Hardtop cracks? Something else?

[1986Bronco]

Bronco 1. Dealership 2.

Sponsored

 

[1986Bronco]

Lighting is definitely the issue here. In person, without the light, outside = nothing. In person, with the light, no question about it. In person, with the light, and getting it on camera…hard to do.

 

[1986Bronco]

I updated the last picture in Dealership #2. I accidentlly posted 2 of the same side. It is more obvious in the picture on one side that is is on the other. Again, easy to see in person but very hard to get a picture of.

 

[1986Bronco]

Also. This is not dirt, a trail of dirt, a trail of water from condensation or washing. It is in the material. In the exact same spot. On every hardtop Bronco that I came across this morning.

 

[Lowcountry Bronco]

Let me open that I'm not an expert, nor do I even have a MIC top so no offense but not sure how coffee spitting this is at this point. Most hardtop threads show cracking in the spots you're finding along with multiple other spots. Actual de-lamination and snake skinning are the other issues that have been reported pretty much since day one. Not sure what version of HT Ford is claiming out there but none have seemed to solve the problem which is why I had no problem holding out for my HE with the modular top.

 

[1986Bronco]

Understood. There has obviously been a problem. The coffee-spitting part is the percentage. I hit 100% today.

I do not have a problem with a small percenage that warrants a recall and the identification of a specific time/person/place for issues with a part. On 2 random lots, with new and used Broncos, and the outlier (for me at least) of a 2-door Bronco to be at 100%...that should not have happened. Or I just used up my one chance at winning the lottery.

 

[Lowcountry Bronco]

Understood. There has obviously been a problem. The coffee-spitting part is the percentage. I hit 100% today.

I do not have a problem with a small percenage that warrants a recall and the identification of a specific time/person/place for issues with a part. On 2 random lots, with new and used Broncos, and the outlier (for me at least) of a 2-door Bronco to be at 100%...that should not have happened. Or I just used up my one chance at winning the lottery.

I don't think anyone knows why Ford felt they needed to experiment with the Bronco hardtops unless it was weight saving but quality/durability/longevity shouldn't have taken a backseat and will once again cost them more than it would have to just provide a solid product from the get go.

 

[Ksjrb03]

Not really a revelation at this point. I have said it many times, every Bronco I have looked at in person has these cracks. Some worse than others, but EVERY SINGLE ONE. Two and 4 door. Brand new or early 2021. Doesn't matter. It’s a shit design, but no reason to worry about the under window cracks at this point, the replacement will do the same thing.

Definitely hard to see and photograph, have to get the right lighting and angle.

 

[1986Bronco]

I've gone through these threads and thought that "maybe it won't happen to me" and I know how internet car forums get...a small percentage of people will make a large problem out of a small one. This, along with those that said that they have absolutely no problem, is what kept me in check thinking maybe it was around an acceptable 10-15% failure rate.

Today was revealing though. 100% failure rate, seen with my own eyes, with odd variables...changes things for me. I forgot to mention, I have the mileage of all the ones I saw today and the used ones are under 6,000 miles.

And the need to document it visually is for the rest of you out there, inculding Ford; I know what I saw. It may be hearsay, but now it is hearsay with pictures. VIN numbers and full pictures of the vehicles are also available but I am not trying to put the names of dealerships on blast.

As I mentioned earlier, we should be looking at a solution to save what already exists and fix what has not been made. There is a way to do this without having to play games with dealerships and denying culpability.

As you, Ksjrb03, stated earlier, there seems to be no reason to do anything about it now.

 

[Emersaurus]

2023 Wildtrak, around 5300 miles currently, purchased August 1st. Starting to getting the cracks around the driver side rear quarter panel window. I've only taken the top off once to install an RTR molle panel in it, so very little handling.

 

[1986Bronco]

I guess we can just keep an eye on them? I wish I could cover it up with something pemanently and just move on knowing it is an apperance issue and not structural. It's just that I'm not sure if it is that or not.

I'm trying to think of another time in vehicle history where a mfg. identified cracks, etc. as normal or ignored it. I'm sure there is something. There are too many Corvettes on the road.

All I can think of right now is a short stint in ownership of an Isuzu Vehicross where the hood insert cracked. I ran it by the Isuzu parts department so that I could order a new one and they seemed embarassed and ashamed. They called over a service advisor who took one look at it and said to replace it under warranty. This was a couple of years and several thousand miles after the warranty should have been up. Made me want to buy another Isuzu but the rest of them were too disguisting to look at (ironic, I know) then they backed out of American auto sales.

If I have time later, I will relent to a Google search.

 

[Min_Ahn]

My top isn't cracking yet, but the roof looks like it's been hit by hail though it's only got 2k miles and sits in the garage all day long except for 1 hour of commuting.

 

[hyperion]

My top isn't cracking yet, but the roof looks like it's been hit by hail though it's only got 2k miles and sits in the garage all day long except for 1 hour of commuting.

I have this exact same issue on my hood! I noticed it shortly after delivery in July so could not have been hail (or acorns) but the imperfections look exactly like that. Have you asked the dealer about it?

 

[Min_Ahn]

I have this exact same issue! I noticed it shortly after delivery in July so could not have been hail (or acorns) but the imperfections look exactly like that. Have you asked the dealer about it?

I didn't want to waste my trip just to hear 'it's normal,' so I'm waiting until it gets worse. It's apparent that the surface is becoming increasingly uneven day by day.

Here's the photo of my top that I just took

 

[1986Bronco]

Got a picture of the hail/dent/divots?

And can you get a picture of the area under the window toward the front, parallel to the inner bolt, shining an led light, multiple angles? Not trying to add fuel to the fire, but it took me awhile to get the right angle and it was only becuse one day the sun was hitting it as it came through the garage door and I was working at the bench.

I can take a picture of mine and it will look totally normal. I can even walk by it in full sunlight and not see anything at all.

Sponsored