2021 Transmission issue Bronco Sport

[BayBrownBronco]

I wish we could quash this rumor. The manual does not recommended 100K+ trans fluid changes. It recommends periodic inspection (every 30K) by your dealership/mechanic, and--absent use under the severe duty schedule--replacement on need. If you have had the fluid inspected throughout your vehicle's life and inspection has not indicated need for change, THEN your maximum use interval is 150K.

I can see your point here. If one has a good dealer or mechanic, than yes they can notice the fluid just starting to turn brown for example and tell you to change it before real damage occurs. Guess I don’t trust dealers or mechanics nowadays, to check it right or even at all. And even just ‘extensive idling’ is enough to warrant a 30k trans fluid change interval, according to the owner manual. That includes a large fraction of owners. I just don’t think the right interval is anywhere near 100k for these… heck not even 60k. For me it’s gonna be 30.

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[Mark S.]

And even just ‘extensive idling’ is enough to warrant a 30k trans fluid change interval, according to the owner manual. That includes a large fraction of owners.

You did not include the remainder of the description in the manual of extensive idling:

"Such as Delivery, Taxi, Patrol Car or Livery."

These vehicles are generally started at the beginning of a shift, and not shut down until the end. They may sit for several hours at a time with the engine idling. I don't believe this applies to even a small fraction of owners. Even a daily one hour commute with, say, 30 minutes of idling is not "extensive idling" by this definition.

 

[BayBrownBronco]

You did not include the remainder of the description in the manual of extensive idling:

"Such as Delivery, Taxi, Patrol Car or Livery."

These vehicles are generally started at the beginning of a shift, and not shut down until the end. They may sit for several hours at a time with the engine idling. I don't believe this applies to even a small fraction of owners. Even a daily one hour commute with, say, 30 minutes of idling is not "extensive idling" by this definition.

Ah, but pls go back and notice that key word in the sentence… “OR”… between the major clauses therein. According to a direct reading of their advice, extensive idling alone, warrants the 30k intervals.

 

[Dude]

Ah, but pls go back and notice that key word in the sentence… “OR”… between the major clauses therein. According to a direct reading of their advice, extensive idling alone, warrants the 30k intervals.

The section of the owners manual is just another example that English is not a precise language. In this Owner’s Manual section, read the paragraph as if it were more properly written as:

Extensive Idling, as in Heavy Commercial Use (Such as Delivery, Taxi, Patrol Car or Livery) or Low-speed Driving for Long Distances, as in Heavy Commercial Use (Such as Delivery, Taxi, Patrol Car or Livery)

Short Trips that do not allow the engine to get to operating temperature causing fuel dilution and an increase of the engine oil level


Remember that “Extensive Idling” by itself is an imprecise term, it needs the rest: “as in Heavy Commercial Use (Such as Delivery, Taxi, Patrol Car or Livery)” to explain what is meant by Extensive Idling.

 

[BayBrownBronco]

Perhaps you’re right, and *only* those examples are actually ‘extensive idling’. But I’m not taking that chance… and I’m recommending such an approach to any other owners.

 

[Dude]

Perhaps you’re right, and *only* those examples are actually ‘extensive idling’. But I’m not taking that chance… and I’m recommending such an approach to any other owners.

I don’t disagree at all with your approach

I’m on the fence on changing fluids earlier than as stated in the owners manual because I am still within the factory warranty and I have the Ford ESP (extended warranty).

So why should I spend more than exactly what the owners manual specifies for maintenance?

 

[Mark S.]

Perhaps you’re right, and *only* those examples are actually ‘extensive idling’. But I’m not taking that chance… and I’m recommending such an approach to any other owners.

The examples are precisely that: examples. There can certainly be use cases that result in idling as much as these exemplary vehicles, and if you do then you should follow the recommendations for that type of use. My argument is the amount of idling by the typical owner is nowhere near the amount of the listed examples.

 

[Bronkie]

So anyone else having problems with 2021 Bronco Sports and transmission issues??? Bought my car Dec 2021, roughly 80k miles on it. While driving on the highway my car decided to punk out on me. It would not go while on drive. It was jolting and tugging. I tried to park the car and it was saying the car was not in park and would not allow me to turn off the vehicle. I had to get the vehicle towed to the dealership the next day. Ive been told its the transmission and I need a new one! 8k. Am I missing something?? The vehicle has been serviced regularly. I am having a hard to understanding how a BRAND NEW vehicle could have a transmission issue????

So anyway...Gia, did your dealership ever find a root cause? If it's deep in this thread, sorry to ask you to repeat.

 

[BayBrownBronco]

The examples are precisely that: examples. There can certainly be use cases that result in idling as much as these exemplary vehicles, and if you do then you should follow the recommendations for that type of use. My argument is the amount of idling by the typical owner is nowhere near the amount of the listed examples.

I see a lot of your points now and maybe we’ll need to move on regarding the topic. My main point is, Ford has indicated directly with that 30k flush interval, there are several usage scenarios warranting frequent fluid flushes for these units. For me personally, it’s not about idling really anyway. It’s about pushing my car hard. I’ve always been a lead foot driver. Heat is the main killer of automatic transmissions. It cooks and degrades fluid, clutch packs and other internals. Fords telling me, if I’m doing anything odd with the car, then change the fluid every 30k. Frankly I’m thankful they’ve been so candid with the advice. For a subsystem that might cost me $5k or more to replace, I’m happy to invest $350 every 30k to avoid the higher cost of a full trans failure.

 

[mmazz71]

My dealership just told me they don't service the Bronco Sport trans until 150000 miles. It is a sealed unit. Mine is surging while warming up. After about 30 mins of driving it tends to lessen. 83,000 miles. 80% highway driving. My Bronco must have been a lemon since this is about problem 19.

 

[Mark S.]

My dealership just told me they don't service the Bronco Sport trans until 150000 miles. It is a sealed unit. Mine is surging while warming up. After about 30 mins of driving it tends to lessen. 83,000 miles. 80% highway driving. My Bronco must have been a lemon since this is about problem 19.

Find another dealership. What they told you directly contradicts your Owner's Manual. Ford, are you listening? A few of your dealerships are destroying your reputation.

 

[KidWiff]

Honestly.... given the perceived? sensitivity we seem to read about these transmissions, I'm going to request a 30k fluid change regardless of my driving style or idling history.

I like and enjoy my BS but the only question i had going in to the purchase, which remains today, is the longevity we will see out of the powertrain on these vehicles. I'm used to driving a vehicle to at least 150k miles (my wife's '07 Tahoe is at almost 320k nearly trouble free miles - one transmission overhaul at 105k miles and some additional work around 240k miles - it still looks good and runs well.) Do i anticipate getting 150k out of the BS? I'm on the fence.... with not quite 10k miles into ownership, at the moment. I'd like to think yes.... but, we shall see.

 

[BayBrownBronco]

Honestly.... given the perceived? sensitivity we seem to read about these transmissions, I'm going to request a 30k fluid change regardless of my driving style or idling history.

I like and enjoy my BS but the only question i had going in to the purchase, which remains today, is the longevity we will see out of the powertrain on these vehicles. I'm used to driving a vehicle to at least 150k miles (my wife's '07 Tahoe is at almost 320k nearly trouble free miles - one transmission overhaul at 105k miles and some additional work around 240k miles - it still looks good and runs well.) Do i anticipate getting 150k out of the BS? I'm on the fence.... with not quite 10k miles into ownership, at the moment. I'd like to think yes.... but, we shall see.

Agreed.

I studied up on how to change the trans fluid on these cars. Thanks to info on here and on the Ford Maverick truck club forum site, I was able to learn it and do it myself on my Sport last weekend. Total cost for my ATF fluid flush: $50 for the five quarts of Mercon ULV fluid.

 

[PHILLIP BROCKWELL]

So anyone else having problems with 2021 Bronco Sports and transmission issues??? Bought my car Dec 2021, roughly 80k miles on it. While driving on the highway my car decided to punk out on me. It would not go while on drive. It was jolting and tugging. I tried to park the car and it was saying the car was not in park and would not allow me to turn off the vehicle. I had to get the vehicle towed to the dealership the next day. Ive been told its the transmission and I need a new one! 8k. Am I missing something?? The vehicle has been serviced regularly. I am having a hard to understanding how a BRAND NEW vehicle could have a transmission issue????

Gia, Same thing happened to my Son's Bronco Sport, 2021, they bought it at 86,000 miles and within 8 months of purchasing it from a Reputable Dealership, Mt View @ 153, The same symptoms, The dealership said the Transmission had failed and $9800.00 to repair. Took it to a Transmission shop that is very well known and trusted and just got it back, $10,000. They totally rebuilt it and said it was destroyed inside. I am Sick!

 

[jlken]

So anyone else having problems with 2021 Bronco Sports and transmission issues??? Bought my car Dec 2021, roughly 80k miles on it. While driving on the highway my car decided to punk out on me. It would not go while on drive. It was jolting and tugging. I tried to park the car and it was saying the car was not in park and would not allow me to turn off the vehicle. I had to get the vehicle towed to the dealership the next day. Ive been told its the transmission and I need a new one! 8k. Am I missing something?? The vehicle has been serviced regularly. I am having a hard to understanding how a BRAND NEW vehicle could have a transmission issue????

Yes same here. Report issue to the NHTSA. IF everyone issues complaint Ford should issue a recall. Save receipts if you fix the transmission and Ford will reimburse you!!!

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