Ford Dropping Universal Remote for Bronco Sport

[Ernest T]

This boggles the mind.

https://fordauthority.com/2026/02/2026-ford-bronco-sport-drops-universal-garage-door-opener/?utm_source=fordauthority.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=ford-authority-daily-digest-for-february-14-2026&_bhlid=0824086b2ef6b652ac47a831775bcb28aae209c8

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[Frenchy906]

It’s still a feature.

You just get to pay more for it now.

 

[dwrufus53]

Programming it has always been hit or miss for me... and it's a PITA when you sell the car to remember to de-program it. I have one in each of my cars ('25 Bronco Sport and '25 Kia K5) but prefer the clipon remote from the garage door opener maker instead.

 

[DWG]

Ford continues to disappoint. Universal Garage Door opener is shown as a product deletion along with the wireless charging pad in the 26 Order guide. Not available at all. Just the latest deletion.

Ford just keeps the hits coming from deleting options to deleting models. The are driving customers away and expecting to retain them by throwing money at them to purchase vehicles that they probably do not want. I was just talking to my salesman and the dealers are very concerned about loosing customers to other manufacturers. I bought a 25 Escape since it was the last full year of production and I had no idea what I would buy if I waited a couple of years. The 26 Escape which was on a short production run and is not available for sale in 6 states because of not meeting certain emission standards.

ford-wants-to-retain-vast-majority-of-edge-escape-owners

 

[dockiwi57]

This boggles the mind.

https://fordauthority.com/2026/02/2026-ford-bronco-sport-drops-universal-garage-door-opener/?utm_source=fordauthority.beehiiv.com&utm_medium=newsletter&utm_campaign=ford-authority-daily-digest-for-february-14-2026&_bhlid=0824086b2ef6b652ac47a831775bcb28aae209c8

I picked up my November-ordered 2026 BSBL last week and can confirm all three deletions. I asked the salesman about the rationale for each. I'm paraphrasing, but here's what he said:
--Universal garage door eliminated because so many people are moving to home security systems via smart phones that the feature isn't used (I find this contention a stretch and generally implausible).
--Rain sensing wipers eliminated because systems actuated in automated car washes, damaging the wipers (I find this contention also quite a stretch and implausible because if true, simple programing would be a fix).
--Wireless charging eliminated because of poor charging performance and overheating--possibly due to wide variations in phone cases (I find this contention plausible as I've read a fair number of complaints on line about both--and not just Ford's).

I'm inclined to think it's simple economics reflected in production cost savings (on >100,000 units) balanced against ire versus ambivalence of different buyers.

Personally, I'm fine with my garage door opener clipped to my visor, manually controlling my wipers, and not using a wireless charger as I'm guessing multiple higher heat cycles can't be healthy for a phone/battery. It is still annoying as just like everything else since 2020, you pay more and get less. Maybe they are using the unit cost savings to improve quality and reliability-- "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life".

 

[wireman]

I always had the screen warning of phone misalignment on my 2021 BL. The phone would always shift while driving. A ryal PITA.

On my 2025 BL never once have I seen that message. Works every time. I like the feature along with the wireless Carplay on startup.

 

[dwrufus53]

I picked up my November-ordered 2026 BSBL last week and can confirm all three deletions. I asked the salesman about the rationale for each. I'm paraphrasing, but here's what he said:
--Universal garage door eliminated because so many people are moving to home security systems via smart phones that the feature isn't used (I find this contention a stretch and generally implausible).
--Rain sensing wipers eliminated because systems actuated in automated car washes, damaging the wipers (I find this contention also quite a stretch and implausible because if true, simple programing would be a fix).
--Wireless charging eliminated because of poor charging performance and overheating--possibly due to wide variations in phone cases (I find this contention plausible as I've read a fair number of complaints on line about both--and not just Ford's).

I'm inclined to think it's simple economics reflected in production cost savings (on >100,000 units) balanced against ire versus ambivalence of different buyers.

Personally, I'm fine with my garage door opener clipped to my visor, manually controlling my wipers, and not using a wireless charger as I'm guessing multiple higher heat cycles can't be healthy for a phone/battery. It is still annoying as just like everything else since 2020, you pay more and get less. Maybe they are using the unit cost savings to improve quality and reliability-- "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life".

As I posted earlier, I absolutely hate the gyrations required to program the universal garage door opener, and then having to remember to unprogram it when I sell/trade the car. It's just so much easier to just clip the manufacturer's remote to the visor and be done with it.

I've never had the rain-sensing wipers on any of my vehicles, so I don't miss it.

The wireless phone charging pad is there in my '25. Sometimes I use it, sometimes I don't. If it wasn't there, I'd be fine.

Buy, yeah, Ford is squeezing every drop of blood out of us. And some of their choices are odd - like the only "car" they sell these days is the Mustang. SUVs and trucks seem to be their focus (no pun intended), so whatever works for them. I've had several Ford trucks over the years, and am a huge fan... and I like my Bronco Sport, so, there's that.

It seems that Ford has re-adopted the attitude of founder Henry Ford who is said to have remarked: ‘Any customer can have a car painted any color that he wants so long as it is black.’

 

[Whpony96]

It’s still a feature.

You just get to pay more for it now.

No, they are definitely no longer a option to pay for either. They are 100% deleted.

 

[Frenchy906]

No, they are definitely no longer a option to pay for either. They are 100% deleted.

My apologies. I was under the impression, based off a review made before they came live online. Haven’t looked online at the new 2026 models yet.

See, this is why you can’t believe everything on the internet.

 

[pixlpush]

I always had the screen warning of phone misalignment on my 2021 BL. The phone would always shift while driving. A ryal PITA.

On my 2025 BL never once have I seen that message. Works every time. I like the feature along with the wireless Carplay on startup.

I agree 100%. Wireless charging and wireless CarPlay weren’t on my shopping list when I bought my 2025 Badlands. After living with both for a few months they’ve been really nice and I wouldn’t want to go back to wired only. I haven’t had any problems.

 

[Escape2Bronco]

Funny, I bought a used visor with the remote on eBay a few years ago. Still works as a visor but I still use the standalone remote button as it sits pretty well in the cubby in front of the shift knob. I’ve never had an issue programming them but now it kicks one off unless I completely clear the history on one door opener.

 

[dockiwi57]

I agree 100%. Wireless charging and wireless CarPlay weren’t on my shopping list when I bought my 2025 Badlands. After living with both for a few months they’ve been really nice and I wouldn’t want to go back to wired only. I haven’t had any problems.

I just returned from a road trip in my 26 BL and wireless CarPlay worked despite the elimination of the wireless charging pad. I made a mental note of this because my 21 Mazda CX-5 required a usb connection for CP. I'm curious about how reliable the connection will be over time.

 

[Dude]

These are the reasons I won’t buy another Ford due to Ford dropping these features:

#1 drivers door exterior keypad (eliminated on earlier models - the stick on option was a joke)

#2 universal garage door opener (never needs a battery, super easy to program and to remove programming)

(adjustable flood light on Bronco Sports)

(rear hatch release button on the dash - eliminated on earlier Bronco Sport models)

The wireless charging pad isn’t needed by me because wired CarPlay both charges the battery and is more robust - wireless CarPlay is ok on rental cars if available but not something I would use everyday

rain-sensing wipers - never had and that along with the engine block heater aren’t useful in phoenix

 

[dwrufus53]

I just returned from a road trip in my 26 BL and wireless CarPlay worked despite the elimination of the wireless charging pad. I made a mental note of this because my 21 Mazda CX-5 required a usb connection for CP. I'm curious about how reliable the connection will be over time.

Wireless CarPlay has been rock solid in every vehicle I've owned that offered it - including my 2009 Miata with an after-market head unit. It works completely independently of a wireless charging pad.

 

[Bill G]

All these deletions/changes are one reason I’m still driving my ’21 BL. I’ve worked around the charger and keep my door opener in the sunglass cubby; won’t part with the folding rear headrests, rear gate button, and rear floods. Don’t put thousands of miles on per month, have extended warranty, and with any luck will drive the wheels off.

If I have to change vehicles I’ll probably be giving a hard look at some other brands, not because of any problems with my BS, but because of the loss of things I thought made the BS so attractive for my life style.

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