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Nortonutah · 09-28-2023, 12:00 PM

I purchased a 2022 Ford Bronco for 2 reasons.. First reason is I love it and second reason was because we intended to flat tow behind our RV. On our trip recently, I hooked the Bronco to our RV and went through the flat tow procedure and got confirmation at the end that flat tow was engaged and keep in neutral... I pulled the Bronco for about 300 miles and stopped for the night.. At some point, I remembered that I had some items I had left in the Bronco and thought I better Lock the Bronco for the night.. When I opened the passenger front door and pressed the lock button, I then shut the door and heard a HONK! HONK! just like when you try to lock with the key fob still inside.. I deducted that the Bronco would not lock while the Bronco was still in Neutral, so I said oh well and didn't lock it for the night. The next day, I left for the remainder of my drive back to Florida and when I got home, I tried to unhook the Bronco from the RV and found that I had no drive or reveres and I could smell what seemed to be gear oil and visibly could see oil on the underside of the Bronco.. Long story short, took to dealer and they said that the transmission was shot and the Service Mgr. went on to read me a TSB that basically says if you tow a Bronco and the transmission fails its your own fault! I can not believe they are trying to blame it on me! I am still working with the Dealer and will have more info later on that. I started thinking about the relationship between the supplemental braking system and whether or not when I hooked it up and press test mode on it will it wake the Bronco up some how and cause the Bronco to come out of Neutral mode??? anybody have any experiance with this with their Bronco?

NCPinz · 09-29-2023, 03:16 AM

Check the Bronco 6G forum for flat tow issues with the Bronco. It seems like some folks have no issues and then a few folks get a failed transmission even when they say they followed the instructions. It doesn't appear that anyone has pinpointed the cause, whether its the Bronco, the procedure, operator error, or what.

For me, I picked up a used Mini Cooper for $5k or half of the replacement cost for a Bronco transmission. I love my Bronco but I don't want to risk trashing the transmission.

Sorry you're having issues. Good luck.

theroc · 09-29-2023, 05:23 PM

Welcome to the forum.

I don't own a Bronco but may consider one in the future ...but not to flat tow.

So just out of curiosity only, can you reference the exact TSB you are talking about? The one discussed in this thread posted in March on this forum (yes, it does reference discussions on the Bronco6G forum on that lengthy thread HERE):

iRV2: New Ford Bronco towing fix

SSM 51415 from the NHTSA

This is the actual TSB from Ford:

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 22-2210

Or are you referring to another TSB that isn't related to the issue above?

Nortonutah · 09-30-2023, 08:48 AM

Thanks for asking.

I have been looking online for the TSB but so far can not find it. I was made aware of the TSB from the dealerships Service manager, who read the whole TSB to me over the phone but I will request from Him the TSB # or maybe He will email to me. Stay tuned on that.

I have also seen some discussion on a "Black Box" of a sort that may tell me/them what actually occurred and whether or not procedures were followed correctly when putting Bronco into Flat tow mode. I don't want to say that it is impossible to screw it up but it is pretty straight forward and in my opinion it would be hard to get to the end of the process with out knowing you you have achieved the shift properly.. It clearly tells you when it is engaging flat tow mode with a bar graph as the visual that it is happening.. what I don't know is whether it "actually" happens because you are also to keep it in Neutral, so the Bronco will roll either way.

Alan_Hepburn · 09-30-2023, 11:15 AM

It sounds like Ford is using electronics to shift things into the correct position for flat towing? That's why the Jeep Wrangler/Gladiator is so popular: getting the transfer case into a true Neutral is completely mechanical, and almost fool-proof!

theroc · 09-30-2023, 03:21 PM

So you're certain that you have the updated software installed? And if not, you followed the interim procedure outlined in that TSB I linked previously? ...jeez, that really sounds like a hassle to follow that they are instructing you to do!!

I suppose that the Ford dealer is giving you the excuse for denying your claim because you either didn't install the updated software OR you didn't follow the interim procedure outlined in the TSB?

The TSB says "Warranty Status: Information Only -- Not Warrantable" --is this what the dealer is pointing to in the TSB when denying your claim? I'm not sure if that's to be interpreted in that manner or not.

How much is it going to be to fix the damage? If it is a substantial amount, I'm might be tempted to consult a lawyer and get a legal opinion if they have a basis to deny your claim.

Granite17 · 09-30-2023, 04:33 PM

Keep fighting it, Ford denies initially and passes the blame to you!
I have a friend with a 2022 and exactly the same thing happened. Dealership blamed customer for ruining the transmission, Ford eventually paid.
Currently at Newmar International Rally, guy pulled in last night pulling a new Bronco, couldn’t get it to move once unhooked. Had to have it flat
bedded away. [emoji30]

Rob_M · 10-03-2023, 05:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nortonutah

I purchased a 2022 Ford Bronco for 2 reasons.. First reason is I love it and second reason was because we intended to flat tow behind our RV. On our trip recently, I hooked the Bronco to our RV and went through the flat tow procedure and got confirmation at the end that flat tow was engaged and keep in neutral... I pulled the Bronco for about 300 miles and stopped for the night.. At some point, I remembered that I had some items I had left in the Bronco and thought I better Lock the Bronco for the night.. When I opened the passenger front door and pressed the lock button, I then shut the door and heard a HONK! HONK! just like when you try to lock with the key fob still inside.. I deducted that the Bronco would not lock while the Bronco was still in Neutral, so I said oh well and didn't lock it for the night. The next day, I left for the remainder of my drive back to Florida and when I got home, I tried to unhook the Bronco from the RV and found that I had no drive or reveres and I could smell what seemed to be gear oil and visibly could see oil on the underside of the Bronco.. Long story short, took to dealer and they said that the transmission was shot and the Service Mgr. went on to read me a TSB that basically says if you tow a Bronco and the transmission fails its your own fault! I can not believe they are trying to blame it on me! I am still working with the Dealer and will have more info later on that. I started thinking about the relationship between the supplemental braking system and whether or not when I hooked it up and press test mode on it will it wake the Bronco up some how and cause the Bronco to come out of Neutral mode??? anybody have any experiance with this with their Bronco?

Is it possible your battery voltage got below a certain level causing it to come out of tow mode? Do you have a charge cord from the rv to the Bronco? There have been some F150 Rapters with trans failures and fires. It has been suggested that the Fords need to have good battery voltage to stay in tow mode.

These trans failures, and Ford’s history of blaming the customers are huge concerns for us as we’re looking at Broncos to use as a towed and daily for my wife. The other alternative is a Jeep but ….

GoneToTheDog · 10-03-2023, 08:41 AM

I noticed this was a headline today.

US Expands Ford Bronco Probe Over Catastrophic Engine Failures To Over 700,000 Vehicles

DC21 · 10-03-2023, 09:02 AM

Ford has a lot of problems currently. Shutting down Ranger production again, many turbo engine failures, cancelling Lighting orders due to suspected quality issues, can't deliver product. Not sure I would want to buy a Ford.

Nortonutah · 10-03-2023, 09:13 AM

So to the Question of whether I did the software update.. I took to the Dealership and Had it performed prior to ever Flat Towing the Bronco.

I also had the Dealer install the Flat Tow equipment and they wired it with a battery maintainer powered from the Coach, so I assume that Battery voltage drop can be eliminated.

I will keep you all posted.

saddlesore · 10-03-2023, 09:21 AM

After reading thru all the posts...Yes, I was thinking of going to the Bronco...However feel it is best that I just keep using our manual transmission Toyota/Scion xB for a few more years..

Rob_M · 10-03-2023, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GoneToTheDog

I noticed this was a headline today.

US Expands Ford Bronco Probe Over Catastrophic Engine Failures To Over 700,000 Vehicles

Supposedly the brittle exhaust valve problem was fixed with different valves but as a lifetime Ford guy, I’m appalled at Ford’s hesitation to take care of the consumers and they obviously need to fire some bean counters who cause use of inadequate parts like the above mentioned valves and those 7.3 cams that are failing. Those are both likely metallurgy issues associated with cutting cost.

I’m seriously looking at a used Jeep tomorrow because we need a 4WD towed, and likely will just order a New Bronco once all the teething issues are sorted out. They have been making improvements every year so far.

pbryan · 10-04-2023, 10:30 PM

It's not really going to help with OP's issue, but I have a 2022 Bronco with the 2.3L. I've towed it almost 10k miles over the last 18 months with no issues. We always do a "roll check" at departure, where one of us ensures all 4 wheels are rolling freely at low speed before heading out. Never had an occurrence where they weren't, but I don't want to chance a situation where neutral tow wasn't really engaged when I assumed it was.

On the rare occasion that we stop for the night while still attached, I disengage neutral tow and lock the Bronco so someone can't just pull the pins and roll it away. Then I re-engage tow mode in the morning and check the roll on departure.