brake it would have keep accelerating without my foot on the gas.

Dealership stat, have fun replicating it with them, best of luck.

 

[Crzr45]

It stays in 4l. I think it’s the rpm trying to match and stay the same when up shifts or downshifts as I recall. Definitely noticeable. Had my buddy drive and he said that it was weird for it to do it when it did it. Definitely a program issue but I’ll live with it as I don’t want dealer trying to reinvent the computer program and mess anything up.

 

[Strizzo]

its upshifting, the gearing is so low that it accelerates without needing additional throttle. use manual mode and keep it in first gear or out of first so you don't have the lurching forward.

 

[Charles Miller]

its upshifting, the gearing is so low that it accelerates without needing additional throttle. use manual mode and keep it in first gear or out of first so you don't have the lurching forward.

good advice

 

[Charles Miller]

It stays in 4l. I think it’s the rpm trying to match and stay the same when up shifts or downshifts as I recall. Definitely noticeable. Had my buddy drive and he said that it was weird for it to do it when it did it. Definitely a program issue but I’ll live with it as I don’t want dealer trying to reinvent the computer program and mess anything up.

so true.

 

[Mikerkelly]

Same thing here. Spent a day on the trails after some heavy rain so kept it low speed in 4L all day. This happened probably 2 or 3 times. It's definitely a transmission shift. I like the advice from @Strizzo to keep it in manual mode when in 4L, that's probably what I will do, but people should be aware of this, it can be very jolting and could possibly get you into a precarious situation.

 

[2023bronco]

For a minute there I thought there was going to be a secret Nintendo code reveal, 4-Low, 1-2, 2-1, and get a nitrous oxide boost.

 

[TimboSlice]

Take it out of 4 Lo unless you need the extra gearing for rock crawling, use 4A for dirt trails that way the system can engage when needed. Most dirt trails can get by with just 2wd.

Regardless of if he should have been in 4 lo or not it still doesn't address the issue at hand which is why vehicle seems to be accelerating dramatically.

 

[Brian’sBronco]

Regardless of if he should have been in 4 lo or not it still doesn't address the issue at hand which is why vehicle seems to be accelerating dramatically.

There is no issue, this is how vehicles act in 4Lo, they accelerate on their own because of the gear reduction, both of my Jeeps did it and you just have to know that when you let off the brake the car is moving more than it will when in 2wd and the transmission will shift if left in auto. If this explanation and the one from others isn’t good enough to make the OP feel safe then he needs to take it to the dealer and have them check it out.

 

[Charles Miller]

There is no issue, this is how vehicles act in 4Lo, they accelerate on their own because of the gear reduction, both of my Jeeps did it and you just have to know that when you let off the brake the car is moving more than it will when in 2wd and the transmission will shift if left in auto. If this explanation and the one from others isn’t good enough to make the OP feel safe then he needs to take it to the dealer and have them check it out.

Never had the trouble in 4H. So, I think it's 4L and traveling too fast down hill. I'm going to try 4A next time. Thank you.

 

[acarzt]

I've had this happen to me in 4L while off road too. I was usually ready to hit the brakes right away so it only ever just lurched forward suddenly and unexpectedly. I was never sure if it was something I was doing wrong though

 

[Arrowbear Rider]

Switch to a manual... Err manual mode , on a trail ride several newbies had the same issue with the tranny shifting up on them, going through the gears in 4L and the leader came on and told them to switch to manual mode.

 

[Blaylock1988]

Hello friends,

My 2023 Bronco Badlands accelerates dangerously while in four-wheel-drive low. The transmission appears to be in first gear, then suddenly and dangerously surges forward and begins to accelerate. I then have to hit the brakes before hitting the vehicle in front of me. Yesterday it happen 10+ times, without any warning.

Charles Miller
2023 Ford Bronco Badlands
VIN: 1FMEE5DP9PLA86165
[email protected]
Frontier Ford, Santa Clara Ca

I think I know what you are experiencing. When I was in Moab for the Bronco Safari mine would do the same thing when slowing down usually going down an incline, always in 4-Low. I believe it is down shifting from 2nd to 1st and it applies too much throttle during the downshift, and it would do it even with my foot already on the brake. One time when I had space I intentionally let it roll out its acceleration and it did come to a stop on its own, so its not a full run-away sort of acceleration. It did this to me dozens of times just like as you described. I think it is a dangerous flaw in the transmission programming that Ford needs to adjust asap.

 

[Lil Red Broncette]

Take it out of 4 Lo unless you need the extra gearing for rock crawling, use 4A for dirt trails that way the system can engage when needed. Most dirt trails can get by with just 2wd.

It still shouldn't just accelerate.

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