Totaled Broncos

[5GENIDN]

The "tiny stock brakes" are every bit as good as the Ford Ranger which can tow over 7k pounds. The stock brakes are not an issue for most Broncos with the electrically boosted brakes. I have not experienced any significant issues with fade or power, but I am not pushing the limits of the system either.

@JerryG is absolutely correct that big brakes would certainly be a welcome modification for big tire Broncos. When I upgraded the brakes on my Miata back in the day, the stock system wasn't inadequate, but the difference that 12" rotors and Brembo calipers made was impressive as hell.

Oh I am familiar with big brakes.... To be honest I have larger rotors on mine but still running the stock calipers and it does make a difference. I just think the statement without any clarity puts fear into those who do not understand the system... Mine are adequate. Yes I could improve them beyond what they are by going to a 4 piston caliper but I honestly have no need. Like I said it is not a race car and I do not drive it as such. I have had those in the past but these days I would like to keep my license. I can still put the anti lock brakes to work when needed and more brake than tire defeats the purpose.

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[JerryG]

Tiny Stock Brakes??? Interesting because I had not thought of them as tiny... or even undersized. They seem quite adequate to me... I do not seem to get much brake fade but I am not racing... Have you experienced issues? Why do you think they are undersized?

Drive a Bronco with large rotors and calipers and the difference will be immediately and significantly noticeable. I didn't feel I had any problem or issue with the stock brakes when I decided to upgrade but I did not want it to become less safe when I lifted and went to 38s. When I had them installed it was a night and day difference in feel. It is only the front brakes that really make a huge improvement in stopping power. I never expected it would make that big of a difference. I didn't think to do brake distance testing before and after as I wasn't expecting as big a change and was simply trying to make my Bronco as safe as it could be.

 

[JerryG]

Oh I am familiar with big brakes.... To be honest I have larger rotors on mine but still running the stock calipers and it does make a difference. I just think the statement without any clarity puts fear into those who do not understand the system... Mine are adequate. Yes I could improve them beyond what they are by going to a 4 piston caliper but I honestly have no need. Like I said it is not a race car and I do not drive it as such. I have had those in the past but these days I would like to keep my license. I can still put the anti lock brakes to work when needed and more brake than tire defeats the purpose.

I did build my Bronco into as much of a 'race car' as I knew how to but it is the normal legal on road speed driving where being able to stop in less distance is where I find the most comfort having them. Safety from other drivers stopping suddenly, wandering deer, children stepping into the road. I love the feel of rapid acceleration but don't tend to drive over the legal speed limit. I'm more of a 30-70-30-70 type of driver.

 

[JerryG]

This is what I am running but there are other equally great brakes for our platforms from companies like Wildwood also. My choice was for only parts manufactured in the US and at the time that limited me to Baer.
https://www.holley.com/products/bra...Aypuhjv5uw3ac6aWzQ4MG6S8t440lHFgaAridEALw_wcB

 

[5GENIDN]

This is what I am running but there are other equally great brakes for our platforms from companies like Wildwood also. My choice was for only parts manufactured in the US and at the time that limited me to Baer.
https://www.holley.com/products/bra...Aypuhjv5uw3ac6aWzQ4MG6S8t440lHFgaAridEALw_wcB

I like those calipers.... Do they come with a mount that places them out further from the hub to allow for the larger rotor? Or do the calipers directly mount (as a part of the casting) to the stock location and account for the larger rotor?.... well I don't know why I am asking... I would have to physically test fit them anyway to even see if they would fit inside the wheel as well as fit the rotors I have.... I am running portals and the calipers had to be clocked and moved outboard to clear which required larger rotors.

 

[Bronccraig]

Now that I think about it why isn’t there any other vehicles totaled on here other than a Bronco?? Why is that!!!!??

We are driving death machines!!!

yep, just like other car forums just prevalent it seems on a particular make…the C8 forum for my car has same issues as all the issues on this forum…other than the mud bogging, and rock crawling and…

 

[Mdozier]

Very unsafe

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1GnJPhRVfr/

Oh great.
Now I want a concrete truck...

 

[5GENIDN]

Can't believe we've gotten this far, without that video game "crash test" video.

Okay it finally arrived...took until the 4th page.

 

[zombie]

You remove the crash bars, it's almost inevitable.

You've got that backwards, putting the crash bars on is what causes the crash.

 

[zombie]

The only bigger stock engine ever produced by a US automaker is the 502 Caddy.

My 8.3L/505 ci Viper begs to differ. (edit: strangely google does the conversion to be 506.5ci, but the cowl on the radiator says 505 lol)

 

[5GENIDN]

My 8.3L/505 ci Viper begs to differ. (edit: strangely google does the conversion to be 506.5ci, but the cowl on the radiator says 505 lol)

Strange indeed that they just rounded up from 8.2754195 Liters to a nice even 8.3....

 

[CalvinT]

This would be a good thread to post this referenced photo from another thread about someone’s bronco which took a tree and did not survive.
Rest in pieces bronco; sadly wasn’t taken In a fire but picked a fight with a soon to be oak wardrobe.
That one can be confirmed total.

Good reason to get the MIC top.

 

[JerryG]

My 8.3L/505 ci Viper begs to differ. (edit: strangely google does the conversion to be 506.5ci, but the cowl on the radiator says 505 lol)

You are correct! I didn't say 8 cylinder. That would make an incredible motorhome upgrade but I don't want to loose the 8.1 mpg fuel efficiency that my finely tuned engine gets-lol.

 

[EquusBronsis]

Just joined Bronco crash club a month ago. Non citizen no DL ran a red light. Here’s what $27K damage looks like on 2022 Outer Banks. To my surprise State Farm didn’t total it.

 

[Easy-v]

A.I. is just jealous it can't have a Bronco

Grok is better -



Here’s a summary of our discussion about the "most dangerous SUV from 2020–2024 in the US," with a focus on the Ford Bronco’s relation to fatality rates, including the specific crash citations you requested. I’ll keep it concise while capturing the key points and integrating the latest data as of March 13, 2025.
We started by exploring what makes an SUV "dangerous," settling on crash test ratings, rollover risk, and real-world fatality data as metrics. I initially flagged the Jeep Wrangler (2020–2024) as a contender due to its 4-star NHTSA overall rating, 3-star rollover score (26–27% risk), and middling IIHS results (e.g., "Marginal" small overlap front), plus its high rollover propensity tied to off-road design. You then asked how the Ford Bronco relates, prompting a deeper look at its safety and fatality profile.
The Bronco (relaunched 2021, 4-door) has a similar NHTSA profile: 4-star overall, 5-star frontal/side, 3-star rollover (26–27% risk). IIHS gave it "Good" crash ratings but noted a "possible risk of injury to the left lower leg" in the driver-side small overlap test and "Marginal" to "Poor" headlights. Its off-road focus—high ground clearance, removable doors—mirrors the Wrangler, suggesting elevated rollover risk, a major fatality driver (35% of SUV occupant deaths, per NHTSA). Fatality rates for SUVs average 9–11 deaths per million registered vehicles (IIHS 2021), with the Wrangler at 11 (2016–2019). The Bronco, newer with ~300,000 units sold by 2024, lacks a precise 2020–2024 rate from FARS due to data lag, but its design and usage suggest it’s in this ballpark, possibly higher if rollovers dominate.
You asked for recent crash reports, so I searched web and X data. Here are the fatality citations:

• May 2023, Indiana: A 2021 Bronco rolled over on I-65, killing a 23-year-old driver. Speed and possible impairment cited; multiple flips reported (local news, X mentions).
• October 2022, California: A Bronco Wildtrak crashed off a cliff near Big Sur, killing two. Off-road conditions and driver error blamed (web reports).
• July 2024, Texas: A Bronco hit a tree off-road, killing one, injuring two. High speed on rough terrain noted (Texas local news).

These incidents highlight rollovers and off-road misuse as fatality risks, though they’re not a statistical rate. FARS 2023 prelims show 40,769 US deaths, with 2024 trending lower (e.g., July 2024 down 9% per NSC), but no Bronco-specific breakout exists yet. X posts praise its safety tech (e.g., Co-Pilot360), but some note rollovers in extreme scenarios, like a non-fatal 2023 Moab crash. Compared to the Wrangler, the Bronco’s fatality profile seems similar—average-to-above-average risk, driven by design trade-offs and driver behavior, not outright deadliness.
Summary: The Bronco isn’t the "most dangerous" SUV—its crash protection is solid—but its rollover risk and off-road appeal tie it to fatalities, likely near the SUV norm (9–11/million), pending full FARS data. The Wrangler edges out as "more dangerous" due to longer exposure and slightly weaker historical safety scores, though both are close contenders. The cited crashes underscore real-world risks, but no data crowns either as the deadliest.


And I lol'd and asked what it would buy:

"If I had to recommend an off-road SUV to purchase, I’d lean toward the 2025 Ford Bronco (4-door, likely the Badlands or Raptor trim) based on everything we’ve discussed and the broader context of off-road performance as of March 13, 2025. Here’s why, tailored to what I’d prioritize—capability, versatility, and real-world usability—while keeping safety and fatality risks in mind.
"

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