Are Bronco Flat Tow Issues Resolved?

[Runyon]

I have lost 2 transmissions due to Flat Tow issues on My 21 Badlands. Both I followed procedures to the Letter. At some time the transfer case was no longer in Neutral and in one instance over heated the engine. Im thinking of getting a New 24 or 25 and was wondering if we feel this has been resolved. I don't think ford has ever admitted to an issue, but I know many have had it.

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[V1Rotate]

I have lost 2 transmissions due to Flat Tow issues on My 21 Badlands. Both I followed procedures to the Letter. At some time the transfer case was no longer in Neutral and in one instance over heated the engine. Im thinking of getting a New 24 or 25 and was wondering if we feel this has been resolved. I don't think ford has ever admitted to an issue, but I know many have had it.

I talked my retired/traveling parents out of a Bronco earlier this year for this reason still. Zero chance I’d trust them to silently fix a problem they deny exists..
They (still) happily tow a new Wrangler just as they have for many many years

 

[Runyon]

just wonder if any MY24s have complained about the issue. With the huge Warranty loss Ford reported you would think they would put some effort into making it better.

 

[jd4714]

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

 

[RagnarKon]

Curious what is happening with these flat-tow issues.

Neighbor has towed his 2022 Big Bend around behind his motorhome for the past 2-3 years and he hasn't had a single issue. Just got back in town this past weekend after another 3-week adventure around Canada. Was chatting to him this morning around the mailbox, sounds like it was an awesome trip.

 

[smrpilot]

Never had an issue with my '21 Badlands 7mt. Granted sometimes its difficult to get out of flat tow mode when on a hill.

 

[dgorsett]

Odd, we haven't heard of an issue for months, maybe near a year. Is it just post fatigue, folks just not posting? Like 2.7s, those that were going to fail have failed? Did Ford fix something behind the scenes? Haven't seen a tie rod /steering box/CV failure in a while. MIC tops still cracking though, albeit at a slower rate.

OP I am curious how did the engine overheat in a flat tow failure? It wouldn't be running. Heat transfer from a smoked transmission?

 

[dgorsett]

I have lost 2 transmissions due to Flat Tow issues on My 21 Badlands. Both I followed procedures to the Letter. At some time the transfer case was no longer in Neutral and in one instance over heated the engine. Im thinking of getting a New 24 or 25 and was wondering if we feel this has been resolved. I don't think ford has ever admitted to an issue, but I know many have had it.

The data seemed to point to Advanced 4x4 having the issues so you could avoid that, but it would be hard to go back down from a Badlands since you've had one.

 

[adam1991]

Curious what is happening with these flat-tow issues.

ummm...yeah, 100%.

 

[Fordified1]

Curious what is happening with these flat-tow issues.

Neighbor has towed his 2022 Big Bend around behind his motorhome for the past 2-3 years and he hasn't had a single issue. Just got back in town this past weekend after another 3-week adventure around Canada. Was chatting to him this morning around the mailbox, sounds like it was an awesome trip.

A couple of us who flat tow kept up with which transfer cases were having the issues on this forum and an rv forum and best we can tell only failures were with the advanced transfer case. (This is a huge smoking gun) It’s possible Ford secretly updated the software to fix the issue because admitting there ever was a problem would require going back and warranting previous failures they denied.
I waited to buy my Bronco until 2024 MY watching the failures trend and specifically avoided the 4A system for better piece of mind when flat towing. Have flat towed close to 5,000 miles so far without issue (knock on wood) since getting ours in February.

 

[Fordified1]

Never had an issue with my '21 Badlands 7mt. Granted sometimes its difficult to get out of flat tow mode when on a hill.

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.

 

[RagnarKon]

A couple of us who flat tow kept up with which transfer cases were having the issues on this forum and an rv forum and best we can tell only failures were with the advanced transfer case. (This is a huge smoking gun) It’s possible Ford secretly updated the software to fix the issue because admitting there ever was a problem would require going back and warranting previous failures they denied.
I waited to buy my Bronco until 2024 MY watching the failures trend and specifically avoided the 4A system for better piece of mind when flat towing. Have flat towed close to 5,000 miles so far without issue (knock on wood) since getting ours in February.

Ah, that could be it.

Has anyone paid attention to whether it impacted manual transmission owners?? In theory... the manual transmission would be immune to any strange issue related to the transfer case.

 

[Fordified1]

Ah, that could be it.

Has anyone paid attention to whether it impacted manual transmission owners?? In theory... the manual transmission would "cover up" any strange issue related to the transfer case.

Agreed and why I wanted a MT. wifey said no.

 

[Fordified1]

I have lost 2 transmissions due to Flat Tow issues on My 21 Badlands. Both I followed procedures to the Letter. At some time the transfer case was no longer in Neutral and in one instance over heated the engine. Im thinking of getting a New 24 or 25 and was wondering if we feel this has been resolved. I don't think ford has ever admitted to an issue, but I know many have had it.

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

 

[vrtical]

I would be shocked if there wasnt an update somewhere in 24 to stop the 4A issue, but like stated I dont think you will see a definitive statement by Ford.

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