Bronco Sport tops Consumer Reports' "Most Reliable Compact SUV" list

[GreatMV]

Have you tried this?

1. Double press the [hatch] button.
2. Lift and close the hatch
3. Single press the [lock] button.
4. Back away and re attempt to unlock-on-approach by pressing the [release] button on the hatch.

https://www.broncosportforum.com/forum/threads/liftgate-wont-open-if-doors-are-locked.4493/

unlock with the fob and lock by touching the ridges on the front doors. Your proximity sensor is enabled now. I know someone had a reason for this, but it is a puzzling choice to have two behaviors!

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[TimInAlexandriaVA]

This just landed in my mailbox today, and I was pleasantly surprised at how the Bronco Sport ranked. I assumed it'd finish mid-pack (not that we have had any issues with our Outer Banks, but Toyota and Honda set a very high bar for reliability overall). The BS is also Consumer Reports' pick for the most reliable Ford model. Odd that the pictured Outer Banks has a color matched roof. Photoshopped by some graphic artist at the mag?

Strange to me that the Bronco Sport and the Escape are at two different extremes when they are so similar and share many of the same components.

 

[Osco]

Strange to me that the Bronco Sport and the Escape are at two different extremes when they are so similar and share many of the same components.

There you have it in a nut shell. A BOT picked up on the name frequency and rated the BS on a few stats. And the Escape is just as reliable but not the cool new name.

 

[BPWyndon]

I had a 2013 Ford Escape and the engine block was cracked after owning it for 5 years. The people at the dealership (which, has some great people working in the service dept) told me it was common. It dang near turned me off from Ford forever, until I saw the Bronco, now I'm back in, at least until the engine cracks and someone tells me it's common.

I owned the 2013 Ford Escape it‘s been great. Just gave to one of my kids.

 

[Martinjv71]

This genuinely surprises me given the numerous posts about people having all kinds of issues with their models.

But yeah, I can attest to the fact that Jeeps are unreliable messes. My Grand Cherokee Overland got to 60,000 miles until there was total electrical failure.

Doesn't surprise me at all. Look at the thousands sold versus a few complaints of many not knowing the fact that many vehicles can have a hiccup and expect it to run absolutely 100% of time. BTW mine has been perfect.

 

[petegee77]

This just landed in my mailbox today, and I was pleasantly surprised at how the Bronco Sport ranked. I assumed it'd finish mid-pack (not that we have had any issues with our Outer Banks, but Toyota and Honda set a very high bar for reliability overall). The BS is also Consumer Reports' pick for the most reliable Ford model. Odd that the pictured Outer Banks has a color matched roof. Photoshopped by some graphic artist at the mag?

I bought my BSBB edition based on the excellent rating by Consumers Report and the rugged good looks it has. Bought it in Oct. 22. Imagine my dismay when I received my March 23 editon of CR , looked at page 59 where they listed a bunch of SUV's between $25K and $40K and found the Bronco Sport DEAD LAST ! Right under the Ford Escape. WT ??

 

[greenlaker]

I bought my BSBB edition based on the excellent rating by Consumers Report and the rugged good looks it has. Bought it in Oct. 22. Imagine my dismay when I received my March 23 editon of CR , looked at page 59 where they listed a bunch of SUV's between $25K and $40K and found the Bronco Sport DEAD LAST ! Right under the Ford Escape. WT ??

Oh wow. How times changed. I know it's purely anecdotal, but ours has only been super reliable with zero warranty issues. Only off to the dealer for one recall issue (and an oil change) in 12k miles.

 

[petegee77]

I've only have 2200 miles on mine and so far so good but I was shocked by that CR rating.

 

[delm]

I bought my BSBB edition based on the excellent rating by Consumers Report and the rugged good looks it has. Bought it in Oct. 22. Imagine my dismay when I received my March 23 editon of CR , looked at page 59 where they listed a bunch of SUV's between $25K and $40K and found the Bronco Sport DEAD LAST ! Right under the Ford Escape. WT ??

There have been a barrage of recalls, quality issues, and various oddities. It's not surprising to me. One of mine developed some annoying in-cabin rattles earlier than any new car I've ever purchased. Not a deal breaker to me, but annoying. I can imagine others having quality issues worse than I've had, and making their unhappiness known to CR.

 

[ShaneGTA]

There have been a barrage of recalls, quality issues, and various oddities. It's not surprising to me. One of mine developed some annoying in-cabin rattles earlier than any new car I've ever purchased. Not a deal breaker to me, but annoying. I can imagine others having quality issues worse than I've had, and making their unhappiness known to CR.

There's a plastic piece just behind the steering wheel, in front of the instrument panel that rattles every time when I start driving when its cold. Once it warms up and expands it stops. I stuffed my business card in between to make it stop LOL!

 

[Glamdring70]

There have been a barrage of recalls, quality issues, and various oddities. It's not surprising to me. One of mine developed some annoying in-cabin rattles earlier than any new car I've ever purchased. Not a deal breaker to me, but annoying. I can imagine others having quality issues worse than I've had, and making their unhappiness known to CR.

I can only imagine that all vehicles receive a "barrage" or recalls and quality issues these days. Stuff is regulated and tracked tighter than ever before. I think Ford did lead the main automakers for total unit recalls in 2022. Hard to pinpoint if that means they are more diligent or more susceptible to quality concerns. My Ford happens to have zero recalls.

People are a lot more sensitive to quality issues too. Especially so for squeaks and rattles, because all these cars are held together by thousands of plastic clips and tape. Not like the days when the entire front clip was attached by six nuts. Anything you can solve or live with is better than having a tech diagnose, because these machines are meant to be assembled one time. Tearing off panels to find a squeak is going to create three more. I taped up the lead edge of my underbody beauty felt to get rid of a slight "flap flap" thumping. At least, it seems to have solved that. If I can fix the sunroof shade rattle without pulling the headliner, it will really be aces. It only happens when the shade is open, fortunately.

Also, it's way, way easier than ever for people to complain; and complain in ways that more than two other people see it. I wouldn't put much more stock in CR than a YouTube test driver review or some of the detailed owner write ups posted on this forum. They're "non-profit", but operate a large political lobbying group. Non-profit does ≠ non-biased. There are still people at the helm. As we can plainly see, evaluation of one sample unit hardly give a full picture of overall quality.

 

[Idahobro]

I can only imagine that all vehicles receive a "barrage" or recalls and quality issues these days. Stuff is regulated and tracked tighter than ever before. I think Ford did lead the main automakers for total unit recalls in 2022. Hard to pinpoint if that means they are more diligent or more susceptible to quality concerns. My Ford happens to have zero recalls.

People are a lot more sensitive to quality issues too. Especially so for squeaks and rattles, because all these cars are held together by thousands of plastic clips and tape. Not like the days when the entire front clip was attached by six nuts. Anything you can solve or live with is better than having a tech diagnose, because these machines are meant to be assembled one time. Tearing off panels to find a squeak is going to create three more. I taped up the lead edge of my underbody beauty felt to get rid of a slight "flap flap" thumping. At least, it seems to have solved that. If I can fix the sunroof shade rattle without pulling the headliner, it will really be aces. It only happens when the shade is open, fortunately.

Also, it's way, way easier than ever for people to complain; and complain in ways that more than two other people see it. I wouldn't put much more stock in CR than a YouTube test driver review or some of the detailed owner write ups posted on this forum. They're "non-profit", but operate a large political lobbying group. Non-profit does ≠ non-biased. There are still people at the helm. As we can plainly see, evaluation of one sample unit hardly give a full picture of overall quality.

Yep, alot of what you say it true for sure. That said, Ford is in the toilet on quality. Pretty much every (somewhat) objective source (JPD, CR, etc) has Ford at the bottom of the barrel.

What happens when you over complicate vehicles and focus on cost cutting with vendors? You get shit. So, this should be no surprise. This is 100% on Jim Farley.

Ford has a bad habit of trying to up package people because they can sell a vehicle at a premium. Here is the problem with up package. You have essentially the same vehicle with different IPs and control screens or whatever. So, you have to 1) engineer for the differences, and don't get the price break for having the same components.

Example: 2024 Toyotal Grand Highland. Three trim levels. All three have the big 12.1 inch glass panel.

You want to know why Ford has 25% more engineers than other OEMs, it's because they over complicate things which makes the more expensive and less reliable. Unfortunately, they have a CEO who does not understand this. It is a simple concept and he can't grasp it.

 

[SandDawg]

This just landed in my mailbox today, and I was pleasantly surprised at how the Bronco Sport ranked. I assumed it'd finish mid-pack (not that we have had any issues with our Outer Banks, but Toyota and Honda set a very high bar for reliability overall). The BS is also Consumer Reports' pick for the most reliable Ford model. Odd that the pictured Outer Banks has a color matched roof. Photoshopped by some graphic artist at the mag?

It's early since I've my loaded Badlands only for 2 weeks and 600 miles, I did lots of research before buy this versus a Ranger, Taco, etc. My first impressions are that the doors shut with a sounds that is at least equal to any of the Mercedes (7 including an overkill Gwagen). The steering is a little "goosey" in sharp turns sometimes but overall this Badlands puts the "sport" back into sports utility. It could be little wider in the rear to fit my golf clubs without folding a seat. I'm also a little put out by Ford's penny pinching. I order this as a "custom build" four months ago. The cars I test drove all had folding rear headrests, engine covers, even the pencil holder under the center arm rest. I'm not sure what else is gone. The engine cover part is now listed as "obsolete"! the plastic pencil holder is about $8.00 if you really want it. But overall I think this maybe one the best of the 40 different cars/trucks I've owned in 65 years of driving.

 

[SandDawg]

Yep, alot of what you say it true for sure. That said, Ford is in the toilet on quality. Pretty much every (somewhat) objective source (JPD, CR, etc) has Ford at the bottom of the barrel.

What happens when you over complicate vehicles and focus on cost cutting with vendors? You get shit. So, this should be no surprise. This is 100% on Jim Farley.

Ford has a bad habit of trying to up package people because they can sell a vehicle at a premium. Here is the problem with up package. You have essentially the same vehicle with different IPs and control screens or whatever. So, you have to 1) engineer for the differences, and don't get the price break for having the same components.

Example: 2024 Toyotal Grand Highland. Three trim levels. All three have the big 12.1 inch glass panel.

You want to know why Ford has 25% more engineers than other OEMs, it's because they over complicate things which makes the more expensive and less reliable. Unfortunately, they have a CEO who does not understand this. It is a simple concept and he can't grasp it.

I'd disagree particularly when it comes to Jim Farley. He is a car guy from the "get-go". An experienced racer, too. I won't contest the quality issues but my Badlands hasn't demonstrated any issues yet. But I think there is a reason. The car produced originally as an Escape, is now pretty sorted out. Sure there are still little nits here and there. When I bought a BMW 535is in '88, the salesman said there are no perfect cars, but some are less annoying than others.

 

[greenlaker]

Over two years and ≈23k miles and still zero issues with our baby Bronco. Solid enough that I have a Maverick hybrid on order to replace my 21 year old F-150.

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