Are Bronco Flat Tow Issues Resolved?

[dgorsett]

From memory so....

Of the 10 failures I looked at : 6 were definitely Advanced 4x4 (stated Badlands or Sasquatch), 2 probably where (profile pic looked like Sasquatch), and 2 were unknown. All were auto trans failures so no MT.

From a post , I think @flip did, when the 4A case shifts to neutral part of the process involves the AWD module sending a command to disengage the clutch pack. The parttime case has no clutch so, I assume, it just slides a gear into neutral position. So through several layers of assumption that is my guess: the clutch pack doesn't properly disengage, spins the transmission and it's fried. A software fix to the AWD module might fix this without us ever knowing it. End of Conspiracy theory.

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[MNBigfoot]

You probably wouldn’t ever have an issue because you tow with the MT in neutral. It wouldn’t have hurt it even if the transfer case did shift back into 2H. (which is what is happening and taking out automatic transmissions)
I wanted a manual transmission for this reason but wifey wouldn’t budge on getting the automatic. It’s actually her Bronco which replaced her Mustang convertible.

So the cure for all those manual transmission issues to tow it every place, problem solved.

 

[smrpilot]

You probably wouldn’t ever have an issue because you tow with the MT in neutral. It wouldn’t have hurt it even if the transfer case did shift back into 2H. (which is what is happening and taking out automatic transmissions)
I wanted a manual transmission for this reason but wifey wouldn’t budge on getting the automatic. It’s actually her Bronco which replaced her Mustang convertible.

Maybe, and yes, I have the advanced T-case, but I can tell you that the T-case has never been engaged after towing. It certainly has been a pain to get it out of neutral and re-engaged though. I wish I could've still just had a effin' T-case lever, and don't get me started on the electronic e-brake. that should've been a lever too.

 

[Fordified1]

So the cure for all those manual transmission issues to tow it every place, problem solved.

Why are you twisting my words into something that I did not say. Or maybe I didn’t say enough. I didn’t know I needed to write a book lol. I meant he was not gonna have an issue because of flat towing. Any other issues the manual transmission has is separate. You probably know this, but you chose to bust my chops over something unrelated. Why exactly?

 

[Runyon]

I have towed my 2023 Outer Banks with 2.3L engine over 10,000 miles this year without any problems.

so did I before I started having issues.

 

[Runyon]

Maybe, and yes, I have the advanced T-case, but I can tell you that the T-case has never been engaged after towing. It certainly has been a pain to get it out of neutral and re-engaged though. I wish I could've still just had a effin' T-case lever, and don't get me started on the electronic e-brake. that should've been a lever too.

Mine always said it was still in Tow mode. I filmed it everytime with gps location as proof.

 

[Runyon]

Apparently Ford covered both transmissions or you wouldn’t be looking at another Ford right? Assume your 21 has the 4A system?

What is the 4A issue? yes its a badlands with 4A, Ford is buying back my bronco. I towed it many many times without any issue. When they changed the Software to when you put it in neutral tow it disabled the brake system and you then got brake warnings, after that is when the troubles started.

 

[jwest1987]

I literally joined this forum to ask this exact question. Looking to buy a badlands sas to pull behind the rv 2k-3k miles a year. I would like to know the issues are fixed before I do so though.

 

[Runyon]

From memory so....

Of the 10 failures I looked at : 6 were definitely Advanced 4x4 (stated Badlands or Sasquatch), 2 probably where (profile pic looked like Sasquatch), and 2 were unknown. All were auto trans failures so no MT.

From a post , I think @flip did, when the 4A case shifts to neutral part of the process involves the AWD module sending a command to disengage the clutch pack. The parttime case has no clutch so, I assume, it just slides a gear into neutral position. So through several layers of assumption that is my guess: the clutch pack doesn't properly disengage, spins the transmission and it's fried. A software fix to the AWD module might fix this without us ever knowing it. End of Conspiracy theory.

Mine is a 21 Bl Sas. 2dr 2.7. I feel it was a software change. It had its first failure right after the software change came out for disabling the brake system. That btw did not work, I then started having my supplemental brake system lock up the brakes, due to the brakes becoming active again at some point. Then took it in for a Patch I read about not known by my dealer, only for my certain make and model with the 2.7. That patch did nothing. I just stopped using my brake system. the wear and tear on my RV it caused everytime the brakes locked up and not to mention the danger, sitting in 5 lanes of traffic and can't unlock the brakes to get rolling again. Very scary.

 

[jwest1987]

So Ya if the E brake is engaged and you put it in Neutral Tow, Which would be the safest thing, you can not disengage the e brake. even if you push the button nothing happens. found out the hardway on that. So In the processes of having issues I took mine to the dealer when the Brake errors popped up when you put it in tow mode, because they could not explain and there was no service note or or anything to tell us there would be a difference in the way it worked. The Tech Said oh i see see it was having troubles with the move forward to engage errors. I did not bring it in for that, I take that as it is a 4x4 and the splines all have to line up. He said well "I made an ajustment" to fix that. Im like ok but I still have all these brake errors when i put it in neutral tow. Then he went off about Oh you must have added that, and these are not even the stock tow hooks on the front. Im like yes it has a flat tow mode just like your ranger overthere and this is a stock modular bumper on a bad lands.. I drove off than after a few weeks got my answer about the New errors. after that the next time i towed it to moab with no issue drove all over, then on the way back the last leg it blew up. They fixed the transmission that time , then the next time I towed it , it blew up again, along with Over temping the engine and they replaced the Transfer case and the transmission. Only because I had taken pictures and gps locations of the dash that it showed still in tow mode. 9 weeks in the shop , 600 miles out of town. towed it home that time and no issues. Then I went to change the Oil and there were no nuts on my engine mounts. just a few of my issues .. my warrenty
has been months of waiting on Ford, and now I am still waiting on them.. ...three years of nothing but waiting on my Dream Truck.

It’s the stories like this that scare me about buying one.

 

[jwest1987]

I would be interested to know though if anyone has heard of any 2024’s having an issue. I realize a one off could be operator error but there were far too many in the beginning for that to be the case.

 

[Fordified1]

I would be interested to know though if anyone has heard of any 2024’s having an issue. I realize a one off could be operator error but there were far too many in the beginning for that to be the case.

Personally haven’t heard of any ‘24 MY flat tow failures, but haven’t been on the rv forums this year at all.

 

[stokesrl]

It’s good to hear these experiences but I guess the jest of the original question remains- have any of you had issues in the last 6 month to a year?

 

[jwest1987]

It’s good to hear these experiences but I guess the jest of the original question remains- have any of you had issues in the last 6 month to a year?

I think that is what we are all trying to figure out. Hard to pay the price they want for these not knowing if they will reliably do what is advertised. Really don’t want a jeep and unfortunately there aren’t many choices these days.

 

[Bugkillah]

After the battery is a couple of years old, and the voltage drops below a certain level, the vehicle will turn off certain circuits to save on battery.

I sincerely believe that Ford fixed this a few months ago OTA in the background. Probably the default mode for the 4A transmission was 2H and was reverting back to default from neutral for towing during a low voltage “battery saver mode”.

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