I'm out, traded for a 2025 RAV4

[rltotten]

First of all, I'm a life long Ford owner, I am 60. My father retired from Ford in the early 90s. I'm thoroughly disappointed in the quality and reliability of this Bronco Sport. I have had my vehicle in the shop 3 times and this latest was almost a month. The dealer has also sent a technician to my house 2 times to update computer software or some such a thing. I cannot keep a vehicle if in the back of my mind I'm always wandering if this vehicle will break down or have an issue while I travel from Wyoming to Ohio to see my mother and sister, or from Wyoming to SE Texas to see my son and grandsons. On the day my vehicle was ready to be picked up for the 3rd time, I drove it right across the parking lot to the Toyota dealer whom also owns the Ford Dealership. This was a decision that I struggled with but, I cannot continue running to the service department. The vehicle had just over 14,000 miles on it and it was not driven hard or off road for that matter. It sucks because I really like the looks of the Bronco Sport vs the other smaller SUVs ... it's too bad that the 1.5 engine has its issues. The RAV4 is a 2.5L 4 cylinder and a hybrid and gets substantially better gas mileage. The RAV4 also has a larger Cargo area and drives about the same as the Bronco Sport. Good luck to the BS owners ...

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[Mark S.]

Sorry to hear your experience was so crummy. Good luck with your new Toyota. So long!

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

Good luck but the Grass isn't always Greener on the other side of the Road. Case in Point the guy on here who had pretty good luck with his Bad Lands IIRC got a Hyundai Sante Fe and i told him Car and Driver didn't care for the Transmission in it.He came back on here 5 weeks later and the Transmission in the Brand New Santa Fe took a crap and he said the Dealership and Hyundai weren't much help.Not to mention the problems with the Toyota Tundra Engines.

 

[Tigger]

We have a Bronco Sport Heritage Limited Edition and a RAV4 Hybrid Limited in this household. The Sport is getting 10k miles per year and the rav about 4. Why? Despite the gas mileage, me and my wife like the HLE much better than the Limited. The gas mileage is worse but we like the style and comfort of the Sport much, much more. As my wife says, it’s not boring. Lastly, both have been very reliable with only oil changes at the dealership visits.

Good luck. But I think the newly designed 2026 RAV4 Hybrid may have been the better option compared to the current editions boringness in the Toyota. Not meaning to offend, just another opinion.

 

[rltotten]

We have a Bronco Sport Heritage Limited Edition and a RAV4 Hybrid Limited in this household. The Sport is getting 10k miles per year and the rav about 4. Why? Despite the gas mileage, me and my wife like the HLE much better than the Limited. The gas mileage is worse but we like the style and comfort of the Sport much, much more. As my wife says, it’s not boring. Lastly, both have been very reliable with only oil changes at the dealership visits.

Good luck. But I think the newly designed 2026 RAV4 Hybrid may have been the better option compared to the current editions boringness in the Toyota. Not meaning to offend, just another opinion.

I appreciate your response ... no offense taken.

 

[Bucko]

I'm either a lucky owner of a 2023 Outer Banks, or just one of those that got one built on a day the assembly workers had a great weekend prior.

That and the parts run used to build it were good quality.

The wife and I want to step up to a full size Bronco, but the current prices keep us at bay. Should we manage to get that full size bronco, someone will get a nice 2023 Bronco Sport from our trade in.

 

[Mwittke5857]

First of all, I'm a life long Ford owner, I am 60. My father retired from Ford in the early 90s. I'm thoroughly disappointed in the quality and reliability of this Bronco Sport. I have had my vehicle in the shop 3 times and this latest was almost a month. The dealer has also sent a technician to my house 2 times to update computer software or some such a thing. I cannot keep a vehicle if in the back of my mind I'm always wandering if this vehicle will break down or have an issue while I travel from Wyoming to Ohio to see my mother and sister, or from Wyoming to SE Texas to see my son and grandsons. On the day my vehicle was ready to be picked up for the 3rd time, I drove it right across the parking lot to the Toyota dealer whom also owns the Ford Dealership. This was a decision that I struggled with but, I cannot continue running to the service department. The vehicle had just over 14,000 miles on it and it was not driven hard or off road for that matter. It sucks because I really like the looks of the Bronco Sport vs the other smaller SUVs ... it's too bad that the 1.5 engine has its issues. The RAV4 is a 2.5L 4 cylinder and a hybrid and gets substantially better gas mileage. The RAV4 also has a larger Cargo area and drives about the same as the Bronco Sport. Good luck to the BS owners ...

An associate of mine had a 24 Tundra, similar situation as yours, back & forth to the shop, yada, yada, yada. Last June, upon returning from the dealer doing a recall, a block from his home, it just stopped running and started smoking out of every vent. Fast forward to JANUARY, still without his truck (still making payments) and a letter from the NY Atty Gen, Toyota was forced to buy it back.

My point? there are bad ones (and dealers) that slip through the cracks of every manufacturer. Was my understanding correct that you were not happy with the dealer's service department, yet bought another vehicle from the same owner of both dealerships? I hope your luck is better this time with his brother or cousin across the street.

And the Rav 4 IMHO although a great street manored vehicle is no Bronco Sport when those streets get a little dicey or you care to venture off into the woods. It boils down to specific usage. BTY, I'm 67 and hell YEA I still go overlanding & off roading. Three season at any rate

 

[Mark S.]

As my wife says, it’s not boring.

I sometimes think one of Toyota's design goals is boring. They're for people who view their car as a tool, not a lifestyle statement, and they want the most reliable tool possible for the money they spend. There's absolutely nothing wrong with that, and Toyota has built a reputation on selling reliability. Hopefully, they can hold on to it.

 

[Mwittke5857]

I'm either a lucky owner of a 2023 Outer Banks, or just one of those that got one built on a day the assembly workers had a great weekend prior.

That and the parts run used to build it were good quality.

The wife and I want to step up to a full size Bronco, but the current prices keep us at bay. Should we manage to get that full size bronco, someone will get a nice 2023 Bronco Sport from our trade in.

Me TOO! 58k trouble free miles aside from the DTRL issue

 

[BSBB4Les]

Trust. That's the operative word here. Every vehicle brand will have problems in build/parts quality throughout their inventory and if you happened to purchase a new vehicle that had a failure when you could least afford it, it might put a crack in your trust. And say, it was your daily driver and the dealership you purchased it from was either unable or unwilling to serve you, as in providing a loaner and fixing your ride in a timely and satisfactory manner erodes your trust in that brand even further. Have that happen again and that trust in your favorite brand has probably evaporated. Trust, or the lack of it will be the deciding factor in whether you stay loyal to a particular brand. I can understand your decision and I wish you well with your new Toyota. However, buying a new vehicle, the warranty is very important. Ford offers 3yrs/36k miles bumper to bumper coverage. Toyota offers 2yrs/24k coverage. That's something to think about.

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

An associate of mine had a 24 Tundra, similar situation as yours, back & forth to the shop, yada, yada, yada. Last June, upon returning from the dealer doing a recall, a block from his home, it just stopped running and started smoking out of every vent. Fast forward to JANUARY, still without his truck (still making payments) and a letter from the NY Atty Gen, Toyota was forced to buy it back.

My point? there are bad ones (and dealers) that slip through the cracks of every manufacturer. Was my understanding correct that you were not happy with the dealer's service department, yet bought another vehicle from the same owner of both dealerships? I hope your luck is better this time with his brother or cousin across the street.

And the Rav 4 IMHO although a great street manored vehicle is no Bronco Sport when those streets get a little dicey or you care to venture off into the woods. It boils down to specific usage. BTY, I'm 67 and hell YEA I still go overlanding & off roading. Three season at any rate

That was my Point you can get a Bad Vehicle from any manufacturer and if the OP has had Fords his entire life and it's the first bad one. That's not so bad IMO if you buy a box of Lemons i'm sure there will be a couple rotten ones in that Box.

 

[CLR]

That's not so bad IMO if you buy a box of Lemons i'm sure there will be a couple rotten ones in that Box.

Yup, there’s guaranteed to be a lemon in every box of lemons...

Good luck OP! I unloaded a Jeep for the same reason as you- lost trust after too many issues and unsatisfactory dealership visits. Vehicles are the most complex items most of us own, so there is always a chance that we get unlucky.

 

[Getoutmyway]

First of all, I'm a life long Ford owner, I am 60. My father retired from Ford in the early 90s. I'm thoroughly disappointed in the quality and reliability of this Bronco Sport. I have had my vehicle in the shop 3 times and this latest was almost a month. The dealer has also sent a technician to my house 2 times to update computer software or some such a thing. I cannot keep a vehicle if in the back of my mind I'm always wandering if this vehicle will break down or have an issue while I travel from Wyoming to Ohio to see my mother and sister, or from Wyoming to SE Texas to see my son and grandsons. On the day my vehicle was ready to be picked up for the 3rd time, I drove it right across the parking lot to the Toyota dealer whom also owns the Ford Dealership. This was a decision that I struggled with but, I cannot continue running to the service department. The vehicle had just over 14,000 miles on it and it was not driven hard or off road for that matter. It sucks because I really like the looks of the Bronco Sport vs the other smaller SUVs ... it's too bad that the 1.5 engine has its issues. The RAV4 is a 2.5L 4 cylinder and a hybrid and gets substantially better gas mileage. The RAV4 also has a larger Cargo area and drives about the same as the Bronco Sport. Good luck to the BS owners ...

I'm 69, always preferred Fords. My 2021 Sport has been in the shop more than it hasn't. New transmission just started doing the same thing it did less than a month ago. Horrible noise under the dashboard this time. My service rep said we will have to sit down with his bosses and figure out what to do. I've been buying cars at this dealership for over 48 years. I rented a RAV, did NOT like it at all. I love my Bronco when it's running, but I too no longer trust it. Have to get a AWD or 4WD, don't go off-road, but do need for snow. What do you like the most about the RAV? How's your insurance rate?

 

[rltotten]

The RAV4 seems a little smoother on the highway, better mpg at 30-31, I'm driving at 5-6,000 feet elevation which decreases mpg, a little larger cargo capacity, and most of all Toyota reliability. Like I initially stated, I like the looks of the Bronco Sport over the other small SUVs. But, you've also confirmed the unreliability of the BS. I've read consumer reports for years and Toyotas are always at the top for reliability. My wifes Highlander was purchased new in 2018 and has been trouble free, regular oil changes and tires when they wear out. This is what I'm looking for in a vehicle nowdays ... I'm tired of buying vehicles and want one that will last hundreds of thousands of miles. With proper maintenance I believe these Toyotas will reach this goal ...

 

[BLUEOVALRACER]

The RAV4 seems a little smoother on the highway, better mpg at 30-31, I'm driving at 5-6,000 feet elevation which decreases mpg, a little larger cargo capacity, and most of all Toyota reliability. Like I initially stated, I like the looks of the Bronco Sport over the other small SUVs. But, you've also confirmed the unreliability of the BS. I've read consumer reports for years and Toyotas are always at the top for reliability. My wifes Highlander was purchased new in 2018 and has been trouble free, regular oil changes and tires when they wear out. This is what I'm looking for in a vehicle nowdays ... I'm tired of buying vehicles and want one that will last hundreds of thousands of miles. With proper maintenance I believe these Toyotas will reach this goal ...

So you've been a lifelong Ford Owner how many Fords have you owned in that time and what problems did you have with them? It sounds like the Bronco Sport is the First Ford to give you problems?

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